(c’80-81). Rich Carson (rhythm guitar / vocal), Graham “Mash” Murray (guitar), Julian Thorne (bass) & Pete “Will” Williams (drums).

Formed in January 1980 this 4-piece, of professional musicians, were out of Winston Churchill School and were a regular fixture at The Cricketers, Westfield. In late ’81 Thorne was dropped and replaced by Pete Mills. On 14 April ’83, the Wooden Bridge Rock Club welcomed Stray to The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, ably supported by City. A couple of months later the band played The Wooden Bridge again, but under a new moniker: The Click.

Carson owned a recording studio in Guildford; Murray had toured with Cliff Richard, appearing on the 25th anniversary album of Cliff and the Shadows in ’78, and toured Europe and the Middle East with a number of bands; Thorne had been playing on the Bristol circuit; and finally, Williams had been with 57 Beans as well as touring Europe and appearing on TV. The band played mostly covers with their own original tune thrown in.

Gallery:

City debut in Soundscene 29th January 1981 – a year after forming. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner
Soundscene ’81 (Date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner.
Advert for The Wooden Bridge Rock Club from Sounds 9 April ’83 issue. Image courtesy of Pete Cole