(c’87-’91) Stu Heather (vocals), John Edwards (keyboards), Rob Le Breton (bass), Darren “Paddy” Thorpe (drums), H. Sojourner (guitar).

This Farnborough five piece gigged with Trousershock B.C. a couple of times and featured at Farnborough College of Technology‘s “Freakscene” [makes me think of Dinosaur Jr. – Ed.] in ’89. In February that same year the band appeared at The Adelphi, Hull; this was before Sojourner replaced Dan McBride on guitar. The band would call The George, Ash Vale home appearing there many times including on 28 December ’89. Edwards left in early 1990, while Explodehead continued as a four-piece. On the 28 September ’90 the Flowers of Sacrifice’s first gig was supporting Explodehead at The George.

They recorded the lauded “Play Loud!” 3 track (“Hypnotic Rock”, “The Killing Shed” and “Slide”) cassette demo EP at hometown Fat Rat Studios, and play loud was jolly good advice! “Slide”, the third track from this demo, also appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.1 in 1991.

The George hosted Explodehead on 16 January ’91. A couple of weeks later on the 2 February ’91 the band supported Slug at Farnborough Tech’s Student Union Bar and the following Saturday, 9 February, appeared at The Four Horseshoes, Camberley, closing out the month back at The George on 20 February.

On leaving Explodehead Edwards got together with Heather and formed Electric Icecream Productions; he also pulled together Girls on Dextrose. Le Breton, who’d previously been in The Gotham City Blues Breakers went on to join The Landings, but is sadly no longer with us. Edwards is in The Landings now. Thorpe replaced Shaun Jackson on Peachrazor‘s drums in ’91 and Heather took on the band’s vocals.

Tracks:

Gallery:

February ’89: Explodehead at the Adelphi, Hull
February ’89: Explodehead at the Adelphi, Hull
February ’89: explodehead at the Adelphi, Hull
February ’89: Explodehead at the Adelphi, Hull
February ’89: Explodehead at the Adelphi, Hull
Explodehead’s “Slide” appeared n Farnborough Groove Vol.1. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
2 Feb 1991: Slug with Explodehead at Farnborough Tech SU Bar, Farnborough. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
Explodehead, at Farnborough College of Technology. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
28 Sept 1990: Explodehead, supported by The Flowers of sacrifice (their first gig), were at The George, Ash Vale. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
















Explodehead’s “Play Loud!”. Source: The Flowers of Sacrifice