(c’91-’94) Nick Abbnett (bass), Simon Beagley (vocals), Martin Fowler (drums), and Matthew Pritchard (guitar).

From late in ’91, Fleet based, Pretty Green gigged up to two or three times a week. Along with E.B. and The System the band opened for Mega City Four at Basingstoke Sports Centre on 4 December ’91.

1 February 1992

On the 1 February ’92 the band appeared as part of a Buzz Club local bands night that also featured the Ha Ha Men, The River Thieves, and Peachrazor of the West End Centre, Aldershot‘s stage. Four days later, on 5 February ’92, Pretty Green found themselves gigging again, this time supporting Mega City Four, along with Big Boy Tomato and Phobia, at the University of Surrey’s Main Hall. Ten days after that Mega City Four’s tour had reached the Technical College, Farnborough with Phobia, Big Boy Tomato, and Pretty Green still in support. On 19 April ’92 the band were down at The Royal Oak, Passfield, the following night they played the Student Union Bar at Farnborough Tech.

This was the year that this Fleet band’s “Call” and “Small Town Scene” appeared on Snakebite City [BLU03]. That same year “Deception” appeared on the second of the Farnborough Groove compilation series, Son of Farnborough Groove. Pretty Green, along with Peachrazor and Backlash, played the Fox and Hounds, Fleet on 4 September ’92 and a trip into ‘town’ for ‘Farnborough Goes To London’, organized by local impresario Pete Cole, saw the band sharing the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town spotlight with Who Moved The Ground? and Peachrazor on 2 December ’92 at the pub’s Butterfly Evolution Club night.

The band kicked off ’93 with an appearance at The Buzz Club, West End Centre, Aldershot on 16 January with Preachrazer, Pomeroy, Phobia and Backlash for the Snakebite City Launch organized by Paul Talling. The Cricketers, Westfield hosted the post-punk indie rock n’ roll triumvirate of Backlash, with Pretty Green and Peachrazor in support on 19 March ’93. They then returned to The Buzz Club for another local bands night on 3 April ’93, this time with Flowers of Sacrifice, Peachrazor and Backlash. Later that year “Small Town Scene” was published again, this time on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3. Bluefire Records got then back in ’94 for Snakebite City Two with “The Wrong Conclusion”.

The band eventually fractured into two, forming The Hairy Things and Skipper. Then in January 2016, Pretty Green’s track “Small Town Scene” appeared on the limited edition (500 were pressed) Record Collector Magazine’s Rare Vinyl – Modern Collectables 3 [RCLPO18], forming the basis for the compilations name: ‘Small Town Scenery, Lost Indie Gems 1985-1995’.

Tracks:

Gallery:

17 & 18 April 1992: Pretty Green played The Royal Oak, Passfield and Farnborough Technical College the following night. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
14 December 1991: Poster for gig at Basingstoke Sports Centre where Pretty Green and E.B. and the System supported Mega City Four. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
3 April 1993
Snakebite City, which included Pretty Green, release date clipping. It’s 1992, but the paper and date are unknown. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter
Pretty Green, along with Peachrazor and Backlash, played The Fox and Hounds, Fleet on 4 September 1992 according to this unidentified fanzine gig list. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter
Snakebite City flyer c’92. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter
19 March 1993: Backlash, Pretty Green and Peachrazor at The Cricketer’s Westfield. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter
1993 press release from Bluefire Records launching the Snakebite City compilation with Pretty Green, along with Backlash, Big Boy Tomato, Peachrazor, Pomeroy, Trousershock BC and Mama Cain (aka Phobia). Picture courtesy of Steve Porter
15 February 92: Mega City Four with Phobia, Big Boy Tomato, and Pretty Green. Source: Pete Scott via Mega City Four
Pretty Green’s “Small Town Scene” appeated on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3 in 1993. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole
2 December 1992: Pretty Green, Who Moved The Ground? and Peachrazor were at Butterfly Evolution Club, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Steve Porter via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
The Gossville Arsonist fanzine’s one-line review of Prety Green track from The Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2
2 December 1992: ‘Farnborough Goes To London’ featuring Pretty Green, Who Moved The Ground?, and Peachrazor. A showcase of Farnborough bands organized by Pete Cole. Sid Stovold got it signed by Brian Blessed Source: Who Moved The Ground?