(c’90-’91) Bev Abbott (vocals), Tony Ware (guitar), Anne Turner (bass), and Ian Abbott (drums).

Bev Abbott had previously been in anarcho-punk band Lost Cherrees – who’d supported Brigandage, with Joy of Living, at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 16 May ’85 – before joining her drummer brother in The Gotham City Wreckers and then Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys. This Epsom / Sutton punk / power-pop 4-piece were managed by Farnborough based Mark Allison.

Recorded in May 1990. Picture Courtesy of Sid Stovold

Shortly before releasing the “Understand Nothing” cassette EP, which was recorded at Greenhouse Studios, London (as used by Mega City Four) in May of that year and produced by Mike Jones and engineered by Paul Gadd, they supported Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine at the West End Centre, Aldershot on June 9, 1990, along with Frantic. The 3 tracks on the EP were “Understand Nothing”, “99 (Is Not Enough)”, and “Turn Around”. “Turnaround”, described by Adrian Creek as “Primitives influenced…teen angst pop punk”, also featured as track 8 on the B-Side of The Farnborough Groove Vol.1.

Just over a month after supporting Carter USM, on 20 July ’90 the band supported Voice of the Beehive at The Marquee Club. Over the pond in the US, the “Built On Blood” compilation issued in 1990 on the What The Fuck? label [WTF-2] carried Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys’ “Understand Nothing”. On 1 September ’90, Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys with Who Moved the Ground? and The Sack played Cove Labour Hall, Farnborough.

Bubble-Eyed Dog Boy 1991 Tour Advert from NME, March 1991

“99 (Is Not Enough”)” was also to appear on a B-Side, this time as track 4 of the Big Big 3 compilation cassette from the Big Muff 3 fanzine. Across March and April ’91 the band toured England and Scotland, taking in Kent University (2 Mar), Pop Club, Bull & Gate, London (11 Mar) After Dark, Reading (15 Mar), Farnborough Tech (21 Mar), supporting Thrilled Skinny along with The Keatons at the Rumble Club, Tunbridge Wells (29 Mar), The Square, Harlow (30 Mar), The Joiners Arms, Southampton (3rd Apr), fields in The Shetlands (13 & 14 Apr), University of Dundee (17 Apr), Borders College, Galashiels (19 Apr), King Tuts, Glasgow (20 Apr), and The Reaction, Wendover (21 Apr).

Alison was taken from us by cancer on 23 June 2016.

Tracks:

Gallery:

Bubble Eyed Dog Boy’s at Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, March 11th 1991. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
Bubble Eyed Dog Boy’s at Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, March 11th 1991. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
Bubble Eyed Dog Boy’s at Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, March 11th 1991. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
Bubble Eyed Dog Boy’s at Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, March 11th 1991. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
Bubble Eyed Dog Boy’s Bev and Anne at Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, March 11th 1991. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave
The “Built On Blood” compilation issued in 1990 on the What The Fuck? label [WTF-2] in the US carried Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys’ “Understand Nothing”.
1 September 1990: Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys with Who Moved the Ground? and The Sack played Cove Labour Hall, Farnborough. Source: Who Moved The Ground?
Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys logo…
Recorded in May 1990. Picture Courtesy of Sid Stovold
The cover of the Big Muff 3 fanzine featured Bubble-Eyed Dog Boys.
The pre-cut sleeve of the Big Big 3 cassette, featuring “99 (Is Not Enough)” available with the Big Muff fanzine.
The front cover of the Big Big 3 cassette, featuring “99 (Is Not Enough)” available with the Big Muff fanzine.
Track 8 of the Farnborough Groove Vol.1 B-Side was Bubble-Eyed Dog Boy’s “Turnaround”. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole.