(c’82-to date) Adam Russel (vocals / guitar / harmonica), Alan Wise (bass), Chris Setterfield (lead guitar), and Kenny Richards (drums)
The Flying Tigers c’91-93 at The Seahorse, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam Russel
Guildford based, The Flying Tigers were started by Russel in ’82; settling on a line up that latest almost two years with Jonathon Roberts on lead guitar, Alan Todd on drums and Mark Burgess on bass, and Russel. The band did the odd gig at The Cranley Hotel, Cranleigh in mid 80’s, as well as a gig under another name when joined by Dave Gallagher & Bertie Licorice. Ben Darnton joined and took over the sticks, and by ’86 the Flying Tigers had added Steve Keen (bass) and lost Setterfield – Russel and Setterfield had gotten into a few arguments during a gig at the Village Hall, Jacob’s Well in ’84, resulting in Russel disbanding the group that night and reforming it months later. On 24 July ’86, The Cricketers, Westfield hosted The Flying Tigers.
30th March 1989 and the Flying Tygers, supported by Germination played The Star, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Flying “Tygers” incarnation of ’89, a spelling mistake by a club organizer for a 30 March ’89 gig at The Star, Guildford with Germination in support; retained Darnton and Russel, but replaced Keen with Keith Jones (bass / vocals) and added Paul Baker (lead guitar); Chris Turner (sax) could also be seen with the band along with Gerry Trauber-Young on harp. On 17 November ’89, The Flying Tigers, supported by Walking The Dog, played The Parrot Inn, Shalford and some point that year a gig at The Duke of Wellington, Farncombe was recorded by Nick Dunning on a ghetto blaster. Around this time you could have also found Gary Midmer on drums with Wise and Russel.
By 1990 Barry Witham was on bass and in the mid-90’s Mick Bryant/Hogsden, front-man with Bloodhound, was the keyboard player. This ’89/’90 period also saw Nick Whitehouse and Nick Gibson (sax) – who’d been in the brass section of Bloodhound – with the band briefly. There were a few gigs in ’90/’91 that saw Ken Nornton on bass at the same time as Pete Weller.
The Flying Tigers at The Seahorse, Shalford in 1990. L-R: Adam Russel, Ben Darnton and Barry Witham. Picture courtesy of Adam Russel
Over the years the band has appeared all over the local area at The Seahorse, Shalford; Ye Old Ship Inn, St Catherine’s, Guildford; The Compasses Inn, Gomshall; Stoke Hotel, Guildford; Limeburners, Billinghurst; and many more.
The band continued to play their 60s-style R’n’B into the next century. In 2002 Wise joined the Nomates Band. To help out when Wise was locked into other band commitments bassist, James Skilliter, was with the band from 2003 to 2005. Rehearsals in Cranleigh were always full of Skilliter’s comedic repartee. By 2008, after a few other member changes, Russel had compiled a 5-piece incarnation. Meanwhile, Russel could also be caught playing with Jackie Lynton, Geno Washington, and the Nashville Teens.
The Flying Tigers in 2010 (R-L: Adam Russel (guitar), Ray Smithers (drums), Bob Farrell, Alan Wise, and Tracey Murphie (vocals). Source: Roger Chalcraft post in Guildford Town Past & Present
This 5-piece was Russel, Wise – who’d also played with Maid in England, Ray Smithers (drums), Bob Farrell, and Tracey Murphie on vocals. In February 2019 Ray “Razor” Smithers (drums), formally of The Flying Tigers for 10 years, joined The Flat Top Band. Paul Gaffikin was also in the band at some point.
Original member Richards died in 2014/15. Setterfield went off to the Isle of Wight and disappeared, but may now be in Margate. All that said the current version of The Flying Tigers is still playing today.
Gallery:
The Flying Tigers c’91-93 at Ye Old Ship Inn, St Catherine’s, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers c’91-93 at Ye Old Ship Inn, St Catherine’s, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers c’91-93 at The Seahorse, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers c’91-93 at The Seahorse, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers c’91-93 at The Seahorse, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers c’91-93 at The Seahorse, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers at The Compasses, Gomshall in 1989. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselChris Turner takes the mic at the Duke of Wellington, Farncome in ’89. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsDressed up for Russel’s engagement party at Stoke Hotel, Guildford in 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Cricketers, Westfield used to place ads in the local papers – Flying Tigers played on Friday, 24 July ’86. Picture courtesy (I stole it) of Ben.The Flying Tygers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tygers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tygers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tygers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tigers at Limeburners, Billinghurst.The Flying Tigers at Seahorse Shalford. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselOne of the Flying Tigers T-shirt given, by Muriel Quilter, to the band C’88/89. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselDarnton on drums with The Flying Tigers at the Seahorse, Shalford in the early 90’s. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselDarnton on drums with The Flying Tigers at the Seahorse, Shalford in the early 90’s. Picture courtesy of Adam RusselThe Flying Tigers live at the Limeburners, Billingshurst in 1993. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tigers live at the Limeburners, Billingshurst in 1993. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsWhile the pictures of the band were taken at Lion Brewery, Ash, this Flying Tigers poster blank could be dated and put up in any venue. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records17 November 1989: The Flying Tigers, supported by Wakling The Dog, played The Parrot, Shalford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tigers at the Duke of Wellington, Farncombe 1988/89. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsFlying Tigers at the Duke of Wellington, Farncombe 1988/89. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors RecordsThe Flying Tigers at the Duke of Wellington, Farncombe in 1988/89. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
With reference to me breaking a string @ the Ash festival … we never played the song ‘Dirty Water’ that day aa we all had a recording of that gig. So don’t know how this has come up …🤷♂️
Hello Adam and thank you for reading and helping to keep us true…That line is now removed. It was based upon a comment made on a Facebook post about The Flying Tigers a few years ago.
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With reference to me breaking a string @ the Ash festival … we never played the song ‘Dirty Water’ that day aa we all had a recording of that gig. So don’t know how this has come up …🤷♂️
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Hello Adam and thank you for reading and helping to keep us true…That line is now removed. It was based upon a comment made on a Facebook post about The Flying Tigers a few years ago.
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