West One

(c’85-’88) Paul Morris (guitar/vocals), Patrick James (guitar/vocals), Mick Goddard (bass/vocals) and Vince Southey (drums/vocals).

This Aldershot band formed in May ’85. Influenced by The Alarm, The Ruts, U2 and The Jam; The Ruts “West One (Shine on Me) may be the source of the band name. By 6 December ’85 they were supporting, along with Safety in Numbers, Squeals of Delight at the Technical College, Farnborough.

The Fox & Hounds, Fleet opened their doors to the friends, family and fans of West One on 23 January ’86. The band returned to Farnborough Tech on 15 March ’86. The band also released a demo cassette in early ’86, which featured “Brick by Brick”.

In June, West One appeared at the Kings Head, Fulham and The Robin Hood, Stanford on the 1 June and 7 June respectively. The Lion Brewery, Ash had the band in on 15 July ’86, followed a few days later by an appearance at at St. Marks Hall, North Camp, on 19 July ’86, with Big House and Steve Mann. The Royal Oak, Passfield – a local venue with an interesting pedigree of live bands – booked the band for 22 July ’86. On 15 August the band were at Princes Hall, Aldershot, with the newly formed Bluetrain, supporting Ministry of Sound. The very next day they were back at The Royal Oak, Passfield; and ten days after that on 26 August ’86 they returned to The Lion Brewery. Their two gigs the following month found them staying local at The Subway, Cellar Bar, South Hill Park, Bracknell on 11 September and supporting Java at Princes Hall, Aldershot on 17 September. The band were at Princes Hall again on 8 November. The Buzz Club rounded out ’86 with a local bands night which featured West One supporting Steel Bill and the Buffalos, along with Second Balcony Jump, FRA, and The Jeremiahs on 15 November. Their last gig on ’86 that we have documented was on 12 December at The Riverside Club, Fetcham, supporting The Body Politic, along with The Shift.

On 6 February ’87 they supported Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band at the West End Centre, Aldershot. Later that month, on 26 February, West One were performing The Subway, Cellar Bar, South Hill Park, Bracknell. The Beehive, Aldershot hosted the band on 1 May, a venue they returned to on 5 June, and the month after that on 18 July ’87. Three days later, on 21 July, they were at The Majestic, Reading on the first date of what was labeled the New Town Tour. The band laid on coaches from their home turf to each venue on the tour. This included The Tunnel Club, Greenwich on 5 August and 5 September, The Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon on 18 August, The Royal Standard, Walthamstow on 12 October. Aldermoor School, Southampton held an S.O.S. (Save Our School) event on 16 October at which West One performed – The school closed for good in ’89. On Guy Fawkes night that year West One were supported by Too Much Talk at The Subway, Bracknell for the Bonfire Bash. Still on the New Town Tour the band returned to The Tunnel Club, Greenwich once again on 14 November ’87, then on 20 November they were back on home turf at The Crimea, Aldershot. That same year a 7″ single was initiated on the Robot Records / Music label with “Dreaming on My Feet” back by “New Town”; it never saw the light of day.

On 6 February ’88 the band were once again supporting Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, this time at the Tunnel Club, Greenwich. A few days later, on 15 February, the band were lower on the bill at the Mean Fiddler, Harlesden with Norman Norman, Grey by the Gun, and The Big Weekend. Then, on 25 February ’88 they appeared at The Subway, Cellar Bar, South Hill Park, Bracknell. The West End Centre hosted the band once more, again supporting Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band on 18 March ’88. The Battle for the Limelight, part of ITV Telethon ’88, was held on 4 May ’88 Princes Hall, Aldershot, and West One competed against Paper Moon, UxB, and Rising Signs. It was around this time that West One recorded a demo at Limelight Recording Studios, Aldershot. The band were once more at the West End Centre on 2 September ’88, with Rising Signs and The F1-11 in support.

The band appeared on Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2 in ’92 with “House of Cards” and followed that with “Dreaming on My Feet” on Farnborough Groove strikes back! Vol.5 in ’95.

Morris, who may be the same Paul Morris that originally managed The Click, was also in The Perfect Circles after West One; then Modern Art Thieves. James went on to perform under his own Patrick James name as a singer / songwriter and in Blue Velvet, Ghandarva and others. In January 2002, Patrick James Sullivan was part of the reformed J.C. Regulator. Southey has regrettably passed.

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