(c’80-82) Pete Buckler (bass), Richard Leonard (?), Paddy Chambers (guitar), Martin Frost (vocals) and Tony Dugdale (?).

Best described as somewhere between power pop and heavy metal, Static used to practice in the Village Hall, Horsell. Noel Jones had replaced Martin Frost early in the band’s development, even before the band’s first demo recording in December ’79. Chambers had quit local mob Tank to join Static.

The December session laid down “Someone Like You”, “Too Long Free” and “Lady Money” for the demo cassette. Further sessions in early ’80 compiled “Gotta Lose Ya”, “Last Train”, “Believe in Me” and “Silent Angels Look Down”, but these would mark the end of Dugdale’s involvement.

29 July 1982: Static supported Marillion at the White Hart Southall. Image courtesy of Noel Jones

The band played locally and up into London, going on to secure supporting slots for Trust, Weapon on 26 April ’81 at Marquee, London; and Marillion on 29 July ’82 at Heads, held at the White Hart, Southall. Buckler and Dowling both left in mid-’81, with the latter joining L.A. Hooker, before migrating to ex-bandmate Dugdale’s Four Wheel Drive. Kieran McCleary joined the band on drums and Andy Rose took on Buckler’s responsibilities. They were now a firm feature on the region’s pub/club circuit and appeared in Kerrang’s ‘Armed & Ready’ column in mid ’82.

A-side of Static’s single.

With no label backed bites from A&R they self-released the 7″ single “Voice on The Line” [Eeyo 1] on the Eeyo label; the B-side was a track titled “Stealin'” in late ’82. Support slots with Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts and The Jackie Lynton Band followed, but with no further progress the band members went their own ways at the end of ’82. In ’83, Kerrang featured “Voice on the Line” in their local chart

Jones, had pulled together ex-members of Sphinx: Andy Simmons, Ross Bingham, Pete Blanchard (who was quickly replaced by Sabre bassist Geoff Gillespie), and Kev Baker. They initially worked under the Static name, performing once with another local band called Seducer; who would become a regular feature at The Royal, Guildford in ’84. But Static was unsteady, and the group fell apart, even with Kerrang featuring “Voice on the Line” in their local chart listing in ’83.

Jones went on to join White Lightning. Buckler, the brother of The Jam‘s Rick Buckler – who together had previously been in Impluse – on leaving Static pulled East of Karma together. Dowling / Richards, who worked at Wadham Stringer’s, became the drummer for Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts for a while. Gillespie and the remaining members of Sphinx went on to form Snowblind. Dugdale woud reappeared in Four Wheel Drive.

Tracks:

Gallery:

Static clipping from the Soundscene column of 15 January 1981. Source: Mark Nesbit
tatic’s Single sleeve (design 2)
Static’s Single sleeve (design 1)
B-side of Static’s single.
Static’s single in inner sleeve.
Static promo shot. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
Static band pic. Source: Lisa Baigent Urbanek‎ via Woking Old and New (Doing it together)
Static promo shot, in Horsell Sand Pit. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
26 April 1981: Static supported Weapon at Marquee, London. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
29 July 1982: Static supported Marillion at the White Hart Southall. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
Press clipping from 16 June 1983. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
Static. Image courtesy of Adam Russel
Static. Image courtesy of Adam Russel
Static poster blank. Image courtesy of Adam Russel
Static. Image courtesy of Adam Russel
Static playing at Waves Rock Club. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
Jones of Static playing at Waves Rock Club. Image courtesy of Noel Jones
Static promo shot, in Horsell Sand Pit. Image courtesy of Noel Jones