Thane

(c’80-’81) Paul Thane (vocals), Neil Fitch (guitar/vocals), Phil Longden (keyboards), Dave O’Williams (bass/vocals), and Steve Cusack (drums).

Thane were a Frimley based band, not to be confused with Edinburgh band The Thanes. The band’s first drummer had been Tim Huthert, before he went on to join Specimen, who’d been in The Desotos along with Fitch and Paul Trew, who’d also appear in Thane briefly. Huthert was replaced by Cusack, who was joined in the rhythm section by O’Williams, having replaced original bassist Simon Sherwood, ex-The Mode – a band managed by Thane’s brother Barry.

We know the band appeared at the Cambridge Hotel, Camberley and the 101 Club, Clapham in ’80. The latter secured them a track on 101 Records ‘Beyond the Groove’ compilation LP along with The Fix, Modern Man, and the Electric Eels, amongst others. This spot was filled by “Traffic Jam”, the title track of Thane’s debut 7″ single, that was also released in ’80. Produced by Dave Moore, “Traffic Jam” [BAD 03] was on Badge Records and backed by “Frankie Boy”. It was also released in France on the Arabella label [102273] that same year. The following year, still on Badge Records and with Dave Moore producing, “Romance Down the Drain” [BAD 8] hit the streets, with “Transparent Love” on the flipside. To the best of our knowledge the band dissolved in late ’81.

Fitch was also in The Wasp Factory and The Desotos, along with Huthert, Trew, and Longden. The latter would go to be join The Desotos, after which they rebranded as Virgin Daze; and was involved with Kudos, Bite the Bullet, and Fear of Flying with Thane. Trew, in addition to The Desotos, had been in The Torpedoes, The Vulgar Bros., and White as White (and Twice as Dirty). Thane, who went on to provide the vocals and songwriting for Last Chance to Dance, Out Of Order, and Fear of Flying with Longden, regrettably passed away in 2020.

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