(c’76-date) Richard Ashworth (vocals/guitar)

Ashworth is a Guildford/Godalming based singer-songwriter. Across 1970-71 he had been in Guildford based Running Dry.

Ashworth, along with his brother Mike Ashworth, managed Wax Records in Woodbridge Rd and as Wax Promotions, along with Pete Newberry, who was responsible for the Gin Mill, Godalming, put on the first Dr. Feelgood gig in Guildford at The Plaza, Guildford in ’74, booking them at least once more. The teen impresarios also put on The Guildford Stranglers at the Technical College, Farnborough.

Sleeve front of 1979’s “Surrey Skyline” by Richard Ashworth, and White Dub

In ’74, Ashworth produced, along with the Asylum – who he managed – and Martin Adams, the group’s (It’s My) Destiny. Along with keyboardist Sev Lewkowicz, Ashworth, played electric guitar and Neil Young covers at the Star Folk Club – held at The Star Inn, Guildford – in ’75. The traditionalists were not ready; although no members of the audience shouted “Judas!” at Lewkowicz or Ashworth, as had happened at the oft cited Bob Dylan gig in Manchester years earlier.

He teamed up with White Dub, consisting of Lewkowicz (keyboards), Lee Sutherland (bass), and Pete Hobson (drums) in ’78. Together they released M3 Revisited [ORDER 1], a 7″ EP on Overdrive Records. This was followed by two more 7″ singles again with White Dub and on Overdrive Records. In ’79, Surrey Skyline [ORDER 2] was produced by Sev Lewkowicz and engineered by Paul Friend at Chestnut Studios, Frensham. The next year Babes in the Wood [ORDER 3] was released. Produced once again by Lewkowicz, Tim Wheatley had replaced Sutherland on bass in White Dub. The next year Ashworth was featured in Barbed Wire fanzine’s May/June 1980 Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6).

Front sleeve of 1980’s “Babes in the Wood” by Richard Ashworth with White Dub.

Richard Ashworth deployed Cryin’ Out Loud’s rhythm section of Tim & Matt Wheatley on his Songs to Grow up With album in ’97, which included the song “Wilbur Rowe”. But, to the best of our knowledge, the 8 song LP was not released on Overdrive Records, until ’99; 21 years after Babes in the Woods. He co-wrote the album Echo by Gracious! with Lewkowicz and has contributed to albums by House and Nostromo.

Gallery:

Front cover of 1978s “M3 Revisted” by Richard Ashworth and White Dub
Back cover of 1978s “M3 Revisted” by Richard Ashworth and White Dub
Sleeve back of 1979’s “Surrey Skyline” by Richard Ashworth, a d White Dub
Back sleeve of 1980’s “Babes in the Wood” by Richard Ashworth with White Dub.

Ashworth was featured in Barbed Wire fanzine’s May/June 1980 Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6). Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes