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Gallon Drunk
(c’88-date) James Johnston (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Mike Delanian (bass) and Nick Combe (drums).
Formed in ’88 by ex-COW members Johnston and Delanian they self-released a single in November that year. The double A-sided Snakepit [GAL 003] with Please Give Me Something on the flipside, co-written by Guildfordian forming members Johnston and Delanian, was only distributed at gigs, the band pressing 400 copies.
By ’90 Combe was recruited and Snakepit had led to signing to Clawfist. They covered The Silver Apples Ruby for their next single in late ’90 with Joe Byfield on maracas. Three singles followed in ’91, with Some Fool’s Mess named ‘Single of the Week’ by the NME and a review in Big Muff called it a ‘piece of genius’. The single was also 13th in John Peel’s Festive Fifty that year.The band recorded one Peel Session on 14 July ’91 which was broadcast on 1 September ’91 and repeated on 17 November and 21 December as part on Peel’s pick of the year programmes, calling their cover of Dick Dale’s Miserlou, “just stupefying” and “surfing for the suicidal.”
The band supported Lush, who were on their Black Spring tour at three venues in early October ’91: Municipal Hall, Colne (7 Oct), along with Nature Things; the Irish Centre, Northampton (8 Oct), and The Tabernacle on Powys Square, London (9 Oct) where they were joined by Stereolab, of which, the now editor of Record Collector magazine, Paul Lester’s review for Melody Maker wasn’t kind on Stereolab or Gallon Drunk. After a short break from Lush’s tour, Gallon Drunk rejoined for nine consecutive dates: Bradford University, Queensbury (21 Oct); Mayfair, Glasgow (22 Oct); UMIST, Manchester (23 Oct); Sheffield University, Sheffield (24 Oct); Essex University, Colchester (25 Oct); the Junction, Cambridge (26 Oct); Bierkeller, Bristol (27 Oct); Fox’s, Wolverhampton (28 Oct), and finally on 29 October ’91, the band were supporting Lush, with Passing Clouds, at Portsmouth’s Pyramids Centre.
29 October 1991: Gallon Drunk supported Lush with Passing Clouds at Portsmouth’s Pyramids Centre. Combe was replaced by Max Décharné before their debut album release, You, the Night…and the Music in ’92. Their second album The Heart of Town was nominated for the Mercury Prize and saw the band sign to Sire Records and tour the U.S with Morrissey. The subsequent UK tour saw Terry Edwards (sax/keyboards) join the live band.
The next tour, of Europe and the US, this time as headliner and supporting PJ Harvey saw Décharné leave. He was replaced by Ian White in ’93. The band played the Phoenix Stage at the Pheonix Festival on 15 July ’95 coming onto the Stratford-Upon-Avon festival’s stage ahead of Faith No More, Public Enemy, Terrorvision, Paradise Lost, Body Count, Ice-T, and EMF, but not bottom of the bill which was reserved for Shootyz, Groove, and Pitchshifter. On 29 October ’96, Gallon Drunk headlined at Dingwalls, Camden. It was on their new label that The Long Still Night LP was released in ’96 and the single To Love Somebody in March ’97. This was the band’s last release before dissolving.
They returned in 2000, but Delanian had been replaced by Jeremy Cottingham.
Founder, frontman and sole consistent member Johnston has also played in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, who he joined for a Lollapalooza tour in ’94 before becoming a full-timer from 2003—2008, and was also member of Faust from 2006 to 2012.
Bassist Delanian died in February 2025 in London.
Gallery:
Released in November 1988, Gallon Drunk’s “Snakepit” [GAL 003] 
c’91 – Big Muff 4 Page 30 Gallon Drunk release review 
Big Muff 6 Page 20 Gallon Drunk release review 
9 October 1991: Paul Lrester’s Melody Maker review on the gig. 
27 October 1991: Gallon Drunk supported Lush at the Bierkeller, Bristol 
29 October 1996: Gallon Drunk headlined at Dingwalls, Camden. Source: Wendy McNally via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave Bierkeller, Big Muff, Body Count, Bradford University, Bristol, Cambridge, Camden, Clawfist, Colchester, Colne, Cow, Dingwalls, EMF, Essex University, Faith No More, Faust, Fox’s, Gallon Drunk, Glasgow, Groove, Ian White, Ice-T, Irish Centre, James Johnston, Jeremy Cottingham, Joe Byfield, John Peel, Junction, Lollapalooza, London, Lush, Manchester, Max Décharné, Mayfair, Melody Maker, Mercury Prize, Mike Delanian, Morrissey, Municipal Hall, Nature Things, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nick Combe, NME, Northampton, Paradise Lost, Passing Clouds, Paul Lester, Peel Session, Phoenix Festival, Phoenix Stage, Pitchshifter, PJ Harvey, Portsmouth, Public Enemy, Pyramids Centre, Queensbury, Sheffield, Sheffield University, Shootyz, Sire Records, Stereolab, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Terrorvision, Terry Edwards, The Tabernacle, UMIST, Wolverhampton -
Blind Faith
(c’69) Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Peter Edward “Ginger” Baker (drums / percussion), Steve Winwood (keyboards / guitar / vocals), and Ric Grech (bass / violin)
This blues rock combo originated with informal jamming sessions by Clapton and Winwood, reportedly in the basement of Clapton’s Ripley home in early ’69. However, Clapton had already acquired the Hurtwood Edge Estate, Ewhurst by this point and we believe this is the more likely location for the birth of Blind Faith. Baker joined them in ‘Ripley’ and they decided to form a band.
Blind Faith in rehearsal They moved practice to Traffic’s rehearsal cottage in Aston Tirrold, Berkshire and the formation of Blind Faith was announced to the press on 8 February ’69, with Baker confirmed as drummer, over Jim Capaldi. Grech joined, leaving Family in the middle of their US tour, in May ’69.
As one of the first super-groups, stylistically similar to the bands, Traffic and Cream, in which Winwood, Baker, and Clapton had most recently participated, they helped pioneer the genre of blues/rock fusion. Straight off they began recording their eponymous debut, and only, album.
7 June 1969: Blind Faith’s debut at Hyde Park, London The first Blind Faith concert was on 7 June ’69 in front of an estimated 100,000 fans in Hyde Park, London, where they were supported by Richie Havens, Donovan, Edgar Broughton Band, and Third Ear Band. On stage they knocked out their soon to be released LP material and covers of the Rolling Stones’ Under My Thumb, Traffic’s Means to an End, and Sam Myers’ Sleeping in the Ground. A run of 500 promotional singles was released by Island Records, although the promotion was not for a Blind Faith single but the label announcing their move to new offices, titled Change of Address From 23 June 1969. The single-sided 7″ carried a Blind Faith instrumental, although no credit was given to the band.
They continued to work on of their album, and undertook a tour of Scandinavia, it was kept short and to smaller venues. This enabled then to rehearse and prepare for the bigger audiences expected in the United States and UK. The band’s US tour, supported by Delaney & Bonnie, Taste, and Free, kicked off at Madison Square Garden, New York on 12 July ’69 and they were at Baltimore’s Civic Center on 20 July ’69. On 26 July ’69 the band headlined the second day of the Midwest Rock Festival at West Allis, WI, USA; also, on the bill that day were Delaney & Bonnie, Taste, John Mayall, MC5, SRC, and The Shag
Blind Faith’s UK cover for Blind Faith The LP, Blind Faith, was released on 8 August ’69, topping the UK and Billboard charts. The cover art, created by photographer Bob Seidemann, featured a topless 11-year-old girl on the front cover, which drew controversy and was quickly withdrawn and reissued with a different cover in the United States.
Blind Faith’s US cover for Blind Faith With limited material of their own they were forced to include old Cream and Traffic material – not that the audiences minded – to elongate their set to a sufficient length. The band played the Forum, Ingelwood on 15 August ’69, supported by Free and Delaney & Bonnie. Nine days later the US tour ended in Hawaii on 24 August ’69. Blind Faith disbanded immediately after their last performance, although Baker didn’t find out until he’d returned to the UK.
Grech, Winwood, and Baker would form Ginger Baker’s Air Force, a group that also included Denny Laine (guitar), Chris Wood (sax / flute), and several other musicians. When Air Force folded, Winwood reformed Traffic with original members and Grech. Clapton toured with Delaney & Bonnie as well as performing / recording with the Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon, George Harrison, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Dave Mason, Howlin’ Wolf, and Hubert Sumlin over the following year. He also recorded his eponymous debut solo LP, with Delaney Bramlett’s backing group, Leon Russell and Stephen Stills.
Further live Blind Faith tracks, not included on the million-selling LP, appeared on Winwood’s box set, The Finer Things. During 2000 the band’s only album was remastered and re-released by Polydor as a two-CD deluxe edition with alternate takes, out-takes and studio rehearsal versions in 2001. The Change of Address instrumental also reappear as a bonus track, titled Change of Address Jam.
Grech passed on 16 March ’90 in Leicester, aged 43, of liver failure bought on by alcoholism. Ginger Baker died in a Canterbury hospital on 6 October 2019, aged of 80, from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Gallery:
20 July 1969: Blind Faith played the Civic Center, Baltimore. 
26 July 1969: Blind Faith headlined the Midwest Rock Festival, West Allis, WI, USA 
26 July 1969: Blind Faith headlined day two of the Mid West Rock Festival. 
15 August 1969: Blind Faith headline at the Forum, Ingelwood 
Blind Faith’s UK back cover for Blind Faith 
Blind Faith’s UK inner sleeve for Blind Faith 
Blind Faith’s UK inner sleeve for Blind Faith 
Blind Faith in 1969 
Blind Faith in 1969 
Blind Faith in 1969 Aston Tirrold, Baltimore, Berkshire, Billy Preston, Blind Faith, Bob Seidemann, Canterbury, Chris Wood, Civic Center, Cream, Dave Mason, Dealaney & Bonnie, Delaney & Bonnie, Delaney Bramlett, Denny Laine, Donovan, Dr. John, Edgar Broughton Band, Eric Clapton, Ewhurst, Family, Forum, Free, George Harrison, Ginger Baker, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Hawaii, Howlin Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, Hurtwood Edge Estate, Hyde Park, Ingelwood, Island Records, John Lennon, John Mayall, Leicester, Leon Russell, London, Madison Square Garden, MC5, Midwest Rock Festival, New York, Plastic Ono Band, Polydor, Ric Grech, Richie Havens, Ringo Starr, Ripley, SRC, Stephen Stills, Steve Winwood, Taste, The Shag, Third Ear Band, Traffic, USA, West Allis, WI -
Rex Cinema, Haselmere
(c’38-86) Located in Shottermill, west of Haselmere proper, The Rex opened as The Regal, a year before the Second World War kicked off, on 28 September ’38, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet.
The war came close to closing The Rex four years later when, on 22 September ’42, a Douglas Boston MkIII Turbinlite of No.534 Squadron RAF came to a nasty end whilst exercising en route from Tangmere to Ford. At 17.55, it was seen to emerge from low cloud in a dive over Shottermill and as it did the aircraft broke up. The starboard engine fell vertically through the roof of the Rex Cinema and the main wreckage fell 95 yards north, on the main Hindhead to Haslemere road. Regrettably, all three RAF crew were killed.
5 January 1964: Rex Cinema, Haslemere hosted The Ronettes, Joe Brown and His Bruvvers, Marty Wilde and The Wildcats, and The Cheynes. Jumping 20 years ahead, The Temperance Seven ventured into the Rex on 19 February ’62; and it’s 15 feet deep stage, and three dressing rooms hosted a number of early sixties package tours over the coming years. Dee Dee Sharp on 30 October ’63, along with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Heinz, Joe Brown, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Vince Eager, Big Three, Lee Curtis & The All Stars, and Caravelles. The Ronettes appeared on 5 January ’64, with Joe Brown and His Bruvvers, Marty Wilde and The Wildcats, and The Cheynes; who also served as The Ronettes’ backing band that night. Later that year The Hollies, Heinz, Jess Conrad, The Tornados, Wayne Gibson and The Dixie Cups played The Rex. On 26 October ’64, The Hollies packaged with The Dixie Cups, Heinz & The Wild Boys, Jess Conrad, The Tornados, The Hi-Fi’s, and Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds rolled through.
In the ’80’s, Dr Feelgood presented a great show, leaving them exhausted – fortunately they only had to nip up the road to the Crown & Cushion, where they were staying thta night.
Set to close in March ’85 the ACE Group of cinemas stepped in and kept it going for a further 20 months. It closed on 28 November ’86. A number of local bands were ushered on and off stage by that night’s stage manager, Nigel Higgs at the closing event. These included Godalming College based S’Tori, Burning Ambition, Captain Pike, and Screaming Hearts; but also, ignominiously, Pulling the Worm who were pulled after two songs, the latter being in poor taste. It has now been demolished and housing built on the site.
Gallery:
5 January 1964: Advert for The Ronnettes package tour that openned at The Rex, Haslemere with Joe Brown and His Bruvvers, Marty Wilde and The Wildcats, and The Cheynes 
26 October 1964 at Rex, Haslemere. Source: www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
26 October 1964 – The Hollies, Heinz, Jess Conrad, The Tornados, Wayne Gibson and The Dixie Cups played The Rex, Haselmere 
The Rex Cinema, Haselmere 
The Rex Cinima, Haselmere c’81 Big Three, Burning Ambition, Captain Pike, Caravelles, Crown & Cushion, Dee Dee Sharp, Douglas Boston, Dr. Feelgood, Fred Astaire, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Ginger Rogers, Godalming College, Haselmere, Heinz, Heinz & The Wild Boys, Jess Conrad, Joe Brown, Joe Brown and his Bruvvers, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Lee Curtis & the All Stars, Marty Wilde and The Wildcats, Nigel Higgs, Pulling the Worm, RAF, Rex Cinema, S’Tori, Screaming Hearts, Shotterhill, The Cheynes, The Dixie Cups, The Hi-Fi’s, The Hollies, The Regal, The Ronettes, The Temperance Seven, The Tornados, Vince Eager, Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds, Wayne Gibson and The Dixie Cups -
Gresham Press Band
(c’1902-1914) ?
Old Woking based Unwin Brothers like many other works had their own band. Founded in 1902 the Gresham Press Band, which was also known as Gresham Brass Band or Gresham Press Brass Band, are known to have played at events in Send, with many of the players living in houses built in the village by the company.
Membership numbers varied but seems to have always been around 18. In 1906, the band competed and won a competition in Aldershot for their marching and playing, going on to be the southern area champions. Sadly, like many work’s bands, they disbanded during First World War and never reformed.
Gallery:
Gresham Press Brass Band, Old Woking, (date unknown) 
Gresham Press Brass Band, Old Woking, 1906 -
Cryin’ Out Loud
(c’87-date) Eric ‘Ferric’ Gosling (vocals / guitar / harmonica), Chris ‘Wheelbarrow’ Brayne (drums), Tim Wheatley (bass / vocals), and Bill ‘Hillbilly’ Hill (guitar / vocals).
This Godalming / Guildford R&B combo formed in the spring of ’87 following Brayne’s return from Thailand. Brayne. who had done a stint with Nashville Teens and The Stormsville Shakers, also did his time in Mungo Jerry, The Famous Rondini Brothers, Poker, Manhole, and Backhurst, recruited Gosling – previously of early ’70’s Tempus Fugit and known for a growling vocal style – from Manhole / The Riff Power Blues Band, along with Tim Wheatley – a musician and producer with ties to bands like Good Earth, Taggart, House, Gracious, and Poker, as well as having been the engineer at Keynote Studios, Frensham and owner of Chestnut Studios, Churt – and Hill. The band rehearsed in a cottage in Hurtmore, and are known to have played at the Village Hall, Chiddingfold; The Three Lions, Farncombe; The Maltings, Farnham – they were certainly there on 1 December ’88; The Halfway House, Heath End; as well as The White Hart, Frimley.
Cryin’ Out Loud playing at The Blues Tavern, Farnham in 1994. The band also ventured a little further afield, appearing a number of times, including 27 April ’90, at The Hatch, Old Basing. In ’88 they recorded the cassette LP It’s Your Own Fault, live at The Maltings. Matt Wheatley took on the drums and Mike Windus the guitar / vocals and they added piano around ’97. 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”.
In the mid 90’s Clodagh Rodgers held a benefit for her husband, guitarist Ian Sorbie, who had cancer and regrettably died in ’95. A pick-up band, that included Tim Wheatley, performed at the event held at the Village Hall, Chiddingfold. Brayne, who was nicknamed Wheelbarrow, had also played drums in Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band for quite a while and is the subject of the bands The Worlds a Wheelbarrow”; is sadly no longer with us having passed in ’96. That year there was a commemorative gig for him, with Jackie Lynton, Cryin’ Out Loud, House and a pickup band that included Ray Dorset. The reformed House recorded a track for a commemorative CD in ’97.
Cryin’ Out Loud are reportedly still gigging today, regularly appearing at Scratchers and Music in the Park, Godalming, amongst other venues.
Gallery:
The Gazette Extra covered Cryin’ Out Loud’s gig at The Hatch, Old Basing. Source: Billy Hill 
Cryin’ Out Loud at The White Hart, Frimley in 1992. Backhurst, Bill Hill, Chestnut Studios, Chiddingfold, Chris Brayne, Churt, Clodagh Rodgers, Cryin’ Out Loud, Eric Gosling, Farncombe, Farnham, Frensham, Frimley, Godalming, Good Earth, Gracious, Guildford, Heath End, House, Hurtmore, Ian Sorbie, Jackie Lynton, Jackie Lynton's Happy Days Band, Keynote Studios, Manhole, Matt Wheatley, Mike Windus, Mungo Jerry, Music in the Park, Nashville Teens, Old Basing, Poker, Ray Dorset, Richard Ashworth, Taggart, Tempus Fugit, The Famous Rondini Brothers, The Halfway House, The Hatch, The Maltings, The Riff Power Blues Band, The Stormsville Shakers, The Three Lions, The White Hart, Tim Wheatley, Village hall -
Detour Records
Detour started as the result of an enforced life detour for founder David “Dizzy” Holmes. Enroute from Midhurst to the National Scooter Rally, Skegness in ’84; Holmes hit a flooded section of motorway and smashed into a crash barrier. 18 months later he left the spinal injuries treatment centre at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury bound to a wheelchair.
An avid record collector before the accident he dove in deeper. Holmes placed an advert in Scootering Magazine to sell some unwanted vinyl and sold the majority and before long he’d a regular customer list. His mail order vinyl business was born.
Detour Records [DR001]: The Persuaders’ Finished Forever / In the Night sleeve front In 1992, The Persuaders, from Margate, sent Holmes a demo tape and a few months later 300 copies of Finished Forever/In the Night [DR001] were released in January ’93 – Detour Records first release. They sold well, indicating a market for mod influenced music. That same year Detour released DR002 through to 009.
Detour Records [DR002]: Tin Solders’ A New Beat’ / Girlfriend & Get Up and Go sleeve front. The second release [DR002] was the one and only single by Hartlepool’s Tin Soldiers, which was pressed by SRT.
Detour Records [DR003] from 1993: Front sleeve for The Direction’s double A-sided Yesterday / The Kids Wanna New Direction. DR003 was Lewisham based The Direction’s second single, the double A-sided Yesterday / The Kids Wanna New Direction, and their only release on Detour. Tania ? joined Detour Records and handled the business side of the label / mail order sales (not Holmes’ forte), while Holmes focused on the records.
Detour Records [DR007] from 1993: Front sleeve of Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey / Pretty Impossible. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records Woking’s own Vox Pop recorded a number of tracks at Earth Terminal Music in June ’93 with Cor Blimey! and Pretty Impossible, both produced by Luke Baldry along with the band, making it onto 7″ vinyl as Detour Records’ double A-sided DR007. Pretty Impossible would go on to appear on The Farnborough Groove and the Japan only release of a various mod artist compilation titled Kickstart! (TFCK-87501) on the Flavour of Sound label in ’95. When Record Collector magazine published an article on Dizzy Holmes’ Detour Record label, they called out Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey! as indicating a direction away from the typical mod sound of the label.
Detour Records [DRLP003] from 1995: Front sleeve for The Clique’s LP Self Preservation Society. In ’95, Philip Otto (bass), Trevor French, (vocals), Dom Strickland (organ), Bruce Brand (guitar) and Matthew Braim (drums), the five members of London based mod psych band, The Clique released The Self Preservation Society [DRLP003]. This was the band’s first and last studio album, after eight years as a unit. Engineered and produced by Liam Watson, part of it was used on The Big Breakfast. Selling over 5000 copies, with artwork by Dom Strickland, it is Detour’s best seller and saw The Clique showcase for the One Little Indian label. Mark Lamar would later have them do a Live in Session slot on Radio 1 on Mark Radcliffe’s evening show and he wrote the sleeve notes for the farewell single released on Detour in ’98.
In ’96, co-produced with Detour Records, Flavour of Sound released The Jam Tribute the Modern World compilation album – again in Japan only – which carried Vox Pop’s Running on the Spot. This was re-released (PREACH008CD) in the UK on the Rhythm Vicar label in 2001 with two additional tracks.
Today, Detour has morphed into several labels (Detour, Paisley Archive, Biff Bang Pow, Bin Liner, and Only Fit for The Bin) and the mail order catalogue is online only. It is also be worth mentioning that just about everything Detour has released is available to stream or download from your favorite digital service.
Holmes is still active in the music arena and with Tania also runs the Bulldog Rescue Trust.
Gallery:
1993’s [DR001] Back sleeve The Persuaders’ Finished Forever / In the Night [DR001] 
1993’s [DR002]: Tin Solders “A New Beat’ / “Girlfriend” & “Get Up and Go” sleeve back. 
1993’s [DR002] Inner sleeve Tin Solders’ A New Beat / Girlfriend & Get Up and Go 
1993’s [DR002]: A-Side Tin Solders A New Beat / Girlfriend & Get Up and Go 
1993’s [DR002]: B-Side Tin Solders A New Beat / Girlfriend & Get Up and Go 
1993’s [DR003] – Sleeve back of The Direction’s Yesterday / The Kids Wanna New Direction. 
1993’s [DR003] – A-Side of The Direction’s Yesterday / The Kids Wanna New Direction. 
1993’s [DR003] – AA-Side of The Direction’s Yesterday / The Kids Wanna New Direction. 
1993’s [DR007] Back sleeve of Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey / Pretty Impossible. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
1993’s [DR007] Side-A of Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey / Pretty Impossible. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
1993’s [DR007] Side-AA of Vox Pop’s Cor Blimey / Pretty Impossible. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
1995’s [DRLP003] – Sleeve back of The Clique’s LP Self Preservation Society. 
1995’s [DRLP003] – A-side of The Clique’s LP Self Preservation Society. 
1995’s [DRLP003] – B-side of The Clique’s LP Self Preservation Society. Biff Bang Pow, Bin Liner, Bruce Brand, David Holmes, Detour Records, Dom Strickland, Earth Terminal Music, Farnborough Groove, Flavour of Sound, Hartlepool, Lewisham, Liam Watson, Live in Session, London, Luke Baldry, Margate, Mark Lamar, Mark Radcliffe, Matthew Braim, Midhurst, National Scooter Rally, Odstock Hospital, One Little Indian, Only Fit for The Bin, Paisley Archive, Philip Otto, Radio 1, Record Collector, Rhythm Vicar, Scootering Magazine, SRT, The Big Breakfast, The Clique, The Direction, The Persuaders, Tin Soldiers, Trevor French, Vox Pop -
The Doolahats
(c’57-’58) Claude Wilkins (guitar / vocals), Chris Arkle (washboard), Chris Winters (guitar), and Mick Cranham (tea chest bass).
This Guildford skiffle band got together in ’57. The next year Johnny Kelly (lead guitar) joined as Arkle moved to snare drum. Cranham and Winters left and Les Owen came in on bass and Micky Lampard on Guitar. Missing the truly skiffle washboard sound Stan Newman joined late in ’58. One Roger ? was also a member of the band during Newman’s tenure.
Owen got to together with a few others to form the Crescendos in the ’60’s and was later joined in the band by Kelly. Newman sadly passed, at the age of 81, in 2021.
Gallery:
The Doolahats c’58 
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The Dennis Orchestra
(c’1916) Harry Whitworth (piano), Leslie Fly (piano) and ?.
Dennis, the commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Guildford, was the town’s biggest employer and had an extensive work social program including The Dennis Orchestra. They performed at local events and for troops stationed near Guildford. They used Dennis lorries for transport.
On 18 March 1916, the orchestra travelled to Pirbright to perform to the company of soldiers stationed at Guards’ Camp, all of whom were ordered to France the next day. In the Surrey Advertiser on 2 December 1922, the Dennis Athletic Club on Woodbridge Hill, Guildford advertised their Dance Friday to be held on 8 December 1922 with music by The Dennis Orchestra, with tickets costing nine pence. The orchestra had also performed at the venue the prior Friday, the 1 December 1922.
Fly was also involved with the Co-Operative Concert Company.
Gallery:
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Heart Management
(c’85-‘?) Heart Management was run by the father and son team of Bob and Chris Herbert out of Lightwater. In ’85, Bob took a liking to Matt and Luke Goss, friends of his son Chris and pupils together at Collingwood School, Camberley. Only 15 at the time, they had formed their own pop group called Gloss with the bassist Craig Logan. Bob offered Gloss advice and provided rehearsal space for them in his summer house; introduced them to songwriters, financed their early demo tapes and planned their route to success.
Gloss met musician, songwriter and music producer Nicky Graham, who introduced them to music manager Tom Watkins. Unimpressed, Watkins realized that he could mold the group into a boy band for the teen girl market, with Graham and Watkins writing the songs for them. Gloss split from Herbert and signed a contract with Watkins and his management company. Watkins renamed the band Bros.
Bob and Chris, now 21 years old, teamed up and Heart Management and Safe Management came into existence. Early ’94 found Bob handing out flyers in UK cities and placing an ad in The Stage which drew 600 applicants. He stated that “The whole teen-band scene at the time was saturated by boy bands like Take That and the Backstreet Boys. That was all a bit of a yawn for me and only appealed to female audiences…I felt if you could appeal to the boys as well, you’d be laughing.”
23 year old Chris Herbert of Heart Management The Herberts then, along with financier Chic Murphy – who previously managed the Three Degrees, auditioned the applicants and whittled the line-up down to Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Laccohee, Lianne Morgan, and Michelle Stephenson. Laccohee was replaced almost immediately with Victoria Adams, and shortly after Morgan and Stephenson were replaced by Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton respectively. All five were put up in a semi-detached house in Maidenhead and rehearsed daily at Trinity Studios within the Community Centre, Knaphill.
Originally called Touch, it was during this development phase in ’94 that filmmaker Neil Davies, who’d been looking to make a documentary film about a girl group, filmed the quintet for four months at Trinity Studios and their Maidenhead domicile. There was no guarantee that the group would find success, but Davies wanted to capture the story even if it was a disaster. The group were insecure about the lack of a contract and frustrated by the direction in which Heart was steering them (dress the same and sing cover versions of other artists).
The Spice Girls purportedly shot at Trinity Studios, Knaphill Chris set up a showcase performance for industry writers, producers and A&R men in December ’94 at the Nomis Studios, Shepherd’s Bush. There was a lot of interest in the group and the Herberts quickly set about a binding contract, but all five members delayed signing on legal advice. In March ’95 they parted from the Herbert’s Heart Management and Spice, then the Spice Girls were born.
In ’97, the Herberts reverted to boy-bands and the formation and management of Five, having selected the lads from 3,000 hopefuls who’d auditioned for Bob and Chris. Heart also helped oversee the careers of Stephen Gately, B*Witched, The Honeyz, and Ben’s Brother. Chris represented Hear’Say as part of the music reality TV show, Popstars and managed all the artists from the BBC music show, Fame Academy. In 2001, Chris was awarded the Manager of the Year award by the Music Managers Forum. Chris Herbert was also the manager of Justin Edwards, aka MC Ultra, the source of 2012’s Tulisa Contostavlos sex tape.
Five Bob died in a car crash in Windsor on 19 August ’99. Chris appeared in Raw Spice, the 2001 documentary about the Spice Girls, filmed by Davies back in ’94, and is still involved in the music industry.
Gallery:
One of Heart Management’s adverts that led to the formation of the Spice Girls. B*Witched, BBC, Ben’s Brother, Bob Herbert, Bros, Camberley, Chic Murphy, Chris Herbert, Collingwood School, Community Centre, Craig Logan, Emma Bunton, Fame Academy, Five, Geri Halliwell, Gloss, Hear’Say, Heart Management, Justin Edwards, Knaphill, Lianne Morgan, Luke Goss, Maidenhead, Matt Goss, MC Ultra, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Melanie Laccohee, Michelle Stephenson, Neil Davies, Nicky Graham, Nomis Studios, Popstars, Safe Corporation, Safe Management, Shepherd's Bush, Spice, Spice Girls, Stephen Gately, The Honeyz, The Stage, Three Degrees, Tom Watkins, Touch, Trinity Studios, Tulisa Contostavlos, Victoria Adams, Windsor -
Village Hall, Churt
After WWI 5 1/2 acres of a 10-acre site in the middle of Churt became recreation ground as a memorial to the dead. The remaining area was divided into building plots to be sold originally only to ex-servicemen. One plot of land remained unsold so Frank Mason, a local businessman, gave Churt the plot and its Village Hall; which opened in 1928.
One of the Hall’s early Trustees was local resident David Lloyd George. During WWII the Hall was used for Wartime Services and the locally stationed Canadian army held weekly dances. On 7 December ’63, The Stormsville Shakers rocked the village, returning on 25 January and 8 May ’64. In the early 60’s we know that local band The Conchords played there, and the music continues at the venue to this day.
Gallery:
The Conchords at Churt Village Hall. Source: Stephen Lindsey-Clark via Guildford Town Past & Present 
The Village Hall, Churt c’30
Our Soundscene 
Human beings takes me back to 1981. Followed them all over the Surrey reading area for a year a great band and 3 good guys playing well written songs of the era. I wish john Tim and steve well what ever they are doing now. Should reform for a few shows just like Oasis but do the wooden bridge.
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