-
Sugar Mountain
(c’88-91) – Jason Applin (vocals), Dominic Coles (drums), Rick Testa (guitar) & Paul Harle (bass).
Sugar Mountain – August 1988 Previously known as The Dead Beats, mid ’88 saw this Camberley four-piece gigging at The Full Moon, Fulham, Covent Garden’s Rock Garden and supporting McCarthy. An initial 3-track demo carrying “Let’s Get Happy”, Greenwich Village” and “Popes on Dope” helped secure airplay on Janice Long’s Radio One show in the same time-frame.
On 1 July ’88, The Sensory Assault, Eat My Shorts, and Sugar Mountain played Lightwater Country Club; one of the posters for which featured a photo montage of Eat My Shorts guitarist Adrian Barry’s (later of The Ha Ha Men) family. In August ’88 the band released their second demo tape, titled “Pleasure”; available to Soundscene readers for the price of post and packing. The five tracks included “(I Was On The Toilet) When Jesus Was Telling Us About The Meaning Of Life”, “Baby Just Hold My Hand” and “Beverley”; and two previously released tracks: “Greenwich Village” and “Popes on Dope”.
Also in ’88 was a limited (UK and Germany) vinyl release of “Let’s Get Happy” – which features a sixties-esque vocal with a Mighty Lemon Drops guitar sound – on the independent Ride Records label. Ride also put “Let’s Get Happy” on the 4-track, 7-Inch, compilation LP “Hands Off Hands On” that also featured stable mates: 1967, The Red Pyjamas and Deja Vu.
June ’88 saw them at the Buzz Club, The West End Centre, Aldershot with The Jeremiahs, Bluetrain, Crimplene Explosion, The Aubisons and The Splendids. The band were earmarked to play Showcase ’88, but Sugar Mountain were unable to play the date that would have been their first appearance in Woking. They appeared at The Cricketers, Westfield on 17 September ’88 instead.
Cole went on to join Something Religious and The Outcast Band. Applin was the vocalist for The Ha Ha Men.
Tracks:
Let’s Get Happy:
Gallery:
26 November 1988: Sugar Mountain, along with Book of LIes, The Hipshakers, Loveskip, Annie & The Aeroplanes, Stormed, and Before the Storm, supported headliners Here & Now at the Sir George Robey, Finsbury Park. Source: Neil Thompson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
Ride Records 7″ compilation featuring Sugar Mountain’s “Let’s Get Happy” released in ’88 
Soundscene, Sept 8, 1988 
June 18, ’88 
18 June 1988: Framed Buzz Club Poster. Source: Dave Driscoll 
Sugar Mountain: Soundscene – 18th August 1988 
Soundscene – 25th August 1988 
Poster #2 for the Sugar Mountain supporting The Sensory Support, along with Eat My Shorts at the Lightwater Country Club on Friday 1st July ’91. Picture courtesy of Nathan Argonaut 
Poster #1 for the Sugar Mountain supporting The Sensory Support, along with Eat My Shorts at the Lightwater Country Club on Friday 1st July ’91. Picture courtesy of Nathan Argonaut 
Apparently it needed to be said that Sugarc Mouyntain being better than Bros was a personal opinion… PG Tips, probably 22 Dec 1988. Picture courtesy of Daniel Hiscocks 
Picture courtesy of Dominic Coles 
Sugar Mountain win the “Invaders From Abroad Award” in the PG Tips December 1988 honors list. Picture courtesy of Daniel Hiscocks 
8th January 1989: Sugar Mountain were included in a Blue Fire Promotions All Dayer with Long Tall Texans, Bob Hope, Midniters, Waterfront, Between Two Worlds, Heartbreak Beat, The Gift, Beef, and The Hiding Place 1967, Aldershot, Bluetrain, Buzz Club, Camberley, Covent Garden, Cricketers, Crimplene Explosion, Deja Vu, Dominic Coles, Fulham, Janice Long, Jason Applin, McCarthy, Paul Harle, Radio One, Rick Testa, Ride Records, Rock Garden, Showcase '88, Something Religious, Sugar Mountain, The Aubisons, The Dead Beats, The Full Moon, The Jeremiahs, The Mulberry Ceilings, The Outcast Band, The Red Pyjamas, The Splendids, West End Centre, Westfield, Woking -
Death in June
(1981 to date) – Douglas Pierce (guitar / vocals / percussion / keyboards), Patrick Leagas (drums / vocals / drum machine/ keyboards / trumpet) and Tony Wakeford (bass / vocals)
Formed out of the ashes of Crisis in 1981 with Pierce, Leagas and Wakeford were joined by, founder member of Psychic TV, Christ TV shortly after. Their first gig, supporting The Birthday Party, was at City of London Polytechnic on 20 November ’81. By ’83, with the release of ‘The Guilty Have No Pride’ mini LP, which reached 13th in the Media Research Information Bureau (MRIB) chart and received a four-star review in Sounds and was well received by Melody Maker, their European folk sound was coming to the fore. Tension over direction lead to Wakeford being asked to leave in January ’84 and he went on to post-punk Above the Ruins and formed Sol Invictus.
March ’85 saw the release of “NADA”, a 10 track LP including “The Honour of Silence”, “The Calling”, “Leper Lord” and “She Said Destroy”, which Sounds’ Sandy Robertson raved over when released as a single in ’84, securing Single of the Week; closing with “Crush My Soul” which Soundscene’s reviewer described as sounding “like an innocent musical box, but one which opens to reveal a dancing razor blade in a tu-tu. Magnifico stuff”. “Born Again” was released as a 12″ shortly after “NADA” hit the racks, with “The Calling (MkII)” and “Carousel (Bolt Mix)” on the flipside. The band were then off to Paris then a short tour of Italy..
Leagas departed abruptly in April 1985 after the Italian tour, resulting in many cancelled shows in the UK and Europe due to follow that tour. Leagas, who began calling himself Patrick O-Kill, went on to formed Sixth Comm. So it was that in 1985 Pierce, who was originally from St. Johns, became the sole constant member of Death in June, with rotating guest musicians serving as collaborators and live band members. Pearce continues working under the Death in June moniker to this day.
Gallery:
Woking Soundscene – March 28 1985. This is just before Patrick Leagas left… 
1982 supporting This Heat at King’s College London Student Union. 
1984 supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Electric Ballroom 
1985 supporting Annie Anxiety with Current 93 and D+V at The 100 Club 
Incomplete clipping from Woking Soundscene, 14th March 1985. 
17 December 1983: Death in June, supported by In THe Nursery, played the Clarendon, Hammersmith (NME, 17 December 1983 issue). Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
1981 supporting The Birthday Party with Malaria… 
Death in June featured in the July 1991 issues of the Fear and Loathing Fanzine Vol.9. We’ve yet to find the article) 
Autumn 83’s Animal House gigs, from Times Series Pop Scene from 24th September 1983 
21 July ’83 Soundscene column clipping -
What The Curtains
(c’84/85) Peter Mullen (guitar/vocals), Andy Dean (bass/vocals), Cliff Sawdey (keyboards/vocals) and Graeme Block (drums).
What The Curtains’ first single “Crime or Passion”, backed by “Words (Can’t Tell)” was released in ’84. Named for a Prince Herbert line from ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ their first single: “Crime or Passion”, backed by “Words (Can’t Tell)”, on the Rideaux Records label (WTC0042), was released in ’84 and received an acceptable review from Melody Maker while Soundscene reported it to be “a bit Wellerish”. In early ’85 Bagshot based What The Curtains committed their four best tracks to video (which Soundscene would love to find) at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking including “Acacia Child”. Later that year they played the Miss Woking Caberet, as well as at The Hippodrome and The Rock Garden. Reportedly the members of What The Curtains were extras in the movie Masters of the Universe after they had gone to Los Angeles to “make it” in the music business to no avail.
In ’88 Block replaced Al Beckett in The Surfin’ Lungs, Andy Dean’s brothers band.
Gallery:
What The Curtains’ Peter Mullen at Miss Woking Cabaret 1985 
What The Curtains’ Graeme Block at Miss Woking Cabaret 1985 
What The Curtains’ Cliff Sawdey at Miss Woking Cabaret 1985 
What The Curtains’ Andy Dean at Miss Woking Cabaret 1985 
Soundscene, April 25th 1985 -
The Gossville Arsonist
The Gossville Arsonist was an early 90s zine created by Scott Wood, a King’s Arms regular, and was available at the Rock Box, Agincourt, Camberley, The Cube held at Ragamuffins, Camberley, etc. It covered the bands that formed and played in and around Camberley and featured some very acerbic reviews which are a joy to re-read after all these years.
There was a regular column written by Madam Frou Frou, the editor’s girlfriend at the time. Then there was Willy the Worm, a comic strip, which opened with “Hi – I’m Willy the worm. People think I’m a prick but I’m a worm with a centre parting….” created by Patrick Fenton.
Wood is now the Events Manager at Conway Hall, London and writes for Londonist. Madam Frou Frou went into public relations.
Gallery:
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland 
Picture courtesy of Nick Holland -
Dross
(c.’87-’89) Nick Holland (guitar / vocals) and Curt Evans (drums), Duncan Johnson (guitar) and Gary Morton (bass).
Formed in late ’87, Dross were a Camberley based rock band with an anti-Bros sentiment. They gigged locally, with their gig at Chertsey Road Hall, Windlesham, supported by Mariah, included in Kerrang!’s Rekord & Tour Newz section having written in to Jon Hotton. Following a gig with Trousershock B.C. at Frimley Community Centre on 6th may ’89, Dross changed their name to Killing Faith.
Gallery:
Taken from Kerrang!’s Rekord & Tour Newz section sometime in late ’88 you’ll see a reference to Dross playing the Churchill Road Hall in Windlesham. It was actually Chertsey Road Hall (which is still there). Picture courtesy on Nick Holland. 
1988 
1989 -
Phone The Pope
(c’88-’90) Richard Askew (keyboards), Kyd Douglas (bass), David Bates (guitar), Steve Bell (drums) and Gavin Thomas (vocals).
This Guildford five-piece band were formed in early ’88 by songwriters Askew and Douglas. Phone The Pope developed a loyal fan base and regularly played London venues including the Rock Garden, Dingwalls and the Mean Fiddler. Their debut at London’s Rock Garden, supporting The Wheel, reportedly pulled better box office returns than U2’s debut gig at the same venue with the band performing two encores: Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” and “Something So Electric”.
Phone the Pope recorded two EPs, although the first was more of a double A-sided cassette single carrying “Tortured Paradise” and “Wouldn’t Want to Be Like”. The second, was recorded at Black Barn Studios, Ripley with Robin Black producing the 3 songs: “Don’t You Love It”, “Sugar Daddy”, and “Chills”.
Douglas was last seen in Farnham and may be involved in artist management. Askew is in Aldershot. Bell emigrated to the USA.
Gallery:
Soundscene June 16th 1988 
-
The 1972 Gig List
What follows is a list of gigs, with images of tickets, adverts and flyers where possible, either at GU postcode venues or featuring bands, listed in bold, we like to claim are part of the Woking/GU Soundscene in 1972:
January 1
Roundhouse, London: GenesisJanuary 2
Civic Hall, Guildford: Strawbs w/ Pure Wings
January 4
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 5
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 6
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 7
Technical College, Bradford: GenesisJanuary 8
Technical College, Farnborough: Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come w/ BB Blunder
Baths Hall, Epsom: GenesisJanuary 9
BBC Elstree Centre, Borehamwood: GenesisJanuary 11
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 12
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 13
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 15
Salle de La Jeunesse, Arlon, Belgium: GenesisJanuary 16
Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi, Belgium: GenesisJanuary 17
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisJanuary 19
College Of Education, Coventry: GenesisJanuary 20
St John’s College, Manchester: GenesisJanuary 22
Athénée Royal, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium: GenesisJanuary 22
Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi, Belgium: GenesisJanuary 24
Théâtre du Trocadéro, Liège, Belgium: GenesisJanuary 25
Civic Hall, Guildford: Jimmy Shand & His Band w/ Jimmy McWilliams, Pipe Major Alastir MacFarlene, and Angus Fitchet
Source: Ken Horne via Guildford Town Past & Present January 27
Toby Jug, London: GenesisJanuary 28
Marquee, London: Duster Bennett w/ Zoot Money
Town Hall, Reading: GenesisJanuary 29
Technical College, Farnborough: Hawkwind w/ Open Road
University of Surrey, Guildford: GenesisJanuary 30
Black Prince, London: GenesisFebruary 1
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisFebruary 2
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisFebruary 3
The Maltings, Farnham: GenesisFebruary 4
University of Surrey, Guildford: Bronco w/ John Martyn, and Claire Hammill
Queen Elizabeth Hall, London: Lindisfarne w/ GenesisFebruary 5
Technical College, Farnborough: Climax Chicago w/ Alan Bown
Luton College, Luton: Rory Gallagher w/ Genesis
February 9
Civic Hall, Guildford: Wishbone Ash w/ Glencoe
Source: Ken Horne via Guildford Town Past & Present February 12
Technical College, Farnborough: Lindisfarne w/ KhanFebruary 13
Civic Hall, Guildford: Audience w/ Gordon HaskellFebruary 17
City (Oval) Hall, Sheffield: Genesis
17 February 1972: Genesis played Sheffield Civic Hall, Guildford: The Spinners
Source: Ken Horne via Guildford Town Past & Present February 20
Civic Hall, Guildford: Al Stewart w/ Thunderclap Newman, and Roger Ruskin SpeareFebruary 25
Locarno, Sunderland: Mott the Hoople w/ Genesis
25 February 1972 February 26
Bracknell Sports Centre: Kingdom Come w/ Arthur Brown, Genesis, and Morgan
26 February 1972: Genesis along with Morgan supported Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come at Bracknell Sports Centre. Source: Andrew Kilderry via Keep It Out Of Sight March 2
Civic Hall, Guildford: Hardin & YorkMarch 10
Goldsmiths College, London: Mungo Jerry w/ Camel
March 11
Technical College, Farnborough: Roger Ruskin Speare w/ Thunderclap Newman, and Tea & SymphonyMarch 12
Technical College, Farnborough: Roger Ruskin Speare w/ Bridget St. John, and Gordon GiltrapMarch 17
Technical College, Farnborough: Tony HazzardMarch 21
Civic Hall, Guildford: Rory Gallagher w/ ByzantiumMarch 22
Civic Hall, Guildford: Barclay James Harvest w/ Matching MoleMarch 24
Technical College, Farnborough: Steeleye Span w/ Ben
Technical College, Guildford: FlashApril 9
Civic Hall, Guildford: Moot The Hoople w/ Hackensack and Max WallApril 13
Civic Hall, Guildford: Edgar Broughton Band (cancelled due to illness)April 26
Civic Hall, Guildford: Ralph McTellApril 27
The Marquee, London: Vinegar Joe w/ Camel
West Surrey Art College, Farnham: Skin AlleyApril 28
Kingston Polytechnic, Kingston: Genesis w/ Spread Eagle
28 April 1972: Genesis performed at Kingston Polytechnic. Image courtesy of Noel Jones April 30
Civic Hall, Guildford: Genesis w/Ben
May 4
Growling Budgie, Ilford: UnicornMay 6
University College of North Wales, Bangor: GenesisMay 7
Civic Hall, Guildford: ELO w/ Colin BlunstoneMay 12
Pantiles, Bagshot: Little Free RockMay 13
Technical College, Farnborough: Audience w/ Truck
May 14
Civic Hall, Guildford: Slade w/ Status Quo
May 18
Civic Hall, Guildford: Cleo Laine and the Johnny Dankworth Quartet
Mr. Steve’s, Manchester: Unicorn
Unicorn’s May ’72 schedule advertised by the Nemisis Agency. May 19
The Marquee, London: Duster Bennett w/ Brunning Hall
Cavern, Liverpool: UnicornMay 20
Technical College, Farnborough: Gypsy w/ Good Habit
Cavern, Liverpool: UnicornMay 21
Civic Hall, Guildford: Brewer’s Droop w/ Climax ChicagoMay 23
Clifton College, Nottingham: UnicornMay 24
Tivoli Ballroom, Buckley: UnicornMay 25
Town Hall, Oakengates: UnicornMay 26
Sirius Club, Southgate: UnicornMay 27
Civic Hall, Guildford: Uriah Heep
Technical College, Farnborough: Genesis w/ Nimbo
Speakeasy, W.1: UnicornMay 28
Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough: Rocharch
Growling Budgie, Ilford: Unicorn
28 May 1972: Unicorn at Growling Budgie. Source: Hackensack – band May 30
Bumpers, Coventry: UnicornMay 31
Cambridge Hotel, Camberley: MontanasJune 2
Hastings Pier, Hastings: Genesis w/ Budgie
2 June 1972: Genesis and Budgie at Hastings Pier June 4
Arts Centre, Church Crookham: Rocharch w/ FusionJune 8
Civic Hall, Guildford: Audience w/ FlashJune 11
Civic Hall, Guildford: Kingdom Come w/ SwaztikaJune 15
Civic Hall, Guildford: Caravan w/ Khan, and The Parlour BandJune 24
Civic Hall, Guildford: David BowieJune 29
Civic Hall, Guildford: If w/ Help YourselfJune 30
Pantiles, Bagshot: Little Free RockJuly 1
Guildford Free Festival, University of Surrey, Guildford: Capability BrownJuly 2
Civic Hall, Guildford: HawkwindJuly 8
Technical College, Farnborough: Sha Na Na w/ SwastikaJuly 14
Lyceum, London: Genesis w/ Audience, and Capability Brown
July 18
The Marquee, London: Third Ear Band w/ Camel
July 22
Winter Gardens, Malvern: The Soft Machine w/ Unicorn
22 July 1972: Poster for night Unicorn supported The Soft Machine at Winter Gardens, Malvern. Source: www.malvernrockarchive.org.uk 
22 July 1972: Ticket for night Unicorn supported The Soft Machine at Winter Gardens, Malvern. Source: www.malvernrockarchive.org.uk Alex Disco, Salisbury: Genesis
22 July 1972: Genesis played Alex Disco, Salisbury. Source: Hackensack – band July 23
Civic Hall, Guildford: Stackridge w/ Camel
July 28
Pantiles, Bagshot: Littlev Free RockAugust 11
Day 1, 11th National Jazz, Blues, Folk & Rock Festival (Reading Festival), Reading: Curved Air w/ Mungo Jerry, Genesis, Pretty Things, Nazareth, Steam Hammer and Cottonwood
August 13
Civic Hall, Guildford: Mott the Hoople w/ FruuppAugust 25
Civic Hall, Guildford: RenaissanceAugust 28
Windsor Free Festival, Windsor Great Park: RocharchSeptember 2
Jane Sylvester’s Barn, Fleet: RocharchSeptember 3
Civic Hall, Guildford: Stray w/ Snake EyeSeptember 9
Civic Hall, Guildford: Colin BlunstoneSeptember 19
The Marquee, London: Genesis w/ Spreadeagle
September 27
Manchester Polytechnic, Manchester: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateSeptember 29
Sundown Club, Edmonton: Lou Reed w/ Duncan Browne, and Phillip Goodhand-Tate
October 1
Civic Hall, Guildford: ELOOctober 6
University of Surrey, Guildford: HackensackOctober 7
Glasgow University, Glasgow: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 13
University of Surrey, Guildford: Hardin & York w/ Gary Moore Band
Cambridge University, Cambridge: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 14
Leicester University, Leicester: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 19
The Stadium, Liverpool University, Liverpool: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 20
Essex University, Colchester: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 21
Technical College, Farnborough: Climax Chicago Blues Band
Imperial College, London: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 22
Hard Rock Concert Theatre, Manchester: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 25
Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 26
Alhambra Rock Theatre, Birmingham: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 27
University of Surrey, Guildford: East Of Eden w/ Capability Brown
Leeds Polytechnic, Leeds: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 28
Kingston Polytechnic, London: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 29
University of Southampton, Southampton: : Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateOctober 30
Civic Hall, Dunstable: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateNovember 1
Sundown Club, Mile End: : Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tate
Civic Hall, Guildford: Soft Machine w/ Mick Greenwood
November 2
Pheasantry Club, London: Lou Reed w/ Phillip Goodhand-TateNovember 5
Civic Hall. Guildford: Al Stewart w/ Mike CooperNovember 10
Civic Hall. Guildford: Pentangle
University of Surrey, Guildford: Skin AlleyNovember 11
Technical College, Farnborough: Groundhogs w/ Badger
11 November 1972: The Groundhogs, Farnborough Technical College. Source: Don West via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia
The Marque, London: Genesis w/ Mahatma Kane JeevesNovember 12
Fairfield Hall, Croydon: Genesis w/ Capability Brown And Atacama
November 13
Civic Hall. Guildford: King CrimsonNovember 15
Civic Hall. Guildford: GenesisNovember 17
University of Surrey, Guildford: Rare BirdNovember 20
Civic Hall. Guildford: Roxy MusicNovember 22
Civic Hall. Guildford: Snake EyeNovember 25
Technical College, Farnborough: Stray w/ Magic Muscle
25 November 1972: Poster for Stray, supported by Magic Muscle at Farnborough Tech. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew November 26
Civic Hall, Guildford: Status Quo w/ ByzantiumNovember 29
Civic Hall. Guildford: Ralph McTell w/ Natural Acoustic BandDecember 15
University of Surrey. Guildford: Fusion OrchestraDecember 16
Technical College, Farnborough: Stackridge w/ The Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra
16 December 1972: The Stackridge “Treasure Island” Tour came to Farnborough Tech, with The Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew December 17
HM Prison, Woking: Skin AlleyDecember 18
?, Aldershot: HomeDecember 20
Civic Hall. Guildford: Wishbone AshDecember 28
Civic Hall. Guildford: StackridgeForward to:
The 1973 Gig ListBack to:
The 1971 Gig List1972, Al Stewart, Alan Bown, Aldershot, Alex Disco, Alhambra Rock Theatre, Angus Fitchet, Arlon, Arthur Brown, Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come, Arts Centre, Athénée Royal, Audience, Badger, Bagshot, Bangor, Barclay James Harvest, Baths Hall, BB Blunder, BBC Elstree Centre, Belgium, Ben, Birmingham, Black Prince, Borehamwood, Bracknell, Bradford, Bridget St. John, Bronco, Brunning Hall, Budgie, Byzantium, Camberley, Cambridge, Cambridge Hotel, Camel, Capability Brown, Caravan, Charleroi, Church Crookham, City Hall, Civic hall, Claire Hammill, Cleo Laine, Climax Chicago, Climax Chicago Blues Band, Colin Blunstone, College Of Education, Cottonwood, Coventry, Curved Air, David Bowie, Duncan Browne, Dunstable, Duster Bennett, East of Eden, Edger Broughton Band, Edmonton, ELO, Epsom, Essex University, Farnborough, Farnborough Tech, Farnham, Flash, Fleet, Fruupp, Fusion, Gary Moore Band, Genesis, Glasgow, Glencoe, Goldsmiths College, Good Habit, Gordon Giltrap, Gordon Haskell, Groundhogs, Guildford, Gypsy, Hackensack, Hard Rock Concert Theatre, Hardin & York, Hastings, Hastings Pier, Hawkwind, Help Yourself, Home, If, Imperial College, Jane Sylvester, Jimmy McWilliams, Jimmy Shand & His Band, John Martyn, Johnny Dankworth Quartet, Khan, King Crimson, Kingdom Come, Kingston, Kingston Polytechnic, Leeds Polytechnic, Leicester, Liège, Lindisfarne, Little Free Rock, Liverpool, London, Lou Reed, Luton, Luton College, Magic Muscle, Mahatma Kane Jeeves, Malvern, Manchester, Manchester Polytechnic, Marquee, Matching Mole, Max Wall, Mick Greenwood, Mile End, Montanas, Moot the Hoople, Morgan, Mungo Jerry, Natural Acoustic Band, Nazareth, Nimbo, Open Road, Oval Hall, Oxford, Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Pantiles, Pentangle, Pheasantry Club, Phillip Goodhand-Tate, Pipe Major Alastir MacFarlene, Pretty Things, Pure Wings, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ralph McTell, Rare Bird, Reading, Reading Festival, Renaissance, Rocharch, Roger Ruskin Speare, Rory Gallagher, Roundhouse, Roxy Music, Salisbury, Salle de La Jeunesse, Sha Na Na, Sheffield, Skin Alley, Slade, Snake Eye, Soft Machine, Sports Centre, Spread Eagle, Spreadeagle, St John’s College, Stackridge, Status Quo, Steam Hammer, Steeleye Span, Strawbs, Stray, Sundown Club, Swastika, Tea & Symphony, Technical College, Théâtre du Trocadéro, The Maltings, The Parlour Band, The Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, The Soft Machine, The Spinners, The Stadium, Third Ear Band, Thunderclap Newman, Toby Jug, Tony Hazzard, Truck, Unicorn, University College of North Wales, University of Southampton, University of Surrey, Uriah Heep, Vinegar Joe, WEst Surrey Arts College, Windsor, Windsor Free Festival, Winter Gardens, Wishbone Ash, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Zoot Money -
Five O’Clock High
(c’82-87) David Bailey (guitar/vocals), Michael Bailey (bass/backing vocals) and Greg Turner (drums).
Five O’Clock High with band van. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey In May ’82 the trio formed She’s Gone Wild, later renaming the band Carnival, then Strawberry Statement before locking in on Five O’Clock High in late ’84. The band were managed by Colin Bidwell and The Bailey’s father and mixed self penned tracks such as “Great Brain Robbery”, “Giving Guns to the Natives”, “All Ours” and “For More” with covers of 60’s classics like the Who’s “The Kids Are Alright”, The Beatles “Money” and The Troggs “Wild Thing”.
Five O’Clock High at The Pit, Knaphill They regularly performed at local haunts such as Knaphill’s Vernon Van Go Go and the Community Centre (aka The Pit), Capstan’s Wine Bar, St. John’s and The Royal, Guildford, at times supported by The Early Years. The bands first London gig was at the La Beat Route, Greek Street, Soho in ’84, going on to appear at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, supporting The Self with XL on 20 May ’85 and The Tramshed “New Band Nite” on 10th June. Comparisons to The Jam were common, Turner even used Rick Buckler’s old drum kit. At some point the boys recorded 5 tracks at Catch 44 Studios, Godalming.
Around New Year’s Day ’86 they released a three track (“All Ours”, “For More” and “Giving Guns to the Natives”) cassette demo EP, which featured Lisa Woolf (nee White) playing a classical score upside down on “Giving Guns to the Natives”. ’86 also saw the trio supporting The Primitives at The Bull & Gate and returning to La Beat Route. They were also definitely supporting the Cardiacs at the very last concert at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking; along with The Body Politic and Steel Bill & the Buffalos. After almost five years together the band dispersed in early ’87.
Flyer for the last concert at The Old Schoolhouse. Source: Mark Kettett On 12 August 2021 we lost Michael Bailey. David Bailey went on to be a founding member of Vox Pop in ’92, moved to Spain, was involved in the The Real Me and Acoustic River Collective (ARC) – a group of musicians based in Almeria – and is currently recording as part of Left Bank Two.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Five O’Clock High at The Pit, Knaphill. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey 
Five O’clock High at the Tunnel Club, Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey 
Soundscene circa 1985/86 
Soundscene circa 1985/86 
Soundscene – 21 March 1985 
1985-ish 
The Royal, Guildford 
Five O’Clock High at Capstan’s Wine Bar, St. John’s c’1986. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey. 
21 May 1985…The Royal, Guildford 
Five O’Clock High were the “Supporting Guests” for this The Self, XL gig at The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town on 2oth May ’85. 
It was “New Band Nite” at The Tramshed Theatre on !0th June ’85 and Five O’Clock High were on the stage at 8:20pm. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey 
Five O’Clock High’s set list from Primaties support slot at Bull & Gate around ’85/’86. Picture Courtesy of Michael Bailey 
Carnival play The Pit (Community Centre, Knaphill) – Soundscene 26 July ’84 
Neil caught a coach from Knaphill on Sunday 20th April ’86 for this top night in Soho. Picture courtesy of Neil Barker 
20 May 1986: The Primitives, supported by XL, Five O’Clock High, The Self, Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience, and Under the Glass Bell were at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Picture sourced from Neil Barker 
Five O’Clock High (l-r: Michael Bailey, Greg Turner, and David Bailey) Acoustic River Collective, Bull & Gate, Cardiacs, Carnival, Catch 44 Studios, Colin Bidwell, Comunity Centre, David Bailey, Five O'Clock High, Godalming, Greg Turner, Guildford, Kentish Town, Knaphill, La Beat Route, Left Bank Two, Lisa White, Michael Bailey, Rick Buckler, She's Gone Wild, Soho, St. Johns, Steel Bill & the Buffalos, Strawberry Statement, The Beatles, The Body Politic, The Early Years, The Jam, The Old Schoolhouse, The Pit, The Primitives, The Real Me, The Royal, The Self, The Tramshed, The Troggs, THe Who, Vernon Van Go Go, Vox Pop, Woking, XL -
FFile
(c’83-’90) Rob Foster (guitar / vocals), Steve Foster (vocals), Danny Boothman (guitar), Sally Thornton (backing vocals), and John Anon (drums)
FFile, often written F-File, were a Horsell based synth band that played the Centre Halls, Woking and Byfleet Live Aid. Some venues were surprised to see a 13-year-old up that late playing to a room full of Punks. On 9 February ’85 the band supported Dark Paradise at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking and a couple of weeks later, on 23 February ’85, the band supported Jokers Wild at The Royal, Guildford.
In ’85 they recorded 14 tracks at Charlie Tyler’s studio in Byfleet that included “Please Come Home”, “Good Times”, and “Tribute”. This last track was ‘a song for Bowie’ asking why some hit mega-stardom and others remain non-entities. Songwriter Steve sings: “Stare at the posters on my wall / If Bowie came alive / What would he say? / ‘Carry on, my friend’ or ‘forget it all’”.
A some point after the recording the band were down to 3 members: Steve Foster (vocals), Sally Thornton (backing vocals) and drummer John Anon and seeking a permanent bassist. FFile came to an end around 1990 and Rob went solo.
Gallery:
Soundscence, April 11th 1985 
Dark Paradise & F-File to reignite live music at Schoolhouse – Soundscene Jan 24th 1985 
Soundscene, Woking News and Mail, April 4th 1985 
9 February 1985: FFile to support Dark Paradise in 1985 
23 February 1985: FFile supported Jokers Wild at Club Royal, Guildford. Image courtesy of Pete Cole. -
Mervyn Sprocket and the Crankshaft Assembly
(c’79-’83) Martin Gibbs (drums), Kenton Keys (keyboards), Martin Day (vocals, lead & rhythm guitar, bass), Simon Bartlett (bass, backing vocals, keyboards), and Robert Bathurst (lead & rhythm guitar, vocals).
Image courtesy of Martin Day via www.shallowdeep.com The band originally formed in ’79 for a one off gig, at which Day rode in on a Honda Super Dream performed ‘Torn Leather Tearaway’ and a couple of covers; repeated “Torn Leather…” and left. A few months later they got together again, this time a bit more permanently. In ’83 this Woking based Christian rock band released an eponymous cassette LP, carrying 11 songs record in the hall where they rehearsed via 4 track reel-to-reel. and engineered by band friend Jim Champ. Keys moved across to drums when Gibbs left and when he went to university was replaced by Doug McKeller (ex-Dark Paradise). In January ’84 Mervyn Sprocket and the Crankshaft Assembly went on to become Salt Solution.
Gibbs is sadly no longer with us.Gallery:
Soundscene, 19th January ’84
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person