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Donegal Joe
(c’71-’91) Joe Canning (vocal / guitar)
Canning’s early path to a music career saw him playing in talent contest, before taking his acoustic 12-string and mike taped to a broom handle to Indian restaurants for a musician’s wage of a fiver and a chicken biryani. As a guard for British Rail, he ended up in Woking, and played at The Red House, Woking and the Working Men’s Club, Woking as Donegal Joe.
Donegal Joe’s second cassette LP ‘Home to Donegal‘ He released two cassette LPs, the first titled ‘A Mother’s Loves a Blessing‘ got some positive coverage in The Irish Post. Prior to release, Canning recorded his songs on a personal tape recorder and sent the tape to Terry Duffy. After Duffy arranged and recruited a number of musicians to lay down the backing tracks, they met in Tyrone to record the vocal track. The second cassette LP ‘Home to Donegal‘ was recorded in well-known Donegal musician Charlie Dolan’s Studio, Argery Ballindrait, County Donegal.
He is related to Birdie Gallagher, also played with Bob Oliver & The Mayberries. Now residing in Strabane, to commemorate his 70th birthday he reissued ‘A Mother’s Loves a Blessing‘ on CD
Gallery:
Donegal Joe c’71 
The Irish Post review ‘A Mother’s Loves a Blessing‘ 
Reissued ‘A Mother’s Loves a Blessing‘. -
Crazy Paving
(c’69-’70) John Gamble (vocals), Keith Rendal (bass), Dave Goode (drums), ? “Dinger” Bell (rhythm guitar), and Brian Robinson (guitar)
Crazy Paving, originally called Track One, played the local circuit, including the Cambridge Hotel, Camberley; Town Hall, Farnborough; the Technical College, Farnborough; The Central Ballroom, Aldershot; 4A’s Youth Club, the Atalanta Ballroom, Woking, and The Mill Stream, Farnham.
They also visited Penzance, including The Barn Club where band’s receive free accommodation for the night, in a fly filled caravan and £40 for a Saturday night. Potter got 10%, as did The Barn’s agent, returning home to Surrey/Hampshire on Sunday afternoon with maybe £3 each in their pockets for 24 hours work. They also venture to northern venues when they were signed to Bob Potter’s agency, as well as backing Dusty Springfield.
Robinson joined the band, replacing Ron Bushaway, and was subsequently replaced by Jimmy Spence and his Gibson 330. Randal was replaced by Brian Smith.
On 1 October ’69, Crazy Paving were one of the many bands, including Sky, Wishful Thinking, The Embers, The Late, Canterbury Tales, Chimera, and Magic Alice that played a benevolent concert at Samantha’s Club, as the Agincourt, Camberley was called for a time. This was compered by Dave West and also featured the Radio 1 D.J. Ray Moore. A year later, on 28 October ’70, the band were performing at The Pheasantry, Chelsea.
Robinson, who went on to play in Bloodhound, and Bushaway would be later found in Grapevine. Smith had spent some time in The Embers. Spence has sadly passed.
Gallery:
1 October 1969: Crazy Paving played Samanthas (Agincourt Camberley). Image courtesy of Maureen Gamble 
28 October 1970: Crazy Paving played The Phesantry, London according to this Melody Maker advert. Source: www.garagehangover.com 4A’s, Agincourt, Aldershot, Atalanta, Atalanta Ballroom, Bloodhound, Bob Potter, Brian Robinson, Brian Smith, Camberley, Cambridge Hotel, Canterbury Tales, Chelsea, Crazy Paving, Dave Goode, Dave West, Dusty Springfield, Farnborough, Farnham, Grapevine, John Gamble, Keith Rendal, London, Magic Alice, Penzance, Radio 1, Ray Moore, Ron Bushaway, Samantha's Club, Sky, Technical College, The Barn, The Central Ballroom, The Embers, The Late, The Mill Stream, The Pheasantry, Town Hall, Wishful Thinking, Woking -
Mr. Kipp’s, Farnham
This nightclub at 1 Bear Lane, Farnham was once the Territorial Army / Army Cadet Drill Hall, then H.Q. of 229 Squadron, A.T.C. It opened as Harvey’s in May 1973, before becoming Mr Kipp’s in the mid-70s.
It operated mostly as a nightclub but did feature live bands. T.T. Transmission was one of those bands that played the venue in the late 70s, which was managed by the band’s manager Mike Utting. Sunday nights were quiet at Kipps, so they hosted local bands and reduced admission charges to attract punters. Many band members recall its popularity with the Scandinavian and Spanish girls from the Farnham Au Pair College, which in turn attracted many others…
It was later renamed Yogi’s – with Ted Bates on the door – then The Buckingham Snooker Club, owned and run by Karim Lawrie, before closing in ’88/’89. There are houses on the site now.
Gallery:
Buckingham Club membership card. Source: Graham Varney via Historic Farnham Town And Surrounding Villages 
Flyer for Harvey’s which briefly mentions ‘Live Groups’. Source: Susie Habgood via Historic Farnham Town And Surrounding Villages 
The old Drill Hall, when it was The Buckingham Club. Source: Graham Varney via Historic Farnham Town And Surrounding Villages -
Eye to Eye
(c’88-08) Keith Smart (vocals / guitar / keyboards) and Ian Roworth (bass).
Also known as i2i, the duo responsible for GZ Image in ’85, reappeared as Eye to Eye around ’88. The pair were augmented for live performance by Stuart “Sticks” Warren (drums / vocals) and Malcolm Humphries (keyboards / vocals).
Warren and Humphries would later join the group, and they released a single 45 titled “Money (Equals Friends)“, backed by “Life on the Street” on their own G.Z. Records in ’89. Cut at Abbey Road Studios by Chris Blair; the tracks were worked on at Notice Studios, London and Midas Studios, Surrey, and the cover featured a picture of Tracy ? in a bath of bank notes.
Eye to Eye at the Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon. Known to have played at the Mean Fiddler, Harlesdon, by 2004, Eye to Eye were a three-piece band, without Humphries.
Gallery:
Eye to Eye pictured at rehearsal 
Cover of Eye to Eye’s “Money (Equals Friends)” 7″ single, featuring Tracey ? in the bath. 
Side One label of Eye to Eye’s “Money (Equals Friends)” 7″ single 
Side Two label of Eye to Eye’s “Money (Equals Friends)” 7″ single 
Band promo shot for Eye to Eye 
Band promo shot for Eye to Eye -
The Vandals
(c’78) Paul Trew (bass/vocals), Keith “Kipper” Ledgerwood (guitar), Tim Claydon (drums), and Joe Power (vocals)
The Vandals were a ‘One Gig Wonder’, playing only once, supporting T.T. Transmission at the Agincourt, Camberley on 7 January ’78. The gig was a second audition with RCA for the headliner, and it is possible that Radio 210 recorded the whole gig too.
Claydon also played with The Mode, and Ledgerwood and Trew played in The Torpedoes and The Virgin Daze.
Gallery:
7 January 1978: Rock at The Agincourt featured T. T. Transmission supported by The Vandels. Picture courtesy of Mark Terry -
The Combined Forces
(c’67) Julian “Whisker” Davies (piano), Brian “Powerhouse Jake” Page (guitar), Ian “Mayo” May (vocals), Dick Forcey (drums) and Kirk Riddle (bass).
The Combined Forces drew musicians from a number of local bands and formed for one gig – A local blues super group. Davies was with the Whisker Davies Blues Stormers, Page and May the King’s Biscuit Boys Jug Band, and Forcey and Riddle were both in The Stormsville Shakers.
Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me Prior to the gig they rehearsed in the function room of The Parrot Inn, Shalford. The event was a charity concert on 9 May ’67 held in the Borough Hall, Godalming headlined by the Graham Bond Organisation, with Duster Bennett, Georgia Skin Men, Whisker Davies Blues Stormers, Alfie Lucas & Jim Cook and The Combined Forces supporting. On the night, on the occurrence of consuming some Polish pure spirit, May ‘stepped’ off the stage but got up and carried on. On being asked ‘how?’, May smiled and simply stated “I was pissed”.
Sadly, May past in 2016. Riddle, who lately played in the Staubanzee skiffle band, sadly passed away November 2017. Dick Forcey was last heard of in Australia.Gallery:
Advert from Melody Maker. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
9 May 1967: Ticket for charity gig at Godalming Borough Hall, featuring the Graham Bond Organisation, Picture courtesy of Bens Collectors Records 
The Combined Forces rehearsing in the back room at The Parrot Inn, Shalford. Source: Brian Page via Godalming Town Past & Present Alfie Lucas, Borough Hall, Brian Page, Dick Forcey, Duster Bennett, Georgia Skin Men, Godalming, Graham Bond Organisation, Ian May, Jim Cook, Julian Davies, King’s Biscuit Boys Jug Band, Kirk Riddle, Lucas & Jim Cook, Shalford, The Combined Forces, The Parrot Inn, The Stormsville Shakers, Whisker Davies Blues Stormers -
Wilfrid Noyce Centre, Godalming
After 4 years of campaigning, fund raising and building, Cuthbert Wilfrid Francis Noyce; mountaineer, author master at Charterhouse School, and special forces officer opened the Youth Centre, Godalming on 6 June ’62.
6 June 1963: Wilfrid Noyce opening the Youth Centre, Godalming. He was a member of the ’53 British Expedition that made the first ascent of Mount Everest. A matter of weeks after opening the centre, Noyce died in a mountaineering accident after a successful ascent of Mount Garmo in the Pamirs, Tajikistan and the youth centre was named posthumously, the Wilfrid Noyce Centre, in his honor.
On 12 September ’64, The Rivals played their second gig – a short interval slot of half a dozen numbers – at the Centre. The bands amp was insufficient, and they borrowed some kit from The Cutaways, but not knowing how to use the borrowed kit, it didn’t go well.
9 December 1972: Ticket for a Half Moon Charity Concert. Source: David Johnson’s post in Godalming Town Past & Present. On the 9 December ’72, the Half Moon Folk Club, Farncombe, in partnership with Stag Folk Club, Shackleford, presented a charity folk concert, at the Centre, in aid of G.O.P.W.A. for a drop-in centre for the elderly. In ’73, The Jam won a battle of the bands held at the Centre. Guildford / Godalming synth band Technik visited the Wilfrid Noyce Centre on 11 April ’85, to support Cabina Telefonica. Snuff, supported by Leatherface and Wat Taylor, performed there on 2 June 90 – both bands and all their gear traveling to the gig in one transit van – with Steve Porter the bassist with Peachrazor being awarded for the farthest stage dive that night, having walked into the guitarist on stage before taking his leap. Who Moved the Ground? visited on 30 July ’93, as did Winterfall in ’94.
Increasing costs lead to the venues closure in 2015. Subsequently the town council voted to create a new / refurbished community venue. It has subsequently reopened with Noyce’s two sons present and has hosted many great gigs since.Gallery:
11 April 1985: Cabina Telefonica and Tecchnik played Wilfrid Noyce Youth Centre. Image courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Wilfred Noyce Centre, Godalming a few years prior to refurbishment. Cabina Telefonica, Charterhouse School, Cuthbert Wilfrid Francis Noyce, Farncombe, G.O.P.W.A., Godalming, Guildford, Half Moon Folk Club, Leatherface, Mount Everest, Mount Garmo, Peachrazor, Shackleford, Snuff, Stag Folk Club, Steve Porter, Tajikistan, Technik, The Cutaways, The Jam, The Rivals, Wat Taylor, Who Moved the Ground?, Wilfrid Noyce Centre, Winterfall, Youth Centre -
GZ Image
(c’85) Keith Smart (vocals / bass / guitar / synth) and Ian Roworth (bass).
After M.I.5 and Cutting Edge, Woking based Smart teamed up with Roworth, who’d been in Surrey punk band F-Effekt, to form GZ Image. In ’85 they self-released a one-off dance floor new wave single “Somebodies Melody” on G.Z. Records [G.Z. 37901]; having recorded it at Broadway Studios and mastering the tracks at EMI’s Abbey Road Studio. The duo reappeared as Eye to Eye in ’89.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Front cover of GZ Image’s “Somebodies Melody” 7″ single 
Back cover of GZ Image’s “Somebodies Melody” 7″ single 
Side One label of GZ Image’s “Somebodies Melody” 7″ single -
Music Studios, University of Surrey, Guildford
In addition to hosting a huge variety of gigs the University of Surrey, Guildford ran the “Tonmeister” course for training sound recording engineers/producers. It’s still going today within the Department of Music and Media.
The Tonmeister course was launched in the 1970/71 academic year, and in the 70’s the “trainees” had to be proficient musicians (grade 8 at least), demonstrate advanced knowledge of music theory and have qualifications in math and physics. The fully equipped recording studio would happily host and run recording sessions for local bands, with the Tonmeister students using these as training sessions/project work.
In the early days there were two studios and a mobile unit – which students could take anywhere within 100 miles. Alco’s “Threads of Life” was recorded by the University of Surrey Mobile Studio in ’72 with the Itchen Orchestra, by tonmeister Dick Hobbs and engineer Steve Smith. Farnham’s Human Beings released one treble B-side single on Airship Records titled “Amnesia” with “New Song” & “Mrs Marshall” on the flip-side, in 1981, which was recorded at the Tonmeister Studios by John Groves.
Front cover of 64 Spoons’ “Ladies Don’t Have Willies” recorded at the University of Surrey studio in 1978 Over the 28 to 30 April ’78, David Wooley recorded 64 Spoons in the university’s 4 track studio, which led to the 7″ vinyl release on Bushbaby Music of “Ladies Don’t Have Willies” later that year. Bruno Bannerman recalls their band manager knowing the powers that be and getting his band booked for a 12-hour session on 29 May 1979. After only ever practicing in village halls and gigging in pubs, this was the first time any of the band had been into a real studio. It was a mind-blowing experience, along the lines of “Blimey, that sounds good, can that really be us playing?” and the day we spent recording with the Tonmeisters remains one of his happiest musical memories. Another local band, The Golden Age of Metro recorded their second demo at the university studio towards the end of ’79 or early ’80. Their all-night session with a good engineer – which may have been John Groves – cost them nothing, starting at 7pm and the band finally rolled out at about 6am the next day. Unfortunately, the master tape was last seen with Mac, their ‘manager. Luckily, they all had cassette copies.
Front Sleeve of Lemon Kittens’ “Cake Beast”, the A-side of which was recorded at the University of Surrey studio in 1980 In late ’80, Ian Sturgess and Mike Barnes entered the studio to augment the avant-garde rock of Reading based Lemon Kittens duo, Karl Blake and Danielle Dax in the recording of “Kites” and “Only a Rose“. Engineered by Dave Meller these became the two tracks on the A-Side of February ’81s “Cake Beast” [UD07], the Kittens’ 12″ EP on the United Dairies label. Around the ’80s, Mark Terry recalls using the studio a few times. As guitarist for Spliff Riff, the band’s live set, consisting of both covers and original songs, was recorded by Julian Hight and Lee Rumble on 4-track at the university, mixing the result with the band Ronnie Johnson and Jay Johnson at Rumble’s caravan. On one occasion, along with composer Max Early and Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ saxophonist Nick Gatfield, Terry recorded a song of his own titled “It Doesn’t Matter” with fellow Crosswind‘s member Cheryl Lucas on vocals. He also recorded a song called “The Fugitive” with John Bush. Also, in the late ’80s, Sammy Rat’s Big Big Blues Band recorded a whole album’s worth of material at the University of Surrey studio. The deal was that the band could have a copy of the master, while the student – whose name has escaped us – used it for his course work.
The Tonmeister Degree Course was one of the few UK courses widely accepted by the recording fraternity as a suitable apprenticeship for prospective producers and sound engineers. Heavily over-subscribed only 7 or so applicants successfully gained places each year. Peter Wilson, who worked with the Style Council, Sham 69, The Jam and the Comsat Angels, was once a Tonmeister student, graduating from the University of Surrey’s Tonmeister music course in the early ’70s.
The first ‘music’ students began their course in a converted boiler room underneath University Hall and the control room was kitted out with a Neve desk and Studer and Revox machines in ’84. This was tie-lined to a copy room that had another Neve desk – effectively giving the facility a second recording room.
Neve desk in Tonmeister studio In addition to the Tonmeister studios there was an additional Electro-Acoustic Music Studio run by Robin Maconie, author of a book on Stockhausen and coauthor of a New Scientist article on computer composition. Now, for all those a little geeky about what kitted out a studio – that had digital, analogue, ambisonics, and recording equipment – in ’83/’84, here is the list: two Apple IIs, Alf music boards, Mountain Computer MusicSystem, and Soundchaser keyboard with Turbo-Traks 16-track software. VCS3, Synthi AKS, random voltage generator, pitch-to-voltage converter, 8-octave filter bank, Coloursound 8-way filter bank, Powertran vocoder. Calrec Soundfield microphone and control unit, Audio & Design Ambisonic Transcoder/UHJ encoder, and Minim AD-2 Ambisonic decoder. Sony SL-F1 VCR/PCM-F1 digital audio processor, Ferrograph Studio 8, Teac A3340, and NEAL cassette-recorder.
Soundchaser with Robin Maconie In ’86 Julian Lennon and Yoko Ono agreed that the University of Surrey’s new recording studio be named in memory of John Lennon. By November ’87 it was ready to use and to officially mark its opening and pay tribute to John Lennon the university held a concert in the Main Hall, on 22 November, that featured David Essex and Alvin Stardust, along with Beatles tribute band Cavern, compered by Mike Reid.
The position was very convenient for recording gigs above, but because it wasn’t properly sound proofed far from ideal when you wanted to lay down tracks in the studio and there were concerts or keep fit classes in the University Hall. The studio was also used as a lecture hall which meant there was no ‘upper level’ playback possible in the control room without triggering a professorial philippic. But soon plans were laid down for a purpose-built building. The Performing Arts Technology Studios, PATS for short, were opened in ’88, and it is still on campus today.
Gallery:
Alco’s “Threads of Life” was recorded by the University of Surrey Mobile Studio in 1972 
Alco’s “Threads of Life” was recorded by the University of Surrey Mobile Studio in 1972 
Side-A of 64 Spoons’ “Ladies Don’t Have Willies” recorded at the University of Surrey studio in 1978 
Side-B of 64 Spoons’ “Ladies Don’t Have Willies” recorded at the University of Surrey studio in 1978 
Back Sleeve of Lemon Kittens’ “Cake Beast”, the A-side of which was recorded at the University of Surrey studio in 1980 
1981’s “Amnesia” single front cover. Image courtesy of James Perrett 
1981’s “Amnesia” single back cover. Image courtesy of James Perrett 
1981’s Side B of the “Amnesia” single 
1981’s Side B of the “Amnesia” single 
Tonmeistering at The University of Surrey c’83 64 Spoons, Airship Records, Alco, Alf, Alvin Stardust, Ambisonic Transcoder, Apple II, Bruno Bannerman, Bushbaby Music, Calrec Soundfield, Cavern, Cheryl Lucas, Coloursound, Comsat Angels, Crosswinds, Danielle Dax, Dave Meller, David Essex, David Wooley, Department of Music and Media, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Dick Hobbs, Electro-Acoustic Music Studio, Farnham, Ferrograph Studio 8, Golden Age of Metro, Guildford, Human Beings, Ian Sturgess, Itchen Orchestra, Jay Johnson, John Bush, John Groves, John Lennon, Julian Hight, Julian Lennon, Karl Blake, Lee Rumble, Lemon Kittens, Mark Terry, Max Early, Mike Barnes, Mike Reid, Minim AD-2 Ambisonic decoder, Mountain Computer MusicSystem, Music Studios, NEAL, Neve, Nick Gatfield, PATS, Performing Arts Technology Studios, Peter Wilson, Powertran vocoder, Reading, Revox, Robin Maconie, Ronnie Johnson, Sammy Rats Big Big Blues Band, Sham 69, Sony SL-F1, Soundchaser, Spliff Riff, Steve Smith, Stockhausen, Studer, Style Council, Synthi AKS, Teac A3340, The Jam, Tonmeister, Tonmeister Studios, Turbo-Traks, UHJ encoder, United Dairies, University of Surrey, University of Surrey Mobile Studio, VCS3, Yoko Ono -
The Soul-Tones
(c’63-’67) Barry ‘Bo’ Williams (bass), Alan “Kerry Rapid” Hope (vocals), Brian Cope (drums), and Alan “Brinny” Brincombe (guitar).
Formed as Kerry Rapid & The Seltones in mid ’63, the band along with Johnny Duncan supported the Mark Leeman Five on 19 October ’63 at the Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley. The next year they found themselves supporting Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers at the Town Hall, Farnborough on 20 May ’64 and played the Winchester Lido, Winchester in support of The Paramounts on 10 July ’64.
To the best of our knowledge Williams joined the group in late ’64 or early ’65. He had been the bassist with The Renegades, and as was Bob Potter’s management style he’d been replaced by a member of The Emeralds and transplanted to The Soul Tones. The Emeralds also featured Hope, who’d also been in The Bandits. Early in ’65, on 10 February, The Soul-Tones were supporting The Yardbirds at Farnborough’s Town Hall. They also, reportedly, support The Yardbirds at the Technical College, Farnborough, on either 20 March or 9 July ’65; which featured a brawl. A year later, in ’66, they recorded a cover of Jimmy McCracklin’s “I’m Gonna Have My Fun”, they also appeared with the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson, and John Lee Hooker.
By late ’66 the band were being billed as Kerry Rapid and the Soultones, Soul Tones or Soul-Tones. It was as Kerry Rapid and the Soul Tones that the group supported The Emeralds at the Locarno, Swindon on 15 October ’66.
15 October 1966: Locarno, Swindon hosted The Emeralds supported by Kerry Rapid and the Soul Tones. Managed by Bob Potter they were often booked to support act at his venues, this included Chuck Berry at the Agincourt, Camberley on 25 February ’67. The Soul-Tones covered several Chuck Berry songs and reportedly at this gig Hope asked Berry what his set list would be, so that they didn’t do anything that he would be doing. Berry responded with “You just go along and play whatever you like, I love hearing other people’s versions of my songs”.
From ’71 to ’77, Hope would also sing in Threewheel. On 23 April 2017 there was a band reunion at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green. Mychett born Hope is the current leader and co-founder of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party as Howling Laud Hope.
Tracks:Gallery:
The Soul-Tones band promo card. Source: Barry Williams Agincourt Ballroom, Alan Brincombe, Alan Hope, Barry Williams, Bob Potter, Brian Cope, Camberley, Chuck Berry, Cliff Bennet and The Rebel Rousers, Farnborough, Frimley Green, Howling Laud Hope, Jimmy McCracklin, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Duncan, Kerry Raoid and the Soultones, Kerry Rapid, Kerry Rapid & The Seltones, Kerry Rapid & The Soul Tones, Kerry Rapid & The Soul-Tones, Kerry Rapid & The Soultones, Kerry Rapid and The Seltones, Kerry Rapid and the Soul Tones, Kerry Rapid and the Soul-Tones, Lakeside Country Club, Locarno, Mark Leeman Five, Mychett, Sonny Boy Williamson, Swindon, Technical College, The Bandits, The Emeralds, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, The Paramounts, The Renegades, The Seltones, The Soul Tones, The Soul-Tones, The Soultones, The Yardbirds, Threewheel, Town Hall, Winchester, Winchester Lido
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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