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Luvaduc
(c’71-’73) Steve Fardoe (sax/clarinet), Bill Bath (bass), Mike Puckett (vocals), John Mansfield (drums), Grant Clifton (guitar) and Robin Foster (sax/clarinet).
Luvaduc were a rebranded Grant’s Tomb, when joined by members of Cryptic Evil, and hit the news in ’72 as well as appearing on TV. They were also signed to the Bob Potter International Entertainment Agency.
The band became famous, or rather infamous, in ’71 thanks to an incident at The Reading Beer Festival – although it is not clear if they were still going by Grant’s Tomb or their new moniker at the time. Sir Helenus Patrick Joseph Milmo, the Supreme Justice of the Peace at the time was in session at Reading Law Courts for a hit and run case. The band were told to stop playing until Milmo went to lunch, but the festival organizers, believing this had happened, instructed Luvaduc to start again. They had observed the wrong judge and Milmo was not amused, sending the police to ‘restore the peace’; a fact recorded in The Times – making Luvaduc the first ‘pop band’ to be headline news at The Times. Over the coming days all the tabloids followed The Times’ lead.

Luvaduc agency card Jerry Lee Lewis was still drawing crowds when a street cleaner from St Albans rushed onto the stage at the Palladium, London on 23 April ’72. Lewis waved security away and allowed “Cuddles” Osborn to duet with him. Cuddles renown grew from there and he signed a deal with Pye Records for just one single. The band tagged to back Cuddles was Luvaduc, who were rehearsing in Farnborough when they got the call to get to Thames Television studios pronto. The Woking based six-piece were there a matter of two or three hours later and appeared on the “Today” program hosted by Eamonn Andrews behind the stage invader. The show is now most commonly remembered for Bill Grundy’s interview with The Sex Pistols a few years later. Sadly, there was nary a mention of Luvaduc on the show or the 45 that was released in the UK, The Netherlands, and Spain.
At some point bassist Joe Breitenfeld, who’d been in Feast and Grant’s Tomb, was in the band. We later found Breitenfeld in Redwood and Lakesiders. Drummer Mansfield, who’d previously been in Cactus Incorporate, was not the same John Mansfield that co-promoted the Ricky Tick, Guildford.
Gallery:

1972: Luvaduc from Woking News & Mail 
1972: Woking News & Mail clipping 
1972; Luvaduc clipping from unknown paper 
A different version of the Luvaduc agency card Bill Bath, Bill Grundy, Bob Potter, Cactus Incorporate, Cryptic Evil, Cuddles, Eamonn Andrews, Farnborough, Feast, Grant Clifton, Grant’s Tomb, Guildford, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joe Breitenfeld, John Mansfield, Lakesiders, London, Luvaduc, Mike Puckett, Palladium, Pye Records, Reading Beer Festival, Reading Law Courts, Redwood, Ricky Tick Club, Robin Foster, Sir Helenus Patrick Joseph Milmo, Steve Fardoe, Supreme Justice of the Peace, Thames Television, The Sex Pistols, The Times, Woking -
Choker
(c’95-’96) Geoff Hawkes (guitar / vocals); Richie Sime (bass / vocals); Ian Beauchamp (drums); Paul Humphrey (guitar / vocals) and Fran Beauchamp (vocals / keyboards).
After the demise of The Innocent, the quartet of Hawkes, Sime and the Beauchamp’s teamed up with Humphrey to form the quintet that was Choker. This Guildford band were not signed and self-released the “Crawl” LP in ’96, with help from Holier Than Thou Records. This carried 15 songs recorded at The Outhouse, Reading.
The next year, Choker’s ‘Conspiracy’ was remastered by Ade Lunn at Lunar Recording Studios, Cranleigh for Pete Cole’s Farnborough Groove Vol.7 (Geography Sucks)’, as they joined 18 ‘new’ bands / artists to the compilation. The West End Centre, Aldershot was the venue for Vol. 7’s Launch Night on 20 September 1997 which featured Kilter, but we do not know if Choker performed.
Choker are known to have played at The White Hart, Frimley.
Hawkes had previously been in Giant Arc and X13, after which he co-formed Industrial dance band Splinter Faction; then Clam, a rather melodic and tuneful combo, and helped reignite Buzzwagon for a while. Ian Beauchamp had spent time in Horsell based punk band The Contaminated. Fran Beauchamp is currently active in punk, new wave & ska covers band England’s Dreaming.
Gallery:

Cover of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Back cover of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Printed side of Choker’s “Crawl” CD LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. 
Page from the insert of Choker’s “Crawl” LP, released in 1996. Ade Lunn, Aldershot, Buzzwagon, Choker, Clam, Cranleigh, England’s Dreaming, Farnborough Groove, Fran Beauchamp, Frimley, Geoff Hawkes, Giant Arc, Guildford, Holier Than Thou Records, Horsell, Ian Beauchamp, Kilter, Lunar Recording Studios, Paul Humphrey, Pete Cole, Reading, Rich Sime, Richie Sime, Splinter Faction, The Contaminated, The Innocent, The Outhouse, The White Hart, West End Centre, X13 -
Lawmen
(c’56) Daphne Maddocks (washboard), Alan Smith (guitar) Paul Muddell (guitar), Mick O’Rourke (guitar), Bob Jacombs (guitar), ? (drums), and ? (tea chest bass).
This Farnham based skiffle group are known to have performed at the Old Gostrey Club, Farnham in 1956; and were, before or after this, also known as The Mick O’Rourke Seven. The Mick O’Rourke Seven used to play regularly in Farnham Institute a.k.a The Central Club, when it was run/managed by “Podge” Harrington.
Gallery:

The Lawmen at the Old Gostrey Club in 1956. (L:R: Smith, Muddell, ?, Maddocks, ?, O’Rourke, and Jacombs. Source: Maureen Covey via Historic Farnham Town and Surrounding Villages -
57 Beans
(c’78-’80) Ann Morrison (vocals), Pete “Will” Williams (drums), and ?.
57 Beans started at Winston Churchill School, St. John’s. Morrison left sometime in late ’79 / early ’80, joining The Mighty Strypes. They released a retrospective demo in late 1980 that carried “Yesterday’s Dream“, written by Morrison, and “Lead Trigger” amongst others. As the band folded, Williams went on to join City.
Gallery:

Jon Harlow reviews 57 Beans demo cassette for Soundscene, 15 January 1981. Source: Mark Nesbit -
The Skeleton Skiffle Group
(c’57-’62) Peter Roberts (tea chest bass) George Robson (guitar), Tony Robson (guitar/vocals), John Bryan (guitar), Mick Hammond (washboard/drums), and Mick Betts (?).
This Aldershot skiffle band were known for their strong stage presence and good vocals – three of the members sang in church choirs and the band spent a lot of time singing in the local pubs, at venues such as Memorial Hall, Farnham; and local jazz clubs, encouraging people to sing along.

The Skeleton Skiffle Group on stage at Ritz Cinema, Aldershot. Source: Mike Luck via Historic Aldershot Military Town The Skeleton Skiffle Group also played the Summer Fete at the Recreation Ground near to Ash Football Club and won a lot of competitions. At one in Southampton, judged by Frankie Vaughan and a female jazz singer (TBID’d), most of the band went to the pub after playing, while Hammond stayed with Tony Robson who was only 15 (he was 14 when they started). They were pronounced the winners and Hammond had to find the band and get them back for an encore, where they were presented with a cup that was kept at the youth club.
They also played at the Hippodrome, Aldershot with many of the top groups at the time, including The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, and Johnny Parker and his Band on 24 November ’57. One of these acts was the duo of Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey, who wanted the Skeletons to go on tour with them. This was declined due to a member’s apprenticeship commitment, and they went back to playing the interval at the New Cental Ballroom, Aldershot for other bands, such as The Mickey Kennedy Band.

The Skeletons at New Central Ballroom, Aldershot playing the interval between Mickey Kennedy Band sets. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town Roberts introduction and joining of the Skeletons was very much happenstance: He was sitting in Macari’s Cafe, Aldershot sipping coffee and the band were to play the Hippodrome that night, but Allan Smith the tea chest bassist (a tea chest with one string) failed to appear. George Robson came running into Macari’s, grabbed Roberts and said “Come with me Pete, we want you to play the bass” – that was the start of Roberts time with the band. The band were auditioned for a TV appearance at one point and they also played at the odd event, including Silvia Stallard’s wedding in ’57.
By ’60 the skiffle morphed into R&R and Tony Robson started to use the stage name Tony Angelo and took on lead vocals. Hammond progressed from washboard to snare, then drums. By this point the band were known as just The Skeletons, but were still supporting around Aldershot. In early ’62, Emille Ford and the Checkmates played The Palais Ballroom, Aldershot and The Skeletons opened.

The Skeletons c’62 at The Palais, Aldershot. Source: Carol Daniels via Historic Aldershot Military Town Unfortunately, National Service disseminated the group all over and the group fell apart. Tony Angelo went on to form The Bandits, with Brian Allender. Mike Betts became Sky’s roadie, doing the same part time for Sound of Time. He ended up playing the bagpipes.
Gallery:

Press clipping from 1957 of The Skeletons winning a skiffle competition at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Josephine Kerry via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
Enlarged picture of band from 1957 press clipping. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Johnny Parker and his Band, and The Skeleton Skiffle Group played at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Skeletons in the audience at Central Ballroom, Aldershot. Source: Sheila Brooks via Historic Aldershot Military Town Aldershot, Allan Smith, Brian Allender, Chas McDevitt, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Emille Ford and the Checkmates, Farnham, Frankie Vaughan, George Robson, he Freight Train Boys, Hippodrome, John Bryan, Johnny Parker and his Band, Macari’s Cafe, Memorial Hall, Mick Betts, Mick Hammond, Nancy Whiskey, New Central Ballroom, Palais Ballroom, Peter Roberts, Silvia Stallard, Sky, Sound of Time, Southampton, The Bandits, The Mickey Kennedy Band, The Skeleton Skiffle Group, The Skeletons, Tony Angelo, Tony Robson -
Down in the Street
The Down in the Street fanzine was written by Stewart Home, of Basic Essentials and other local bands, who also co-produced Bitch Bitch, and was his first punk ‘zine. The first came out in ’79 and it ran to seven editions by the time he stopped publishing it in ’80.
Issue No.4, the June/July ’80 issue, covered the likes of Actifed, Crisis, Matrix, and Revolt.
Gallery:


Article on Revolt from ‘Down In The Street’ fanzine No.4. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 





















































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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