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The Livestock Spindles
(c’64-’65) John Perera (guitar / vocals) Jolyon Brettingham-Smith (guitar), Peter Evans (bass / vocals), and Nick Blake (drums)
This R&B / beat band, who found their name in an engineering magazine, formed at Cranleigh School.
Brettingham-Smith went on to be a composer, conductor, performer, author, and radio presenter, and a university teacher at the Berlin University of the Arts. He passed in Berlin on 17 May 2008 immediately after concluding his ‘Jolyon Live – The English Connection‘ radio programme on Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB).
Gallery:
Clipping from Melody Maker 30 January 1965 -
Rockin’ Timbo
(c’78-’80) Tim Freeman
Rockin’ Timbo was the stage name for Tim Freeman, older brother to actor Martin Freeman. We are aware of two support slots at the Technical College, Farnborough, playing ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and ‘My Generation’ on a ukulele, before smashing it. Tim also designed / created the Stonehenge Festival Farnborough Benefit T-Shirt and appeared at the event.
Freeman was the original vocalist of Farnborough punk band The Grunties (aka The Sods), leaving to focus on his punk-poet performance in late ’78. After Rockin Timbo, Freeman moved to Brighton and went on to be a founding member of Frazier Chorus, for which his brother Jamie Freeman was in the touring band and appeared on their third studio album “Wide Awake“, contributing guitars on all but one track.
Gallery:
Image on one of 300 t-shirts, designed by Tim Freeman, and printed at the shop he work at on Lynchford Rd. Source: Paul Trew via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Siege
(c’84-’88) Mark ‘Conquer’ Conker (bass), Tony Castro (drums), Sharon Thompson (vocals), and Les Black (guitar / backing vocals)
Alton based quartet, Siege – not to be confused with the earlier Bridlington band of the same name – was another local New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, although of the late NWOBHM period.
Shortly after forming they released “Demo 84” a 6-song: “Gods of War“, “Anubis“, “Don’t Punish Me“, “Siege“, “He Will Rise“, and “Climax” cassette demo. Shortly after, the band dropped Castro bringing in Ray Lawrence on drums. The band supported Marseille at The Royal, Guildford on 15 November ’84 and headlined at the venue, with Hoax in support, before the New Year.
Siege’s self-released 1985 7″ single “Goddess of Fire“ The Royal hosted the band, as headliners again, on 27 February ’85. That same year saw the self-released “Goddess of Fire” [THM1], a 7″ single on the band’s ‘True Hampshire Metal Records’ label, the B-side of which carried “Don’t Punish Me” from the original demo. This was mastered at Utopia Studios and produced by Ken Marshall. Guesting on keyboards for the single was Rachel Glover; and while the information sheet/sleeve originally listed Conquer, he was replaced on bass by Dave Glover on this recording. In fact, only Thompson remained from the original line-up as Al Stringer had replaced Black on guitar earlier in the year.
Siege in a pub Black and Conquer returned at some point and Black was back writing the bands material. They also appeared at the Marquee, London during ’86. It’s reported on various sites that in ’86 the band spent a couple of days recording and mixing four songs: ‘Red Light’, ‘Wait for Me’, ‘How Does it Feel‘, and ‘Wasted Time’, for Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1, in the Beeb’s Maida Vale Studios. But BBC records give a date of 16 January ’87 as the day in the studio with the show was broadcast on 6 February ’87.
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) A demo cassette single, titled “Wait for Me“, hit the scene in ’87, with ‘Red Light‘ on the flipside. On 13 June ’87, Siege supported Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts at Basins, Portsmouth and while the headliners receive a princely £425, Siege got £50. Siege returned to Basins on 1 July ’87, to headline after Antigua opened. On the 2 October ’87, Siege kicked off that month’s campaign of sound attacks at The Royal Oak, Passfield, then up to Bumbles, London the next night. Basins was visited again on 7 October ’87 for a £60 paycheck and four days later the band were in Birmingham, on 11 October, at The Mermaid. Almost two weeks passed before the bands next appearance at Tunnel Club, London on 24 October, followed by The Royal Standard, London on 27 October, and the Village Hall, Liphook on 31 October ’87. But, by early ’88 the band had disintegrated.
From 2012 onward Lawrence, Stringer, and Dave Glover have made a few ‘comeback’ appearances as Siege that included Brofest IV, the classic rock and metal festival based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, appearing on 21 February 2016 with Martin Turner, Weapon UK, Dealer, Seventh Son, Millennium, Oxym, Omen Searcher, and Satan’s Empire. In 2020, the bands “Goddess of Fire” was included Hear No Evil Recordings’ compilation “NWOBHM Thunder – New Wave of British Heavy Metal: 1978-1986“.
Thompson regrettably passed in 2010 and we are trying to ascertain if this is Sharon-Jayne Thompson who performed at the Football Club, Petersfield and The Queen, Greatham in 1992. Black also appeared in Stone Creed and Dave Glover in The Chase.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Siege’s “Demo 84”, released in 1984. 
Advert from Sounds 10 November 1984 issue. Image courtesy of Pete Cole 
Siege in a pub 
Siege get a brief mention in this Soundscene article from 10 January 1985 
Siege’s self-released 1985 7″ single “Goddess of Fire“ 
Signed copy of Siege’s self-released 1985 7″ single “Goddess of Fire“ 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege at The Marquee (c’86) 
Siege in Maida Vale Studios 1986 during recording and mixing tracks for Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1. 
Siege’s demo cassette single, titled “Wait for Me” released in 1987 
Siege’s demo cassette single, titled “Wait for Me” released in 1987 
Siege’s advertised gig list for October 1987 Al Stringer, Alton, Antigua, Basins, BBC Radio 1, Birmingham, Brofest IV, Bumbles, Dave Glover, Dealer, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Football Club, Friday Rock Show, Greatham, Guildford, Hear No Evil Recordings, Hoax, Ken Marshall, Les Black, Liphook, London, Maida Vale Studios, Mark Conker, Mark Conquer, Marquee, Marseille, Martin Turner, Millennium, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NWOBHM, Omen Searcher, Oxym, Passfield, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Rachel Glover, Ray Lawrence, Satan’s Empire, Seventh Son, Sharon Thompson, Sharon-Jayne Thompson, Siege, Stone Creed, The Chase, The Mermaid, The Queen, The Royal, The Royal Oak, The Royal Standard, Tommy Vance, Tony Castro, True Hampshire Metal Record, Tunnel Club, Utopia Studios, Village hall, Weapon UK -
Terry Crowe & The Counts
(c’59-’60) Terry Crowe (vocal), Trevor Dean (?), Eddie Colbourne (?), Ray Stott (?), and Ray Lewis (?).
This, late 50’s, Woking band were one of the most popular bands to play the Butaca Club, Old Woking; they also played the Atlanta Ballroom, Woking several times. The members were predominately from Maybury and many of The Counts, including Lewis, had been in The Gravediggers skiffle group, with Crowe and Chris Smith and Nobby Best.
Crowe, who has sadly now passed, would go on to appear in the Nashville Teens, The Plebs, Pentad and Renaissance.
Gallery:
Terry Crowe of Terry Crowe & the Counts. -
The Golden Fleece, Elstead
The Golden Fleece still hosts the occasional live music, including performances from the Surrey Songwriter’s Showcase, but is possibly better known for its Thai food.
In ’82, The Vulgar Bros played there, arriving early and holding an impromptu practice in the van! The Innocence were rehearsing slightly west at the Village Hall, Tilford in the Summer of ’84 and nipped over to The Golden Fleece to play.
This Breed of Heroes at The Golden Fleece Xmas Special December 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman. At Christmas, in ’85, This Breed of Heroes, who had a regular monthly spot at the pub, held a Xmas Special. We are also aware that local band Bowler used to rehearse and play there, and that Nikki Papas rolled through almost weekly from 2 October to 18 December ’87, which marked the end a 16-year weekly residency at the Golden Fleece. Jumping ahead five years, Love Match performed there on 20 September ’92.
Gallery:
This Breed of Heroes at The Golden Fleece Xmas Special December 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman. 
Nicky ends a 16 year residency at the Golden Fleece, Elstead – Soundscene 17 Dec 1987. 
The Golden Fleece, Elstead -
Bitch Bitch
Bitch Bitch was produced by Stewart Home and Dave King and Issue No.1 was publish in 1980 and sold for 30p
Running to 22-pages the first issue, barring some sausage filling, was packed with pieces on the local scene: The lyrics to The Sleep‘s ‘Bitch‘, the opening line of which we assume is where the ‘zine got its name; and pieces large and small on Disruptive Patterns, Imperfect Hold, Basic Essentials, Tapeworm and Panther, Burst Out Laughing, The Mighty Strypes, White Colours, UBz, Statix, Cricketers, Westfield, Luxury Glass Town, Egham’s Second Window, Crisis, The Vapors, Scrag End, The Royal, Guildford, Base 3 and ‘interview’ with their bassist Mark Turner, The Cat, an interview with Luke Rendle of Theatre of Hate, reviews of Echo and the Bunnymen with Blue Orchids, and Teardrop Explodes at the Civic Hall, Guildford, venue profiles for The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, University of Surrey, Guildford, The National College of Food Technology, Weybridge and others, it makes for a fascinating read.
Gallery:
Bitch Bitch No.1. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg2. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg3. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg4. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg5. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg6. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg7. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg8. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg9. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg10. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg11. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg12. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg13. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg14. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg15. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg16. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg17. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg18. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg19. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg20. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg21. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Bitch Bitch Issue No.1 Pg22. Picture courtesy of John Hudson Base 3, Basic Essentials, Bitch Bitch, Blue Orchids, Burst Out Laughing, Civic hall, Cricketers, Crisis, Dave King, Disruptive Patterns, Echo and the Bunnymen, Egham, Guildford, Imperfect Hold, Luke Rendle, Luxury Glass Town, Mark Turner, N.C.F.T., National College of Food Technology, Panther, Scrag End, Second Window, Statix, Stewart Home, Tapeworm, Teardrop Explodes, The Cat, The Mighty Strypes, The Royal, The Sleep, The Vapors, Theatre of Hate, UBz, University of Surrey, Westfield, Weybridge, White Colours, Wooden Bridge -
Phoney American Accents
(c’78-’86) Stephen Hudson (?), Kevin Pink (Sax), Martin Blondell (vocals), Ian Everett (bass) and ?
In ’79, Phoney American Accents rocked up at Bisstock (Bisley Music Festival) and along with Squire entertained a somewhat limited crowd. Playing a punky, musically intense, rawer, heavier sibling to psychedelic rock, the band saw the likes of The Stooges, MC5, Pink Fairies, and the Sex Pistols as influences and performed at squats, free festivals and anywhere that would have them.
18 July 1986 Hudson left the band in ’79, and Blondell in ’85. On 18 July ’86 the band headlined The Crypt, Deptford with Steel Bill & The Buffalos, and The Unknown Colours in support. Then, when The Crypt presented The Magic Mushroom Band and Ozric Tentacles at the Recreation Centre, Farnborough on 18 October ’86, it was Phoney American Accents and Steel Bill & The Buffalos who guested on this Stoned Out of Your Head Tour gig date. The following month, on 21 November ’86, they were back at The Crypt, Deptford with Steel Bill & The Buffalos and the next night joined Hondo, Voodoo Child, Steel Bill & The Buffalos, and Freaks of Science at Queen Mary College, London for another date on The Magic Mushroom Band and Ozric Tentacles ‘Stoned Out of Your Head Tour’. That same year the band appeared in Godalming at the Colony Club, that was within the Bridge Street squat.
Phoney American Accents at Colony Club in Godalming’s Bridge St. squat c’86 In ’87 the band joined the likes of The Shamen, The Primitives, Blyth Power, and BMX Bandits when their track “Cage” was included by compiler Andy Hurt on the Rough Trade and Cartel distributed ‘Imminent 5‘ compilation LP on the Food label [Bite 5]. As a result “Cage” was added to the pre-recorded weekly weekend night program for the German part of the British Forces Broadcasting Service network by John Peel’s and broadcast on the 15 March ’87 show titled John Peel’s Music On BFBS. The next year, along with 2000 DS, the band appeared at a London squat in an old British Telecon building, called Bovay Place, in February ’88. Richard ?, the then bassist with Phoney American Accents, would later join DS 2000. They also graced the stage of the Rock Garden, Covent Garden in 1990.
As of 2012 the band were still producing and connected with Witchcraft Records and have appeared even more recently at Sound of the Suburbs, The Holroyd, Guildford in 2017 with Blondale, Pink, and Martin Smith on drum.
Gallery:
Phoney American Accents at Bisstock ’79. Image courtesy of Stephen Hudson 
18 Oct ’86 gig poster 
Phoney American Accents, along with Steel Bill, Ozric Tentacles and The Magic Mushroom Band at The Crypt reviewed by Tim Garrard in Bare Facts… 
Phoney American Accents at Colony Club in Godalming’s Bridge St. squat c’86 
Phoney American Accents at Colony Club in Godalming’s Bridge St. squat c’86 
Sleeve front of ’87’s Imminent 5 on which Phoney America Accents were included 
Sleeve back of ’87’s Imminent 5 on which Phoney America Accents were included 2000 DS, Andy Hurt, BFBS, Bisley, Bisley Music Festival, Blyth Power, BMX Bandits, Bovay Place, British Forces Broadcasting Service, Cartel, Colony Club, Covent Garden, Deptford, Farnborough, food, Freaks of Science, Godalming, Guildford, Hondo, Ian Everett, John Peel, John Peel’s Music On BFBS, Kevin Pink, London, Martin Blondell, Martin Smith, Ozric Tentacles, Phoney American Accents, Queen Mary College, Recreation Centre, Rock Garden, Rough Trade, Sound of the Suburbs, Squire, Steel Bill & the Buffalos, Stephen Hudson, Stoned Out of Your Head Tour, The Crypt, The Holroyd, The Magic Mushroom Band, The Primitives, The Shamen, The Unknown Colours, Voodoo Child, Witchcraft Records -
Technik
(c’84-’85) Sean Bailey (?), Ian Hicks (?), and Kevin Gould (guitar?).
Guildford / Godalming synth band that, on 11 April ’85, visited the Wilfrid Noyce Centre, Godalming, to support Cabina Telefonica.
Gould had previously been in The Musicians.
Gallery:
11 April 1985: Cabina Telefonica and Technik played Wilfrid Noyce Youth Centre. Image courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records -
Antibreed
(c’93-’94) Carl Bishop (vocals), Steve Ireland (?), and ?
Godalming based thrash metal band released a demo in late ’94 titled “Human Tumor” which was reviewed in No.26, the December / January ’95 issue of, extreme music magazine, Terrorizer.
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The Prince of Wales, Lower Froyle
In the village of Lower Froyle stood The Prince of Wales public house, another now lost venue. The original ‘malthouse’ was replaced in around 1910 for Crowley’s Alton Brewery. It was one of four identical pubs, baring the entrance, built in the area at the time.
In the mid ’80s regular gigs were held at the pub, including This Breed of Heroes who secured regular monthly gigs at The Prince of Wales in ’85 through ’86, and Phoenix. By late ’98 the pub was no longer viable, and it was sold for conversion into a private house called ‘The Old Malthouse’.
Gallery:
This Breed Of Heroes performing at The Prince of Wales, Lower Froyle in 1986 
The Prince of Wales, Lower Foyle in 1982 
Prince of Wales, Lower Foyle in 1912
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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