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Nightshift
(c’91-’95) Paul Dreczko (keyboards), Robin Tunnell (guitar/vocals), Barney Godfrey (guitar), Donny Spinks/Shaw (drums) and Graham Hill (bass).
This Guildford 5-piece blues band played locally and had a mascot called Gilbert. The band played mainly pubs around Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset.
The Abinger Arms, Abinger hosted the band on 27 August ’91 and the next month, on 13 September, the band were just up the road at The Compasses Inn, Gomshall. A trip out to The Royal Oak, Passfield followed on 26 October ’91.
The band kicked of ’92 on valentine’s day back at The Abinger Arms, and returned to The Royal Oak eight days later, on 22 February ’92. They rolled into The Cricketers, Westfield on 4 April ’92, before hitting The Abinger Arms once again on 2 May. The White Hart, Frimley was also visited that month, on 21 May. July caught the band back at The Royal Oak (4 July ’92) and The Abinger Arms (11 July ’92) once again. A drive out to Ockham’s Black Swan, aka Mucky Duck, on 12 September, was followed by another return visit to The Royal Oak on 30 September ’92. A trip toward the big smoke on Halloween, saw the band performing at The Grey Horse, Kingston on 31 October ’92. In the lead up to Christmas ’92 the band appeared at The Abinger Arms. Abinger with Rex Goldsmith on drums and Steve “Whitestrat” Wilkie on guitar.
December 1992: Selway (bass) and Wilkie (guitar) at Abinger Arms. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko Also, in ’92, they recorded at the BBC’s Technical Music Studios, Shepherd’s Bush using “Good Light” and “Rain” from that session on a demo cassette. The demo was released in early ’93 and received positive feedback in local rags but typecast the band as a pub/club outfit. The band lived up to this specific characterization appearing at the Hockey Club, Guildford on 16 January ’93 and The Ranmore Arms, Ranmore Common later that month, on 29 January. Just the one gig in February found the band at The Three Lions (Scratchers), Farncombe on 26 February ’93. A month off was suspended by a gig at The Red Lion, Milford on 2 April ’93, then a month later a re-booking at The Abinger Arms on 1 May. There were three more gigs later that May: The Parrot, Frimley Green (23 May), The Red Lion, Milford (28 May), and The Ship Inn, Fordingbridge (29 May). Consecutive gigs at Scratchers followed on 7 August and 22 September ’93, with the band wrapping the year up at Abinger Arms on 6 November ’93.
Nightshift c’93 (L-R: Hill, Shaw, and Tunnell. Source: Paul Dreczko Nightshift started ’94 where they finished ’93, at The Abinger Arms on 15 January ’94. The next month, on 11 February ’94, they were back at Scratchers which was followed by along sabbatical. On 16 July ’94 the band played at Hallams Court, Blackheath; then more, now regular, appearances at The Abinger Arms on 24 September and 6 December ’94. The band were fading in ’95, and we only have two recorded materializations, both nautical. The first was on a boat that travelled along the Thames from it’s dock in Surrey to the Thames Barrier and back on 2 July ’95, and the second back at The Ship, Fordingbridge on 8 July ’95.
16 July 1994: Nightshift at Hallams Court. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko Dreczko, who’d previously replaced Philip Joseph on keyboards in La Maison du Chants, would later audition to join Sweetlife, but didn’t; and had been in Kamaleon before Nightshift. Hill was first spotted in The Vulgar Bros c’79. Renowned for his pink kit, Spinks was also in a showband called Abacus and did some session work with Womb.
Gallery:
Nightshift demo review from the Pop Scene column of 5 March 1993. Source: Paul Dreczko 
Pre Abinger Arms gig shot of Nightshift’s Dreczko. Source: Paul Dreczko 
December 1992: Goldsmith (drums) and Godfrey (guitar) at The Abinger Arms. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko 
December 1992: Godfrey (guitar) at Abinger Arms. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko 
December 1992: Abinger Arms with Tunnell on guitar. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko 
Nightshift’s Godfrey c’93. 
Nightshift’s Shaw (drums), Hill (bass) and Dreczko (keyboards) c’93. Source: Paul Dreczko 
Nightshift c’93. Source: Paul Dreczko 
16 July 1994: Nightshift sound check for open air gig at Hallams Court, Blackheath. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko 
16 July 1994: Nightshift at Hallams Court, a post soundcheck break. Picture courtesy of Paul Dreczko Abinger, Barney Godfrey, BBC, Black Swan, Blackheath, Donny Shaw, Donny Spinks, Farncombe, Fordingbridge, Frimley, Frimley Green, Gomshall, Graham Hill, Guildford, Hallams Court, Hockey Club, Kamaleon, Kingston, La Maison Du Chants, Milford, Mucky Duck, Nightshift, Ockham, Passfield, Paul Dreczko, Ranmore Common, Rex Goldsmith, Robin Tunnell, Scratchers, Shepherd's Bush, Steve Wilkie, Sweetlife, Technical Music Sudios, Thames Barrier, The Abinger Arms, The Compasses Inn, The Cricketers, The Grey Horse, The Parrot, The Ranmore Arms, The Red Lion, The Royal Oak, The Ship Inn, The Three Lions, The Vulgar Bros, The White Hart, Westfield -
The Plaza, Guildford
As well as hosting the Ricky Tick Club, Guildford for a couple of years, The Plaza also had a life of its own.
It opened as the Central Hall Picture Palace in July 1910 with 600 seats. Then, in 1923 it was re-named Central Picture Palace. It was taken over by the County Cinemas chain in October 1930 and was re-named Plaza Cinema. In September 1939, it was taken over by the Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd.
The Plaza in 1944/45 The Plaza Cinema closed on 29 September ’56 with Kenneth Moore in “Reach for the Sky” being the last showing. It was boarded up and lay unused for several years, and sometime in ’59 was converted into a venue/bingo club, with Ken Slater starting the Plaza Ballroom, managed by Ken Brewer. The Plaza’s house band would play the dance music of the day, and a group called The Tropics, featuring Mick Douglas and the late Chris Crinnel, appeared regularly when it first opened as a dance hall. Ex-The Rhythm Five and Crescendos member Dave Brice worked the door and met artists on the outskirts of Guildford to guide then to the venue and the back door. While playing at The Plaza, Pete Chester caught The Crescendos – he’d previously been in The Five Chesternuts with Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch of The Shadows, and his band had a brief residency at The Plaza – asked members of The Crescendos if they could go pro’ and fill in for members The Pete Chester Combo. Also while playing at The Plaza, The Crescendos were joined on stage by Vince Taylor of Vince and His Playboys. Around ’59, Farnborough born Nelson Keene had formed The Raiders with a few friends, and along with winning contests they played The Plaza.
The Crescendos at The Plaza, Guildford. Sitting on the stage is Vince Taylor. Source: Nick Way via Guildford Town Past & Present On the 7 May ’61, Gene Vincent played what was labeled The Plaza Ballroom. Backed by Sounds Incorporated, Vincent was so exhausted after 20 minutes – having been working in a TV studio since 5am that morning – that he had to be helped off the stage. The Stormville Shakers won the 1st heat of the All England Beat Competition, held at the Plaza Ballroom, on 24 Sept ’63. It was later that year that the Ricky Tick elevated the venue when it moved in on 29 November ’63; but moved out after almost 2 1/2 years in February ’66 when The Plaza was leaning more and more toward bingo hall. In the mid-60s local group The Vibros hit the stage. Meanwhile, around ’65, The Stormsville Shakers were part of The Larry Williams Show and these recording sessions led to their appearance on the snappily title “The Larry Williams Show Featuring Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson with The Stormsville Shakers” LP, the cover of which carries an image taken at The Plaza, Guildford.
Ivor Shackleton and Kirk Riddle of The Stormville Shakers at the Plaza, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Pat Conroy The first Guildford Arts Lab event of poetry and folk music, took place on 26 October ’65 in a cellar behind The Plaza. In ’65/’66, Wounded John Scott Cree played a number of times in that cellar in ’65/’66.
Bingo began to take over the venue, but the music didn’t stop totally although details are patchy: teenage brothers, Mike & Richard Ashworth, as Wax Promotions (they managed Wax Records in Woodbridge Rd), along with Pete Newberry, who was responsible for the Gin Mill, Godalming put on the first Dr Feelgood gig in Guildford at the Plaza in 1974, booking them at least once more. Mike Haldenby recalls going to the gig, where Dr Feelgood were supported by a band called Heritage, and at the end of the gig the Feelgood’s roadie gave out bundles of posters, several adorning his sixth form common room for a while listing Dr Feelgood at The Gin Mill, Guildford. That same year A Band Called O, Phoenix, The Splendid Humans, and Zox and the Radar Boys ventured into The Plaza; and on 30 October, Judas Priest’s ‘Rocka Rolla’ tour pulled into the old cinema.
September 1974: MadGin Mill flater for the Plaza, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records These teen-impresarios also booked a band called Casablanca to play The Plaza; and Bruce Foxton‘s pre-Jam progressive garage band called Rita appeared there. Another band with local connection, Asylum played the venue a couple of times. Sometime around ’75, Stray appeared at the venue. From around 2001, it became the Drink nightclub and by 2014 it was the Casino nightclub.
Gallery:
Thomas Wilkie photograph of The Plaza, Guildford in the 1960s. Source: The Tony Ford Collection courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records. 
Old picture of The Plaza, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Peter Winning 
In 1965 The Larry Williams Show featuring Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson with The Stormsville Shakers LP was released. The cover picture was taken at the Ricky-Tick Club at The Plaza Ballroom, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Plaza in 1991 A Band Called O, All England Beat Competition, Arts lab, Asylum, Bruce Foxton, Casablanca, Casino, Central Hall Picture Palace, Central Picture Palace, Chris Crinnel, County Cinemas, Crescendos, Dave Brice, Dr Feelgood, Drink, Farnborough, Gene Vincent, Gin Mill, Godalming, Guildford, Guildford Arts Lab, Heritage, Johnny Watson, Judas Priest, Ken Brewer, Ken Slater, Kenneth Moore, Mick Douglas, Mike Ashworth, Mike Haldenby, Nelson Keene, Odeon Theatres Ltd, Oscar Deutsch, Pete Chester, Pete Newberry, Phoenix, Plaza Ballroom, Plaza Cinema, Richard Ashworth, Ricky Tick Club, Rita, Sounds Incorporated, Stray, The Larry Williams Show, The Pete Chester Combo, The Plaza, The Raiders, The Rhythm Five, The Splendid Humans, The Stormsville Shakers, The Tropics, The Vibros, Vince and His Playboys, Vince Taylor, Wax Promotions, Wax Records, Wounded John Scott Cree, Zox and the Radar Boys -
Kamaleon
(c’86-’87) Keith Davies (guitar), Alex Marler (vocals), Paul Dreczko (keyboards), and Rob Selway (bass).
In November ’86, Guildford based Kamaleon’s demo cassette earned them a letter of interest from CBS Records; as a result, they spent 11 hours in Catch 44 Studio, Godalming and left with an Ampex mastering tape, paying £8/hour and an extra £1 for the tape, on 28 November.
The band were subsequently invited to meet with CBS Records International at Soho Square, London; but Lincoln Elias (then 18/19 and the A&R guy who would sign Terence Trent D’Arby, Des’ree, Reef, Toploader, and Jamiroquai among others) was looking for something more commercial, like ‘Frankie‘ by Sister Sledge. Kamaleon choose to get back to him on that.
Dreczko, who’d previously replaced Philip Joseph on keyboards in La Maison du Chants, would later audition to join Sweetlife, but didn’t, and joined Nightshift in the early ’90s. Selway had been in Blank Expression before co-forming Pied Piper and The Rats and went onto play in Big Belief after Kamaleon.
Gallery:
Kamaleon (L-R: Davies, Marler, Dreczko, and Selway. Source: Paul Dreczko 
Kamaleon publicity photo c’86 (L-R: Davies, Marler, Dreczko, and Selway). Source Paul Dreczko 
Kamaleon’s Letter of Interest from CBS Records from Nov ’86. Source: Paul Dreczko 
Kamaleon’s Ampex mastering tape from Catch 44. Source: Paul Dreczko Alex Marler, Big Belief, Blank Expression, Catch 44 Studios, CBS Records, CBS Records International, Des’ree, Godalming, Guildford, Jamiroquai, Kamaleon, Keith Davies, La Maison Du Chants, Lincoln Elias, Nightshift, Paul Dreczko, Philip Joseph, Pied Piper and the Rats, Reef, Rob Selway, Sister Sledge, Sweetlife, Terence Trent D’Arby, Toploader -
Lakesiders
(c’80s) Linda Smith (vocals), David Clarke (guitar), Joe Breitenfeld (bass), and ? Russell (drums).
These two pictures and a bit on the members is all we have on this 4-piece band.
Clarke went on to join Cut the Mustard. Prior to Lakesiders, Breitenfield, a character who didn’t suffer fools gladly, had been in Feast, Grant’s Tomb, and Luvaduc. He resided in West Clandon and played bass in T Model Slim before his sad demise in 2022. We understand that Smith, who’d been in a combo called Redwood c’78 with Breitenfield, had moved to the Isle of Wight and has also now sadly passed.Gallery:
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Village Hall, Chiddingfold
This single-story plain brick building on Woodside Road was Chiddingfold’s community centre, working men’s club and work-a-day village hall. But ‘The Chidd’ or ‘Chidd Club’, as locals called it, had another side featuring greats of the rock and blues world. Eric Clapton, Gary Brooker, Andy Fairweather-Low, Roger Taylor, Dave Gilmour and Bill Wyman have all rubbed shoulders with card playing pensioners and pool playing village lads.
Genesis’ ‘End of the Party’ image shot at The Chidd. It started with Clapton and Genesis. On the wall was a framed Genesis album cover with the inscription “To the Chiddingfold Ex-Servicemen’s Club. With much appreciation for all the help given to us over the years. Phil and Genesis.” The club had been a great place to rehearse undisturbed in the buildup to ‘Calling All Stations’ and ‘We Can’t Dance’ tours, (they rehearsed there from 13 March – 5 April ’92 for We Can’t Dance) and the acoustics were actually pretty good. It is also said that the main floor space of the Chidd Club was the exact size of the Wembley Arena stage, making it perfect for production rehearsals. It was also a filming location for the TV movie “Genesis: Opening Night” in ’92.
Rolling back a couple of years, on 23 December ’89, there was a benefit fundraising concert for local charities organized by Gary Brooker, at which Clapton and No Stiletto Shoes, consisting of Brooker (keyboards / vocals), Fairweather Low (guitar / vocals), Dave Bronze (bass), Henry Spinetti (drums), and Frank Mead (sax), rocked a 300-ish audience.
Word got around and as the leafy rolling hills are peppered with their homes, a few well known bands and individuals, such as Clapton, started showing up. In the mid 90’s Clodagh Rodgers held a benefit for her husband, guitarist Ian Sorbie, who had cancer and regrettably dies in ’95. Sev Lewkowicz played keys for that event, in a pick-up band with Mike Rutherford, Kenney Jones, Spinetti, Richard O’Brien, Graham Cooper and Tim Wheatley; rehearsing for it at Jones house. At Christmas, Gary Brooker put on a charity event with top names dropping in to gig and have fun. Then for two consecutive nights, the 15 and 16 December ’95, Clapton returned to guest with No Stiletto Shoes – Brooker, Fairweather-Low, Bronze, Spinetti, and Geoff Whitehorn (guitar), – on stage, supported by Big Town Playboys.
Mike Rutherford of Genesis at The Chidd c’96 In ’96 there was a commemorative gig for Chris ‘Wheelbarrow’ Brayne with Jackie Lynton, Cryin’ Out Loud, House and a pickup band that included Ray Dorset. It became the Chiddingfold Live Music Club with rock and blues acts most Fridays with Howard Williams acting as promoter. Spike Edney’s SAS Band’s Christmas gigs were highly memorable with a who’s who of pop and rock in attendance and Hugh Cornwell revisited the village, that had housed The Stranglers in the early years, to perform at the club on 13 October 2000. Over the years Albert Lee, Wishbone Ash, Jim Capaldi, Caravan Jones, James Taylor Quartet, John Otway, Yardbirds, The Animals, James Hunter, Ainsley Lister, Cliff Bennett, Nine Below Zero, Mike Sanchez, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Company of Snakes, Counterfeit Stones, Two Timers, Dr Feelgood, Caravan, Colosseum 2, and Eugene Hideaway Bridges are among the many acts that have performed here.
13 October 2000: Hugh Cornwell returned to Chiddingfold to play a gig at the Ex-Serviceman’s Club. Picture courtesy of Steve Excell On 20 December ’03 and 18 December ’04, Brooker’s charity Christmas gig featured Clapton again, as it did on 15 December ’06, when Clapton sat in on four songs with No Stiletto Shoes, for what was now a tradition at The Chidd. Some of the last gigs at the venue were Brookers Christmas gig on 21 December ’07, The Hamsters on 25 Jan ’08, Killer Queen on 7 March ’08, and The Hoax on 5 May ’08. Dwindling numbers led to the Chidd Club closing in ’08 to make way for housing and a much smaller club. Unused, it became rundown, derelict, and was finally bulldozed in 2011. In September 2012 a replacement was opened – but it’s not the same; with the new housing so close and the smaller size it just not possible to put on live bands.
Gallery:
The Xmas 1993 gig of Gary Brooker and Friends, known as No Stiletto Shoes, at Chiddingfold Club. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Phil Collins of Genesis at The Chidd c’96 
The Chidd Ainsley Lister, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather-Low, Big Town Playboys, Bill Wyman, Caravan, Caravan Jones, Chidd Club, Chiddingfold, Chiddingfold Live Music Club, Chris Brayne, Cliff Bennett, Clodagh Rodgers, Colosseum 2, Community Centre, Company of Snakes, Counterfeit Stones, Cryin’ Out Loud, Dave Bronze, Dave Gilmour, Dr. Feelgood, Eric Clapton, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Ex-Servicemen's Club, Frank Mead, Gary Brooker, Genesis, Geoff Whitehorn, Graham Cooper, Henry Spinetti, House, Howard Williams, Hugh Cornwell, Ian Sorbie, Jackie Lynton, James Hunter, James Taylor Quartet, Jim Capaldi, John Otway, Kenney Jones, Killer Queen, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Mike Rutherford, Mike Sanchez, Nine Below Zero, No Stiletto Shoes, Ray Dorset, Richard O’Brien, Roger Taylor, SAS Band, Sev Lewkowicz, Spike Edney, The Animals, The Chidd, The Hamsters, The Hoax, The Stranglers, Tim Wheatley, Two Timers, Village hall, Wembley Arena, Wishbone Ash, Working Men's Club, Yardbirds -
Tried and Tested
(c’92-’93) Cliff Turner (guitar), Ken Staddon (vocals), Ambrose Prendergast (guitar), Gary Jameson (bass), and Phil Ingate (drums).
The band gigged at a number of local venues, including The George, Ash Vale, and made it to the semi-finals of Aldershot’s Palace Nightclub’s Battle of the Bands.
On 20 August and 18 September ’92, Tried and Tested headlined at The George, and the next year, on 20 February ’93, they were performing at the Haslemere Hotel, Haslemere.
A decade before Tried and Tested, Turner had been in Vixen and was seen in Ten Thousand Revs in 2013/14. In late ’80, Staddon had replaced Terry Sullivan in Polaris.
Gallery:
Tried and Tested clipping (L-R at front: Turner, Staddon and Prendergast). Picture courtesy of Cliff Turner 
Tried and Tested’s Turner playing in Reading 
Tried and Tested’s Turner playing in Reading -
The Innocence
(c’83-84) Tim Petzold (guitar / vocals), Steve Cussons (drums), Bruno Skrastins (bass), Des Byrne (vocals), and Nick Gibson (sax / guitar).
The Innocence, not to be confused with The Innocents who came along later, got together towards the end of ’83, originally as a three-piece comprising of Petzold, Skrastins and drummer Mick Colenso. To quote Skrastins “We thought we were being clever, something along the lines of naming our band after innocence as a concept, or some such daftness”. Based in Aldershot they rehearsed in the wooden classrooms that used be at the West End Centre, Aldershot.
The Innocents (mk1) rehearsing in Albury Village Hall c’83/’84. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman The band’s first gig was on 24 June ’84 at 5’s Wine Bar, Aldershot. After this rocking gig to a celebrating 9 Squadron RE, Para engineers marking the second anniversary of the end of the Falklands war, the next gig was a come down, to just 4 people at the Crossing Gate, Liss. A few weeks later, things improved, when they played to 9 punters at The Cranley Hotel, Cranleigh. The jazz-savvy Colenso was replaced by rock drummer Steve Cussons and shortly afterwards The Innocence recruited a lead vocalist, Des Byrne and sax playing guitarist Nick Gibson, both of whom contributed significantly towards the band upping their musicality.
The Innocence (L-R: Petzold, Gibson, Cussons, Byrne, and Skrastins). Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman The Innocence rehearsed during the summer months at the Village Hall, Tilford and Village Hall, Albury and played at the Golden Fleece, Elstead, later supporting The Plague at the Wooden Bridge, Guildford. The highlight of the bands year and brief career was in early December ’84, when they played the Christmas Party at Merrist Wood Agricultural College, Guildford. Late that same month, with gigs sparser than hoped (with poor networking and connections with people running the local scene) and differences in influences The Innocence disintegration.
Petzold, Cussons, and Skrastins went on to form This Breed of Heroes.Gallery:
The Innocence, with Gibson on sax, rehearsing in Tilford Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
The Innocence rehearsing in Tilford Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
Mick Colenso, The Innocence original drummer, rehearsing in Albury Village Hall c’83/’84. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 5's Wine Bar, Albury, Aldershot, Bruno Skrastins, Cranleigh, Cranley Hotel, Crossing Gate, Des Byrne, Elstead, Golden Fleece, Guildford, Liss, Merrist Wood, Mick Colenso, Nick Gibson, Steve Cussons, The Innocence, The Innocents, This Breed of Heroes, Tilford, Tim Petzold, Village hall, West End Centre, Wooden Bridge -
Lion Hotel, Guildford
The Lion Hotel, Guildford was on the High Street, opposite Quarry Street. We know that Dick Keeble’s band Keys of Swing were certainly playing there on Boxing Day ’45. In ’48, when the proprietors were W. & E. Russell-Owen there were regular dances on Saturday nights.
The hotel was demolished c’57 to make way for Woolworth, which in turn was demolished to make way for White Lion Walk.
Gallery:
26 Dec 1945: Dick Keeble’s Keys of Swing at the Lion Hotel, Guildford. Source: Carol McCallum via Woking Old and New (Doing it together) 
1948 advert for dancing at the Lion Hotel, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Lion Hotel Guildford in 1956. Source: Guildford Museum via Ben Darnton and Guildford Town Past & Present 
The Lion Hotel, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Lion Hotel Guildford. Source: Adela Stenning via Guildford Town Past & Present -
This Breed of Heroes
(c’85-’86) Tim Petzold (guitar), Derry Hall (vocals), Steve Cussons (drums), and Bruno Skrastins (bass).
Following the demise of their previous outfit, The Innocence; Petzold, Cussons and Skrastins teamed up with Hall in January ’85 to form This Breed of Heroes, rehearsing at Village Hall, Tilford. They played original melodic guitar-based rock, with a set that contained just enough covers to ensure they could get bookings in local pubs. The Fox & Hounds, Fleet, sometime in ’85, was the venue for the band’s debut gig.
Early in ’85, they recorded a 2-track demo at Catch 44 Studios, Godalming. This secured them regular monthly gigs at the Prince of Wales, Lower Froyle; The Lion Brewery, Ash, The Kings Head, Ash; and The Golden Fleece, Elstead. The trio of ex-Innocents had previously used The Village Hall, Albury to rehearse in ’83/’84, and in December ’85, This Breed of Heroes hired the venue for their “Christmas Party” gig.
This Breed of Heroes held a Christmas party at Albury Village Hall in December 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman. As regular performers at and weekly patrons of the Lion Brewery, This Breed of Heroes became involved with other bands in assisting landlord Mike Armitage and a team of pub regulars in organizing and putting on the first ever Ash Music Festival. This event, in aid of The Red Cross, took place on Saturday 26 July ’86 in Harpers Rec, right next to the pub. This Breed of Heroes were first band on, playing to an enthusiastic audience.
26 July 1986: This Breed of Heroes at the first Ash Music Festival. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman The band folded towards the end of ’86. Hall went on to complete numerous musical projects and is still active, working out of Estonia. Skrastins, who’d also been in The Little Winkies/Press Gang and Cheap Thrills, went on to play in The F1-11s and J.C. Regulator.
Gallery:
This Breed of Heroes first gig was at The Fox and Hounds in 1985 (L-R: Skrastins, Hall, Cussons, and Petzold). Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman. 
Tim Petzold of This Breed of Heroes recording at Studio 44, Spring 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
Bruno Skrastins of This Breed of Heroes recording at Studio 44 Godalming, Spring 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
Derry Hall (on left) of This Breed of Heroes recording at Studio 44 Godalming, Spring 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
This Breed of Heroes recording at Studio 44 Godalming, Spring 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
Albury, Ash, Ash Music Festival, Bruno Skrastins, Catch 44 Studios, Cheap Thrills, Cricket Pavilion, Derry Hall, Elstead, Estonia, Fleet, Godalming, Golden Fleece, Harpers Rec, J.C. Regulator, Lower Froyle, Mike Armitage, Press Gang, Prince of Wales, Steve Cussons, The F1-11s, The Fox & Hounds, The Innocence, The Kings Head, The Lion Brewery, The Little Winkies, This Breed of Heroes, Tilford, Tim Petzold, Village hall -
Pictures Like This
(c’79-‘?’82) Nik Philpot (vocals and bass), Paul Nunneley (synths), Daniel Tee (lead guitar), and Keith Groves (drums).
This Guildford area band formed in ’79 and were active members of the scene centred on the Wooden Bridge, Guildford. On Groves departure and replacement by a Roland TR-808, the band’s musical direction shifted toward electronic / synth pop with flecks of new wave.
Pictures Like This The group recorded a demo at Catch 44 Studios, Godalming of favourite live tracks including “Waste”, “A Night’s Vendetta”, “Home Comforts” and “I’m Special”. The demo session led to an immediate record deal from Bath based TW Records and the subsequent release of their first, and only single “A Night’s Vendetta” [HIT 112] in 1982, with the A-side was produced by The Pleasers and Bo and The Generals‘ Steve “Bo” Benham.
1982’s 7″ single “A Night’s Vendetta” sleeve front It is said that support from John Peel helped the track reached the lower end of the singles chart and the band’s prospects looked good, although we have yet to find a reference to the band in Peel’s archive. But the members of the band were heading in different directions, educationally and musically, and by the end of ’82 there was the inevitable split even though the group appeared to be on the verge of potentially breaking into the mainstream.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Paul Nunneley of Pictures Like This 
Pictures Like This at Wooden Bridge, Guildford 
1982’s 7″ single “A Night’s Vendetta” sleeve back 
Side A of 1982’s 7″ single “A Night’s Vendetta“ 
Side B of 1982’s 7″ single “A Night’s Vendetta“ 
Pictures Like This
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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