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Soho
(c’78-79) Charlie Skarbek (vocals/guitar), Sev Lewkowicz (keyboards) Tim Smit (keyboards), Greg Terry Short (drums) and Terry Campbell (bass).
This power pop / new wave combo were together for about 18 months, with Skarbek and Smit writing all the songs. When they first formed, Louis la Rose, who had played with Sylvester, was the drummer; but he didn’t want to tour so was replaced by Greg Terry-Short, who had played with ex-Running Dry keyboardist Lewkowicz in Asylum and House, of the Jackie Lynton Happy Days Band.
Their manager, now forgotten to time, put out flyers which purported that they were the only band with two Polish counts (Skarbek and Lewkowicz) in the lineup. When they played a gig at Holland Park School (maybe alumni Yasmin Evans (aka Yazz) or Drummie Zeb (Aswad) were in the audience) their dressing room was one of the classrooms; and when they’d finished their set they discoverd, in large letters on the blackboard that the support band had written – Soho the only band with 2 Polish c*nts. One person at that gig was keyboard player Dave Stewart, of Egg, Hatfield & the North, Barbara Gaskin fame; who came up to Lewkowicz after with some complimentary comments about his playing.
In September ’79 Terry-Short and Campbell assisted Graham Cooper at Chestnut Studios, Churt to lay down Cooper’s solo LP. The band played Guildford only once, at The Star Inn. The band toured the Netherlands twice, with Ian Bruce joining the band on guitar for the second tour in ’79. Both tours were ‘awful’ and the band called it a day.
After the demise of Soho, Tim Smit and Charlie Skarbek got together with opera singer Louise Tucker and released album “Midnight Blue” on Ariola [205 007], which they had recorded at Chestnut Studios, in ’82. The album also featured Guildford sax player David Sherrington. The title track from the album went on to become a top ten hit across Europe.
Skarbek was commissioned by World Rugby to write an anthem for the World Cup in 1991; producing the lyrics to “World in Union” which he set to the central section of Jupiter, the fourth movement from Gustav Holst’s suite The Planets; and recorded by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Smit, who is now Sir Tim, after working in the music business as both a songwriter and producer, receiving seven platinum and gold discs in the process, was a founding member of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and director of the Eden Project. Smit along with Lewkowicz (who is well known to Soundscene regulars) and Stuart Reffold recorded “The Fishing Song” used on Channel 4’s ‘Jack Charlton Goes Fishing’.
Bruce changed his name to Rene Berg shortly after the tour and played with many well-known bands, including Hanoi Rocks, Idle Flowers, Jim Penfold’s The Killers, Soho Vultures, and the Herman Brood’s Wild Romance. You may recall the news story about Berg, while at a party on board HMS Belfast for the release of The Pogues’ “Rum Sodomy & The Lash”, he heroically rescued Melody Maker sub-editor Richard Fenn from drowning in the Thames after Fenn leaped overboard. Unfortunately, after years of drug and alcohol abuse, Berg died at the age of 47, on 28 July 2003.Gallery:
Soho (L-R Lewkowicz, Campbell, and Skarbek) at The Star, Guildford. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Soho (L-R Lewkowicz, Campbell, and Skarbek) at The Star, Guildford. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes Ariola, Aswad, Asylum, Barbara Gaskin, Channel 4, Charlie Skarbek, Chestnut Studios, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dave Stewart, David Sherrington, Drummie Zeb, Eden Project, Egg, Graham Cooper, Greg Terry-Short, Guildford, Gustav Holst, Hanoi Rocks, Hatfield & The North, Herman Brood, HMS Belfast, Holland Park School, House, Ian Bruce, Idle Flowers, Jack Charlton Goes Fishing, Jackie Lynton's Happy Days Band, Jim Penfold, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Louis la Rose, Louise Tucker, Melody Maker, Netherlands, Rene Berg, Richard Fenn, Running Dry, Sev Lewkowicz, Sir Tim, Soho, Soho Vultures, Stuart Reffold, Sylvester, Terry Campbell, The Killers, The Pogues, Tim Smit, Wild Romance, World Rugby, Yasmin Evans, Yazz -
Slapattack
(c’92) Ben Darnton (drums), Kerry Bassett (bass), and Chris Turner (guitar/vocals).
Both Darnton and, ex-Dark Paradise, Turner had been in The Flying Tigers, The Rockit Men and along with Bassett they had all been in Wildfire. They got together to form the Guildford based rockabilly band, Slapattack. The band covered songs like “Slip It In” by the Stray Cats and we know they played at David Williams birthday held at the The Stoke Hotel, Guildford.
Gallery:
Slapattack at The Stoke Hotel, Picture courtesy of Ben Darnton -
The Southern Rag
Rumour has it that discussions at The StagFolk Club, Shackleford led to the creation of The Southern Rag in ’79. Local folk musician (he performed at the first Glastonbury, filling in for Marc Bolan), Ian A. Anderson teamed up with Caroline Hurrell and Lawrence Heath and started producing this, originally, A5 black & white magazine from their base in Farnham, with help from Ian Davies.
No.21 (1984) of The Southern Rag The team developed regular columns and features such as the ‘Borfolk’ cartoon, reviews, the ‘RagBag’ with the latest news, ‘The Clubs Talk’ that focused on a different folk club each issue, and the ‘Check List’ that catalogued club information. Diving into all 425 issues would be redundant, but the first few issues definitely favoured the GU postcode area:
Issue #1 (July-September ’79) included an interview with the New Victory Band, and dance notations for The Muffin Man’s Jig. There were pieces on Aldershot based guitar maker and musician Nigel Thornbory and local singer/songwriter/musician Bill Boazman, better known to us as Sonny Black. Articles on playing the bouzouki by Bob Stewart, Curate’s Egg’s history and approach to folk club work, and dulcimer player Holly Tannen’s thoughts. Morris featured heavily with items on its origins and May Day in Guildford. Meanwhile, ‘Clubs Talk’ visited The Traditions Club, Newbury and there was coverage of Oak Apple Day in Great Wishford.
Issue #2 (October – December ’79) introduced ‘Dear Auntie Caroline’ a new regular letters page for readers’ mail. Solo folk artist, Nic Jones was interviewed and The Southern Rag profiled ragtime guitarist Richard Cox-Smith. There were also articles on Morris in Surrey, the fun of song writing and the 5-string banjo.
Issue #3 (January – March ’80) published an interview with June Tabor and carried articles on different dance types, and how to play the bass guitar in the folk style. Jo-Ann Kelly, who’d appeared at the Folk & Blues Festival, Farnham Park years prior, was profiled.
Issue #4 (April – June ’80) gave readers some advice on playing old-time fiddle from Pete Cooper and profiled Martyn Bradley and Warwick Downes. There were also pieces on ‘Evelling – A Custom of Old Dunsfold’ and ‘The Chaddleworth Mumming Play’.
The Southern Rag continued as a folk and roots focused quarterly “fanzine” for Central and Southern England and by ’84/’85 it was a monthly and being distributed nationally and renamed Folk Roots; coming with a compilation album twice-yearly.
In ’99 it was renamed fRoots, and by 2006 had reached a 12,000 worldwide circulation. There was a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 to help keep it going with a re-launch in April 2018 as a larger quarterly magazine, including a compilation album with each issue.
Then, after 40 years, Anderson announced on 2 July 2019, that the magazine was coming to a close due to lack of funding. The Summer 2019 issue (issue 425) was the last.
The last issue Anderson remained the editor for the magazine’s entire forty-year lifespan. You could have also caught Anderson, who also ran a folk club at The Star Inn, Guildford. and his wife Maggie as Hot Vultures. The Folklore Library and Archive in Crediton, Devon holds almost a complete run of The Southern Rag, with only a couple of issues missing, plus many issues of Folk Roots – Expect Our Soundscene to visit there in the future.
Gallery:
No.14 (Oct to Dec 1982) of The Southern Rag 
No.18 of The Southern Rag 
No.22 (December 1984) of The Southern Rag Aldershot, Bill Boazman, Bob Stewart, Borfolk, Caroline Hurrell, Crediton, Curate’s Egg, Devon, Dunsfold, Evelling, Farnham, Farnham Park, Folk & Blues Festival, Folk Roots, fROOTS, Great Wishford, Guildford, Holly Tannen, Hot Vultures, Ian A. Anderson, Ian Anderson, Ian Davies, Jo-Ann Kelly, June Tabor, Kickstarter, Lawrence Heath, Martyn Bradley, New Victory Band, Newbury, Nic Jones, Nigel Thornbory, Oak Apple Day, Pete Cooper, Richard Cox, Richard Cox-Smith, Shackleford, Sonny Black, Stag Folk Club, The Fplklore Library and Archive, The Southern Rag, The Star, The Star Inn, The Traditions Club, Warwick Downes -
The Pleasers
(c’76-79) Nick Powell (guitar/vocals), Dave Rotchelle (drums), Steve McNerney (guitar/vocals), and Steve “Bo” Benham (Bass/Vocals).
Forming in ’76, they were described as a Beatles influenced power pop group, with a sound dubbed ‘Thamesbeat’. A debut single, titled “You Know What I’m Thinking Girl” backed by “Hello Little Girl”, was released on the Solid Gold [SGR104] label in May ’77. This was with original vocalist Chris Alexander, who was replaced by Powell just before the band signed to Arista and released the single “(You Keep on Tellin’ Me) Lies” in ’77, which was promoted as their ‘debut’. The promotion for this single included an appearance on ITV Granada’s ‘Get It Together’. “You Know What I’m Thinking Girl” was subsequently re-released in June ’77. Late in ’77 the band supported The Rezillos at Eric’s, Liverpool on 17 November.
The next year opened with the NME’s 21 January ’78 issue writing “If you missed The Pleasers last year slap your wrists, it’s easy to get the wrong idea about the band, easy to hate them before you’ve seen them, it’s time to open your ears to a new scene.” Their second single with Arista, “The Kids Are Alright” [ARIST180] came out in early ’78, followed by “A Girl I Know” [ARIST217] and “You Don’t Know” [ARIST209]. On 31 January ’78, The Pleasers headlined at The Nashville Rooms, London, supported by Tonight, and The Boyfriends; they also performed at Rafters, Manchester, supported by The Heat, on 18 March ’78. They would go on to appear on ‘Get It Together’ two more times in ’78 performing “A Girl I Know” and “You Don’t Know” as well as Manchester TV’s ‘What’s On’ with Tony Wilson performing “The Kids Are Alright” that same year. The “Cheggers Plays Pop” air date 10 April ’78 saw the band performing “The Kid’s Are Alright” which they also recorded live at BBC Theatre, Shepards Bush for “Crackerjack”. This was the year that Bob Geldof reportedly said of The Pleasers “If the Jam were The Who, The Stranglers The Doors: and we were The Stones, why can’t these guys be The Beatles.” At some point in ’78, they supported Burlesque at a local gig and in the tenth month of ’78 they were supported by The Autographs at Barbarella’s, Birmingham on 20 October, played the Town Hall, Walsall (24 October), and The Triad, Bishop Stortford supported by The Banned (25 October). The next month The Valves and The Flames supported The Pleasers at The Nashville, Kensington on 3 & 4 November, respectively.
Benham and Powell, would later team up with Steve Prudence (bass) and Dickie Knight (drums) to form Bo and The Generals in mid ’79. In ’96 the compilation LP “Thamesbeat” was released on Lost Moment Records [LMCD052]. Some of the original members of The Pleasers reformed in 2009 and performed at The 100 Club and Marquee, London and venues in Japan, about the same time as “Thamesbeat” was re-released in Japan by Air Mail Recordings [AIRCD-099]. In 2020, the Grapefruit Records label released “Surrender to the Rhythm – The London Pub Rock Scene of The Seventies” [CRSEG074T], a 3-CD compilation that included The Pleasers “Rock N’ Roll Radio” on the 3rd CD of Pub Rock classics.
In 2005, Rotchelle, who had toured with The Count Bishops and The Rockets prior to The Pleasers and made a living in photography for newspapers, magazines and commissions after The Pleasers, was recovering from a leg amputation, thanks to diabetes which had also robbed him of dexterity in his hands and clarity in his eyesight. In October 2020, he was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, where he died of diabetes, pneumonia and sepsis. That same year, Powell, who’d also spent time in Evening Sun and Dr JJ’s Blues Band, sadly died from COVID 19. McNerney joined forces with Trace Graham in ’82 to form Dream Cycle 7, was the main mover in Changing Man in ’95/’96 and set up Hannah Music in 2000 and was the composer/performer/producer of original music for a number of documentaries/films/T.V. including The Deadliest Catch and has worked with Bruno Mars, Jim Capaldi, Robert Plant, Noddy Holder, Shaggy, Joe Cocker and many others.
Video:
Gallery:
17 November 1977: The Pleasers supported The Rezillos at Eric’s, Liverpool. Source: Nevil Kiddier via Keep It Out of Sight 
Front cover of 2020’s, Grapefruit Records label released, “Surrender to the Rhythm the London Pub Rock Scene of the Seventies”. Source: Steve Leslie via Keep It Out of Sight 
Back cover of 2020’s, Grapefruit Records label released, “Surrender to the Rhythm the London Pub Rock Scene of the Seventies”. Source: Steve Leslie via Keep It Out of Sight 
“Thamebest” LP cover 
The Pleasers 
The Pleasers’ “You Don’t Know” front sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “You Don’t Know” back sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “A Girl I Know” front sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “A Girl I Know” back sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “The Kids Are Alright” front sleeve. 
The Pleasers’ 1977 debut single “(You Keep On Tellin Me) Lies” sleeve back. 
The Pleasers’ 1977 debut single “(You Keep On Tellin Me) Lies” sleeve front. 
The Pleasers’ Steve McNernrey 
The Pleasers’ Nick Powell 
The Pleasers’ Bo Benham 
Band promo picture for The Pleasers. It was also used on the sleeve for the debut single. Air Mail Recordings, Arista, BBC Theatre, Birmingham, Bishop Stortford, Bo and the Generals, Bob Geldof, Bruno Mars, Burlesque, Changing Man, Cheggers Plays Pop, Chris Alexander, Crackerjack, Dave Rotchelle, Dickie Knight, Dr J.J’s Blues Band, Dream Cycle 7, Erics, Evening Sun, Get It Together, Grapefruit Records, Hampstead, Hannah Music, ITV Granada, Japan, Jim Capaldi, Joe Cocker, Kensington, Liverpool, London, Lost Moment Records, Manchester, Manchester TV, Marquee, Nick Powell, NME, Noddy Holder, Rafters, Robert Plant, Royal Free Hospital, Shaggy, Shepards Bush, Solid Gold, Steve Benham, Steve McNerney, Steve Prudence, Thamesbeat, The 100 Club, The Autographs, The Banned, The Boyfriends, The Count Bishops, The Deadliest Catch, The Flames, The Heat, The Nashville, The Nashville Rooms, The Pleasers, THe Rezillos, The Rockets, The Triad, The Valves, Tonight, Tony Wilson, Town Hall, Trace Graham, Walsall -
Genevieve
(c’70-’71) Colin Lintott (bass/vocals), Alan Blaker (drums/vocals), Barry Fitzpatrick (guitar/vocals), and Janet Martin (vocals/tambourine)
Originally in The Sound Ring, Lintott, Blaker and Fitzpatrick discovered Martin thanks to a bout of singing in a car, then asking if she’d audition. The four went on to form Genevieve, covering the likes of Pickettywitch’s “That Same Old Feeling” and Paul Simon’s “Keep the Customer Satisfied”.
The group signed a four-year contract with Bob Potter and played the army messes at Aldershot and Pirbright as well as the Atalanta Ballroom, Woking.
Gallery:
Clipping from early 70s, possibly Woking News & Mail -
Revolver
(c’96-’98) Dom De Vivo (bass/vocals), Steve Baker (guitar/vocals), Ross Di’Landa (drums), and Enzo Esposito (rhythm guitar).
De Vivo and the other three original members of Squire tried to reform in ’96, but the threat of legal action by Anthony Meynell resulted in them performing as Revolver. The band recorded original tracks written by Baker, who also undertook vocal duties, and used Trinity Studios, within the Community Centre, Knaphill to recorded at least three original numbers.
They kept going, with original music and gigs at many a pub and club, until Baker emigrated to Australia.
Prior to Revolver Baker had also been in Panther, was a founding member of Cutting Edge, and also joined Bo and The Generals for a while. Baker regrettably died on New Years Day 2019.
Gallery:
Revolver’s De Vivo c’96. Pictute courtesy of Dom De Vivo 
Revolver c’96. Picture courtesy of Dom De Vivo -
The Weysiders
(c’50) Gerry Cheeseman (vocals), Fred Gardner (vocals), Derek Potter (vocals) and Les Reed (accordion/vocals).
Active in 1950, Les Reed formed The Les Reed Trio that same year and went on to write hits for Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck amongst others.
Cheeseman, Gardner, and Reed have all sadly passed. The whereabouts/status of Potter is unknown.
Gallery:
The Weysiders in 1950 (LtoR) Cheeseman, Gardner, Potter, and Reed. Source: Christine Turner via WOKING when we were young -
The Vulgar Bros
(c’76-date) Dave Gallagher (guitar), Bernie Foskins (bass), Adam Russel (guitar / harmonica), “Whispering” Bob Darnell (drums) and Paul Trew (vocals).
Vulgar Bros played their first gig at the Hautboy, Ockham c’76. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew The Vulgar Bros/Brothers were a rhythm and blues band from Farnborough that played all over, at colleges, pubs, festivals, etc. Their first gig was on the balcony at The Hautboy, Ockham in ’76, and we know that Carl Schieder replaced Darnell on drums in ’77 – whether that was before or after their appearance at The Albion, Woking that year we don’t know. The Wooden Bridge, Guildford hosted the band on 4 September ’79; and you could have caught the band, who’d augmented their line-up with Graham Hill and Steve Claydon, at The Prince of Wales, Fleet in mid-October.
Then, in ’80 they were one of the Farnborough and Aldershot bands that went to the Stonehenge Festival, funded in part by t-shirt sales, designed and printed by Tim Freeman (Martin Freeman’s brother). On 18 April ’80 the band were at the Technical College, Farnborough with The Torpedoes, by which time Access’ guitarist Keith Jones was on vocals, harmonica and lead guitar with the three other Vulgar Bros: Gallagher, Schieder, and Foskins.
18 April 1980: The Torpedoes and Vulgar Bros played Farnborough Tech. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew Susie Wadey (guitar/vocals) and Carl Launchbury (drums), who’d later co-form The F1-11s, joined the band at some point. The Vulgar Bros are still going today as a 3-piece with Gallagher, Foskins and Schieder. Occasionally joined by David “Mad” Morgan on guitar and harmonica with The Crown, Badshot Lea as their regular venue.
Trew was also in The Torpedoes, Thane, The Virgin Daze, and White as White (and Twice as Dirty), and The Desotos. Schieder would also join Straightshooter in ’77. Sometine in ’89, Jones would take on bass and vocal duties with The Flying Tigers.
Gallery:
The Vulgar Bros. Paul Trew and Bernie Austin at The Albion, Woking in 1977. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
4 September 1979: Vulgar Bros played The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
Not quite complete clipping from Farnborough News, 19 October 1979, of Vulgar Bros. review by David Reading. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew. 
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) NostalgiaAccess, Adam Russel, Badshot Lea, Bernie Foskins, Bob Darnell, Carl Launchbury, Carl Schieder, Dave Gallagher, David Morgan, Farnborough, Farnborough Tech, Fleet, Graham Hill, Guildford, Keith Jones, Ockham, Paul Trew, Steve Claydon, Stonehenge Festival, Straightshooter, Susie Wadey, Technical College, Thane, The Albion, The Crown, The Desotos, The F1-11s, The Flying Tigers, The Hautboy, The Prince of Wales, The Virgin Daze, The Vulgar Bros, Tim Freeman, White as White (and Twice as Dirty), Woking, Wooden Bridge -
The Jimmie Cole Band
(c’50s) James Cole (conductor), ? (bass), ? (piano), ? (sax), and ? (trumpet).
The Jimmie Cole band, all from the Woking area, often played the town’s Liberal Club. Les Reed, when he was a jobbing pianist after demob, was once a member, playing up and down the country.
Gallery:
Jimmie Cole Band at the Liberal Club, Woking. Picture courtesy of Mark Applin -
The New Stars
(c’51-’52) Charlie Partleton (drums), ? (sax), ? (sax), ? (sax), Edward Fowler (trumpet), ? (bass), and ? (piano).
Fowler was a founding member of this popular Farnborough dance orchestra, known to have played the R.A.E Assembly Hall and Town Hall, Farnborough, including an appearance on 22 September ’51.
22 September 1951: Clipping from Aldershot News of Fri, 21 Sep 1951 courtesy of Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia During the day Partleton was a barber at Swan hairdressers and would join The Mickey Kennedy Band in the late ’50s as well as being a member of the Farnborough Concert Orchestra. Partleton passed in June 2016, at 92.
Gallery:
The New Stars playing at the R.A.E. Assembly Hall. Source: Alan Harvey via Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia
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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