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Thane
(c’80-’81) Paul Thane (vocals), Neil Fitch (guitar/vocals), Phil Longden (keyboards), Dave O’Williams (bass/vocals), and Steve Cusack (drums).
Thane were a Frimley based band, not to be confused with Edinburgh band The Thanes. The band’s first drummer had been Tim Huthert, before he went on to join Specimen, who’d been in The Desotos along with Fitch and Paul Trew, who’d also appear in Thane briefly. Huthert was replaced by Cusack, who was joined in the rhythm section by O’Williams, having replaced original bassist Simon Sherwood, ex-The Mode – a band managed by Thane’s brother Barry.
Front cover of 101’s “Beyond the Groove” compilation LP that included Thane. We know the band appeared at the Cambridge Hotel, Camberley and the 101 Club, Clapham in ’80. The latter secured them a track on 101 Records ‘Beyond the Groove’ compilation LP along with The Fix, Modern Man, and the Electric Eels, amongst others. This spot was filled by “Traffic Jam”, the title track of Thane’s debut 7″ single, that was also released in ’80. Produced by Dave Moore, “Traffic Jam” [BAD 03] was on Badge Records and backed by “Frankie Boy”. It was also released in France on the Arabella label [102273] that same year. The following year, still on Badge Records and with Dave Moore producing, “Romance Down the Drain” [BAD 8] hit the streets, with “Transparent Love” on the flipside. To the best of our knowledge the band dissolved in late ’81.
Front of sleeve for Thane’s 1980 single “Traffic Jam”. Fitch was also in The Wasp Factory and The Desotos, along with Huthert, Trew, and Longden. The latter would go to be join The Desotos, after which they rebranded as Virgin Daze; and was involved with Kudos, Bite the Bullet, and Fear of Flying with Thane. Trew, in addition to The Desotos, had been in The Torpedoes, The Vulgar Bros., and White as White (and Twice as Dirty). Thane, who went on to provide the vocals and songwriting for Last Chance to Dance, Out Of Order, and Fear of Flying with Longden, regrettably passed away in 2020.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Back of sleeve for Thane’s 1980 single “Traffic Jam”. 
Side A of Thane’s 1980 single “Traffic Jam”. 
Side B of Thane’s 1980 single “Frankie Boy”. 
Back cover of 101’s “Beyond the Groove” compilation LP that included Thane. 
Thane’s 1981 single: “Romance Down The Drain” 101 Club, 101 Records, Arabella, Badge Records, Barry Thane, Bite the Bullet, Camberley, Cambridge Hotel, Clapham, Dave Moore, Dave O’Williams, Electric Eels, Fear of Flying, France, Frimley, Kudos, Last Chance to Dance, Modern Man, Neil Fitch, Out of Order, Paul Thane, Paul Trew, Phil Longden, Simon Sherwood, Specimen, Steve Cusack, Thane, The Desotos, The Fix, The Mode, The Thanes, The Torpedoes, The Vulgar Bros, The Wasp Factory, Tim Huthert, Virgin Daze, White As White, White as White (and Twice as Dirty) -
D Fabulous
(c’83-’84), Steve Hedges (vocals), SJ (vocals), Beverley Chadwick (sax), Xan Phillips (bass), Ian ‘Patsy’ Patterson (drums), and Doug McLeish (sax).
This Guildford combo were at the University of Surrey for the June Jitterbug along with Longpig, Dark Paradise, No Joy, Betrayed, and Asylum Sounds on 9 June ’84. A few months later they appeared at the Sea Cadet Hall, Guildford, on 8 September ’84, along with La Maison du Chant and Wild Lettuce.
8 September 1984: Handbill for D Fabulous’ appearance at the Sea Cadet Hall Guildford. Source: Alan and Jackie Wallis Chadwick, who was also involved with La Maison du Chants, would later co-form Casual Sax and performed with Steel Bill & The Buffalos. Bassist Phillips joined Funtime in ’84 along with Patterson, who’d previously been in Just So Stories. Hedges is brother to ex-Vapor, Michael Hedges.
Gallery:
9 June 1984: Ticket for the June Jitterbug at University of Surrey with Longpig, D Fabulous, Dark Paradise, No Joy, Betrayed, and Asylum Sounds 
D Fabulous. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Chadwick of D Fabulous. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Chadwick and McLeish of D Fabulous. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Chadwick and McLeish of D Fabulous. Picture by and courtesy of Fred Pipes Asylum Sounds, Betrayed, Beverley Chadwick, Casual Sax, D Fabulous, Dark Paradise, Doug Mcleish, Funtime, Guildford, Ian Patterson, June Jitterbug, Just So Stories, La Maison Du Chants, LongPig, Michael Hedges, No Joy, Sea Cadet Hall, Steel Bill & the Buffalos, Steve Hedges, The Vapors, University of Surrey, Wild Lettuce, Xan Phillips -
The Compasses Inn, Gomshall
On the A25, halfway to Dorking, from Guildford, The Compasses Inn – not to be confused with The Compasses, Egham – is sandwiched by the road and the River Tillingbourne and is still hosting bands.
The Flying Tigers at The Compasses Inn, Gomshall in 1989. Picture courtesy of Adam Russel In the late 80s / early 90s it was run by Muriel & Roger Quilter. We know The Flying Tigers were at the pub in ’89 and on 15 December that year Los Dildos appeared at The Compasses Inn, followed by the Rockit Men the next night. 1989 was wrapped up by Inside Out on 30 December.
On 2 August 1990, Backlash, supported by Big Wednesday, played at the Inn followed two weeks later, on 14 August, by Three Times The Crow. The next year, Jinn House took a stop there on 26 July ’91 and we are aware that Spliff Riff appeared there in the early 90’s.
Fun fact: The inn was registered in 1829 as God Encompasses. It was reportedly so frequently mispronounced as Goat Encompasses, that this became its name. At some point the goat and the ‘En’ were dropped.
Gallery:
16 December 1989: Gig List (from unknown local rag) puts Rockit Men at The Compasses, Gomsall. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
2 August 1990: Backlash, supported by Big Wednesday, played The Compasses, Gomshall. Picture courtesy of Nathan Argonaut 
1990 gig list for Three Times The Crow. Picture courtesy of Inga Leru-Kelly 
26 July 1991: Gig Listing from TBI local newspaper has Jinn House playing Compasses, Gomshall. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Compasses Inn, Gomshall -
Lion Brewery, Ash
Sat on the Guildford Road, the Lion Brewery is another of those rare venues that hasn’t been flattened for flats, converted into a restaurant, or just no longer hosting bands. It is, and will hopefully continue to be, an active venue; and continue to be home to the Unplug the Wood acoustic jam and Unplug the Wood folk Sunday.
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records Many a local band have played here including: The Meatheads – who had originally only formed for fun and the one gig at the Brewery, The Flying Tigers, Bus Ryde, Frantic and Van Gogh and the Earlobes.
15 July 1986: West One first gig at The Lion Brewery, Ash. Source: West One Salt Solution rocked into the brewery on 4 March ’86 and ‘Arf Cut were far from it on 31 March. Salt Solution returned on 16 April and twice in ’86, West One appeared at the venue: The Lion Brewery had the band in on 15 July ’86, then on 26 August ’86 they returned. It was also used that year for one of Backstage Pass‘ warm up gigs in the run up to their London Hippodrome gigs. Having filled the place the landlord told the band he wouldn’t be paying and that they should come back Sunday lunch to see “some proper jazzers” and that the band “might learn something” – after some encouragement they were paid.
Tarrow didn’t tarry when they launched into their set on 14 April ’88, but we must had downed a few to many at the bar in ’88 as our archive is very thin for the year. We don’t recall if Covers were a cover band or not, but they gigged at the brewery on 23 March ’89 and the Old Boy Network filled the spot nicely the next evening. The remainder of March ’89 was filled by Instinction on 26 March, The Hillbillies on 27 March, and The Little Piggy Bank on 29 March. On 12 December 1989, Who Moved the Ground? performed their third live performance there. How many bands have or go by the KGB moniker? One of them played The Lion Brewery on 14 December ’89, with Nobody Called Ruth providing the entertainment on 15 December and Rosettes on 16 December. Wildfire played a Christmas gig at The Lion Brewery, Ash in ’89 as did the Wildfire offshoot, the Rockit Men, on 28 December ’89 followed by The Press on 29 December.
The Rockit Men were back on 17 March ’90 making full use of the fox hunting subject matter on the curtain backdrop. A warm venue welcomed Cold Sweat on 11 April ’91 and Time Square played on 12 April, followed by Replay on 13 April and, on 18 April, Final Word. On 26 July 1991, The Press appeared at the pub once more.
The Lion Brewery hosted Capture the Light on 31 January ’92, then jumping to 16 April, The Blue Birds were followed by Feel the next day. The debut gig for Vox Pop went down well on 2 June ’92, with a repeat performance at the venue on 29 June, of which drummer Martin Smith noted “Ok, sound a bit shit!”; not that this stopped them returning again on 13 August ’92. Kaba were at the centre of the show on 19 September ’92 with the following night taken by the Hoi Polloli. Led by The Emeralds and Wishful Thinking‘s ex-drummer, The Brian Allen Band bought back memories of the 60s/70’s on 22 November ’92 and Stand & Deliver held the audience captive the following night.
29 June 1992: Vox Pop at Lion Brewery. Picture courtesy of Col Bird. The Electric Blue appeared there on 18 February ’93, with the Brian Allen Band rolling in once more the next night and Strike-A-Lite on 20 February. A couple of days later Fishpaste spread some cheer followed by Sweet Hooligan the next day, 23 February ’93. Lost Roberts Blues Band found the Brewery on 25 February ’93.
26 July 1986: This Breed of Heroes at the first Ash Music Festival. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman The Ash Music Festival is a charity event, organized by Michael and Lyndsey of the Lion Brewery, on the last Saturday of July every year, with a large stage for many of the finest local music bands. The first Ash Festival was held on 26 July ’86, and the opening act was This Breed of Heroes.
Gallery:
26 August 1986: West One played The Lion Brewery, Ash. Source: West One 
While the pictures of the band were taken at Lion Brewery, Ash, this Flying Tigers poster blank could be dated and put up in any venue. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Backstage Pass at The Lion Brewery, Ash c’86. Picture courtesy of Dave Hitchins
Wildfire at the Lion Brewery, Ash around ’89. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner 
WildFire played a Christmas gig at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Who Moved the Ground? clipping from 7th December 1989 issue of Aldershot News. Source: Who Moved the Ground? 
17 March 1990: Rockit Men were at Lion Brewery, Ash. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Rockit Men at Lion Brewery, Ash at Christmas. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
26 July 1991: Gig Listing from TBI local newspaper has The Press playing Lion Brewery, Ash. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Rockit Men at Lion Brewery, Ash at Christmas. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
23 February 1993: Sweet Hooligan at Lion Brewery. Picture courtesy of Tim Naylor. 
Lion Brewery, Ash 'Arf Cut, Ash, Ash Festival, Ash Music Festival, Backstage Pass, Brian Allen Band, Bus Ryde, Capture the Light, Cold Sweat, Covers, Electric Blue, Feel, Final Word, Fishpaste, Frantic, Hippodrome, Hoi Polloli, Kaba, KGB, Lion Brewery, London, Lost Roberts Blues Band, Martin Smith, Nobody Called Ruth, Old Boy Network, Replay, Rockit Men, Rosettes, Salt Solution, Stand & Deliver, Strike-A-Lite, Sweet Hooligan, Tarrow, The Blue Birds, The Brian Allen Band, The Emeralds, The Flying Tigers, The Hillbillies, The Lion Brewery, The Little Piggy Band, The Meatheads, The Press, This Breed of Heroes, Time Square, Unplug the Wood, Van Gogh and the Earlobes, Vox Pop, West One, Who Moved the Ground?, Wildfire, Wishful Thinking -
Here Comes Jordon
(c’90) Jo Bartlett (guitar/vocal), Rudy Carroll (guitar / vocals / sax), Danny Hagan (bass), and Kevin Morey (drums).
While in Bluetrain, Bartlett and Carroll got together as an acoustic duo. They played a few venues and there were some recordings laid down in a German studio. These recordings helped secure a spot in The Singapore Festival of Arts, for which they augmented the duo with Hagan, and Morey.
Before Singapore, on 15 June ’90, Here Comes Jordon, along with The Vinegar Blossom, were scheduled to support Flowered Up at The Buzz Club at West End Centre, Aldershot. Flowered Up cancelled and Eusebio stepped in to headline. The festival in Singapore had the band appearing at Bibi’s Theatre Pub, hotel bars and shopping malls during that following week in June, performing a 40-minutes set that included “Time Sweet Time” “Angel Smile”, “Parade” and “Mercy Sake”, as well as on the festival’s main stage that was situated on Orchard Road. Sharon Lim reviewed Here Comes Jordan’s performance at Raffles City for Singapore’s The Straits Times.
Bartlett and Hagan went on to form the duo It’s Jo and Danny.
Links:
Read more about the Singapore festival on Bartlett’s Indie Through the Looking Glass
Gallery:
15 June 1990: Flowered Up supported by Vinegar Blossom and Here Comes Jordan bulled to play The Buzz Club at West End Centre, Aldershot. Picture courtesy of Andy Mabbutt 
Review in Singapore’s Straits Times;. Source: Indie Through the Looking Glass Aldershot, Bibi’s Theatre Pub, Bluetrain, Buzz Club, Danny Hagan, Eusebio, Flowered Up, Here Comes Jordan, Indie Through The Looking Glass, It’s Jo and Danny, Jo Bartlett, Kevin Morey, Orchard Road, Rudy Carroll, Sharon Lim, The Singapore Festival of Arts, The Straits Times, The Vinegar Blossom, West End Centre -
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. Smit would return to the Churt studio, after it became The Music Room, to co-produce with Paul Travers Mission from God by General Confusion featuring Rhythm Machine.
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, General Confusion featuring Rhythm Machine, 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, Paul Travers, Rene Berg, Richard Fenn, Running Dry, Sev Lewkowicz, Sir Tim, Soho, Soho Vultures, Stuart Reffold, Sylvester, Terry Campbell, The Killers, The Music Room, 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, who had played in The Bunkers, 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
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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