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The Peppermint Men
(c’66) – Glenn Hoyle (drums), ? (guitar), ? (guitar), ? (vocals), and ? (vocals)
The Peppermint Men were a Farnborough band that played the youth clubs / venues and the ABC Cinema. On 8 July ’66, the band played Imperial Hall, North Camp with The I.O.K. in support. They would later change their name to The Villains.
Gallery:

8 July 1966: The Peppermint Men and The I.O.K. at Imperial Hall, Farnborough. Source: Jenny Bembridge via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
The Peppermint Men c’66. Source: Jenny Bembridge via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
The Peppermint Men c’66. Source: Jenny Bembridge via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
The Deep Season
(c’90-94) Lindsay Jamieson (drums), Kevin Jamieson (vocals), and Nick Hannan (bass).
Out of the ashes of Jim Jiminee came Fleet’s The Deep Season. Their first known gig was at The Buzz Club, West End Centre, Aldershot – while After the Dream supported Explodehead, along with The Screaming Benders, This Witness, and Cow played the main hall; The Deep Season played the bar area. Ten days later, on 16 April, Deep Season headlined Buzz Club with After the Dream and This Witness in support.

8 March 1991: Deep Season at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave Later in ’90 they self-released the eponymous “The Deep Season E.P. [Blah 001] on their Blah Records label. On 8 March ’91, The Deep Season played the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town and later in the month, on 23 March ’90, were at The Buzz Club again with Cow, The Cygnet Rings and Who Moved the Ground? That same year they released the 12″ “Fields of Joy E.P.” [blah 002], which was produced by Guy Chambers. It was back to the Bull & Gate on 5 July ’91, headlining as far as we are aware with The Blue Birds, and The Ammonites in support; and again on 4 October ’91, with Sugar House and Sweet Life, at Pop Club. Moving to Integrity Records late in ’91 they released the “Loony Tunes” [Integrity 001] 12″ EP just before Christmas ’91. They pushed this heavily in the lead up to Christmas ’91 with gigs at the Orange Club, West Kensington; Splash Club, King’s Cross; and, on Christmas Eve, the Apple Club, The Compasses, Egham.

9 May ’92: The Deep Season were supported by Giant Arc, Flavour and Pomeroy The Buzz Club had the band headlining once again on 9 May ’92 for a local band night, supported by Giant Arc, Flavour and Pomeroy. Interest from Columbia resulted in ’93’s “Island Monkeys” LP and the “Evergreen” EP [COL 660 751-2] in ’94, which was re-released in 2017. Columbia’s promotion work got “Lovesome Day” from the LP some radio play on Belgium Delta Radio/Bilzen 5 and “Evergreen” on Radio LAC/Geneva S and on S Couleur 3/Lausanne G in Switzerland. The band also visited Austin, Texas, for South by South West (SXSW), in ’94 playing at the Ritz and Scholz Garten.

Promo flyer for The Deep Season at SXSW in 1994. As far as we know the band split in ’94; although the band members did later produce and provide backing for Perry Rose’s album “The Bright Ring of the Day”. After Deep Season, Lindsey Jameson was also in Supermodel, Departure Lounge, and Astronaut Pushers just before joining Ben Folds in 2005. Hannan joined his brother Patrick “Patch” Hannan at Blah Street Studio. Patch played drums for The Sundays, Star 69 and Arnold. While there, Hannon appeared on a number of albums for a variety of artists, including Arnold, Jack Henderson and Bennett. Hannon may have moved to Sidmouth.
Gallery:

6 April 1990: Deep Season, along with After The Dream and This Witness played the Buzz Club at West End Centre, Aldershot. Source: Who Moved The Ground? 
8 March 1991: The Deep Season at Pop Club, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. Picture courtesy of Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: Deep Season at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: The Deep Season at Pop Club, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. Picture courtesy of Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: The Deep Season at Pop Club, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. Picture courtesy of Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: Deep Season at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: Deep Season at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
8 March 1991: The Deep Season at Pop Club, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. Picture courtesy of Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
The Deep Season’s first known gig was supporting, with Cow, The Cygnet Rigs and Who Moved The Ground at The Buzz Club in March 1991 
The Deep Season’s first known gig was supporting, with Cow, The Cygnet Rigs and Who Moved The Ground at The Buzz Club in March 1991 
The Deep Season’s “Fields Of Joy E.P.”‘ 1991 
4 October 1991: The Deep Season with Sugar House and Sweet Life at Pop Club, Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave 
The Deep Season’s “Loony Tunes” EP, 1991. 
Unknown local rag press clipping from December ’91 covering The Deep season. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter 
The Deep Season’s “Island Monkeys” LP, 1993 
The Deep Season’s “Evergreen” EP, 1994. 
Side A of The Deep Season’s self-released the eponymous E.P. [Blah 001] from 1990 
Side B of The Deep Season’s self-released the eponymous E.P. [Blah 001] from 1990 After the Dream, Aldershot, Apple Club, Arnold, Astronaut Pushers, Austin, Belgium, Ben Folds, Bennett, Bilzen 5, Blah Records, Blah Street Studio, Bull & Gate, Columbia, Cow, Delta Radio, Departure Lounge, Egham, Explodehead, Flavour, Fleet, Geneva S, Giant Arc, Guy Chambers, Integrity Records, Jack Henderson, Jim Jiminee, Kentish Town, Kevin Jamieson, King's Cross, Lausanne G, Lindsay Jamieson, Nick Hannan, Orange Club, Patrick Hannan, Perry Rose, Pomeroy, Pop Club, Radio LAC, Ritz, S Couleur 3, Scholz Garten, Sidmouth, South by South West, Splash Club, Star 69, Sugar House, Supermodel, Sweet Life, Switzerland, SXSW, Texas, The Ammonites, The Blue Birds, The Buzz Club, The Compasses, The Cygnet Rings, The Deep Season, The Screaming Benders, The Sundays, This Witness, West End Centre, West Kensington, Who Moved the Ground? -
Headcopter
(c’94-’96) Graham Burgess (vocals/guitar), Shaun Jackson (drums) and Pete Burgess (bass)
Formed by ex-Trousershock B.C. guitarist and vocalist Burgess this 3-piece Yateley indie-pop band had a Smiths’ vibe. In late ’94 they released the “No Room Too Small” 4 track demo. Pulled from that demo, the bands “Will You Let Us Know” appeared in Farnborough Groove Strikes Back! Vol. in ’95; although it was wrongly titled “Call Us, Let Us Know”.
On 9 March ’95 the band supported Skipper, who’d stepped up the headliner after The Wasp Factory pulled out due to illness, at The Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell. Later that year “I Don’t Think I Deserved This” was included on The Best Farnborough Groove in the World – Ever! Vol.6. Farnborough Groove impresario Pete Cole recalls Burgess saying, just before their last song at a gig “If you liked us we are called Headcopter, if you hated us we are called Who Moved the Ground?“.
The Montrose Tractor, as Trousershock B.C,’s drum machine was called, reportedly replaced Headcopter’s drummer Jackson, who’d been in Peachrazor prior to Headcopter.
Tracks:Gallery:




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Starship
(c’76-’81) Robert Russell (guitar/keyboard/vocals), John Russell (guitar/vocals), Peter Jones (bass/vocals), and Mike Winters (drums/vocals).
This Guildford group, described as new wave / power pop with four-part harmonies, played most of the Guildford venues, like The Royal on Sunday nights in the early 80’s; The Stoke Hotel, and The Wooden Bridge – where Robert and John organized The Rock Club in the late 70’s, aided by Ian J Davies – among them.
Jones left in the band in ’76 and was replaced by Steve Smith. The back room at The Stoke Hotel was also the bands rehearsal space. It was during one of the rehearsal sessions, in August 1976, that they used a 2-track recording machine to capture several tracks in mono. Eventually these became the self-released “Starship” 7″ vinyl EP, of which a limited 500 were released in April ’77, on their own label: Scratch Records [SCH.01]. The 4 tracks on the EP were “Vampire For Your Love”, “You Can Dance” “Hey Girl” and “Never Thought I’d See The Day” which were all written by Robert Russell.

Starship’s 7″ EP. Picture courtesy of Ian J Davis For the record collectors among us, the record uses the Fanfare matrix number FR.2219; implying that Fanfare Records, a studio and custom-recording company based in Swiss Cottage, London, made the acetates / arranged for the record to be made. Shortly after the release, Winters, who’d replace original drummer Mick Freer, left the band and Ken ? stepped in before Steve Bye took the stool.
In the early ’80’s Ian J Davis managed to get them a couple of plays on John Peel & Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman’s radio shows through a friend that organized the playlists. When John joined After the Fire, there was no more Starship. Robert would join Whirlwind, Smith found himself in The Vapors, while Bye went to The Jetz then onto The Physicals. Robert would go on to released an album titled “Retrospection Love and Heartbreak” in 2022, where the Starship EP is rerecorded.
Gallery:

A-Side of Starship’s 7″ EP 
B-Side of Starship’s 7″ EP 
Starship in ’77 After the Fire, Alan Freeman, Fanfare Records, Guildford, Ian J Davis, John Peel, John Russell, Mick Freer, Mike Winters, Peter Jones, Robert Russell, Scratch Records, Starship, Steve Bye, Steve Smith, The Jetz, The Physicals, The Rock Club, The Royal, The Stoke Hotel, The Vapors, Whirlwind, Wooden Bridge -
Stigmata Club
(c’87) Ben Norris (bass / vocals), Jamie Freeman (?), Dave Smith (?), and Brian ? (?).
This Farnham based group, known to have played Champagnes, Horsham, were described as a “mix of white funk and black punk”. Reportedly they spent their first paying gig fee on Hasbros’ Crossfire board game.
In addition to Champagnes, the band were engaged by The Buzz Club to play the bar area, on the night The Happy Mondays were on the main stage – who were supported by The Waltons, This Poison!, and Caretaker – at the West End Centre, Aldershot on 3 July ’87. They released one demo cassette and split before any record company interest.

Stigmata Club demo cassette sleeve. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold The band, along with Fra Angelico, also played at the ‘Swimming Pool squat gig’ in Farnham which was organized by Freeman and Norris and others from the Farnham punk scene.
Norris went on to Skipper and is now a stand-up comedian. Freeman – who’d been in Salter Cane – was a songwriter, musician, and producer described by R’N’R Magazine as “..between the narrative talents of Pete Townshend, Ray Davies and other 60’s luminaries…”. He co-founded the Lewes, Essex based Union Music Store label, and would join his brother Tim, playing with Frazier Chorus. On his own label Freeman released three LPs under his own name between 2011 and 2019 and also fronted The Jamie Freeman Agreement, with whom an LP was released in 2013. Freeman and Norris would collaborate again on Norris’ comedy music album “Moral Vacuum”.
Freeman regrettably left this realm in December 2022, as the result on brain cancer.
Gallery:

3 July 1987: Stigmata Club played the bar at the Buzz Club: Source indiethroughthelookingglass.com 
Stigmata Club demo cassette. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold Aldershot, Ben Norris, Caretaker, Champagnes, Dave Smith, Farnham, Fra Angelico, Frazier Chorus, Horsham, Jamie Freeman, R’N’R Magazine, Salter Cane, Skipper, Stigmata Club, The Buzz Club, The Happy Mondays, The Jamie Freeman Agreement, The Waltons, This Poison!, Tim Freeman, Union Music Store, West End Centre -
Drink Britain Dry
(c’86-87) Ade Street (co-lead vocal), Max ? (co-lead vocal), Tim Eagles (drums), Glenn Blackman (bass), Gary Blackman (guitar) and ? “JJ” ? (guitar).
This Aldershot band aimed for a James Chance / Beastie Boys contortion and were included in The Buzz Club‘s local band night, at the West End Centre, Aldershot, on 26 November ’87 along with The Aurbisons, The Gathering, The Caretaker, and The Dead Beats. Hugh Shipman was there, reporting that he “saw Drink Britain Dry, the most entertaining show by anybody that I ever attended. “Golden rain, from Chernobyl”. Wonderful. They were huge but they should also have been famous.”
This wasn’t the bands only appearance at the West End Centre, we know that they were once supported by Rising Signs, that band’s debut, at the venue.
The Aurbisons’ Dave Driscoll recalls, in an interview for Cloudberry Cake Proselytism V.3: “A small group of skinheads would come to our gigs & shout “Woahhhhhhh you’re sh*t!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” after every song. I later found most of them were in a band called Drink Britain Dry. They were fantastic & ahead of their time. They were funk-punk with white boy rapping over the top, the basic opus of their songs, being the glorification of getting completely munted. At the end of their set the band would throw down their instruments, grab the singer & carry him on their shoulders & lay him on the bar.”
Prior to Drink Britain Dry, Street had been in Rebels Without Mercy, and The Plague.
Gallery:

Drink Britain Dry were included in a Buzz Club local band night on 26 November ’87 along with The Aurbisons, The Gathering, The Caretaker, and The Deadbeats. 
Drink Britain Dry at West End Centre, Aldershot in ’86. Picture courtesy of Ade Street -
The Dead Beats
(c’87-88) Jason Applin (vocals), Ric Testa (Guitar), Paul Harle (Bass), and Dominic Coles (Drums).
The Dead Beats formed in late ’87 and were included in The Buzz Club‘s local band night, at the West End Centre, Aldershot, on 26 November ’87, along with The Aurbisons, The Gathering, The Caretaker, and Drink Britain Dry. They and The Aurbisons returned to the venue and The Buzz Club to support McCarthy on 9 January ’88.
The Dead Beats split in March ’88, returning later in the year in a number of guises, eventually becoming Sugar Mountain.
Applin and Harle went on to The Ha Ha Men. Applin was then a founding member of Bennet and ran an indie record label. Coles would also become a member of and Something Religious, The Outcast Band, and The Four.Gallery:


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Rebels Without Mercy
(c’82-’83) Ade Street (bass), ? “Piggy” ? (guitar), Dave Major (drums), Kenneth Jones (keyboards), and Dave Common (vocals).
Heavily influenced by Theatre of Hate, this Aldershot band were an offshoot of The Plague, existing in parallel. Street, Piggy, and Major were in both bands.
Gallery:

Rebels Without Mercy’s “Piggy” (guitar) and Dave Major (drums). Picture courtesy of Paul Denison 
Rebels Without Mercy’s Ade Street (bass). Picture courtesy of Paul Denison 
Rebels Without Mercy’s Dave Common (vocals) and Ade Street (bass). Picture courtesy of Ade Street
















































































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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