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ABC, Aldershot
Aldershot’s ABC Cinema opened, as The Ritz, on 13th May 1937. The original cinema chain was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in October 1937. For the organ buffs, it originally had a Wurlitzer 3Manual/7Ranks organ with illuminated console and grand piano installed, which was opened by organist Harold Ramsay. In February ’61 it was renamed ABC. Like Aldershot’s Empire Cinema next door, it staged variety shows as well as movies and in the mid-1960’s staged many of the package tours / shows starring Gene Pitney, Cilla Black, Billy Fury, Shirley Bassey, Englebert Humperdink, Freddie and the Dreamers, etc.
16 March ’65. Picture courtesy of Peter Winning The 16 March ’65 saw Del Shannon scheduled to co-headline with Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, but Fontana fell ill (exhaustion) six days earlier in Salisbury. The Mindbenders would have gone on alone but were replaced by Zephyrs who joined Herman’s Hermits, Just Four Men, Paul Dean, The Soul Savages, Jerry Stevens, The Dollies, Dodie West – who’d joined the tour on 6 March in Dundee -, and Shannon, for both shows in Aldershot that day. The Shangri-Las had pulled out of the entire 21 day tour at the last minute, because Mary Weiss was ill, and were replaced by The Dollies. Two months later, on 5 May ’65, the ABC Cinema hosted The Kinks, along with The Rockin’ Berries, Goldie and The Gingerbreads, Jeff and Jon, The Mickey Finn, The Riot Squad, and Val McKenna. This tour was initially headlined by The Kinks and The Yardbirds, but the later left the tour before the Aldershot date to fulfill prior bookings in Scotland. The Kinks were only to last a few more days after Aldershot, to be replaced by The Walker Brothers, as an onstage fight in Cardiff between Dave Davies and Mick Avory sent Davies to hospital.
The night, 15 October ’66, The Hollies, Paul & Barry Ryan, Peter Jay & The New Jaywalkers, Nashville Teens, Robb Storme & the Whispers, and Paul Jones played the ABC; the Small Faces reportedly got into a bit of a tiff backstage over top billing and didn’t play – but they’d return in ’67.
Roy Orbison at ABC, Aldershot. On 7 April ’67, Roy Orbison headlined, backed by The Candy Men – that was on another of these package tours, that also featured P.P. Arnold, the Settlers, Sonny Childe and T.N.T., Small Faces, and the Searchers. By ’67 the allure of the package show was waning and the 6:15 PM show was opened by Arnold to a half full, but enthusiastic, auditorium. On the 27th of the same month Cat Stevens, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Californians and The Quotations supported The Walker Brothers, performing two shows at ABC. During his performance of “I’m Going Get Me A Gun”, Stevens was photographed pointing a revolver at the audience.
Hendrix on stage at ABC Aldershot, 27 April 1967. Source: Aldershot Mail It was not only international stars that took to the ABC stage either. We know that local band, The Skeleton Skiffle Group appeared at the venue when it was still called The Ritz. There was also a strong chance that if you drank in the Airborne or another pub near the ABC you would bump into any one of the performers.
The ABC was closed on 28th May ’77 for conversion into a 3-screen cinema and a bingo club – It was never to host a gig again. ABC 1,2,3 opened 6th October 1977. In ’86 it was taken over by the Cannon Group and sold again to Cineven to became the Odeon before closing on 10th July 2003.
Gallery:
ABC, Aldershot, c’51 
The Skeleton Skiffle Group on stage at Ritz Cinema, Aldershot, pre’61. Source: Mike Luck via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
15 October 1966: A flyer for a package tour featuring The Hollies, Paul & Barry Ryan, Peter Jay & The New Jaywalkers, The Nashville Teens, Robb Storme & the Whispers, and Paul Jones at the ABC, Aldershot. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
The Small Faces at the ABC in April ’67. Source: makingtime.co.uk 
Steve Mann reviews the Roy Orbison / Small Faces package tour in the Aldershot News, 14th April 1967. 
27 April ’67 package tour poster for ABC, Aldershot 
27 April 1967: Cat Stevens on stage at ABC, Aldershot singing “I’m Going Get Me A Gun”. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
27 April 1967: Jimi Hendrix on stage at the ABC, Aldershot. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Gene Pitney at ABC, Aldershot. Picture courtesy of Peter Winning ABC Cinema, Airbourne, Aldershot, Associated British Cinemas, Billy Fury, Cannon Group, Cat Stevens, Cilla Black, Cineven, Dave Davies, Del Shannon, Dodie West, Empire Cinema, Engelbert Humperdinck, Englebert Humperdink, Freddie and the Dreamers, Gene Pitney, Goldie and the Gingerbreads, Harold Ramsay, Herman’s Hermits, Jeff and Jon, Jerry Stevens, Just Four Men, Mick Avory, Nashville Teens, Odeon, P.P. Arnold, Paul & Barry Ryan, Paul Dean, Paul Jones, Peter Jay & The New Jaywalkers, Robb Storme & the Whispers, Roy Orbison, Salisbury, Shirley Bassey, Small Faces, Sonny Childe and T.N.T., The Californians, The Candy Men, The Dollies, The Hollies, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Kinks, The Mickey Finn, The Mindbenders, The Quotations, The Riot Squad, The Ritz, The Rockin’ Berries, The Searchers, The Settlers, The Shangi-Las, The Skeleton Skiffle Group, The Soul Savages, The Walker Brothers, The Yardbirds, Val McKenna, Wayne Fontana, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Wurlitzer, Zephyrs -
Night Workers
(c’66-’67) Gary Linden (sax / vocal), Steve Linden (guitar), Mick Benton (guitar), Keith Scholfield (drums), and John Harding (bass).
This Aldershot pop-combo cut one demo 7″, carrying “Mustang Sally” and “You Make Me Feel So Good” and were planning a tour of Europe and looking to turn professional. They started with covers, as many bands did in the 60’s, but had started to write their own material. In April ’67, however, they were searching for a lead vocalist.
Scholfield was affiliated to Scholfield’s newsagent in Gordon Road, Aldershot.
Gallery:
Clipping from Aldershot News 14 April ’67. -
Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men
(c’82-84) Maxi Puch (vocal), Paul Bond (drums), John “Dirt” Donnellan (bass) and Chris “Kip” Keating (guitar).
Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men were a punk 4-piece from Aldershot. Their first demo cassette EP, titled “Drop Your Guts”, was positioned at No.15 by Sounds compilers in their Punk Chart for 3 July ’82. On 7 September ’82, punk returned to The Maltings, Farnham with a gig headlined by Black Easter supported by Mutant Babies, Disease, Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men, LongPig, and Zylch
Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men’s “Drop Your Guts” cassette EP at No.15 in the Sounds Punk chart on 3 July 1982. Picture courtesy of Paul Bond On 31 May ’83, Puch and Black Easter supported Clone at 5’s Wine Bar, Aldershot. In the early 80’s, The Plague organized ‘The Sty’ rock / punk club nights the West End Centre, Aldershot. Puch appeared at The Sty held on 30 January ’84, along with The Plague and The Contaminated.
Bond moved to Devon in ’83 and the band continued as a trio. The three remaining members appeared at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 9 February ’84 with The Contaminated and Black Easter and Caird Hall, Camberley on 25 February ’84 with The Plague, Black Easter again, and Panzer Korps. The following month they were one of the local punk bands at the Aldershot Rock Weekend. Held at the West End Centre, the punk session held on the afternoon of 24 March ’84 saw The Plague, Black Easter, Panzer Korp, and Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men take to the stage. The band released the five track “Go With Noakes” demo in 1984, featuring instrumental “Pursuit” and pure punk “Order Of The Black”, listing all four members. There were rumors of inclusion in a nationally distributed punk / new wave compilation LP, but these do not appear to have come to fruition.
“Go With Noakes” demo cassette sleeve. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men seem to have faded away sometime in ’84 with the occasional mention online as people reminisce or discover a track. Keating, who’d did a stint with The Plague, would later be found in The F1-11s. On 9 and 10 January 2020, the bands “Order of the Black” was played on California based KaoticRadio’s “Punks not DEAD” (episode 98).
Tracks:
Gallery:
Adrian Creek writes about Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men in his Pop Scene column (date unknown c’84). Picture courtesy of Paul Bond 
The “Go With Noaks” demo cassette. Source: terminalescape.blogspot.com 
Maxi Puch and The Macho Moped Men. Picture courtesy of Paul Bond 
30 January 1984: The Plague, Contaminated, and Maxi Puch and The Macho Moped Men played The Sty. Picture courtesy of Ade Street 
31 May 1983: Black Easter and Maxi Puch & The Macho Moped Men supported Clone at 5’s Wine Bar 5's Wine Bar, Aldershot, Black Easter, Caird Hall, Camberley, Chris Keating, Clone, Disease, Farnham, John Dannellan, KaoticRadio, LongPig, Maxi Puch, Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men, Mutant Babies, Panzer Korp, Paul Bond, Punk, Sounds, The Contaminated, The F1-11s, The Maltings, The Old Schoolhouse, The Plague, The Sty, West End Centre, Woking, Zylch -
Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough
The Tumbledown Dick in Farnborough, was a live music venue and local focal point until it’s closing in 2008. Notably Mega City Four, Reuben, Hundred Reasons and The Jam all performed here. While the facade still remains, a 3000+ signature petition to save the venue, organized by The Friends of the Tumbledown Dick, failed to convince local MPs to retain it as a boozer and there is now a McDonald’s on the site where the pub traded.
The sign that once hung outside The Tumbledown Dick. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Reportedly the first band to ever play in the venue in the early 70’s was Threewheel. Within a couple of years the venue was developing a sound reputation. The Jam played there on 12 and 18 December ’74 and many times in ’75/76, along with the likes of The Real Thing and Natural Gass. Graham Brown took over the management of the pub/venue in the mid/late 70’s and we know that from ’77 on Monday nights were the Rock Nights featuring the likes of Gambler, Reading based Turbo, Bracknell’s General Accident, Eclipse, and Out of Order; Thursdays were Jazz Funk, all promoted by Mervin George. It was probably a Monday that Straightshooter appeared at Tumble Down in ’78.
Straightshooter at Tumbledown Dick in 1978. Source: Tony Ecclestone via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia. Straightshooter were back at the venue on 12 March ’79. In late ’79 the venue hosted Gallagher’s, a Tuesday night new wave, mod, and punk club launched in October and November that year. Gallagher’s kicked the new night off by staging a small punk / new wave season of six gigs featuring Angelic Upstarts on 23 October ’79, Classic Nouveux the week after, The Vapors on 6 November, the following Tuesday it was The Piranhas, Cowboys International on 20 November and on 27 November Purple Hearts. This was promoted in NME and across the local rags and featured a different local band supporting each headliner including The Mode, Thieves, Impulse, and Virginia Doesn’t. These supporting acts returned in December and January to headline a local band season with another local band in support. On 4 December ’79, Between Pictures opened for The Mode, Lonesome No More headlined on 11 December ably supported by Controls. Lopez were supposed to support Thieves on 18 December, but to the best of our knowledge Thieves didn’t show and the support headlined as Lopez and the Waveriders, with Matrix Numbers as warm up.
The ’80s at Tumbledown started on the very first day of 1980 with Impulse, as Gallagher’s continued local band season, followed by Virginia Doesn’t on 8 January ’80. The next month Polaris‘ manager Paul Dunford secured them their debut gig at the pub, on 4 February ’80, also getting them a mention on Radio 210 from Bob Harris who witnessed the performance. The next night, 5 February ’80, The Torpedoes supported The Mode. Another local band to perform in the ’80’s at the venue were Crosswinds.
Who Moved The Ground? occupied the stage on Christmas Eve 1990 and jumping to ’93, Peachrazor played The Tumbledown Dick on 3rd July. We also believe that The Hairy Things appeared there in ’93 The next year, Womb secured second place at one of The Tumbledown Dick’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ competitions. Around the mid to late 90’s Simon ? took over running the venue and encouraged young bands to put on their own gigs. In ’96, Headnoise released the “Kick in the Dick” cassette EP, which was recorded live at the Tumbledown Dick. Disturbing Guests supported them that night, enjoying the massive PA Headnoise had hired for that show. On 28 March ’98, Mindwire and Big Planet Love were at Tumbledown Dick. In ’99, Dreyfuss won the venues ‘Battle of the Bands’ and used the recording time prize to create the “Shapes and Sizes” demo cassette [bulb001] on Helsinki Records.
Towards the end of the venue’s life, on 19 February 2005, Hundred Reasons, along with Rueben and Melaleuca organized a fundraiser for the Tsunami Relief Fund. Then on 5 March, Farnborough Groove presented Mindwire performing a reunion show at Quarantine Club, supported by Wherewithal and Without Grace; along with Lemonade Wage and Opus.
As The Tumbledown Dick is today: McDonald’s Video:
Gallery:
5 February 1980: The Torpedoes supported The Mode at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
5 February 1980 
18 December 1979: Lopez and the Waveriders supported by Matrix Numbers up at the Tumbledown Dick. 
The outside of the Tumbledown Dick, with the ‘Gig Guide’ blackboard to the right… 
Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough in 1979. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Inside of invite to private party at which Peachrazor played, and listing for the following weekends gig at The Tumbledown Dick (3rd July 1993). Picture courtesy of Steve Porter 
David Reading talks to promotor Mervin George about The Tumbledown Dick and Fleet Country Club in this clipping from 9th March 1979 issue of Farnborough News. 
Controls at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough in 1979. 
Inside the Tumbledown Dick. Picture courtesy of Steve Mckeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Tsunami Disaster Fund gig 19 Feb 2005. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
Gig advert for part two of the Tumbledown Dick’s Punk / New Wave Season in 1979/1980. Source: Tim Naylor via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Inside an empty Tumbledown Dick…with the poster wall. 
28 March 1998: Mindwire’s mailer #3 from 1998 puts them at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough with Big Planet Love. Source: Mindwire 
Controls at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough in 1979. 
Controls’ A4 Poster for 11th Dec ’79 gig at Tumbledown Dick. Source: Europunk 
Colin Doran of One Hundred Reasons at The Tumbledown Dick on 19th Feb 2005. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. Source: Susan Andre Lowson via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Clipping from Farnborough News 19 October 1979 on forthcoming Angelic Upstarts gig at Tumbledown Dick. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
Angelic Upstarts, Between Pictures, Big Planet Love, Bob Harris, Classic Nouveux, Controls, Cowboys international, Crosswinds, Disturbing Guests, Dreyfuss, Eclipse, Farnborough, Farnborough Groove, Gallagher’s, Gambler, General Accident, Graham Brown, Headnoise, Helsinki Records, Hundred Reasons, Impulse, Lemonade Wage, Lonesome No More, Lopez, Lopez and the Waveriders, Matrix Numbers, McDonald’s, Mega City Four, Melaleuca, Mervin George, Mindwire, Natural Gass, NME, Opus, Out of Order, Paul Dunford, Peachrazor, Polaris, Purple Hearts, Quarantine Club, Reuben, Straightshooter, The Hairy Things, The Jam, The Mode, The Piranhas, The Real Thing, The Torpedoes, The Vapors, Thieves, Threewheel, Tumbledown Dick, Turbo, Virginia Doesn't, Wherewithal, Who Moved the Ground?, Without Grace, Womb -
After The Dream
(c’89-92) Julian Hight (vocals/guitar), Bruce Rothwell (bass/vocals), Spencer Holliday (keyboards) and Lee Rumble (drums).
Image courtesy of Julian Hight This band were renowned for their live performances, with over 60 appearances with headline slots at The Mean Fiddler, Powerhouse, Rock Garden, and Old Fire Station.
Alan “Oggy” Holland was the bands original drummer, but was replaced by Rumble in 1990. Andy “Groupie” Clark helped out on sound desk and lights when needed, and assisted Norman Rumble (Lee’s dad) as roadie, or with anything else that needed doing.
After the Dream at the Mean Fiddler c’91. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole On 6 April ’90, After The Dream supported Explodehead at the West End Centre, Aldershot, along with The Screaming Benders, This Witness, and Cow for the Buzz Club. That same night 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. The band were back at the venue on 14 September supporting Who Moved The Ground? (or was it the other way around?) with Pomeroy and Sloth. They were also pretty regularly at The George, Ash Vale.
After The Dream’s “Sometimes” demo cassette. Source: Flowers of Sacrifice A demo cassette titled “Sometimes” was produced at some point. In Spring ’91, The Granby Tavern, Reading hosted After The Dream on 17 April. Also in ’91 “Diamond In The Dust” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.1. Two years later, “Atoria” was published on Return Of Farnborough Groove Vol.3; subsequently making it to The Best of Farnborough Groove Vol.1-10 in 2016.
Norman has sadly passed. Rumble was later involved with Giant Arc, and Phobia.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
After The Dream highlighted in Adrian Creeks Farnborough Groove review. Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
After The Dream Merc: T-shirts, badges, lyric/pic book and cd. Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
After The Dream outside the Mean Fiddler. Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
Image courtesy of Julian Hight 
6 April 1990: After The Dream, along with Deep Season nad This Witness, played the Buzz Club at West End Centre, Aldershot. Source: Who Moved The Ground? 
“Diamond In The Dust” appeared on The Farnborouh Groove Vol. 1 in ’91. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
“Artoria” appeared on Return of Farnborough Groove in ’93. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
14 September 1990: Buzz Club flyer After the Dream, Alan Holland, Aldershot, Andy Clark, Ash Vale, Bruce Rothwell, Cow, Explodehead, Farnborough Groove, Giant Arc, Julian Hight, Lee Rumble, London, Norman Rumble, Old Fire Station, Phobia, Pomeroy, Powerhouse, Reading, Rock Garden, Sloth, Spencer Holliday, The Deep Season, The George, The Granby Tavern, The Mean Fiddler, The Screaming Benders, This Witness, West End Centre, Who Moved the Ground? -
Greed
(c’87) Paul Thompson (vocal), Rory Feeney (guitar), Alex Street (bass), and Craig Jackson (drums).
Greed were an 80’s tinged hard rock band that became part of the Frimley band co-op known as The Grain. Along with fellow members: Magic Moments At Twilight Time, The Charles, Momento Mori, The Visionairies, and Slack Bladder they put on and played at a free festival at Highland Farm, Frimley Green on 20 September ’87, in aid of Greenpeace.
We find an Alex Street in The Butterfly Effect in ’92/’93, but we have yet confirm if they are one and the same.
Gallery:
20 September 1987: Greed on stage at the Highland Farm Festival. Picture courtesy of Mick Magic -
Music & Elsewhere
(c’87-Present) The Music & Elsewhere (M&E) label started in ’87 to issue Magic Moments at Twilight Time and other Mick Magic music project demos. It become a firm part of the 90’s international cassette underground, releasing around 600 albums by bands and artists from all over the World.
By 88, Magic was creating under the new Mick Tron monica and through the Music & Elsewhere label, released the 90-minute Grain Aid cassette [MMATT 19] on 2 July.
The Farnborough Groove kicked off in ’91 and Mick Magic mastered a few of those compilations (with his own Magic Moments at Twilight Time appearing on three of them) and some were on the Music & Elsewhere label too. In July ’92 The First Guilfin Benefit Tape [MMATT 36] was put out by Music & Elsewhere. The labels’ support for the newsletter continue through three more releases of The Guilfin Benefit Tapes [MMATT 38, 40 & 41].
The First GuilFin Benefit Tape, put out by Music & Elsewhere [MMATT 36] Also in ’92, Music & Elsewhere release the ‘The Radio Cracker Tape’ compilation, which included Twister. Twister’s eponymous LP cassette [M&E 224] was released in ’93. This was recorded at C.A.N Recording Studio, Farnham and carried a mixture of eight originals and covers, plus four tracks from the groups first demo and “These Days” by Three Times The Crow, by way of a bonus. In September ’99, Winterfall‘s Pro Dominus Tecum was included on Music & Elsewhere‘s compilation M&E Audiozine No. 10 [M&E 493].
Around 2003, the “project” went dormant. Then in 2012, with a resurgence of interest in that underground scene, a website was launched full of memories/memorabilia, which grew to host a variety of online compilations, and eventually publishing hard copy collectables. Girls on Dextrose‘s ‘The Image Fades’ was on the B-side of Farnborough Groove Vol.3 in ’93 and was released again as part of the Music & Elsewhere label’s anthology Decadion 2 (M&E 601) on 10 August 2013. Winterfall reappeared on 2014’s DECADION 2.2 [M&E 602] – The MP3 Collection.
Music & Elsewhere label’s anthology Decadion 2 (M&E 601) on 10 August 2013 So much great music (Ed – this is going to become a phenomenally long post eventually) was released on the label back in the day you just have to check out the Music & Elsewhere site.
Gallery:
Cover of the Music & Elsewhere “Catty Log” for New Year 1995. Picture courtesy of Mick Magic 
MMATT 36, 38, 40 & 41 Guilfin Benefit Tapes 
Inlay for Twister’s eponymous cassette EP/album released on Music & Elsewhere (M&E 224). Picture courtesy of Mick Magic 
Music & Elsewhere’s Master Cassette for M&E Audiozine No. 10 [M&E 493]. Image courtesy of Mick Magic 
2014’s DECADION 2.2 [M&E 602] – The MP3 Collection. Picture courtesy of Mick Magic -
Patrick James
(c’91-93) Patrick James (vocal / guitar / bass / e-bow).
Previously in West One and Blue Velvet, Aldershot singer / songwriter James – who was in Frayed Edge in parallel – released an eponymous 4-track demo cassette c’91 and that same year the track “Save Me A Place In The Queue For Freedom”, which was not on the demo, appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.1. The following year “Her Planet Of Dreams” was included on Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2.
Inlay for “Jukebox and the Midnight Stone” cassette album. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold In ’93 the 21 track “Jukebox and the Midnight Stone” cassette album was released. Home recorded on a Foster-X30 4 Track, it featured some tracks co-written by fellow ex-Blue Velvet member Jim O’Neill (keyboard / piano / percussion), with additional support from Debra Wyatt (vocals) and Jaki Smith (violin). Also in ’93, “Here Comes The Hallelujah” from James’ initial demo cassette was included on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3; then “First I Saw A Raven” appeared on Revenge of Farnborough Groove Vol.4 in ’94.
In January 2002, James joined J.C. Regulator as their new recruit on lead guitar.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Inlay for the Patrick James 4-track demo from around 1991. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Patrick James appeared on Side 1 of Farnborough Groove Vol.1 in ’91. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
The Gossville Arsonist fanzine’s one-line review of Patrick James track from The Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2 
Side B of the 21 track “Jukebox and the Midnight Stone” cassette album released in ’93. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Side A of the 21 track “Jukebox and the Midnight Stone” cassette album released in ’93. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Side Two of the Patrick James 4-track demo from around 1991. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Side One of the Patrick James 4-track demo from around 1991. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
“First I Saw A Raven” appeared on Revenge of Farnborough Groove Vol.4 in ’94. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
Patrick James’ “Her Comes The Hallelujah” was included on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3 in 1993. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
In 1992 Patrick James’ “Her Planet Of Dreams” was included on Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole -
Warp Spasm
(c’90-’93) Jimmy Johnson (vocals), Owen Packard (guitar), John Paris (guitar), Richie Mills (drums) and Alex Slatter (bass).
On 15 January ’91, Camberley based Thrash/Death Metal band, Warp Spasm – who were originally called Jeopardy – supported Killing Faith at The George, Ash Vale, for ‘The Funeral’; Killing Faith’s last gig. That same year they were at the Agincourt, Camberley supporting Lawnmower Deth, along with Severence and Ignorance, on 22 September and at the West End Centre, Aldershot supporting Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts on 6 December, a venue they’d headlined earlier in the year (3 May) with Severance, The Mourning After and Asteroth in support.
Inlay for Warp Spasm’s 1992 “0-60 is a Speedspuck” demo cassette. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold The following year this Warp Spasm, who had connections to East Yorkshire, released the “0-60 in a Speedspuck” demo. It carried three tracks: “Conform To Form”, “Mindmelt” and “The Smile Zone”. Reportedly they covered the Rainbow theme tune and played Joe Bananas indie night once or twice. That same year, on 28 May ’92, the band supported Re-Animator at the Adelphi, Hull.
By ’93 – the year they released the cassette album “Beyond the Parameters of Resolution”, recorded and mixed at Bandwagon Studios, Mansfield – Paris had left and Graeme Watts (bass) had replaced Slatter. Watts contributed to all three tracks: ‘Origin Dispersal’, ‘Deconstructed’, and the cassette EP’s eponymous “To Our Glorious Dead” in ’93, released on the Splatterpunx Promotions label [SP0006 IC56382]. This was again recorded in Mansfield and engineered by Mark Brown. The following year the band released “The Cranial Shift EP” cassette on Independantz Records [SP008].
When Johnson exited the band evolved into Blastcage and released a few demos and EPs. Packard went of to join Nottingham based postmetal Earthtone9.
Tracks:
Gallery:
22 September 1991: Warp Spasm along with Severence and Ignorance support Lawnmower Deth at The Agincourt, Camberley. Source: http://lesingemagnetique.blogspot.com 
3 May 1991: Warpspasm, supported by Severance, My Mourning After and Asteroth, were at the West End Centre, Aldershot. 
Cassette for Warp Spasm’s 1992 “0-60 is a Speedspuck” demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Inlay for Warp Spasm’s “Beyond the Parameters of Resolution” in 1993. 
Inlay (inner) for Warp Spasm’s “Beyond the Parameters of Resolution” in 1993. 
Lyric inlay for Warp Spasm’s “Beyond the Parameters of Resolution” in 1993. 
Cassette side 1 of Warp Spasm’s “Beyond the Parameters of Resolution” release in 1993. 
Inlay of Warp Spasm’s 1993 EP “To Our Glorious Dead” 
Inlay of Warp Spasm’s 1993 EP “To Our Glorious Dead” 
Cassette of Warp Spasm’s 1993 EP “To Our Glorious Dead” 
Inlay inner of Warp Spasm’s 1993 EP “To Our Glorious Dead” 
Inlay inner of Warp Spasm’s 1993 EP “To Our Glorious Dead” 
Cover to Warp Spasm’s The Cranial Shift EP 
Cassette to Warp Spasm’s The Cranial Shift EP 
Inlay outer to Warp Spasm’s The Cranial Shift EP 
Inlay inner to Warp Spasm’s The Cranial Shift EP 
28 May 1992: Warp Spasm supported Re-animator at the Adelphi, Hull. Adelphi, Agincourt, Aldershot, Alex Slatter, Ash Vale, Asteroth, Bandwagon Studios, Blastcage, Camberley, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Earthtone9, Graeme Watts, Hull, Ignorance, Jeopardy, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Bananas, John Paris, Killing Faith, Lawnmower Deth, Mansfield, Mark Brown, Owen Packard, Re-Animator, Richie Mills, Severence, Splatterpunx Promotions, The George, The Mourning After, Warp Spasm, West End Centre -
Home & Away
(c’94 to ’03) Inspired by Strewth fanzine Pete Cole started the Home & Away zine and it was created, written and curated by Cole. It was originally called Groove News, playing off of Cole’s legendary Farnborough Groove compilation series, and would later become H&AZine, and was a staple source of information.
Cole recalls one of is first items being a not so positive review of The Outcast Band’s debut album, using the term “2nd rate Levellers”. Copies were put on tables at the Cricketers, Westfield during a Backlash gig. But, The Outcast Band’s Paul played fiddle on a couple of Backlash tunes. Cole was at the urinal when in comes Paul with Outcast front man Damien and stood either side of him. Paul says to Damien “..see that shit review? I’m gonna kill whoever wrote that”. Cole kept very quiet and left early.
Home & Away #2, released in November ’94, reviewed Yateley based Headcopter‘s ‘No Room Too Small’ demo and profiled Who Moved The Ground?.
January ’95 saw the publication of Home & Away #4, with Inga and Maria writing up their impressions of Senseless Things, Joyrider and Who Moved The Ground? at Agincourt, Camberley that went down on 9 December ’94. Two months later the fanzine published Bruno’s review of Skipper and Headcopter at The Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell on 9 March ’95; as The Wasp Factory had pulled out due to illness.
Our only complete issue, covering four pages, is from March/April 2002, with the name shortened to H&AZine. Read it in the gallery below:
Gallery:
Headcopter’s “No Room Too Small” demo reviewed in local fanzine Home and Away #2, November 1994 
Clipping from the fanzine Home and Away November ’94 profiling Who Moved The Ground! 
Clipping from the fanzine Home and Away No.4 January ’95 covering the Senseless Things and Who Moved The Ground! at Agincourt. 
Review of Skipper and Headcopter gig at The Shed, South Hill Park on 9th March 1995 by Bruno. 
Page 1 (cover) of H&AZine March/April 2002 edition. Picture courtesy of The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene 
Page 2 of H&AZine March/April 2002 edition. Picture courtesy of The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene 
Page 3 of H&AZine March/April 2002 edition. Picture courtesy of The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene 
Page 4 of H&AZine March/April 2002 edition. Picture courtesy of The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene
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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