Our Soundscene

For anyone who vaguely recalls the Woking / GU postcode area music scene.

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  • Pozer

    Pozer

    (c’79-81) Rob Kemp (guitar / vocal), Ian Goral (guitar), Bruce Richins (drums) and Dave Gilbraith (bass).

    Pozer in Guildford High Street

    Prior to getting this Farnham based new wave / power pop combo together Goral and Richins had been rehearsing in a band with Bruce Dickerson and Kemp had been in The Vapors. Shortly after forming, Pozer moved from Farnham to Croydon.

    Chris Smith became their roadie with Simon Clothier. After a short while Gilbraith left and returned to Farnham; with Goral switching from guitar to bass. The three remaining members continued to gig and rehearsed in Wimbledon. While playing at a party they were joined by Mark Landini on sax, who subsequently joined the band as vocalist. After moving rehearsals to the railway arches near Waterloo they found themselves getting better gigs.

    Pozer fanzine

    A record company audition fell through but the band kept gigging. A new roadie, Adie Street was now getting them to gigs, such as opening for Classix Nouveau and on 31 May ’80 supporting Gary Glitter at the University of Surrey, Guildford. They were back in London on 13 August ’80 to support Mungo Jerry at the Rock Garden. We also know that they appeared at Bunters, Guildford on 13 October ’80. Goral quit sometime in 1980. He was replaced on bass by Bernie Griffiths and Rock Bottom music store employee Paul Sheldrick (guitar) also joined. Without Goral’s songwriting, and Griffiths and Landini being more new romantic versus Kemp and Richins’ rock sensibilities the band was struggling. Then Sheldrick was in a serious car accident forcing the band to play an awful gig as a four piece at Farnborough Technical College. The band never recovered and called it a day in ’81.

    Kemp went on to own Total Video, Farnham before moving to the US in 1986. He sadly died in 2016 as a result of a heart attack. Goral had a long battle with drug and alcohol addiction before leaving this world in 2007 as a result of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Gilbraith is believed to be in Basingstoke and Richins is in Farnham. Landini emigrated to Australia.

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  • Fab Daze

    Fab Daze

    (c’88-’89) Du Kane (vocal / guitar), Phyl Bushen (bass / vocals), David Maskrey (guitar), Anton Lloyd-Daniels (percussion / vocals) and ? Heward (drums).

    Yellow Lifetime became Lax Lifetime, then in late ’88 the band morphed again, becoming Fab Daze. The group released the “Fab Daze” demo in Jan/Feb ’89 carrying three tracks: “Think I’ve Had Enough”, Big Papa”, and “I’m Everything”.

    Later in ’89 Kane went on to form Beautiful People with Luke Baldry and Robin Goodridge; a project in which Fab Daze members Daniels and Maskrey were also involved. Kane went on to be a contributing editor for Front magazine for a few years and runs session recording outfit Replicant. With Maskrey, Kane can now be seen in The Shakespearos, along with The Vapors‘ Steve Smith, mostly gigging in the Worthing area.

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  • Elephant Talk

    Elephant Talk

    (c’93-’95) Dave Crofts (vocals), Tim Hawes (guitar), Kevin Arthur (drums), Dave Roberts (bass) and Jon McDonald (guitar).

    Cover of “Happiness” by Elephant Talk. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold

    This 5-piece recorded most of their 8-track demo cassette “Happiness” at South Hill Park, Bracknell with production by Pip Willia. It was released in late ’93. In ’95 Elephant Talk’s “Stop” appeared on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back Vol.5.

    In ’95 Elephant Talk’s “Stop” appeared on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back Vol.5. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole

    Hawes and Arthur had both been in Fra Angelico / FRA in the mid to late ’80s. Hawes is now a songwriter, record producer and music publisher with more than ten million record sales, and five number one singles having worked with Spice Girls, Five, Hear’Say, and Sugababes, amongst many others. He has also received of the Ivor Novello award for songwriting. Hawes is currently the CEO of Zebra1 and has been collaborating on the Skylephant project.

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  • Crescendos

    Crescendos

    (c’60 to date) Tony Spencer (vocals), Laurie “Charlie” Way (drums), Mick Douglas (guitar), John Kelly (guitar), and Dave Brice (bass) and John Moon (piano).

    Also known as Johnny Kelly & the Crescendos they are still gigging today as The Rockin’ Crescendos. Originally, Brice – the guitarist with The Rhythm Five – got together with Les Owen (bass) – who been in The Doolahats – Way, Moon, Douglas and Spencer to form, black suited, red tied, rock n’ roll combo, the Crescendos.

    Sid Norris would book then as a support band for gigs at Dorking Halls. Way was replaced on drums by Kenny Pate and there was a new guitarist in Kelly, a second ex-Doolahat, and a pianist, possibly Chris Andrews, who joined. It was about this time that they started to be more commonly known as John Kelly and the Rocking Crescendos. They played schools, such as St. Francis School, Westborough and at venues across the region like the Plaza Ballroom, Guildford amongst others.

    The Crescendos at The Plaza, Guildford. Sitting on the stage is Vince Taylor. Source: Nick Way via Guildford Town Past & Present

    Pete Chester caught The Crescendos at The Plaza – he’d previously in The Five Chesternuts with Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch of The Shadows, and his band had a brief residency at The Plaza – asked members of the band if they could go pro’ and fill in for members of his band. The Crescendos, sans Pate, as Chester played drums, and Brice as he had to finish an apprenticeship, subsequently played The Dorking Halls as The Pete Chester Combo. Also while playing at The Plaza, The Cresendos were joined on stage by Vince Taylor of Vince and His Playboys.

    Douglas went to Germany with The Pete Chester Combo in 1961, going on to tour Israel for three months with the group. He backed Adam Faith on a single and contributed to Sandie Shaw’s first single in ’64, the B-side of which was written by fellow Pete Chester Combo member Chris Andrews. Also in ’64, Douglas ‘temporarily’ picks up the axe, standing in for Ivor Shackleton, in The Stormsville Shakers. From ’65-’67, he was a member of The Hi-Fis. In the Spring of ’82, Douglas took on Brian Robinson’s role in Grapevine. Latterly, Douglas formed a Bill Haley tribute band called Razzle Dazzle with ex-Natural Gass drummer Chuck Pengilly and Richard Hodgins, who’d both played in Threewheel; and is currently playing in The Rocking Rogers and Nick of Time.

    Kelly also went to Germany to hone / flex his professional musicians chops. He played with Five’s A Crowd, in which Douglas was also a member, at Hamburg’s Big Apple Club before returning to the UK, and was also the rhythm guitarist for Marty Wilde.

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  • Jim Jiminee

    Jim Jiminee

    (c’86-89) Lindsay Jamieson (drums), Kevin Jamieson (vocals), Nick Hannan (bass), Pete Dyes (guitar), and Delphi Newman (keyboard / vocals).

    This Fleet based (the Jamieson boys were from Church Crookham) indie pop band formed in September ’86. Jim Jiminee were managed by Chris Ward’s Third Angle Projection Band Management, who booked the band many gigs through ’87 with record company RCA attending one, followed by a meeting, but no deal.

    More gigs followed including with old friends, listed as Green Gables for the gig, who’d go on to be The Sundays; and another with Second Balcony Jump opening. Indie label Cat & Mouse showed interest resulting in the release of their first EP, “Do It On Thursday” [ABB 01] in late ’87, a bit of a radio hit, including being played by Simon Bates on daytime Radio 1. The video for the release appeared on TV and it reached No.6 in the UK Indie chart; it also performed well in Germany. During the next three years, they would release the LP “Welcome to Hawaii” on Cat & Mouse [ABB 02] in ’88 and the EPs “Town & Country Blues” on Beatwax [Beatwax 01T] and “I Wanna Work!” again on Cat & Mouse [ABB 04], that same year. This was all while appearing on ITVs ‘Night Network’; playing gigs at various locations throughout England and a few European sojourns,

    Jim Jiminee playing at The Buzz Club bar, West End Centre, Aldershot.

    The bar area at the West End Centre, Aldershot was often made use of by The Buzz Club to display videos and a band, and on 7 February ’87 – while Mighty Mighty, The Jeremiahs, and The Bridge were on the main stage – the club’s promoters put Jim Jiminee in the spotlight in the bar. The next month the band performed a ten track set at Reading University’s Student Union on 3 March ’87, supporting The Primitives. David Rose reports that the wrong PA had been ordered and a replacement didn’t arrive until 10:30, so once things were set up Jim Jiminee didn’t start their set until 11.30! Later in the year the band performed at Timebox, on 2 September ’87, held at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town.

    2 September 1987: Jim Jiminee at Timebox, The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Picture by Mick Mercer via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal wave

    On 18 February ’88, Jim Jiminee headlined at The Tunnel Club, London, with Disguise and Thrilled Skinny in support. A few days later, on 23 February, Jim Jiminee were supported by John Shuttleworth and Green Gables at The Cricketers, Kennington and on 28 February the band supported The Passmore Sisters at Underground, Croydon. Jim Jiminee headlined at Fleet Football Club with North of Cornwallis and International Resque in support, on 28 May ’88. The next night they were at the Civic Hall, Guildford, where they were supported by Handsome Bastards and Go Go Amigos. It was then back to Fleet Football Club on 30 May with The Company She Keeps and The Splendids in support. They were supporting North of Cornwallis on 1 June ’88 at The Marquee, London. Toward the end of ’88 the band appeared at the Circus, Gammelsdorf, Germany, on 28 December.

    The following week, they were back at the Circus, Gammelsdorf, on 5 January ’89. Newman left in ’89 and the group officially disbanded shortly after; with the band members going on to other projects.

    The Jamiesons and Hannan went on to form The Deep Season, and later produced and provided backing for Perry Rose’s album “The Bright Ring of the Day”. Hannan also 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 numerous albums for a variety of artists, including Arnold, Jack Henderson and Bennet. Newman along with guitarist Paul Greendale formed the band World Without Tigers in 1998. The “Welcome to Hawaii” LP was re-released by Vinyl Japan [ASKCD 91] in ’99, and the same label did the same for “Town & Country Blues” EP [ASKLP 82] in 2000. Vinyl Japan, in addition to the LP and EP, also released “The EP” [TASK68] in 2000 and the full-length album “The Thatcher Years” [ASKCD93] of previously unreleased material. In 2002, Newman sang on Mark Flanagan’s album “The Chosen Few”. After Deep Season, Lindsey Jameson was also in Supermodel, Departure Lounge, and Astronaut Pushers just before joining Ben Folds in 2005. Ward, who became a charity campaigner and adventure cyclist, recently had his booked “Less Perfect More Happy” published, about his journey to understand OCPD.

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  • Bluetrain

    Bluetrain

    (c’86-’88) Jo Bartlett (vocals / guitar), Rudy Carroll (guitar / vocals / sax), Danny Hagan (bass), and Kevin Morey (drums).

    Formed from the ashes of Go! Service in 1986, Frimley / Camberley band Bluetrain were signed by TV Personalities Dan Treacy’s Dreamworld Records, along with The Mighty Lemon Drops, 1,000 Violins and the TV Personalities. They played regularly at The Room at the Top and The Buzz Club (which were organized by Bartlett and Hagan).

    Shortly after forming Bluetrain, along with West One, supported Ministry of Sound on 15 August ’86 at Princes Hall, Aldershot. On 28 October ’86 the band supported 1000 Violins, along with Tallulah Gosh, at Bay 63, London.

    The front cover of 1987’s 12″ EP ‘Land of Gold’ [DREAM007T].

    The Brilliant Corners were booked by Bartlett to perform at The Buzz Club, held at the West End Centre, Aldershot on 10 January ’87; and Bluetrain and local band Second Balcony Jump were the support. A few months later Bluetrain, along with Rain, supported The Chesterfields at The Buzz Club on 4 April ’87, while Rodney Allen played in the bar at The West End Centre, Aldershot. The band supported 1000 Violins again on 9 May ’87 at the University of Surrey, Guildford. Their signing to Dreamworld Records resulted in 1987’s four-track (“Wheels Go Round”, Land of Gold”, “Parade”, and “Because Of The Dollars”) 12″ EP ‘Land of Gold’ [DREAM007T]. They also appeared in the Cinema Tent at Glastonbury Festival in ’87; and toured Scotland with The Pastels and supported The Soup Dragons. When Carroll left he was replaced by Mark Nemetz, who was subsequently replaced by Richard Handyside in ’87.

    The band’s “Parade” was included on the Abigail’s Birthday Party fanzine cassette (1987)

    The band’s “Parade”, which featured Jon “Bandit” Hunter of The June Brides on trumpet, was included on the Abigail’s Birthday Party fanzine cassette. Also in ’87, “Some Greater Love” appeared on an Uncle Arthurs Pop Parlour fanzine cassette – a C-46 in a clear plastic bag with a 20 page fanzine on the bands. Around the time they were interviewed and performed on the “Time Out” TV show, the band may have been talking to German label Pastell about an album release.

    The band were back at The Buzz Club on 5 March ’88 and again on the 18 June ’88; this time with Sugar Mountain, The Jeremiahs, Crimplene Explosion, The Aubisons, THe Mulberry Ceilings, and The Splendids.

    A Dreamworld compilation, “Whaam! Bam! Thank You Dan!” on Vinyl Japan was released in ’95 and included a couple of songs by Bluetrain. In 2008 a posthumous Bluetrain best of CD – which included 3 Go Service tracks – titled “Some Greater Love” was released on Peruvian indie label Plastilina Records [PLAST011] and in Japan on Morgan [MC01]. There was also a Bluetrain tribute act doing the rounds in Japan. Plastilina followed up by including “Wheels Go Around” on 2009’s “Has My Heart Gone to Sleep” CD compilation. Then in June 2017 Bluetrain’s “Land of Gold” was included on Cherry Red’s excellent C88 [CRCDBOX36] 3 CD box set.

    Carroll went on to be in The Yellow Moon Band with Bartlett and Hagan who also formed It’s Jo and Danny. Moorey would later join ex-The Ha Ha Men‘s Jason Applin in Bennet. Bartlett also has a solo career and the Christine X, Kodiak Island, and Plaza projects.

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  • Twister

    Twister

    (c’92-95) Inga Leru (vocals), Neil ? (guitar).

    This duo wrote at The Workhouse Rehearsal Studios, Aldershot and had two tracks featured on The First Guilfin Benefit Tape, put out by Music & Elsewhere, in the Summer of ’92, including “You Don’t Know” from the bands first demo.

    Inlay for Twister’s eponymous cassette EP/album released on Music & Elsewhere (M&E 224). Picture courtesy of Mick Magic

    They played a few gigs, which often included some covers such as The Ruts’ “Babylon’s Burning”, Eat’s “Bleed Me White” and Kylie Minogue’s “What Do I Have To Do”; with the pair on stage with their sequencer of song backings. Music & Elsewhere included Twister on 1992’s ‘The Radio Cracker Tape’ and in 1993 released a full album [M&E 224]. This was recorded at C.A.N Recording Studio, Farnham and this carried a mixture of eight originals and covers, the four tracks from the groups first demo and “These Days” by Three Times The Crow, Leru’s previous band. In ’95 the groups “Bloodrush” appeared on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back Vol.5.

    Twister ended after all their gear was stolen from Neil’s car, while parked in Notting Hill; including the sequencer, which you couldn’t backup back then, from which there was no coming back.

    Leru went on to become a member of Kilter.

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  • Us 6 Incorporated

    Us 6 Incorporated

    (c’64-’65) John Jefferies (vocal), Ken Pullen (bass), Martin Fitzpatrick (guitar), Alan Todd (drums), Stuart Mathis (?), and Graham King (guitar).

    This was Fitzpatrick’s first band and they played Old Woking Community Centre a few times and rehearsed in a hall in Clandon.

    King may now be in North America. Todd was a founding member of The Flying Tigers.

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  • Cornered

    Cornered

    (c’95-97) Joe Crookes (guitar), Dickie Earll (drums), Simon McCormack (bass) and Stephen Crookes (vocal).

    Some time in the first half on ’97 the sixth installment of Snakebite City included Cornered amongst the 25 featured bands. The band also released the “Life Injection” cassette demo in ’97 that carried six songs. Recorded by Splat, the singer with Disturbing Guests, at The Workhouse Rehearsal Studios, Aldershot on a 4-track machine, and mixed by Tom ?.

    Cover of Cordered’s ‘1997 six track “Life Injection”. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold

    On 31 December ’97 Snakebite City rented The West End Centre, Aldershot and held a New Years Eve Party, with Ex Boyfriends, Inter, Cornered, J.C. Regulator, and Breaker.

    McCormack would go on to play in Serpico with ex-Mega City Four founding members Danny ‘Wiz’ Brown and Gerry Bryant.

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  • Technical College, Guildford

    Technical College, Guildford

    Guildford Technical College, or Guildford College of Further and Higher Education as it is known now, was established in 1939. But, in the early to mid 70’s Guildford Tech’s Student Union was very active and hosted a number of pretty high profile gigs.

    But, live music at the college kicked off before the 70’s. The first concert listing at Guildford Technical College we have located to date featured New Zealand-born baritone Bryan Drake on 14 December ’59, well attended by pupils from Prior’s Field School, who was at the Welsh National Opera at the time. A couple of years later The Stormsville Shakers performed at the college on 12 December 1962, and a few years after that we find, Moon’s Train there on 24 may ’68 and English folk rockers, Fairport Convention on 27 September ’68.

    30 November 1974: Fusion Orchestra supported by Marvelous Kid are at Guildford Tech. Picture courtesy on Richard Prest and Kernowbeat.co.uk

    Stone the Crows (a few months before Les Harvey’s electrocution) headlined on 24 March ’72, with ex-Yes guitarist Peter Banks led Flash and Guildford based Brahma in support at Guildford’s Technical College. Singer-songwriter and ex-Fairport Convention lead singer Sandy Denny was at Guildford Tech on 1 March ’73, supported by Mark Allain, who put out just one 7″ single on Island Records that same year. A few days later, on 10 March, Byzantium, who’d form at University College School, were the booked act. The next year, on 19 October ’74, rock band Hudson Ford, formed when John Ford and Richard Hudson left Strawbs the year prior, performed there; and the next month, on 30 November 74, Fusion Orchestra were supported by Marvelous Kid.

    Taken from NME, 1 November 1975

    On 29 November ’75, Thin Lizzy graced the college with a performance. The Student Union Common Room hosted a disco on 29 April, in what is believed to be 1976, at which Brandenburg provided an injection of live music. Local band, The Vapors, also made an appearance there on 7 May ’78.

    On 7 December ’80, Er Majesty’s Jolly took to the stage and entertained students and staff alike. On 6 February ’81, from the ashes of Generation X, EMPIRE claim to have played their first gig at Guildford Tech, supporting none other than Hazel O’Connor. However, we have O’Connor’s Megahype performing at the University of Surrey that day, supported by Prime Suspect.

    In addition, we know that The Alan Bown Set and many more graced the college ‘stage’, but have yet to find date-able proof.

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One thought on “Home

  1. 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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