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The Fix
(c.’76-’80) Brian Hanlon (lead / rhythm guitar / vocals), Pete Alvis (rhythm guitar / vocals). Nigel Turner (bass / vocals), Paul Cane (drums).
This band came from humble Status Quo-esque beginnings to become heavily influenced by The Jam and anything Mod related from 78 to 80. Gigging around in various places on the local circuit, they also recorded several demos in Farnham and also Ark Studios in Kingston. Most notably, they supported the original line-up of Squire, including Steve Baker, at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford in ’79.
Both Hanlon and Turner went on to form and play in various other bands, such as, Precious Few, XLR-8, which also included Alvis, and China Heart.
Gallery:
The Fix. Picture courtesy of William de Kock -
Tamberlaine
(c’94-95) Darren Robinson (vocal / guitar), John Picarillo (drums), Malcolm Smith (lead guitar, b.vocals) and Billy Adam (bass, b.vocals).
The band, who had all been members of Sweetlife, were initially managed by Andrew Stevens, then Coulsdon based Mirage Music Artist Management. In mid to late ’94 the band released of the 5-track “Of There’s Freedom In Our Hearts…” demo cassette. On 6 August ’94 1994, Tamberlaine supported Vox Pop at The Cricketers, Westfield.
In ’95, David Bailey replaced Adam on bass and backing vocals and Smith left. Shortly after the, now 3-piece, band released the “Out Of Our Heads” demo which was engineered by Andy Levine having been recorded at RMS Studios. They went on to become My Revolution and then Explain. Listed as My Revolution, the track “Out of My Head” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.6.
Bailey, who’d been in Five O’Clock High and Vox Pop, was in Summerbee at around the same time as Tamberlaine and has since moved to Spain, was involved in the The Real Me and Acoustic River Collective (ARC) – a group of musicians based in Almeria – and is currently recording as part of Left Bank Two.
Tracks:
Gallery:
1994: Tamberlaine support Vox Pop at The Cricketers, Westfield. Picture courtesy of David Bailey 
Sleeve to Tamberlaine’s “If There’s Freedom In Our Hearts” demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Side 1 of Tamberlaine’s “If There’s Freedom In Our Hearts” demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
Sleeve to Tamberlaine’s “Out Of My Head” demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
A-side of Tamberlaine’s “Out Of My Head” demo. Picture courtesy of Sid Stovold 
“Out of My Head” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.6, after the band changed their name to My Revolution. -
Phantom Zone
(c’79-’80) ? members
This was a Guildford band doing original songs and covering the like’s of Max Crook / Del Shannon’s “Runaway”. They came 2nd in the Surrey / Hants Music Competition in early 1980 at Farnham Maltings, where they competed against Impulse, Lynx, Stripes, and UBz, missing out on a 500 quid recording contract with Ray Dorset’s Satellite label.
Gallery:
Taken from the May/June 1980 issue of Barbed Wires – Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6) – Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes -
Approved Men
(c’79-81) Charlie Rashbrook (vocals), Ross Brown (guitar), Julian “Dooley” Robinson (rhythm guitar), Colin Short/Shaw (bass) and Herbie Williams (drums).
Front of the outer sleeve of screen printed copy of “Quite Like You” Formed in ’79, the band’s name reportedly came from an inscription on a beam at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford where Brown, Rashbrooke and Robinson were pupils. They performed their debut at the Royal Grammar School on 14 December ’79 with B.J. and the Mars Bars for the VIth Form Christmas Party. Gigging extensively around Guildford and Woking, including The Royal, Guildford and The Wooden Bridge, Guildford; they definitely appeared at The Wooden Bbridge on 7 march ’81 for a ‘Rock Against Cruise Missiles’ gig. In the early ’80’s you could have seen some “Approved Men” graffiti on the side of the Yvonne Arnaud.
In 1980 they entered Pebble Beach Studios, Worthing for 3 hours and, with the help of producer Tony “Nod” Harris, – a regular at the King’s Head – self-published the “Quite Like You” 7” white label [JR001] with “So Sad” and “’Somewhere to Run” on the B-side. They recorded all three tracks in an afternoon, speeding up “Quite Like You”. The one note synth part on “So Sad” was played by Brown on an ARP synth, an artist who was in the studio that week had hired and happened to still be in the studio. Depending on your source, either 100, 250 or 500 were pressed (funded by Rashbrook’s father), but each one does feature unique hand drawn artwork. There was a picture sleeve too, which Brown hand screen printed, for about fifty or so singles.
The track was played by John Peel on March 6th that same year, in the ‘New To You’ section of his show. The transcript of that section of Peels show reads: “I’ve always enjoyed the way that record companies work, in that if a band from one particular town is successful they don’t assume it’s anything to do with the band but rather something to do with the town. And of course recently all these record companies have been sending people to camp out in Coventry in the hope of finding a band there. Now with the success of The Vapors who come from the Guildford area; well it could be an opportunity for The Approved Men who also come from Guildford.
The complete John Peel Show of 6th March 1980, featuring The Approved Men This is their “Quite Like You”. The segment closed with Peel saying “I think that’s true of almost everybody actually. That’s The Approved Men and it’s called “Quite Like You” and according to the band, and I see no reason to doubt them they’ve only had 500 copies of that pressed and it doesn’t seem to be on any specific label. So if you want to get a copy of it you have to write to Colin, 55 Station Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey. You want that again: Colin, 55 Station Road, Shalford, S. H. A. L. F. O. R. D. Guildford, Surrey. The band then meet and courted John Weller with aim of securing management, but it never happened. They called it a day in ’81, but the single is still in demand by John Peel collectors.
Brown is now the retired Dean of Royal Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London and making music again as Ross Brown.
Tracks:
Gallery:
7 March 1981: Approved Men and support were at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Source: Ross Brown via Guildford Town Past & Present 
7 March 1981: Approved Men played the Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Chris Try. 
14 December 1979: Approved Men and B.J and the Mars Bars played at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford’s VIth Form Christmas Party. Picture courtesy of Chris Try. 
Picture courtesy of Heather Tipton 
Alan Neve reviewed Approved Men’s 7″ for the last ever issue of Barbed Wire – May/June 1980 Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6) – Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Example of ‘unique’ artwork for each pressing 
Example of ‘unique’ artwork for each pressing 
Side A of a screen printed copy, carrying “Quite Like You” 
Side B of a screen printed copy, carrying “So Sad” and “Somewhere to Run” 
Front of the outer sleeve of screen printed copy of “Quite Like You” 
Back of the outer sleeve of screen printed copy of “Quite Like You” Approved Men, B.J. and the Mars Bars, Charlie Rashbrook, Colin Shaw, Colin Short, Guildford, Herbie Williams, John Peel, John Weller, Joulian Robinson, Pebble Beach Studios, Rock Against Cruise Missiles, Ross Brown, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Grammer School, Shalford, The King's Head, The Royal, The Vapors, Tony Harris, University of London, Woking, Wooden Bridge, Worthing -
Consider Her Ways
(c’81) Mark Donmall (vocals), Ian Redgewell (bass), Mark Mosforth (guitar), Sniff (sax) & Paul Farley (drums).
Evolved out of Scrag End, which formed at Bishop Reindorp School. Originally fronted by Alex Blake (vocals), he was replaced by drummer Donmall. Paul Newman (bass) went to America and Redgewell stepped into his shoes. The bands track “Snatch” was a crowd favorite.
Gallery:
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The Curse
(c’88-90) Joe Gomez (vocal), Dave Kent (guitar), Will Kent (bass/keyboards), and James Bobbett (drums).
The band played sets of covers and originals, citing The Cult, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, Simple Minds, U2, The Police, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones as influences and gigged throughout Surrey. We know the band played at the Hand and Spear, Weybridge in ’88, and The Cricketers, Westfield in April ’89.
Paul Rees was their Audio & Video Engineer and the video for their original song “Saturday Morning” was shot on the roof of Rees’ home in St George’s Hill.
Dave and Will Kent, along with Gomez were last seen in Velvet Razor / Original Sin, a heavy rock band started in 1992, who were joined by Paul “Dame Edna” Etheridge (vocals).
Tracks:
Gallery:
A still from the video for “Saturday Morning” 
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Square One
(c’81-’82) Robert Jacob (guitar / vocals), Beverley Jacob (keyboards / vocals); Solo (bass / vocals) and Gary Smith (drums).
Described as New Wave / Experimental / Indie Rock this Woking / Weybridge combo was formed by ex-Noit Otni & The Pits and The Volunteers frontman Jacob with members of The Alligators. The band gigged in London, notably the Hope & Anchor, Islington; and before touring the Netherlands (Amsterdam) they released the “Numbers” 7″ EP on the Sacre Bleu label (SABLE10) backed with “Coloured Sand” and “Hollywood” in August ’81. This was only available from Bonapartes, Guildford and Subway. The tracks were recorded in Paris, along with some unreleased material.
The band returned to the UK and recorded some further tracks at a studio in Putney, including “Down From The North” and “Picture Of You”. At this time Adam Hart Dyke (guitar) joined the band, bringing their number to five. No tracks from the Putney sessions were ever released at the time.
By the mid ’80s Hart Dyke was in the group Empire Of Lights.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Adam Hart Dyke joined Square One in late ’81 / early ’82. 
Front cover of “Numbers”, Square One’s 7″ EP on the Sacre Bleu label (SABLE10) backed with “Coloured Sand” and “Hollywood”. 
Back cover of “Numbers”, Square One’s 7″ EP on the Sacre Bleu label (SABLE10) backed with “Coloured Sand” and “Hollywood”. 
Side B of the “Numbers” EP by Square One’s 
A-Side of 7″ EP “Numbers”. 
Side B of the “Numbers” EP by Square One’s 
B-Side of 7″ EP “Numbers”. 
Soundscence ’81 (Date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Robert Jacob of Square One 
Beverley Jacob of Square One 
Square One in Paris (L-R) Solo, Jacob, Jacob, and Smith 
Smith during rehearsals 
Smith of Square One 
Solo performing as part of Square One 
Beverley Jacobs of Square One -
32:20
(c’80-’81) Russ Good (drums), Steve Collins (guitar), Dave Mepstead (bass) and John Atterbury (vocals).
This four piece, named for either the Bible verse Deuteronomy 32:20 or the The 32:20 Winchester (32 caliber bullet of .312-inch-diameter and standard black-powder charge of 20 grains) attempted to recruit a keyboardist / sax player some time in ’81. They also mocked Woking College heavy metal band Strutter while supporting them and went on to play The Cricketers, Westfield on the 20 and 27 February ’81. At some point Good was replaced by Martin Fabb (or was it the other way around?).
Good would go on to appear in Life Under One Sun and Shooting at Strangers.
Gallery:
Soundscene 29th Jan ’81. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner 
Soundscene 1981 (Date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. -
Pain Relief
(c.’80-’83) Jerry Boothman (bass), Danny Boothman (guitar), Gary Ellis (drums) & Chris Turner (guitar).
Having previously appeared numerous times at The Cricketers, Westfield, on the 30 January ’81, supported by White Colours, Pain Relief played Woking College. Ellis was replaced by Doug McKeller on drums and after Jerry Boothman left Turner switched to bass and Danny Boothman moved to a Yamaha guitar synth. They then changed the band name to Paradise then Dark Paradise in ’83.
Danny Boothman also played in FFile and Dark Paradise off shoot ‘Arf Cut with McKeller and Turner. McKeller went on to join Mervyn Sprocket and the Crankshaft Assembly which later morphed into Salt Solution
Gallery:
Soundscene ’81 (Date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner 
Soundscene 29th Jan 1981. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner 
Soundscene ’81 (date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Pain Relief at The Cricketers, Westfield – sometime in early ’80’s. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Pain Relief at The Cricketers, Westfield – sometime in early ’80’s. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Pain Relief at The Cricketers, Westfield – sometime in early ’80’s. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Pain Relief at The Cricketers, Westfield – sometime in early ’80’s. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. -
City
(c’80-81). Rich Carson (rhythm guitar / vocal), Graham “Mash” Murray (guitar), Julian Thorne (bass) & Pete “Will” Williams (drums).
Formed in January 1980 this 4-piece, of professional musicians, were out of Winston Churchill School and were a regular fixture at The Cricketers, Westfield. In late ’81 Thorne was dropped and replaced by Pete Mills. On 14 April ’83, the Wooden Bridge Rock Club welcomed Stray to The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, ably supported by City. A couple of months later the band played The Wooden Bridge again, but under a new moniker: The Click.
Carson owned a recording studio in Guildford; Murray had toured with Cliff Richard, appearing on the 25th anniversary album of Cliff and the Shadows in ’78, and toured Europe and the Middle East with a number of bands; Thorne had been playing on the Bristol circuit; and finally, Williams had been with 57 Beans as well as touring Europe and appearing on TV. The band played mostly covers with their own original tune thrown in.
Gallery:
City debut in Soundscene 29th January 1981 – a year after forming. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner 
Soundscene ’81 (Date TBC). Picture courtesy of Chris Turner. 
Advert for The Wooden Bridge Rock Club from Sounds 9 April ’83 issue. Image courtesy of Pete Cole
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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