Our Soundscene

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

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  • Dreaming in Colour

    Dreaming in Colour

    (c’88) – Chris Lethbridge (?), Peter Ellis (?), and Dawn Bristow (vocals)

    The Lethbridge, Ellis and Bristow formed Dreaming in Colour in Woking’s old, and shortly after demolished, bingo hall. But, while picked to support Fat and Frantic at the Guildford Civic Hall (22 April ’88) and at Manchester University (28 April ’88), Dreaming In Colour were not always well received on the Woking circuit.

    In April ’88 they performed at The Red House, Woking, and received a lacklustre review from landlord Mick Rayfield. Shortly after The Red House gig the band added Mark Johnstone and Mick Dann (?), who were up to speed in time for the Fat and Frantic support slots.

    Gallery:

  • Pied Piper and The Rats

    Pied Piper and The Rats

    (c’83-’84) – Jackie Wise (vocals), Clare Barnett (keyboards), Robert Selway (guitar). Neil Woodier (bass) and Stuart Barnett (drums).

    Pied Piper and The Rats at the Sea Cadet Hall, Guildford in 1983

    Selway and Stuart Barnett had been in Blank Expression before forming Pied Piper. Guildford based, this band are known to have played The Old Schoolhouse, Woking and Sea Cadet Hall, Guildford. At The Old Schoolhouse, in August ’83, they shared the stage with Plan A, La Maison Du Chants, and Freedom Dance.

    Stuart Barnett was also in La Maison Du Chants.

    Gallery:

  • Deceased Disease

    Deceased Disease

    (c’87-’92) Ian Akeroyd (vocals), Matt “Big Nose Bastard” Harding (guitar), Nick “Nicki McBollox” McCaffery (bass), and Matthew Allan (drums).

    Picture courtesy of Matt Harding

    Comedy punksters Deceased Disease were formed in 1987 by four friends from Salesian School, Farnborough. In short order, Akeroyd was replaced by Callum Veale with the band performing their first gig at Salesian School, to be thrown off stage for performing an “offensive song about Catholic Priests”. This was followed by an appearance at France Hill School, Camberley alongside Calamity Sax and Jeopardy (later to be known as Warp Spasm).

    Paddy Davis (guitar) joined and then leaving, followed by Malcolm “Metal” McDonald (guitar) who also departed and then Matt Farrell (bass), giving the band dual bassists ala-Neds Atomic Dustbin until Farrell left too. Callum also departed. Deceased Disease finally settled on McCaffery, who moved to vocals, Harding, Phillipe “Pierre Le Grand” Ernest (guitar), Kevin “Ugg” Ward (bass), and Curt “Curtains” Evans (drums). The band rehearsed in a garage, from which the emanating amplified sounds produced complaints resulting in a warning letter from Surrey Heath County Council in January ’89.

    Deceased Disease at The George. Ash Vale. Picture courtesy of Matt Harding

    This combo went on to perform over 60 gigs with McCaffrey often in full drag. The George, Ash Vale was their most regular haunt, along with the West End Centre, Aldershot where McCaffrey once appeared dressed as nun and the show featured pyrotechnics; amongst other local venues and up into London, including The George Robey. The bands appearances at Salesian School included a 12-hour music marathon where they played a set amongst others that included Sacred Leaf, Hassle the Squid, Come Home Mike Gatting, Ian Bryne & The Rebels, McGinty-Noble, The Photon Helmets, Who Moved the Ground?, Cold Fusion, Chest Fever, and Revenge of the Boneless Child.

    They performed a mix of classic punk and their own home ‘classics’ like “Satan Rides a Honda Melody”, “Nicks Boots” and a punky cover of “House of the Rising Sun” to a strong following of fans. The band were known for plastering the walls of their home turf of Camberley, like Lethal Dose before them, with posters and handing out flyers all over the place.

    During their tenure the band recorded four demos: “The First and Worst”, “Up the Poll Tax”, “Punk’s Not a Four Letter Word”, and “The Jollybigblumble”. The latter was recorded by producer Otteran “Ott” Langrell at Vons Studio, Islington in ’91 and carried “Motorbikes”, “Nick’s Boot’s” and “Satan Rides a Honda Melody” which was written by Ernest. Ott signed the master tape “Deceased Disease are a bunch of F**king W**kers love Ott xx”. This demo received a great review from Adrian Creek titled “Deceased Disease are Much Better Than They are Cracked Down to be”.

    Sleeve for the “Up The Poll Tax” demo cassette. Picture courtesy of Matt Harding

    With the help of Magic Moments at Twilight Time and Music & Elsewhere‘s Mick Magic they also got played on Camberley’s Christmas Radio Station “Radio Cracker”. The band played their farewell gig at The George, Ash Vale on 8 April 1992.

    After the demise of Deceased Disease, Harding went on to form Redefining Beautiful with Severance bassist Martin Warren on vocals. Ward joined indie rockers Backlash and Ernest went on to sound engineering, producing the Who Moved the Ground? single “The Chase” amongst others. McCaffery moved to Ireland to study archaeology and then literally ran away with a Circus, where he taught circus skills to kids and the disabled. Evans is believed to have moved to the US shortly after the band split.

    Tracks:

    Gallery:

  • La Maison du Chants

    La Maison du Chants

    (c’83-’85) – Bev Chadwick (sax), Jon Robertson (guitar) Alan Wallis (bass), Philip Joseph (keyboards) and Stuart Barnett (drums).

    La Maison du Chants at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.

    The band appeared at local venues across Guildford and Woking including the Old Schoolhouse, Woking and the Sea Cadet Hall and University of Surrey, Guildford. La Maison Du Chants played the May Bug Ball at University of Surrey on 7 May 1983, along with Creatures of Darkness, LongPig, and Freedom Dance. Translated from the French the bands name is The House of Songs, and they along with Freedom Dance often shared the stage and were back together on 13 August 1983, along with Rainbow Road at the Old School House, Woking. Paul Dreczko (keyboards) joined the band around this time replacing Joseph.

    Exactly a year after the May Bug Ball, on 7 May 1984, the band were on the bill for a University of Surrey New Wave Society event headlined by LongPig, with Freedom Dance, Funtime for Phillip and Dark Trio. This event got the band featured in The Werewolf fanzine. Just before Chadwick left in mid-’84 there was another gig at The Old Schoolhouse with Plan A, Pied Piper and The Rats, and Freedom Dance. The band, now down to 4 members with Robertson, Barnett, Wallis, and Dreczko appeared on 8 September 1984 at the Sea Cadet Hall, Guildford with Wild Lettuce and D Fabulous. Some time around Christmas / New Year the band faded away.

    Chadwick went on to perform in Casual Sax and Steel Bill & The Buffalos, Then worked at the Royal Festival Hall, London for several years becoming the Foyer Music Programmer and is now a freelance tenor/baritone sax player taking on short and long term contracts in the UK and across Europe in jazz, soul, blues, and reggae. In the early ’90s she appeared on two of the Fugatives albums, was part of Mass Producers in the late ’90s and on the track “Out Of The Blue” for Robert Wyatt’s ‘Comicopera’ in the late 2000s with Brian Eno, Yaron Stavi, Annie Whitehead, and Alfie Benge.

    Gallery:

  • Freedom Dance

    Freedom Dance

    (c’83-’84) – Stav Harris (vocals), Clare Harris (vocals), Keith Welham (guitar), Dave Harris (bass), and Andy Blacklidge (drums).

    Freedom Dance at The Old School House, Woking

    Freedom Dance played the May Bug Ball at University of Surrey on 7 May 1983, along with Creatures of Darkness, LongPig, and La Maison Du Chants. La Maison Du Chants and Freedom Dance often shared the stage and were back together on 13 August 1983, along with Rainbow Road at the Old School House, Woking. They were also at The Old Schoolhouse, in Mid ’83, sharing the stage with Plan A, La Maison Du Chants, and Pied Piper & The Rats.

    Exactly a year after the May Bug Ball, on 7 May 1984, the band were third on the bill for this a University of Surrey New Wave Society event headlined by Longpig, with La Maison Du Chante, Funtime for Phillip, and Dark Trio. This event got Freedom Dance featured in The Werewolf fanzine. Some time in the second half of ’84 the band evaporated.

    Gallery:

  • Screaming Lullabies

    Screaming Lullabies

    (c’83-’84) – Stuart Murray (guitar), Mike Reed (guitar), Sharon Pilling (bass), Kirk Kelly (drums) and Simon “Tarquin” George (vocals).

    Screaming Lullabies at The Royal, Guildford

    Pilling & Kelly had previously been in a band with Alison Goldfrapp called Creatures of Darkness, who played in and around the Guildford area, before forming Screaming Lullabies with the others in ’83. With members mostly from the Guildford area, they played at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking several times and at various other local venues, including The Royal, Guildford, and were often compared to Bauhaus – who they cited as an influence along with Death Cult and The Birthday Party. Their Schoolhouse appearances included a support slot; with No Joy, COW, and The Spin Dolls, for goth rock band In Excelsis, formed by former UK Decay guitarist Steve Spon, on 26 April ’84. Three months earlier. on 14 January ’84, Screaming Lullibies had headlined at the Old Schoolhouse, with Dark Paradise, COW and The Spin Dolls in support. The band split shortly after the In Excelsis support gig.

    Pilling went on to play with Londoner’s Jezebelle, and with one other went on to form KURRU. George focused on The Kavern Club at The Royal and formed Vale of Eden, then Gitche Manitou, Savage Opera and Sang Froid with Kelly.

    Galley:

  • The 1978 Gig List

    The 1978 Gig List

    What follows is a list of gigs, with images of tickets, adverts and flyers where possible, either at GU postcode venues or featuring bands, listed in bold, we like to claim are part of the Woking/GU Soundscene in 1978:

    January 7
    Agincourt, Camberley: T. T. Transmission w/ The Vandals

    7 January 1978: Rock at The Agincourt featured T. T. Transmission supported by The Vandels. Picture courtesy of Mark Terry

    January 19
    Centre Halls, Woking: Sham 69 w/ Crisis, The Speedometers, Menace, and Masterswitch

    January 20
    The Cob & Pen Folk Club, Swan Pub, Sherborne St. John: Hot Vultures
    Roxy Club, London, Crisis w/ The Plague

    January 31
    The Nashville Rooms, London: The Pleasers w/ Tonight, and The Boyfriends

    February 5
    Crawley College, Crawley: Little Bob Story w/ The Jam

    February 11
    Roxy Club, London: Blitz w/ Crisis

    February 21
    The Marquee, London: Bethnal w/ The Members

    February 24
    The Marquee, London: The Jam

    February 25
    The Marquee, London: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    March 2
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Judas Priest
    Music Machine, Camden: The Jam w/ Black Slate and Can’t Be Bad

    2 March 1978: The Jam, supported by Black Slate and Can’t Be Bad, were at Music Machine, Camden. Source: Ulrich Wegener via Keep It Out Of Sight

    March 3
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Darts w/ Rumble Strips

    March 11
    Technical College, Farnborough: Enid

    March 12
    Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon: Strange Cult w/ The Absolute, and The Ellery Bops

    March 18
    Rafters, Manchester: The Pleasers w/ The Heat
    Technical College, Basingstoke: T. T. Transmission (Rag Ball)

    March 31
    CBGB, New York: The Jam w/ The Tuff Darts

    31 March 1978: The Jam were at CBGB.

    April 3
    The Marquee, London: Head Waiter

    April 14
    The Wooden Bridge, Guildford: Jasmine Pie w/ Brandenburg

    14 April 1978: Jasmine Pie, supported by Brandenburg, were at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Gerald Eyton-Jones

    April 17
    The Junction, Guildford: The Vapors

    April 24
    The Junction, Guildford: Jasmine Pie w/ The Reaction

    April 25
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Rich Kids
    Mecca Ballroom, Portsmouth: Graham Parker & The Rumour
    6th Form College, Farnborough: Dead Or Alive w/ Quotations

    25 April 1978: Recycled ticket (due to change of venue and date) for Dead or Alive, supported by Quotatios, at Farnborough 6th Form College. Source: Mick Hughes via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia

    April 27
    Red Cow, London: The Members

    April 28
    Sheffield University, Sheffield: Graham Parker & The Rumour

    28 April 1978: Signed, complimentary ticket (No.00159) for Graham Parker and The Rumour

    April 29
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Radio Stars

    April 30
    Rock Against Racism, Victoria Park, Hackney: The Tom Robinson Band w/ The Clash, Steel Pulse, Aswad, Patrick Fitzgerald, Crisis, and X-Ray Spex

    May 1
    Civic Hall, Guildford: UK

    May 12
    University of Surrey, Guildford: The Enid

    May 15
    The Junction, The Star, Guildford: Star Jets

    May 16
    The Marquee, London: Cherry Vanilla w/ The Members

    May 19
    Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School: Quotations

    May 20
    Brighton Centre, Brighton: The Stranglers

    May 22
    The Junction, The Star, Guildford: Star Jets w/ Panther

    May 26
    The Rock Garden, Middlesborough: The Members
    Apollo, Glasgow: The Stranglers

    May 27
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Pirates
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Steve Hillage w/ National Health featuring Miquette Giraudy
    ?, Edinburgh: The Stranglers

    May 28
    Apollo, Glasgow: The Stranglers

    May 30
    Bingley Hall, Stafford: The Stranglers

    May 31
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Flamin’ Groovies w/ Radio Birdman

    31 May 1978: Flamin’ Groovies w/ Radio Birdman. Picture courtesy of John Hudson

    June 5
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Steve Gibbons Band w/ The Dodgers

    June 6
    Dingwall’s, Camden: Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band

    6 June 1978: Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band were on the roster to celebrate Dingwall’s 5th anniversary. Source: Alan McDonald via Keep It Out Of Sight

    June 7
    University of Leeds, Leeds: The Stranglers

    June 9
    The Royal, Guildford: Southern Ryds

    June 10
    Paris Theatre, London: The Jam
    Queens Park, London: The Stranglers

    June 12
    King George’s Hall, Blackburn: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 13
    Victoria Hall, Keighley: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 14
    The Pier, Colwyn Bay: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 15
    Barbarellas, Birmingham: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 16
    The Odeon, Guildford: Ian Dury & the Blockheads w/ Whirlwind and Rico
    Barbarellas, Birmingham: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 17
    The Friars, Aylesbury: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 18
    Lyceum, London: The Jam w/ The Jolt

    June 23
    Technical College, Basingstoke: Strife w/ T. T. Transmission, and Chou Pahrot

    23 June 1978: Basingstoke Technical College hosted Strife, supported by T. T. Transmission and Chou Pahrot. Picture courtesy of Mark Terry.

    June 25
    Open Air Theatre, Regents Park, London: Maddy Prior w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    June 26
    The Junction, The Star, Guildford: Dodgers w/ Squire

    June 27
    Civic Hall, Guildford: UFO w/ Marseille

    July 15
    Rock Against Racism Carnival, Alexandra Park, Manchester: Graham Parker & the Rumour w/ The Smirks
    The Picnic, Blackbushe Airport, Yateley: Bob Dylan w/ Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker & the Rumour, Lake, and Merger

    July 21
    Limit Club, Sheffield: Jackie Lynton

    July 30
    Civic Hall, Guildford: The Jam w/ Squire

    30 July ’78: Squire were guests of The Jam at the Civic Hall, Guildford

    July 31
    Town Hall, Torquay: The Jam

    August 24
    The Junction, Guildford: The Vapors w/ Crisis, and The Duncans

    September 1
    The Marquee, London: Jackie Lynton H.D. Band

    September 6
    “Anger on the Road” March, Kings West, Brighton: Crisis

    September 13
    Crofter’s Folk Club, The Wheatsheaf, Alton: John Lathey w/ Hot Vultures, and Earthforce

    September 20
    Top Rank, Sheffield: The Stanglers w/ Human League

    September 22
    “The Middle of the Road”, Blue Coat Boy, The Angel, Islington: The Members w/ The Monochrome Set
    Winter Gardens, Malvern: The Stranglers w/ The Skids


    September 23
    Gaumont, Southampton: Camel

    September 24
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Caravan w/ Michael Chapman, and Camel

    September 26
    Gaumont, Southampton: The Stranglers

    September 27
    Wooden Bridge, Guildford: Cardiac Arrest

    27 September 1978: Cardiac Arrest played the Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Source: Suey Sue via Cardiacs

    October 11
    University of Surrey, Guildford: The Stranglers

    October 18
    The Royal, Guildford: The Molesters

    October 19
    Royal College of Art. London: The Doomed w/ The Softies, The Members, and The Crack

    October 20
    Barbarellas, Birmingham: The Pleasers w/ The Autographs

    October 21
    Windsor Castle, London: The Members

    October 23
    Hope & Anchor, Islington: The Members

    October 24
    Town Hall, Walsall: The Pleasers

    October 25
    The Triad, Bishop Stortford: The Pleasers w/ The Banned

    October 27
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Slade

    November 3
    The Nashville, Kensington: The Pleasers w/ The Valves
    St. George’s Hall, Bradford: The Jam

    November 4
    The Nashville, Kensington: The Pleasers w/ The Flames

    November 6
    The Nashville, Kensington: The Members w/ The Ruts, and The V.I.P’s

    November 9
    Civic Hall, Guildford: The Buzzcocks

    November 10
    New Windsor Castle, London: The Members w/ Addix
    Sheffield City Polytechnic, Sheffield: The Jam w/ Patrick Fitzgerald, and The Dickies

    10 November 1978

    November 11
    Electric Ballroom, London: The Dickies w/ The Skids, and The Members

    November 12
    Leeds University, Leeds: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 13
    Apollo Theatre, Manchester: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 14
    Odeon, Birmingham: The Jam w/ The Dickies and Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 15
    Coventry Theatre, Coventry: The Jam w/ The Dickies and Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 17
    Corn Exchange, Cambridge: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald
    The Royal, Guildford: The Piranhas

    November 18
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Wreckless Eric, Lene Lovich, Rachel Sweet, Jona Lewie, and Mickey Jupp
    ABC Theatre, Great Yarmouth: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 20
    Cardiff University, Cardiff: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 21
    Dome, Brighton: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 22
    Odeon, Canterbury: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 24
    Guild Hall, Plymouth: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald

    November 26
    The Colstan Hall, Bristol: The Jam w/ The Dickies & Patrick Fitzgerald
    Bellerby Theatre, Guildford: Earthforce w/ Simon Rowan, Tim Roberts, John Lathey, and Savourna Stevenson

    November 29
    Wembley Arena, London: The Jam, Generation X, The Pirates, Slade, Bernie Torme, and Patrick Fitzgerald

    The Jam. The Great British Music Festival 1978 small poster. Source: http://www.whytes.ie

    December 27
    Three Lions (Scratchers), Farncombe: House, featuring Andy Latimer of Camel

    December 29
    The Royal, Guildford: The Piranhas

    29 December 1978: The Piranhas appeared at The Royal. Picture courtesy of John Hudson
  • Trashqueen

    Trashqueen

    (c’87-’88) – Ian Henry (bass/vocals), Colin Brookes (drums), Neil Sinclair (keyboards), Andrea Martin (backing vocals), and Phil Brookes (lead guitar).

    Pirbright metal band Trashqueen were born out of Kyoto Rose, nee Airbourne with their first appearance with the new name, image and set at Woking 6th Form College. Ex-Monterey bassist Ian Westley joined in early ’88 allowing Henry to focus on vocals. This new six-piece format, added by roadie Trashqueen’s roadie Graham Clayton piled into the Civic Hall, Guildford on 27 April ’88 and opened for primary support act Force 3, prior to the headliners; Swedish Christian heavy metal band Leviticus on their “Warriors of Rock” tour. This led to a positive mention by Kerrang’s Dave Reynolds, who specifically singled out Colin Brookes – although Westley didn’t fair so well in the critics prose. They disbanded in June ’88 after a promising year of building quite a reputation.

    Colin Brookes joined a Christian group and Henry went to University. Phil Brookes went on to form Calamity Sax.

    Gallery:

  • Lax Lifetime

    Lax Lifetime

    (c’86-’88) Anna-Lucy Torjussen (vocals), Duncan ‘Du Kane’ Elder (lead vocal/rhythm guitar), David Maskrey (lead guitar), David Howick (drums), Anton Daniels (percussion) and Fil/Phil/Phyl B. (bass)

    Originally called Yellow Lifetime they became Lax Lifetime in July ’87 and were knocking out modern dance, influenced by Prince, Cameo and Trouble Funk. A couple of months prior to the name change the band, with the addition of Damian Hand and Scampi on Sax, recorded “Step in Time” and “Shout! About” at Peppermint Studio, where they were produced by George Chambers and Elaine Fairfax.

    By mid ’87 the band had released the “Beat! The Elite…” demo, noted for an unflustered style, and were regularly appearing in London, including The Greyhound, Dingwalls, Le Beat Route, and Mean Fiddler, and organizing coaches from Cranleigh, Godalming and Guildford, with tickets available at Pete’s Place and Andertons, Guildford, and sometimes The Queen Victoria, Shalford. Rehearsing three nights a week and on Sundays’ and gigging as much as possible kept the band sharp and tight. On the 15th and 18th November ’87 the band were in a studio again. This time it was FJR studios, NW10 recording the demo cassette single “Have The Time of Your Life….In Your Lifetime” with the Talking Horns: Steve Smith and Floyd.

    In December ’87 they were in the the Ha! Bloody Ha! studio to lay down “Sand Through Glass” again with Scampi. This was then added to the “Beat! The Elite…” demo cassette reissue, with production credits for Chambers and Fairfax. Kane was also responsible for ‘persuading’ The Rak to put on an event at Guildford Civic, at which Lax Lifetime headlined. The Rak and it’s promotor and organizer, Lance Lush, were totally fictional, with Lush purportedly organizing raves on trains from Waterloo and boats on the Thames. Torjussen left the funk band in early ’88 with the band winding up late that year.

    Kane went on to be a founding member of Beautiful People, was 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.

    Gallery:

  • Cardiacs

    Cardiacs

    (c’77-08) – Jim “Patty Pilf” Smith (bass/backing vocals), Peter “Richard Targett” Tagg (drums), Tim “Philip Pilf” Smith (guitar / backing vocals), Ralph Cade (saxophone / triangle), Colvin “Duncan Doilet” Mayers (synth) and Michael “Peter Boker” Pugh (vocals).

    Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking – purportedly.

    Formed in Kingston-Upon-Thames in ’77, Phil Gibby claimed the Cardiacs for Soundscene in the mid to late 80’s. They played The Old Schoolhouse, Woking at least six times, most notably the venues last gig with Five O’Clock High in support.

    Their first gig was at The Kaleidoscope in Kingston upon Thames in ’78 as The Filth. By their second concert the band had changed their name to Cardiac Arrest, a name they kept until ’81 when they took the monica Cardiacs, with no “the”. Shortly before the release of the single “A Cake for Bertie’s Party”, Cardiacs Arrest played The Wooden Bridge, Guildford on 27 September ’78.

    27 September 1978: Cardiac Arrest played the Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Source: Suey Sue via Cardiacs

    On 1 March ’79 they appeared at Raynes Park High School. That same year they released the “A Bus For A Bus On The Bus” 7″ single on the Tortch Records label [TOR 002] after recording the three tracks on 22 July that year at Elephant Recording Studios, London. This was after the trio of Tim Smith, Tagg and Mayers appeared as Cardiac Arrest at the Stonehenge Festival.

    In fact the early Cardiacs line-up was a veritable moving feast of musicians that included the bassist from The Trudy, Jon Bastable; Dominic Luckman, Derek Tagg and Tim Quy. ’79 saw Tagg, Pugh and Cade leave the band; with Mark Cawthra joining on drums and Tim Smith taking over as lead singer with guitar duties. Then in early ’80 Sarah Cutts (sax) joined. In 1980 they self-released the cassette LP “The Obvious Identity”, named after the first track, which was only available at concerts and via mail order. They played their first gig as Cardiacs in April ’81. The next month, Cardiacs supported Birmingham progressive punk band Dangerous Girls at the infamous Fighting Cocks, Moseley. Later that year they self-released the “Toy World” cassette LP; a year when Mayers left, Cutts covered keyboards in addition to sax, then Cawthra swapped drums for keyboards and Luckman became the new drummer, finally percussionist Tim became a full-time member. The line-up settled for a while.

    22 May 1981: Cardiacs supported Dangerous Girls at Fighting Cocks, Moseley, Birmingham. Source: www.omegaauctions.co.uk

    Then in July ’83, Tim Smith married Sarah Cutts and around the same time Cawthra left; being replaced by William D. Drake on keyboards. Later in ’83 Marguerite Johnson (alto saxophone) and Graham Simmonds (guitar) joined bringing membership to eight. The new line-up played The Royal, Guildford on 15 March ’84 in support of Here & Now and on 11 May ’84, a line-up that lasted until July ’84 when Johnson left, followed the month after by Simmonds (who stayed on as Cardiacs’ sound engineer).

    ’85 saw the release of “All Shapes And Sizes”, a 7″ vinyl compilation released in France by Primitive Records that featured “It’s A Lovely Day” as the opening track on the A-side. Cardiac also appeared on “The Riverside Compilation L.P. – Laughing All The Way To The Banks” with “Wooden Fish on Wheels”. This compilation of artists, including The Body Politic and The Housemartins, who performed at The Riverside Club, Fetcham saw a limited release of only 1,500 (Ian Watson didn’t think it would sell any more) and all the bands gave their tracks free on the basis that he would only do a small run. The label was to be Z T HEE, a play on the name ZTT, a label which was huge at the time of this release. On 23 August ’85, Cardiacs were back at The Rivereside Club; headlining, with Leitmotiv in support. In December ’85 they headline the “Gig for Africa” at The Dorking Halls, with a plethora of other local bands, including Great Garden and Shoot! Dispute.

    he official poster has Cardiacs headlining “Gig For Africa” at Dorking Halls – Dec 21st 1985

    In March ’86 the Cardiacs are listed as coming to the Riverside Club, Fetcham and later that year, on 30 October, The Flying Tractors opened for the band at Dingwalls, Camden Lock. As mentioned earlier, with at least six appearances at The Old Schoolhouse, Cardiacs were possibly the venues most regular headliner; and they definitely graced the stage on 22 December ’86, the venues last night with Steel Bill and the BuffalosThe Body Politic and Five O’Clock High in support. Seven months later they played two nights in a row up at the Marquee (24 / 25 July ’87) and on 15 October they were playing Timebox at The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, which had them bill as Mr. Smith and the Big Ship – only a true Pondie would know. On 29 November the band recorded a session for Janice Long’s Radio One Night Tracks show, which was broadcast on 30th December. By ’88 the band were playing nationally, including a memorable appearance, on 25 March ’88, supported by Blue Aeroplanes and Dubious Brothers, at the Town & Country Club. In August the session recorded for Janice Long released as a 12″ vinyl EP, on the Strange Fruit label [SFNT 013], as one of the Radio One Evening Show Sessions, carrying “R.E.S.”, “Buds and Spawn”, “In A City Lining”, and “Cameras/Is This The Life”. This was also the year the band released their first “official” vinyl LP: “A Little Man And A House And The Whole World Window”. In an interview with Soundscene reporter Phil Gibby, Cardiac saxophonist Sarah Smith, when asked why it had taken 11 years to released an LP stated “It took Jim 11 years to learn the bass lines”. Windsor’s Old Trout hosted on 6 December 1990. The 20th Reading Festival saw Cardiacs in the Radio One Session Tent on Friday, 28 August ’92.

    In 2008, Tim Smith suffered brain damage after a heart attack and two strokes; going on to develop dystonia in 2008 and passing suddenly in the night on 21 July 2020.

    Gallery:

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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