Our Soundscene

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

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  • Yellow Darkness

    Yellow Darkness

    (c’89-’91) Mark Terry (vocals), Glenn Edwards (?), Austin Wright (drums), Marcus Cowley (guitar) and Seth Trombley (?).

    Buzz Club local band night, 1990

    They were from Guildford, and played the London circuit: The Powerhaus, Bull & Gate (29 Oct ’91) Opera on the Green, The Cricketers, Kensington and The Rock Garden, plus support for Captain Sensible at The Mean Fiddler, Creaming Jesus at their Guildford gig and Smashing Orange on their visit to London.

    On 6 June ’89 Yellow Darkness supported Red 57, along with If This Was You, at The Rock Garden in Covent Garden and on 18 December they opened for Raw Ho! and Eager Sin Babies at The Cricketers, Kennington. On 5 December ’89 the band played Fresh at the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town, supporting Bad Soul along with The Catholics.

    Yellow Darkness EP. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

    By January 1990 the band supported Tragic Roundabout and World of Music at the Opera on the Green, Shepherd’s Bush, on 2 January, and were headlining a Buzz Club local bands night, with DayTripper, Slug and TwoFlower. A few days later, on 15 January ’90, Yellow Darkness were at The Rock Garden, Covent Garden and then the Powerhaus, Islington on 6 February. On 7 July ’91 they released the limited edition “I Want to be the Drug” vinyl 12″ EP, carrying “Dolls House”, “Sugar Mountain”, and “She Wears Pyjamas on the Beach”. Thatcher Youth PLC presented The Myriad Syndrone II on 14 July ’90 at the Borough Hall, Godalming with The Ha Ha Men headlining, supported by Yellow Darkness, along with Bushpigs, Octopussy and M.O.E. They also appeared at Showcase ’90 and Parafornia ’91. ABC Music’s Showcase ’90 was held on 2 August ’90 at the Civic Hall, Guildford and Yellow Darkness shared the stage with The Ha Ha Men, Lannoy, Bon Booshe, Joy, Sabena, Lost Weekend, and Kickback. But, as far as we can tell, Yellow Darkness were the only band of the eight pressed into jumping onto the back of a flat bed lorry and playing as it was driven around Guildford to promote the charity gig for Surrey and Hants Help the Children Appeal.

    2 August 1990: Poster for Yellow Darkness at ABC Music’s Showcase ’90. Image courtest on Marcus Cowley

    On 1 February ’91 they supported Captain Sensible and in July that year the band reported that they are banned from Flicks for “foul and abusive language” – A claim Flicks management denied. This may have been the same night (26 July 1991) they played the venue supported by Rockit Men. Late in ’91 the band supported Blue Rider at there Liquid Foundation Club appearance, along with The Gift, at the Bull and Gate, Kentish Town. They were then on the bill for the University of Surrey’s Rag Week (Crab Feast) appearing sometime between 11am and 4:30 pm on 23 November.

    The band went quite for a while until the aforementioned support slot with Creaming Jesus in ’93. Soundscene caught Terry at work, in HMV, Guildford, were he stated “We’re getting to the point where we becoming the sort of band we’d really like to be.” Numerous London gigs followed as well as the Smashing Orange gig along with rumors of label interest.

    Tracks:

    Trampoline:

    Gallery:

  • Face To Face / Seven

    Face To Face / Seven

    (c’86-’90) Mick Devine (lead vocals), Keith Macfarlane (guitar/vocals), Pat Davey (bass/vocals), Simon Lefevre (keyboards/vocals) and Austin Lane (drums).

    Seven, Circa 1990

    Formed from the ashes of South African band Face to Face (which started in ’83 and lasted 18 months, but securing South African hit records, a Sarie Award for Song of the Year with “Here We Are” which was also featured in the Spud movie, and sold-out gigs), when McFarlane and the LeFevre brothers returned to the UK. They re-established Face to Face based out of The Red House, Woking. They were “discovered” by Soundscene in ’86 working behind the bar (they also lived above). John Goodison, the then Red House landlord, having given them a loan and their first break by making them the residential band, which they did for almost a year.

    At the time Devine was in South Africa, playing drums in the band UC27. Devine left South Africa and joined Face to Face. In ’86 they performed at the Miss Woking event at The Old Schoolhouse, report by Soundscene to be “the gig of the year”. At some point John LaVerve left, with ex-Cosmetics bassist Pat Davey and drummer Ross Elliott joining.

    The band triumphed on Bob Monkhouse’s Opportunity Knocks on April 2nd ’88 (Series 2, Show 5) with a 96 on the clapometer, performing “Inside Love”.

    The band met Mike Parker, their first manager, at a talent show and relocated to Bournemouth and renamed the band Seven. The band released their first single on cassette in late ’89, with the 7″, 12″ and CD single following in January 1990. “Inside Love”, on Polydor [PO 63 / 873 496], peaked at #78 in the UK, lasting a total of four weeks on the chart. Engineered by John Spence, who also worked with The Happy Mondays, and produced by John Parr, it received a remix by Howard Jones collaborator Stephen W. Taylor. For one UK magazine, Phillip Schofield described the track as “a moody ballad that wiggles its way inside your brain forever after a couple of plays.” In a 1990 issue of the Cover Boys magazine, the song was described, “If you’re familiar with the sounds of American bands like Journey and Foreigner, then you’ll understand a little of how Seven sound.”

    This was followed in June by “Man With a Vision”, again engineered by Spence and produced by Parr, reaching #91 in the UK.

    Lane was last heard on managing the Drum Dept at Absolute Music, Poole, whilst both Macfarlane and Lefevre returned to South Africa. Devine moved to Market Harborough and Davey settled in Bournemouth, teaching bass in Bournemouth and Poole College and performing regularly with several jazz bands, and joining Diesel with vocalist Robert Hart (Bad Company, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Distance) and the guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick (FM).

    Tracks:

    America

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  • The 1974 Gig List

    The 1974 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 1974:

    January?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Fruupp w/ Brewers Droop

    January 12
    Technical College, Farnborough: Home
    Hungry Years, Brighton: Global Village Trucking Co w/ Vagabond, and LOGOS

    January 17
    The Marquee, London: Camel

    January 18
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Stackridge w/ Henry Cow

    18 January 1974: Stackridge, supported by Henry Cow, were at the University of Surrey. Image courtesy of Chris Branch

    January 22
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam (residency audition)

    January 23
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Hawkwind

    January 26
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    January 28
    Technical College, Farnborough: Fumble w/ The Stranglers

    February ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Home w/ Capability Brown

    February 1
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Spencer Davis Group

    February 2
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    February 3
    Civic Hall, Guildford: George Melly w/ Peter Skellern

    February 8
    The Marquee, London: Camel w/ Keith Christmas

    February 9
    Technical College, Farnborough: Principal Edwards w/ Highway

    February 10
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Lindisfarne

    February 15
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Strider

    February 16
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    February 20
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Brian Eno w/ The Winkies

    February 22
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Nektar

    March 1
    The Marquee, London: Phillip Goodhand-Tait w/ Martin Carter
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Camel w/ Coast Road Drive

    March 2
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Princes Hall, Aldershot: Gypsy

    March 10
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Chick Corea w/ Isotope, Magma, and Kokomo

    March 13
    Civic Hall Guildford: Gentle Giant w/ String Driven Thing

    13 March 1974: Gentle Giant with String Driven Thing at Civic Hall, Guilkdford. Advert from NME

    March 14
    The Marquee, London: Camel

    March 16
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    March 17
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Groundhogs

    March 30
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    March 31
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Stray w/ Strift

    April ?
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Return to Forever w/ Magma, Isotope, and Kokomo

    April 5
    Technical College, Farnborough: Groundhogs w/Starry Eyed and Laughing

    April 7
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    April 10
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Bad Company w/ Darien Spirit

    April 13
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    April 26
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    April 27
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Century Theatre, Buffalo, NY, USA: Genesis

    May ?
    Princes Hall, Aldershot: Gypsy w/ Lloyd Watson

    May 3
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Caravan
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    London Polytechnic, Marylebone: John Martyn & Danny Thompson w/ Unicorn

    3 May 1974: Unicorn supported John Martyn a with Danny Thompson at London Polytechnic.

    May 4
    Parkside Club, Frimley: The Jam
    Technical College, Farnborough: The Troggs w/ Half Human Band

    May 5
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Fruupp

    May 10
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    May 15
    Civic Hall, Guildford: John Renbourne w/ Jacqui McShee

    May 17
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    May 19
    Civic Hall, Guildford: The Alex Harvey Band w/ Strider

    May 24
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Gong

    May 26
    Parkside Club, Frimley: The Jam

    May 30
    The Marquee, London: Camel
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Budgie w/ Judas Priest

    May 31
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 1
    Bottleneck Club, The Star, Guildford: Kokomo
    British Legion Club, Ripley: The Jam
    Banners Club, Camberley: McGuiness Flint
    Winter Gardens, Malvern: Philip Goodhand-Tait w/ Sheerwater

    June 6
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Hot Chocolate

    June 7
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Civic Hall, Camberley: Byzantium w/ Natural Gas

    June 9
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 14
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 15
    Sheerwater Youth Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 16
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Silverhead

    June 20
    The Marquee, London: Camel

    June 21
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Magma
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 23
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Camel w/ Viv Stanshall

    June 27
    West End Club, Woking: The Jam

    June 28
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 5
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 6
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Surrey Free Arts Festival, University of Surrey, Guildford: String Driven Thing w/Starry Eyed and Laughing, Global Village Trucking Co, Narnia, and Gryphon

    July 7
    Bunter’s Club, Guildford: The Jam

    July 12
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 13
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 14
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Ange w/ Byzantium

    July 17
    Plaza Ballroom, Guildford: Stray

    July 19
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 21
    Bunter’s Club, Guildford: The Jam
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Isotope

    July 26
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 27
    Parkside Club, Woking: The Jam

    July 28
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    August 2
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    August 3
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Star Inn, Guildford: Keith Christmas

    August 4
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Refugee w/ String Driven Thing

    August 7
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Cozy Powell’s Hammer

    August 13
    Burlesque Club, Farnborough: Jonathan Kelly’s Outside

    August 17
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Star Inn, Guildford: Jonathan Kelly’s Outside

    August 18
    The Marquee, London: Camel
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Man w/ Folkie

    August 19
    Civic Hall, Guildford: The New Man Band

    August 21
    Plaza Ballroom, Guildford: The Winkies w/ Nutz

    August 23
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    August 23 – 28
    Windsor Free Festival: Byzantium w/ Gong, White as White, Global Village, Zorch, Half Human Band, Highway, Contraband, Charlie Horse and many more

    August 24
    Cambridge Hotel, Camberley: Jigsaw

    August 26
    Parkside Club, Frimley: The Jam

    August 28
    Plaza Ballroom, Guildford: Byzantium

    August 30
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    August 31
    Star Inn, Guildford: Starry Eyed & Laughing

    September 1
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Stackridge w/ Jaffee

    September 6
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    September 12
    Civic Hall, Guildford: 10cc

    September 13
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    September 14
    British Army Cannon Club, Aldershot: The Jam

    September 20
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    September 21
    Parkside Club, Frimley: The Jam
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Caravan w/ Percy
    Bottleneck Club, The Star, Guildford: Zzebra

    September 27
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    September 28
    British Legion Club, Leatherhead: The Jam

    September 29
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Can

    October ?
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Cozy Powell’s Hammer w/ Sonja Christina

    October 1
    Star Inn, Guildford: Decameron

    October 2
    Gaiety Bar, Aldershot: The Jam

    October 4
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    October 5
    Bunter’s Club, Guildford: The Jam (cancelled due to bombing)

    October 6
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    October 8
    The Marquee, London: Thin Lizzy w/ Jackie Lynton

    October 12
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    October 13
    British Legion Club, Hindhead: The Jam

    October 17
    Folk Club, Sheffield University, Sheffield: Hot Vultures

    17 October 1974: Hot Vultures played Sheffield University’s Folk Club

    October 19
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Technical College, Guildford: Hudson Ford

    October 20
    Darts Club Party, Basingstoke: The Jam

    October 23
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Supertramp

    October 25
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    October 26
    Gladstone Club, Reading: The Jam

    October 27
    Greyhound, Croydon: The Jam

    October 30
    Plaza Ballroom, Guildford: Judas Priest
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Herbie Hancock w/ Jess Roden Band
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Cocky
    Technical College, Guildford: Fusion Orchestra

    November 1
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    November 2
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    November 4
    ?, Tunbridge Wells: Babe Ruth w/ White as White

    November 8
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    November 9
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Hatfield & the North w/ Lol Coxhill & Steve Miller, and Kevin Coyne

    November 10
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Manfred Mann’s Earthband w/ Jacki Lynton

    November 15
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Procul Harum

    November 16
    Corn Exchange, Devizes: Zorch w/ A Phantasy Circus, and Private Property

    16 November 1974: Zorch, supported by A Phantasy Circus and Private Property, at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

    November 17
    HMP Coldingley, Bisley: The Jam
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Tangerine Dream

    November 20
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Curved Air w/ The Watt-roy Turner Band

    November 21
    Gaiety Bar, Aldershot: The Jam

    November 22
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    November 29
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    November 30
    Sheerwater Community Centre, Woking: The Jam
    Technical College, Farnborough: Greenslade
    Technical College, Guildford: Fusion Orchestra w/ Marvellous Kid

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

    December ?
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Curved Air w/ The Watt-roy Turner Band
    Technical College, Farnborough: Greenslade w/ Asylum
    Technical College, Farnborough: Barclay James Harvest w/ Marvellous Kid

    December 1
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    December 4
    Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: The Jam

    December 5
    Pavilion, Bisley: Fusion Orchestra

    December 6
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam
    Univesity of Surrey, Guildford: Greenslade

    December 12
    Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: The Jam

    December 13
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    December 14
    Lansing Bagnall Dance, ? Surrey: The Jam

    December 15
    The Hatch, ? Surrey: The Jam

    December 16
    Winning Post, Twickenham: The Jam

    December 18
    Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: The Jam

    December 19
    Highlands School, Westfield: The Jam

    December 20
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    December 21
    Working Men’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    December 26
    Hare & Hill Club, Ottershaw: The Jam

    December 29
    Michael’s Club, Woking: The Jam

    December 31
    Liberal Club, Woking: The Jam

  • GuilFin

    GuilFin

    (c’89-’99) GuilFin wasn’t a fanzine, but that is where you’d often find it nestled in independent record stores across Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and into Kent. This underground publication, part of the Free Information Network, was distributed (nearly) every month from 1989 to 1999 as a free listings sheet and originated and was based in Guildford. The Guildford Free Information Newsheet as it was originally called provided information on events, gigs, parties, clubs, shows, meetings, direct action protests and much more, with a readership that reached over 30,000 per month. And, every year, it produced possibly the most comprehensive summer festival directory in the UK, from free festivals to full blown commercial events.

    Thayen Rich, Liam Rich and Alan Chapman were the main driving force behind Guilfin, with numerous others who helped and made various Guilfin projects a success. Projects like the GuilFin Ambient Lounge, a 24-hour performance and campaign venue that toured a number of UK festivals such as Glastonbury and GuilFest, led by event producer Liam.

    The Rich’s co-founded GuilFin, with Thayen designing all of the publication’s graphics, many of which would become available as limited-edition posters; while Liam compiled the listings, dealt with printers and distributors; Chapman did the music reviews and acted as Guilfin’s public relations officer. While later editions were indeed printed, early copies were photocopied, through the night, on a Soho based leading advertising agency’s photocopier – the same agency that employed Thayen – with the brothers leaving a dawn before the studio manager could catch them. In the early 90’s, local label Music & Elsewhere helped support the newsletter with a number of Guilfin Benefit Tapes [MMATT 36, 38, 40 & 41].

    MMATT 36, 38, 40 & 41 Guilfin Benefit Tapes

    During and since Guilfin time, Thayen has been a comic illustrator for the Jeff Hawke newspaper strip, the 2000AD comic anthology and Lance McLane in the Scottish Daily Record. This led to story-boarding for films, TV and commercials, which he has kept him employed for many years and supports his campaign and art work, which you can sample at Corrosive8art. Liam went on to co-produce the Ambient Green Picnic/Festival and is now an accomplished event producer and arts project manager, just check out some of his work at Rich Create. You can see more Guilfin memorabilia on the Guilfin Facebook Page.

    Gallery:

  • Blue Velvet

    Blue Velvet

    (c.1989-91) Patrick James/Sullivan (lead vocal / guitar / harmonica / e-bow), Graham Judd (guitar), Ady Evans (bass), John Metcalfe (drums).

    Band shoot at Waverley Abbey, later a location for “Hot Fuzz”…

    This Aldershot based four-piece played The Rock Garden, London in July ’89 and supported Bradford, with Frantic, at the Buzz Club, West End Centre, Aldershot that November. That same year the bands “Believe” demo, which included ” “Note Turned Blue” “Salvation“, “Guiding Light” “Gold That Shines” and “Don’t Dare the Devil“, received rave reviews from Soundscene reviewers. On Valentines Day ’90 the band opened for Who’s the Spy? at the Palace, Aldershot

    Gold That Shines” went on to feature on Farnborough Groove Vol.1 in mid-91. They were gigging regularly on the local scene, including The George, Ash Vale; The Four Horseshoes, Camberley and The Cricketers, Westfield; plus a supporting slot at The West End Centre for Mega City Four and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin; and up into London. Blue Velvet were booked and showed up on 17 September ’91 at Ragamuffins, Camberley. At some point before the end of ’91 Judd had left the band and was replaced by Sid Stovold (guitar / b.vocals). The band appeared at the Army & Navy, Aldershot with Thieves of Dreams on 13 October ’91; followed by The Fighting Cocks, Bagshot who hosted the band and Thieves of Dreams on 9 November ’91. “Believe” was followed by “On the Eve of Tomorrow“, on which Jim O’Neil joined them on keyboards, for the recording of the eight tracks at Ghost Studios, Send in Nov / Dec ’91, with its electric and acoustic sides.

    On 9 February ’92, Blue Velvet returned to the Army & Navy; but, by this time Island Records offered encouragement but no contract. Eventually the band split, exhausted from bombing up and down motorways and gigging pretty much every other night for little reward. “Don’t Dare The Devil” from their first demo appeared on Son of Farnborough Groove Vol.2 in ’92, and “Shot Yourself Down” from the “On The Eve of Tomorrow” demo was published on Return of Farnborough Groove Vol.3. Blue Velvet played mostly original material at gigs, but they did cover the likes of Wonderstuff’s “Wish You Were Here“.

    Blue Velvet’s track “Gold That Shines” also appeared on the limited edition (500 were pressed) Record Collector Magazine’s Rare Vinyl – Modern Collectables 3 [RCLPO18], in Jan 2016, titled: Small Town Scenery, Lost Indie Gems 1985-1995.

    In 1993 “Falling Star” appeared on the ‘Never Heard of ‘Em’ compilation cassette; then their track “Gold That Shines” also appeared on the limited edition (500 were pressed) Record Collector Magazine’s Rare Vinyl – Modern Collectables 3 [RCLPO18], in Jan 2016, titled: Small Town Scenery, Lost Indie Gems 1985-1995.

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    Gallery:

  • Eat the Sofa

    Eat the Sofa

    (c’93-’98) Allan Broad (?), Jamie Legg (drums) Dee Coley (drums/bass) and Duncan Siggers (?).

    Originally called The Hometown Boys the band rebranded to Eat the Sofa about the time that Coley, who’d previously been in His Wooden Fish, shifted from drums to bass and Legg, who’d previously been in Strange CultThe Golden Age of MetroMatrix, Ill At Ease, and Luxury Glass Town, joined the band. Broad fronted the various incarnations from ’93 until ’98. They were certainly playing the local circuit in ’93 through ’94, including regular appearances at The Cricketers, Westfield and appeared at the University of Surrey, Guildford as part of the Student Union’s All-Day Blues event on 19 November ’94, along with Sister Wendy, Wildwood, Winterfall, The Hamsters and The Bogus Brothers.

    The band released two CD albums: “So Far So Good” and “Absolute Pondlife”. They played at the Guildford Folk & Blues Festival in Stoke Park, Guildford in ’94; and along with Vox Pop, they supported Manfred Mann (Manfreds at the time – due to a legal dispute!) at the Civic Hall, Guildford. In ’96 their track “Love My Life” appeared on “The Best Farnborough Groove in the World – Ever! Vol.6. Disbanding around ’98; three members of Eat The Sofa and Graham Firth formed Plenty, later becoming Panic, and then The True Deceivers.

    Eat The Sofa reformed in 2004 playing a gig at Holloway Hill Sports Club, Godalming supported by Firth (also previously in His Wooden Fish ) and were gigging up to December 2006 when they played The Sun, Godalming supported by The Two Deceivers and Sigg & Si.

    Coley moved on to Blazing Homesteads after Eat the Sofa and now lives in Wiltshire. He has since banded together with Legg and others in The True Deceivers. Broad got together with his brother Matthew, Lorraine Pankhurst and Stevie Ford in a local band project called Barefoot before relocating to Amsterdam in May ’99. In Amsterdam, Broad formed Broadsound with his brothers Matthew and Kevin, Daphne Broad, Rudy Kronfuss, and Derek Crump. He is still living and recording in Amsterdam and as a singer / songwriter has produced seven LPs with producer Rudy Kronfuss on Sirion Records. Unfortunately, Coley passed on 8 March ’22.

    Tracks:

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  • Azizi

    Azizi

    (c’83-’85) – Chris West (guitar / vocals) and Roy ‘Jonn Ross’ Villanis (guitar / bass / vocals)

    West, from Old Woking, had played with Rick Wakeman and Patti Boulaye; while Villanis, who uses the stage name Jonn Ross, from East Horsley used to be with Cliff Richard as his piano and guitar tech, and worked with Kate Bush, Dickie Betts and Status Quo.

    The duo headlined the Miss Woking Caberet in ’85, supported by China Heart and What The Curtains. Their sets included covers of “Every Breath You Take”, “Beat It”, “So Lonely” and “Sultans of Swing”. At one point, Azizi were gigging eight times a week – seven nights and Sunday lunchtimes, including appearances at The White Hart, Frimley.

    Around the time Azizi wrapped up Villanis began working freelance for production companies on music video production and feature films including ‘A Handful of Dust” and ‘The Princess Bride’; after which he spent 20 years at Channel 4. He appeared on Jive Nation’s 1996 album “Under African Skies” which was recorded at Black Barn Studios, Ripley and released an album in 2017 titled “Sunfish”. West produced Lifespan‘s “Cities of Gold” demo, recorded at Too Much Music.

    Azizi reformed in 2013 for a gig or two.

    Video:

    Tracks:


    Gallery:

  • The 1973 Gig List

    The 1973 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 1973:

    January 9
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Uriah Heep w/ Muldoon

    January 13
    Technical College, Guildford: String Driven Thing

    January 14
    Technical College, Farnborough: Hookfoot w/ Ange

    January 19
    The William Cobbett, Farnham: Hunter Muskett
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Camel

    January 27
    Technical College, Farnborough: Snake Eye

    February ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Brinsley Schwarz w/ Ducks Deluxe
    Technical College, Farnborough: Savoy Brown w/ Saturnalia, and Lloyd Watson

    February 1
    Bisley Pavilion, Bisley: Thin Lizzy

    February 2
    The William Cobbett, Farnham: Decameron

    February 8
    Princes Hall, Aldershot: Magna Carta

    February 17
    Technical College, Farnborough: Vinegar Joe w/ Snake Eye, and Bloss

    February 23
    Arts Centre, Church Crookham: Ebling Mis

    March 4
    Charterhouse School, Godalming: Al Stewart

    March 10
    Technical College, Guildford: Byzantium

    March 11
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Holy Mackerel

    March 13
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Stackridge w/ Camel

    March 14
    Dome, Brighton: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    March 17
    Arts Centre, Church Crookham: Ebling Mis

    March 22
    Pavilion, Bisley: Dragonmilk

    March 23
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Paul Brett w/ Hunter Muskett

    March 29
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Status Quo w/ Byzantium
    Pavilion, Bisley: Hookfoot w/ Sam Apple Pie

    March 31
    Technical College, Guildford: Sandy Denny w/ Mark Allain

    April ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Man w/ Snow Leopard

    April 1
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Kingdom Come

    April 7
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    April 8
    Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    April 9
    Town Hall, Leeds: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    April 13
    Technical College, Farnborough: Wizzard w/ Ange

    April 16
    City Hall, Salisbury: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    April 21
    Ex-Servicemen’s Club, West Byfleet: Ebling Mis w/ Virjin

    April 22
    Sheerwater Community Centre, Woking: The Jam

    May 3
    ?, Stockton-on-Tees: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    May 4
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Jonathan Kelly

    May 5
    British Legion Hall, Fleet: Ebling Mis

    May 6
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Nazareth w/ Robin Trower

    May 12
    Community Centre, Old Woking: The Jam

    May 15
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Home

    May 17
    Pavilion, Bisley: Greenslade

    May 26
    Soundscene ‘73, West Wycombe: Wizzard, Neil Sedaka, Bryan Chalker’s New Frontier, Geordie, Nashville Teens, John Martyn, The Settlers, Southern Ramblers, Michael Blount, Country Fever, Ian Page, Wild Oats, Tim Allen, Thomahawk, and Steve Tilston

    May 27
    Civic Hall, Guildford: David Bowie

    May 31
    Pavilion, Bisley: Skin Alley w/ Back Door

    June 2
    The Bedford Festival, Bedford Hill, Balham: Ebling Mis w/ Everyone Involved, and Half Human Band

    June 7
    Pavilion, Bisley: McGuiness Flint

    June 8
    The William Cobbett, Farnham: Paul Brett
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Help Yourself w/ Flying Aces

    June 20
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Hawkwind

    June 21
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Hawkwind

    June 30
    Technical College, Guildford: Caravan w/ Gordon Giltrap, and Sundance
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Man

    July 1
    Arts Centre, Church Crookham: Ebling Mis

    July 5
    Chapel Street Hall, Guildford: Ebling Mis w/ Wedje, Sphinktra, and Phoenix

    July 7
    Free Festival, University of Surrey, Guildford: Ebling Mis w/ Roger Ruskin-Speare, Jonesy, Strider, Keith Christmas, Colin Scot, Byzantium and many more (to be added)

    July 9
    Whole Earth Fayre, Trentishoe: Ebling Mis w/ Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Global Village Trucking Co, Clancy, plus many more…

    July 14
    Crown Hotel, Alton: Ebling Mis
    Aquarius International Club, Hastings: Nashville Teens

    July 15
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Stray

    July 26
    The Crown, Midhurst: Natural Acoustic Band

    July 27
    Priory Farm, Monk Sherborne: Threewheel

    July 29
    Global Village, Charing Cross: Duster Bennett w/ Bees Make Honey, and Nicky James

    Source: Peter Cornish via Keep It Out Of Sight

    August 19
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Stackridge (cancelled due to illness)

    August 25
    Windsor Free Festival, Windsor Great Park, Windsor: Pink Fairies, Fang, Camel, Nicky James, Coastroad Drive, Void, Shame Lady, Milton, Stiltz, Kraan, Ayup, Ebling Mis, Stormbringer, Gemini, Hawkwind, Raw Sienna, Global Village Trucking Co, Budgie, and Ahimsa

    August 27
    Windsor Free Festival, Windsor Great Park, Windsor: Windsor Free Festival, Windsor Great Park, Windsor: Pink Fairies, Fang, Camel, Nicky James, Coastroad Drive, Void, Shame Lady, Milton, Stiltz, Kraan, Ayup, Ebling Mis, Stormbringer, Gemini, Hawkwind, Raw Sienna, Global Village Trucking Co, Budgie, and Ahimsa

    September ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Good Habit w/ Lancer

    September 1
    The Guildford Show, Guildford: (Stag Folk Free Concert) Derek Sarjeant & Hazel King w/ Ian Russell, Mountain Line, Fred Hayes, Rod Bayton, Backhurst, Damien

    September 2
    Britannia Pier Theatre, Great Yarmouth: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 3
    The Marquee, London: Camel

    September 4
    Free Trade Hall, Manchester: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tate

    September 5
    Town Hall, Birmingham: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tate

    September 6
    Locarno, Stevenage: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 7
    City Hall, Newcastle: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 9
    Fairfield Hall, Croydon: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 11
    Colston Hall, Bristol: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 13
    De Montfort Hall, Leicester: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 15
    Dome, Brighton: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 16
    New Theatre, Oxford: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 20
    ?, Liverpool: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 22
    Rainbow, London: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait, and Linda Lewis

    September 25
    Empire, Edinburgh: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 26
    Apollo Theatre, Glasgow: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 27
    City Hall, Sheffield: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 28
    Capitol, Cardiff: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    September 30
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Faust w/ Henry Cow
    Hard Rock, Bournemouth: Family w/ Phillip Goodhand-Tait

    October ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Ange w/ Camel

    October 5
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Good Habit

    October 12
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Man w/ Deke Leonard’s Iceberg

    October 13
    Technical College, Farnborough: Jack the Lad w/ Byzantium

    October 19
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Ebling Mis (standing in for UFO) w/ Glyder

    October 24
    Fletcher Hall, Leicester: Camel

    24 October 1973: Camel play Flecther Hall, Leicester

    October 25
    Hatch Mill, College of Art, Farnham: Ebling Mis

    November ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Fumble w/ Roger Ruskin Speare

    November 2
    University of Surrey, Guildford: Bronco

    November 8
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Incredible String Band

    November 10
    Technical College, Farnborough: Fruupp

    November 11
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Al Stewart

    November 13
    Prince’s Hall, Aldershot: Incredible String Band

    November 15
    The Marquee, London: Camel w/ Spirogyra
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Manfred Mann’s Earthband

    November 20
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Groundhogs w/ Jonesy and Tony McPhee (solo)

    November 24
    Technical College, Farnborough: Gong w/ Kevin Coyne

    November 29
    Pavilion, Bisley: Fusion Orchestra

    December ?
    Technical College, Farnborough: Gong w/ Kevin Coyne Band

    December 4
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Greenslade w/Tim Hardin Band

    December 14
    St. Patrick’s Hall, North Camp: White As White

    Picture courtesy of Paul Trew

    December 19
    Technical College, Farnborough: Manfred Manns Earthband w/ Lancer

    December 28
    The Marquee, London: Camel

    Forward to
    The 1974 Gig List

    Back to
    The 1972 Gig List

  • Sugar Mountain

    Sugar Mountain

    (c’88-91) – Jason Applin (vocals), Dominic Coles (drums), Rick Testa (guitar) & Paul Harle (bass).

    Sugar Mountain – August 1988

    Previously known as The Dead Beats, mid ’88 saw this Camberley four-piece gigging at The Full Moon, Fulham, Covent Garden’s Rock Garden and supporting McCarthy. An initial 3-track demo carrying “Let’s Get Happy”, Greenwich Village” and “Popes on Dope” helped secure airplay on Janice Long’s Radio One show in the same time-frame.

    On 1 July ’88, The Sensory Assault, Eat My Shorts, and Sugar Mountain played Lightwater Country Club; one of the posters for which featured a photo montage of Eat My Shorts guitarist Adrian Barry’s (later of The Ha Ha Men) family. In August ’88 the band released their second demo tape, titled “Pleasure”; available to Soundscene readers for the price of post and packing. The five tracks included “(I Was On The Toilet) When Jesus Was Telling Us About The Meaning Of Life”, “Baby Just Hold My Hand” and “Beverley”; and two previously released tracks: “Greenwich Village” and “Popes on Dope”.

    Also in ’88 was a limited (UK and Germany) vinyl release of “Let’s Get Happy” – which features a sixties-esque vocal with a Mighty Lemon Drops guitar sound – on the independent Ride Records label. Ride also put “Let’s Get Happy” on the 4-track, 7-Inch, compilation LP “Hands Off Hands On” that also featured stable mates: 1967, The Red Pyjamas and Deja Vu.

    June ’88 saw them at the Buzz Club, The West End Centre, Aldershot with The Jeremiahs, Bluetrain, Crimplene Explosion, The Aubisons and The Splendids. The band were earmarked to play Showcase ’88, but Sugar Mountain were unable to play the date that would have been their first appearance in Woking. They appeared at The Cricketers, Westfield on 17 September ’88 instead.

    Cole went on to join Something Religious and The Outcast Band. Applin was the vocalist for The Ha Ha Men.

    Tracks:

    Let’s Get Happy:

    Gallery:

  • Death in June

    Death in June

    (1981 to date) – Douglas Pierce (guitar / vocals / percussion / keyboards), Patrick Leagas (drums / vocals / drum machine/ keyboards / trumpet) and Tony Wakeford (bass / vocals)

    Formed out of the ashes of Crisis in 1981 with Pierce, Leagas and Wakeford were joined by, founder member of Psychic TV, Christ TV shortly after. Their first gig, supporting The Birthday Party, was at City of London Polytechnic on 20 November ’81. By ’83, with the release of ‘The Guilty Have No Pride’ mini LP, which reached 13th in the Media Research Information Bureau (MRIB) chart and received a four-star review in Sounds and was well received by Melody Maker, their European folk sound was coming to the fore. Tension over direction lead to Wakeford being asked to leave in January ’84 and he went on to post-punk Above the Ruins and formed Sol Invictus.

    March ’85 saw the release of “NADA”, a 10 track LP including “The Honour of Silence”, “The Calling”, “Leper Lord” and “She Said Destroy”, which Sounds’ Sandy Robertson raved over when released as a single in ’84, securing Single of the Week; closing with “Crush My Soul” which Soundscene’s reviewer described as sounding “like an innocent musical box, but one which opens to reveal a dancing razor blade in a tu-tu. Magnifico stuff”. “Born Again” was released as a 12″ shortly after “NADA” hit the racks, with “The Calling (MkII)” and “Carousel (Bolt Mix)” on the flipside. The band were then off to Paris then a short tour of Italy..

    Leagas departed abruptly in April 1985 after the Italian tour, resulting in many cancelled shows in the UK and Europe due to follow that tour. Leagas, who began calling himself Patrick O-Kill, went on to formed Sixth Comm. So it was that in 1985 Pierce, who was originally from St. Johns, became the sole constant member of Death in June, with rotating guest musicians serving as collaborators and live band members. Pearce continues working under the Death in June moniker to this day.

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

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