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Coffin-Dodger Renegades: Bournemouth Beat 1980-1985
The English south coast town
of Bournemouth has long had a reputation for attracting the affluent elderly to
spend their final years on the planet basking in a seemingly pine-tree laden
paradise. As such, its genteel image has ensured that the country’s popular
music press would not touch the place (and its surrounds) with the proverbial bargepole,
instead choosing to focus on fractious provincial musical hotbeds such as
Liverpool and Manchester. However, despite being shunned by the media (and
having to battle against the general local apathy to anything new or different),
there were still local residents young and determined enough to get their own
bands together. Sadly, despite such efforts, very few participants in the local
scene have “made it” – those odd individuals who did (such as Al
Stewart and Andy Summers of The Police) had to move up to “The Smoke” to get
anywhere.
Those mentioned above were of
the sixties "beat" era originally inspired by the advent of Rock 'n'
Roll.
However the explosion of punk and the DIY culture in the late 70’s kick-started
a whole new generation of noise-makers. The “Godfathers” of the Bournemouth
new-wave were
(The) Tours, who amazingly had their independently-pressed 45
frequently played on the Radio 1 Peel show, and consequently won themselves a
contract with Virgin Records, although (perhaps inevitably) it all ended in
tears. However, this feature mainly showcases acts in the “second-wave”, as
I had moved along the coast to the town in 1981 (from where I came from it
seemed like a glittering metropolis - really), and apart from playing in and
recording with various bands, blagged tapes whenever I could of other projects from friends and acquaintances I made on the local scene. To
some my “hobby” seemed a bit odd at the time, but in retrospect I’m
pleased I made the effort - and not just so the recordings can appear here. I
actually do like most of the tracks featured below to some degree, and enjoyed listening
to them again whilst transferring to digital format.
Anyway, during my time there, the
local music scene was probably as vibrant as it could be given the area's
relative lack of street-cred. There were several affordable recording studios available (Misty,
Arny’s Shack, Studio 95) where cash-strapped combos could record demos (to be
inevitably rejected by record companies), and live venues (such as the
Midnight
Express and Upstairs At Eric's) that featured local bands as well as “signed”
touring ones – and we even got paid for performing our own material, which is
something today’s wannabe’s can only envy. It was also well-documented by
Coaster Magazine, an independent monthly publication set up to promote
alternative local events that the town’s more traditional (and conservative) parochial press had no interest in.
However, despite all this,
things petered out somewhat by the mid 80’s: the sudden closure of the Midnight as a live venue at the end of 1983
was a major blow, plus the advent of affordable home-recording technology signalled the
demise of the band ethic anyway (some examples of this trend feature here). I
therefore moved on, sporadically revisiting the town over the following decade
or so, before briefly residing there again in the late 90’s. From what I have
seen, local band activity has since been far less overt than in my day (but then
again I’m probably too old and cynical now to be interested anyway). However,
I believe the town has now acquired some kind of status as a haven for dance
ravers – most ironic, given its previous rep as God’s waiting room.
Now onto the recordings themselves, in rough chronological order with all known info regarding places, dates, and personnel - if anyone out there wishes to correct or add to any details below, please get in touch. Also any other comments are welcomed, especially from those featured here.
Click on the track title to listen. Please note: prohibitive costs restrict the tracks to approx 1-minute edits. Anyone interested in obtaining the complete recordings, please email me.
ENEMY SECT – DOGFIGHT
Recorded in rehearsal c.1980. Personnel: Bev (vocal) Pete Kenton (guitar) Russell Elliott (bass) Adrian Hart (drums).
THE WASTERS – GUILTY
MAN
Recorded at John Dickinson's Studio Bridgewater c.1980. Personnel: Ken Palmer (vocal/guitar) Pat Tedd (guitar) Dave Emeny (bass) Pete Evans (drums).
THE CLINIC – YANGTZE
Recorded c.1980. Personnel unknown.
THE FUTURE CLASSICS – ESPIONAGE
Recorded live at The Exeter
Bowl August 1980. Personnel: Ken Palmer (vocal/guitar) Alan Lockett
(guitar/vocal)
THE SWITCH – NOT RECEIVING YOU
Recorded at
WHITE YOUTH IN ASIA – CONTROL
Recorded c.1980. Personnel details unknown.
7EVEN – DANCING IN THE RED ZONE
Recorded at Misty Studio c.
early 1981. Personnel: Paul Chambers (lead vocal) Alan Lockett (guitars/backing
vocal) Kevin Ellis
(keyboards) Steven Jeffs (bass) Mike Barnes (drums).
THE INSTANTS – SUPERMARKET SUCCUMBENT
Recorded at Misty April 1981. Personnel: Joe Morelli (vocal/guitar) Mark Pentling (guitar) Gavin Underhill (synth) Russell Elliott (bass) Paul Morgan (drums).
PLAY FOR TODAY – WORSHIP
Recorded c.1981.
Personnel: Lorraine (vocal) Dave Gillespie (guitar/synth) Trevor Ricketts (bass) Chris
Foot (drums).
THE CHOIRBOYS – LIVING DEAD
Recorded c. summer 1981. Known personnel: Paul (drums).
OBSERVANT TRAINS – IT’S YOU
Recorded c.1981. Personnel details unknown.
THE CHASE – FIT TOGETHER
Recorded at Dave Foster’s Studio c.1981. Personnel:
Adrienne Loehry and Sarah Quilter (vocals) Steve Smith (keyboards/vocal) Paul Holman (guitar/vocal) Andy
Place (drums/vocal).
MENU – WAITING FOR A STRANGER
Recorded at Misty c.1981. Known personnel: Andy Janik (vocal/guitar).
KISSING SHARKS – THERE’S NO DANGER
Recorded at Misty c.1981.
Personnel: Paddy O’Toole (vocal/guitar) Mike Cotton (vocal/bass) Pete Evans
(drums).
KHMER ROUGE – TURN IT OUT
Recorded at Misty April 1982.
Personnel: Pete Kenton (vocal/guitar) Gavin Underhill (keyboards) Russell Elliott
(bass) Mark Bishop (drums/congas) Helen Willis (vocal).
GHOST KLUB – LISTENING TO THE LANGUAGE
Recorded at Misty 1982. Personnel: Stephen Palfrey (vocal) Ian Hannen (guitar) Julian Robinson (guitar) Vaughan Williams (bass) Martin Gale (drums).
STRAWBERRY 5 - RELAPSE
Recorded live at The
Midnight Express May 1982. Personnel: Tim Brown (vocal/harmonica) Mark Conroy
(guitar) Henry Brown (synth) Brian Edge (bass) Mark Bishop (drums).
LOCO – CHASE THAT DRAGON
Home demo recorded c.
late 1982.
Personnel: Alan Lockett (synths/guitars) Dr Rhythm (drums).
RHINO JIVE – SO LONG SINCE WE WERE YOUNG
Recorded live at The Midnight
Express January 1983. Personnel: Peter Gosling (lead vocal/synth) Adam
Crew-Gee (guitar) Guy Snook (bass/backing vocal) James Surridge (drums) Sarah-Jane Woodward
and Andrea (backing vocals).
STARK NAKED – CATCHING RIPPLES
Home demo recorded on Akai
2-track reel-to-reel c. early 1983. Personnel: Joe Morelli (vocal/guitars) Guy
Cresswell (bass) Dr Rhythm (drums).
E.B. DANCE – AFRICA
Recorded live at The Academy February 1983. Personnel: Tony Myers (vocal/saxophone) Nick McAvoy
(vocal/saxophone)
Terry Spiers (saxophone) Paul Smith (guitar) Paul Darville (bass) Mark Spiers (drums)
Plim (percussion).
BLUE NILE – SAILING ON ICE
Recorded at Arny’s Shack March 1983. Personnel: Vicky Hamilton
(lead vocal) Alan Lockett (guitars/backing vocal) Gavin
Underhill (synth) Russell Elliott (bass) Mark Bishop (drums) Sarah-Jane &
Andrea (backing vocals).
PETE AND HELEN – HOW DOES IT GO AGAIN?
Home demo recorded 1983.
Personnel: Pete Kenton (vocal/guitar) Helen Willis (vocal) Adrian Hart
(programming).
LOVE ON THE DOLE – COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Recorded live in Poole July
1983. Personnel: Joe Morelli (lead vocal/guitar) Tony Lucas (bass synth) Nick Waugh
(drums) The Dolettes (backing vocals).
SK
Recorded at Misty October 1983. Personnel: Lee aka “Sketch” (vocals) Alan Lockett (guitars) Gavin Underhill (keyboards) Russell Elliott (bass) Mark Bishop (drums).
NICK WAUGH – IN RETROSPECT
Recorded at Studio 95 c.1984. Personnel: Nick Waugh (vocals/acoustic guitar).
DANZE FRAKCHA – WE CAN WISH
Recorded at Studio 95 April 1984. Personnel: Nick McAvoy (vocals/saxophone) Tony Lucas (guitar) Gavin Underhill (synth) Nick Hamper (bass) Chris Veals ("Simmons" drums) Plim (percussion).
JILL – TALK SOME TRASH
Recorded at Dave Foster’s 1984. Personnel: Jill (vocals) Alan Lockett (guitars/synths/programming) Mark Bishop (percussion).
IDIOM TRIBE – TURN THE TABLES
Recorded at Studio 95 1984. Personnel: Tim McAuliffe (vocal) John Webb (guitars) Martin Burden a.k.a. "Budge Magraw" (bass) John Small (drums) Nick McAvoy (saxophone).
BELLAFON – BELLAFON
Recorded at Studio 95 c. summer 1984. Personnel: Jayne Bennett (vocal) Brett Green (guitars) Phil Millward (bass) Steve (drums).
IN AT THE DEEP END – IMAGES
Recorded at Arny’s Shack c. summer 1984. Personnel: Martin Warman (vocal/guitars) Guy Cresswell (bass) Mark Bishop (drums).
JOE MORELLI – ROAD TO UTOPIA
Home demo recorded on Akai 2-track reel-to-reel c.1984. Personnel: Joe Morelli (vocals/acoustic guitar/synth) Dr Rhythm (drums).
HOUSE ON FIRE – LIVING LIKE STRANGERS
Recorded live at Upstairs at Erics 1985. Personnel: Graham Davis (lead vocal/acoustic guitar) Paul Read (guitar) Martin Davis (bass) Nick Waugh (drums/backing vocal).
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The above list may seem extensive, but for every act featured there was at least another active on the local scene, most of which I never even saw (or heard), never mind acquiring a recording of - in retrospect, wish I'd tried a bit harder now! Notable absentees include (relative) big-shots such as The Cosmetics (featuring ex-Tour Richard Mazda, who went on to carve a career in the biz as a producer, whilst other band members later had chart success with Tom Robinson and Terence Trent Darby) and Biz Internationale (who released a 45 on the WEA label and supported Tina Turner on tour: they were fronted by another ex-Tour and local legend Ronnie Mayor, whose "We're not worthy" status meant I never had the bottle to ask for a tape, despite seeing the band perform at least twice).
Here’s a (probably not
exhaustive) roll-call of other early-to-mid 80’s Bournemouth and Poole
popsters, in the main plucked from the pages of Coaster (I still have
the back-copies in my possession), the styles of music ranging from raw punk to
jazz-funk:
Self Abuse (reformed a few years back and are still going strong) / Contacts (morphed into Menu) / Da Biz (morphed into Biz Internationale) / Apres Ski (featured most of ex-Biz Internationale + Andy Janik of Menu) / Hollows (morphed into Kissing Sharks) / The Accused (morphed into Prima Voice) / Prima Voice / Impossible Extras (a Prima Voice offshoot) / Fascinators (another Prima Voice offshoot) / CaVa CaVa (amazingly secured a major record contract thanks to then-top-DJ Peter Powell, but consequently sank without trace despite massive industry hype) / Men In The Garden / Rikki and The Cufflinks / Freedom Fighter / Dansette / Elysian Fields / Josh and Jon at the Junkyard / Mission Implausible / The Living Daylights / Agent Orange / Luther / Surfin’ Dave / XS / The Skavengers / The Outsiders / Scribbly Scratch / Martial Law / Martian Schoolgirls (featuring one “Jim Slip” – probably not his given name) / Dancing On The Ceiling / Dancing-In-English / Intestines / Shy Boys / Butcher / De Rigueur / Subhumans / Animal Haircuts / Dissidents / Axecution / Unrest Work and Play / Tim Holliday and the Last Resorts (ho ho) / Zen / The Mad are Sane / Day One / Electric Boy / The Grip / Hi Roller / Avante / Demented / Parasites / Ici La / Truffle / Blue Cadillacs / Gringo / Damocles / The Flares Of Satan / Confessions Of Sin / Pleasure of the Void / The Press / Magnetics / Manhatten Slide / Credits / Tortured Youth / Rix / Helicopter Men / Givin’ Hed (ooh er missus)...
Brief reviews of gigs by some of the acts mentioned here can be found on this site. Several of those listed above were also featured on an early 80's compilation LP called The Apprentices Dance (only released in the States). And: if you have a general interest in the UK post-punk DIY scene, then check out the Messthetics series of CD's (again, an American label - it seems the Yanks have a lot more respect for this music than we do ourselves...)
Danze Frakcha press cutting 1984
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Update January 2010:
In the interests of expanding this site, I recently managed to acquire a copy of the above-mentioned LP The Apprentices Dance (at considerable expense, but less than the going rate for what has become a collector's item). It volunteers relatively little information about those featured on it (7 acts contributed 2 tracks each), including the significance of what to me is a puzzling and irrelevant title (answers on a postcard - sorry, in an email, thanks). According to Coaster magazine, Ronnie Mayor put together the compilation on a "very stringy shoestring budget" - at a guess, the other acts involved "donated" their (demo) recordings in exchange for forthcoming royalties after the album's release. But if that was so, I'd be surprised if they ever saw a cent from it! Anyway, below are sample sounds from the album, with what info I could glean from the sleeve:
TOURS - LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Recorded at Spaceward Studios May 1979. Written by Ronnie Mayor.
CONTACTS - YOUNG GIRLS
Recorded at Movement Studios July 1980. Written by Janik/Dobson.
SURFIN' DAVE - STATESIDE CENTRE
Recorded at Misty Studio March 1981. Written by Dave Colman/Kevan Mayor.
DA BIZ - ON THE BEACH
Recorded at Movement and Rockfield Studios 1980. Written by Ronnie Mayor.
PAUL CHAMBERS - TAKE A TICKET
Recorded at Movement Studios May 1980. Written by Paul Chambers.
HOLLOWS - HOLLOW MAN
Recorded at Misty Studio May 1981. Written by O'Toole/Cotton.
CAVA CAVA - A MAN IN SORROW
Recorded at Misty Studio February 1981. Written by Paris/Hixon/Hixon/Hallet.
Not having heard anything by the acts on this album prior to getting hold of it, I thought I'd give it a review - you can read it on discogs.
One more thing: if you want to read further reminiscences of the Bournemouth club/gig scene in the 80's (and you don't mind perusing one of those dreadful "community" sites), then check out "The Third Side and Beyond"...
Please Note: The author states that works of intellectual property by other parties (who may hold legal copyright) are featured on this site only for posterity, and not for financial gain. Should those concerned object to the continued presence of their work on legal or moral grounds, it can reluctantly be removed from the site (but not necessarily the expressed personal views relating to that work). In Plain English: If you have a problem with stuff displayed on this site that you were involved in, then contact me and hopefully we can work something out to mutual satisfaction...
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