"In the summer of 1983 two cousins of mine, Graham and Nick Martin, who both played guitar, joined together with me on the drums to form a band.
Joined by Steve and Eric, as singer and bassist respectively, and under the name of "Shylo", we mostly did cover versions of 60s and early 70s songs including The Beatles (who else?) and the Stones. Occasionally we attempted something a little heavier, and if you click on the appropriate link you can hear a snatch of Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water
(The track is on a player on Rob's Coventry history site and is from a rehearsal at the Bulls Head Pub in March 1985. See ionk below)
Not all our music was unoriginal, however. 'Another Man' was the first attempt by myself to write a song for the band. The lyrics were co-written with the singer, Steve.
After two years together, the members of that first band went our separate ways, but Nick and I ended up being invited to join a newly formed covers band in the autumn of 1985, so for six months I played drums with Tryx, led by experienced guitarist & singer Mick, and including the excellent John Oswin on rhythm guitar with Nick switching to bass. After leaving them in April 1986 the band underwent many changes, ending up as a duo - Mick being joined by his girlfriend Marie on vocals.
Here is an excerpt from an early rehearsal (Jan. 1986) in the Radford Social Club.... Knock on Wood (Again the songs are on the link to Rob's site)
After giving up band life, I contented myself in the 1990s with composing music at home using the excellent Cubase programme on the PC.
Here are some short excerpts of instrumental pieces (I can't sing!) that I put together many years ago....
John Shipley is a Coventry musical legend and mentioned on this site under The lesser known Two Tone band - Swinging Cats and others. A full article on John Shipley can be found here by Pete Clemons and Milan Stojsavljevic
Pete Clemons tells us (from the above interview with John Shipley) "After the Swinging cats split up, owing to constant line up changes, in October 1980, the second planned single, “Greek Tragedy”, was finally recorded with a roster of Rhoda Dakar on vocals, Chris Dickie (of Gods Toys) on bass, Rob Hill on drums, Jerry on keyboards, and John on guitar. Sadly it never reached the pressing plant. “Greek Tragedy”, however, did get a live outing during the Rock Against Racism gig at the Butts stadium, in June ’81. The opening band that day were “Ship’s Crew” a hastily formed outfit of John’s creation. At about 1pm, the song was aired to just two people, as John recollects it...Jerry Dammers and John’s dad, Bob, who was attending one of his son’s gigs for the very first time. Ship’s Crew sailed out that day, and capsized on their maiden voyage."
"Chris became an engineer and has worked with the likes of Depeche Mode, The Pogues and Morrissey. He now lives in Australia." Pete Chambers.
Formed from the ashes of Tempus Fugit in about 1983
Sheer Pride consisted of Vincent Legg - lead vocals and guitar Mark Chase - bass and backing vocals John Gardonyi - drums and percussion Martin Keatman - keyboards and b vox Chris Beach - guitars and b vox
Released 3 singles Peace of mind. (See Youtube) 1983 Ghost Dance 1984 Say you're not Tired 1985
Recorded at Horizon studios, Rhythm Studios and Cabin Studios. The band were often described as a heavier Duran Duran and we're known for their flamboyant stage image and frequent guitar solos! !!!!!!
Worked with Paul Johnson and also Paul Samson (Editor's note - Not sure if they mean Paul Sampson - with a P - who was in the Reluctant Stereotypes and produced The Primitives or the other Coventry musician with no P in his name!)
Band split after final gig at Coventry Polytechnic in 1987 supporting Zigue Zigue Sputnik.
Pete Chambers from Godiva Rocks 2004 .....
"a real product of the 80's with King and Duran Duran overtones,played the General Wolfe loads of times. Virgin Dancer and Too late were two of their best songs.Mainman martin Keatman wrote books about Psychic Phenomena. They appeared on Paul Johnson's Rhythm Method compilation album with the track Peace of Mind. They also played Covaid."
Currently just a home studio band with a YouTube presence releasing updated versions of old Sheer Pride demo material.......cheers
This is the final video of Coventry's Sheer Pride. Their legacy to 80's music.
1965 - a group of 5 students from Higham Lane High School, Nuneaton. Do not think they played many venues. The original members included: John Allen, Mike Easey, Kevin Claridge, Robert Neville, Stephen Cotton, and Alan Cook.
c 2008 - Line included Brian Helicopter (bassist), Seymour Byebuss.
"Great Live band" Pete Chambers. Four track EP 1970's on the Sofa Label -
Tracks - Batman in the Launderette / Chatterbox / College Girls / What's For Lunch Mum.
Signed to Good Vibration Records and released single Disaster and album Songs for Sensible People.
Information from Godiva Rocks Pete Chambers.
"Its not yer 1234 punk more but a sound more akin to ATV but with humour. Never ones to take themselves seriously one of their last recordings was 'Jennifer Connifer' but that doesn't excuse naming a song Leamington (after Leamington Spa). If they don't make you smile then something's missing." From this site http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/shapes.htm
Above - The Shapes @ The Crypt, Hastings 10/12/08. Wot's For Lunch Mum (Not Beans Again).
The Shapes at Bath Place Community Venture, Leamington Spa 6/12/08
Wot's For Lunch Mum From The E.P, From 1979
The Shapes – Songs For Sensible People.
Songs For Sensible People Label: Overground Records – OVER 81LP Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue Pays: UK
Tracklisting A1 (I Saw) Batman (In The Launderette) 00:00 A2 College Girls 02:37 A3 Alien Love 05:11 A4 Leamington 07:12 A5 Let's Go (To Planet Skaro) 09:39 A6 Bedtime Story 12:11 A7 Airline Disaster 13:59 B8 Wot's For Lunch Mum? (Not Beans Again!) 16:50 B9 Chatterbox 18:21 B10 Jennifer The Conifer 20:27 B11 My House Is A Satellite 23:14 B12 Business Calls 26:58 B13 Blastoff! 29:48 B14 The Last Laugh...
"SHADY DEAL were born in 1989 - 1996, when two workmates Steve Kavanagh and Troy Forest were discussing musical options that lay ahead. Pop deal put other bands in the shade; TROY FOREST is one musician who seems to have been playing forever - and is still going strong."
Steve Kavanagh (2004) "I was in Coventry bands 'Presage' (84-86)/'Fresh '(86) (early 'Out the Blue') which featured my fellow Presage bandmate Rob Arnall U.K warriors also 1986/ 'Monday's Child'(1989) which then became 'Shady Deal'(1989 - 1996) Cov's answer to Status Quo!!. the Dive(Lady Godiva), Colin Campbell, General Wolfe, Hand in Heart etc, as well as a few biker rallies. Previously known as Monday's Child (1989).Some ex members now play in Betty Swollocks."
Found a reference to a YouTube of Shady Deal -
Coventry band SHADY DEAL playing a cover of The Door's 'Roadhouse Blues' at The Rose Inn Coventry October 1993.
Line Up
Troy Forrest: Vocals / Harmonica Steve Kavanagh: guitar/ backing Vocals Tez Monoghan: Bass Guitar Eric Lee: Drums.
C1974 Reported in Hobo Coventry Music and Arts magazine -
"SHADES OF NIGHT - have split up." They were advertised in HOBO Magazine in 1974 as a Pop Band c/o Dave, 149, Princethorpe Way. Sax players Joe Reynolds and Mick Broadhurst of Willow were involved with this band I believe. Joe Reynolds guested with The Selecter on Three Minute Hero - the single and on Top of the Pops.
Shades of Night are 7th down in the Hobo issue 3 February 1974 small ads for bands.
The SHADES started in 1978 in Coventry, when three 13 year old school boys, John, Simon & Peter formed a band called The Shades. With one cheap electric guitar, one even cheaper classical guitar and a cardboard box for a drum, they made tapes in bedrooms, playing I am the Walrus and A Day in the Life, soon writing their own songs, influenced by the Rut...Beatles & Syd Barrett. Expanded to become Hungry I - 20 Days - My Favourite Things.
Terry Quails writes "Sexual Deviance! The band we were in at the time, The Invisible Brethren, played with Sexual Deviance a few times at The Hand and Heart. I've got quite a few flyers from gigs in those days (late 90s)."
Line up included Barry Nolan. Below - A rehearsal room recording of Sexual Deviance playing Tabloid Terrorist, sometime in about 97 or 98. The band played at the Golden Cross in the late 90's when John Docker organised the gigs there.
The Session are band of post-modern chaotic minstrels who will take you on a journey through urban fables, mixing tales of hobos 'n' harlots, bigots 'n' sinners, and blokes they met in the woods.
Sheryl McClean....Vocals & Percussion
Dean MacDonald....Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Ian MacDonald.... Lead Guitar
Dave Chambers....Bass Guitar & Double Bass
Rich Taylor....Drums & Percussion
Shaun Stenton....Keyboards & Synths
Released 05 May 2013
Back Beat Pete Chamber 2012
THE Session have been making outstanding music for more than ten years now, and have built up something of a fan base over that time. They have just released the first single taken from their forthcoming summer album Hail The Renegade Express – Jester’s Script and it’s available via iTunes at a cost of 79p.
Over the summer, gigs have been lined up with support to the likes of Toploader and Ocean Colour Scene’s Simon Fowler.
In the words of songwriter Dean MacDonald: “Over the last 10 years we have been very prolific as a band, making our fifth original album and playing about 300 gigs but for myself the pinnacle of all that are the new songs on this album and the gigs we have played lately.
Singles - 'Nobody Dreams About Me', Dear Old Bill in 2005 Tough Love Records 'Patients' Tough Love Records 2006
Nobody Dreams About Me
Dear Old Bill
Album The Death of Style - November 2007 - Tough Love Records EP - 'Risky Woods' (For release 2010) Indie label-MP3 in Spring 2010.
Tracks - Don't Fall in Love / Dear Old Bill / Nobody Dreams About Me / Why can't You Treat Me Right / Don't Fall in Love / The Mountains / Hey Romeo / Evening / All that we Know / The Chiming Bells / Everyone Loves the Sequins/ Patients /
Source - Wikipedia The Sequins were formed in 2002, after vocalist Hywel Roberts and guitarist Justin Hui performed a version of Talking Heads' Psycho Killer[4] on the ukulele at the University of Warwick in 2002. Roberts and Hui were joined by Rob Hinchliff, Karthic Kukathasan and Simon Vint.
Tough Love Records (Coventry Label) Brendan Casey replaced Vint in 2004, and the following year the band joined Coventry-based label Tough Love Records. Their first single, 'Nobody Dreams About Me', in 2005 became the very first release on Tough Love Records and was a double CD and vinyl format. It was followed up in 2006 by 'Patients'.Karthic Kukuthasan left the band shortly afterwards and was replaced by Steve Weird.
They released their debut album The Death of Style in November 2007, the first full length album to be released on Tough Love Records to largely positive critical acclaim.
In early 2008, both Brendan Casey and Rob Hinchliff left the band, and Donna Crawford, a former member of Rugby-based punk rockers Any Given Day joined to play drums. At around the same time, Tough Love Records relocated to London, and it became clear that Death of Style would be the bands last release on the label. The new four-piece line up began to record music at home after some bad experiences in commercial recording studios,and an EP called 'Risky Woods' is scheduled for release by London-based label Indie-MP3 in Spring 2010.
Members of the band play in various other groups, including Special, which entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and 2006 but were unsuccessful in their attempts to make the final.
Those with long memories may remember the first coming of Coventry-formed SENSES over 12 years ago. The wafting, atmospheric essence of 'Drifting' quickly caught the attention of taste makers and radio bods, which led to their playing a live session on BBC Radio Two for big fan Janice Long, amongst other things. The band seemed destined for a major breakthrough. However, a delay with a Japanese label brought things to a halt, and almost as fast as they arrived, they disappeared again.
Now, however, the same line-up of Brian Callan, Ian Finnegan, Kevin Kavanagh and Ronan O'Connor, have re-emerged, phoenix-like, and are back pooling their collective life experiences into a new release.
'Drop Your Arms', the Gavin Monaghan-produced lead single from their forthcoming - and long-delayed - debut album 'Little Pictures Without Sound', dropped last week, and shows the quartet have not lost their instinctive comradeship as band members.
The track is a belter, filled with energy, swagger, and strong lyrical message. The band have issued a “call to arms’ to fight through your vulnerabilities to fight for what is important, and not be afraid to drop your arms and become the best version of themselves. The guys' use of bombastic guitar work and excellent vocal delivery allows for the track's social and political message to have a real power.
SENSES are on track to have a stellar year, and with their debut album on the horizon, I, for one, cannot wait to see what else they have in store.
Drop Your Arms is the lead single from the band's upcoming debut album 'Little Pictures Without Sound' and an introduction to SENSES. The song is an instant, upbeat and energetic 'call to arms' and written as a reminder to people to fight for what is important to them and to not be afraid to drop your arms and learn to love your vulnerabilities. The lyrics quote "and I won't hold back to the feeling" - in current times these words resonate deeply. The song is about giving people hope, fighting for all the good in life and celebrating being dreamers.....because we all are.
This post spans the 1960's with 4 related bands with incremental changes as we move forward.
THE PINES
Formed in 1964 Strictly R&B / Blues
Line up:
Allan Waites (rhythm guitar),
John Gilroy (lead guitar),
Malcolm O'Sullivan (vocals),
Terry Twigger (bass),
Barry Eaton (drums).
Manager Ken Waites
Recorded a demo at Panthos Studios in October 1964 including
"... a re-styling of Bo Diddley's Mona ..." .
Met London songwriters Bill Bates and Ken Hawker (who wrote Is It Me for Brenda Lee and also wrote for PJ Proby), and these writers encouraged the band to move to London for a recording test.
Cutting from the Coventry Standard October 14th 1964 via the Broadgate Gnome.
It wasn't long before The Pines became The Little Darlin's November 1964 .
THE LITTLE DARLIN'S
November 1964 - May 1966 Freakbeat / Mod
Famous
for their "outrageously" long hair!
The line up remained the same as for The Pines except that at some stage
Johnny Gilroy was replaced by Roy Butterfield and they cut demos, until Roy Butterfield also left to be replaced by a ' London session musician'. Roy Butterfield went on to play with an early version of Indian Summer and eventually as a guitarist and songwriter with The Tom Robinson Band.
Joe Meek was their recording manager and produced their now a much sought after, first single.
They cut 'Good Things Are Worth Waiting For' in March 1966.
(Written by Ivy League songwriters John Carter and Ken Lewis) which Manager Ken
Waites described as "...strong pumping bass and slight pop-art touch in
the middle..."
Single:
A: Little Bit Of Soul / B: Easy To Cry (Fontana TF 539 - 1965)
The single failed to chart.
" The Little Darlin's came second on the Coventry Express poll - without doubt the most outrageous looking of all the Coventry groups. No drift back toward short hair for these boys. [rest of this paragraph illegible but it's only about their haircuts- Ed]"
Via the Tim James Site From Coventry Express, Friday May 28th 1965 Citybeat by Paul Connew.
Little Darlin's stop the traffic in London.
" IN the early 1960s, Coventry's beat scene was predictably full to the brim with pop bands, thanks to the influence of The Beatles. As the months ticked by, new bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things would arrive on the national scene and would give pop music an altogether new, rhythm 'n' blues slant. One of the best would be The Yardbirds, and pretty soon their influence would show locally with freakbeat supremos The Little Darlin's.
Guitarist John Gilroy, was working at Rolls Royce Parkside.
He was approached one day in 1963, and asked if he could play bass guitar. With
the answer being yes, it wasn't long before he was on a Coventry Carnival float
playing alongside band members Malcolm O'Sullivan (vocals), Allan Waites
(guitar), and a drummer who left soon after to pursue his new job of shooting
snakes that fell on the deck of the Queen Mary as they sailed up the Amazon!
The guys soon recruited new drummer Barry Eaton and when John switched to lead
guitar, a new bassman Terry Twigger was hired from an advert in The Coventry
Telegraph. The band were originally known as The Pines.
"We practiced every night for three months," said
John. "Before unleashing ourselves on the general public. A demo disc was
made at Hollocks & Taylors in Birmingham which was touted around. Friars
Promotions, who held the monopoly at that time on local gigs, signed us up.
"Our first gig was at the Wine Lodge in Coventry, we
supported The Avengers. I asked somebody what the difference was between the
two bands? I was told that the Avengers were louder, but apart from that there
was no difference really. That was the answer I wanted to hear, and bearing in
mind the Avengers were a really tight driving band, it was obvious all our
practice sessions were paying off."
It was at a private party, however, that things would get
interesting for the band. Present at the party were two guys from the 60s band
The Ivy League. They liked what they heard and John and the boys were invited
down to Southern Music in London.
As a publicity stunt, it was arranged for the Little
Darlin's to plug into a barber's shop in Denmark Street (Tin Pan Alley).
"When we opened up," reveals John, "The
traffic stopped, a crowd gathered and even Charing Cross Road fouled up. The
Met appeared and said okay you got what you wanted, now cease!
We eventually
got into the studio and recorded our first 45, Little Bit O'soul (and Easy to
Cry on the B-Side). We visited the influential TV pop-show Ready Steady Go, and
got our record played, which went down well. We were all introduced as the song
played, we were asked who played the keyboard, as there is some keyboard on the
record. We made the mistake of saying that none of us played the keyboard, I
think we got turned down because of that."
"When we played our single live at the Locarno,"
continues John, "I played the keyboard fills on my guitar, someone said
that it sounded better live, than on record, boy we were sick!"
Despite the great buzz that surrounded the single, it failed
to make a dent on the charts.
The band continued playing places such as The Matrix, alongside names including Dave Berry and the Cruisers and The Kinks. They topped the bill themselves at The Matrix on January 8, 1965, with Sam Spade and the Gravediggers in support.
By the mid-60's, some of the band became The Sensations, but John went his separate way, as did vocalist Malc O'Sullivan. "They were happy times," said Malcolm. "But I personally wished that we had concentrated on a more rock 'n' roll sound rather than rhythm 'n' blues sound." From Pete Chambers Backbeat - Coventry Telegraph 2006 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Little+Darlings+stop+the+traffic+in+London.-a0154752433
From Pete Chambers - Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat
John Gilroy (Guitarist) " When we played the Locarno with our new single, I played the keyboard frills on guitar. Someone said it sounded better live than on record - boy we were sick!" Disc Music paper said "The Little Darlin's noise sounds just great"
Although it failed to chart for the Little Darlin's, the song Little bit O' Soul was a Stateside hit for Ohio - The Music Explosion in 1967 where it made No 2. In 1983 The Ramones covered the song on their Subterranean Jungle album.
The SENSATIONS C 1966 - 1967 - Source Broadgate Gnome - Freakbeat
By the mid-60's, some of the band became The Sensations, but John went his separate way, as did vocalist Malc O'Sullivan. "They were happy times," said Malcolm. "But I personally wished that we had concentrated on a more rock 'n' roll sound rather than rhythm 'n' blues sound." Line upColin Delaney (lead guitar), Barry Eaton (drums), Malcolm O'Sullivan (piano), Alan Waites (rhythm guitar), Terry Twigger [Terry Wyatt] (bass) Previously The Little Darlin's, They released a single in May 1966 'Look At My Baby', which was a Radio London 'Record Of The Week'.
The follow up received fascinating reviews, '...the boys have wasted no time recording a very weird hypnotic, as yet untitled song, which features Indian Sitar and no lyrics..' said the Coventry Standard in May 1966. Midland Beat's July 1966 description was ' ...the third disc, released in a couple of weeks is described as "way out " featuring Sitar, scat singing and a religioso chant...' which sounds very Yardbirds.
There were a number of significant things happening in July 1966 Barry Eaton left, but the most exciting was Liberty Records signed the band and were set to release 'Look At My Baby' in the U.S. , when none other than Sonny & Cher heard the band and insisted the intended B-side, 'What A Wonderful Feeling' was also released as an A-side. The label then asked for two other tracks to be recorded and sent to the U.S. for B-Sides. They disbanded in London in 1967. Also known as The Sensations of London. Albeit a Coventry band. Singles:
A:Look At My Baby / B:? (Decca F12392 - 1966) in U.S.
A:Look At My Baby/B:? (Liberty 1966)
A:What A Wonderful Feeling/B:? (Liberty ? - 1966)
The GOODTIME LOSERS c1967 Source Broadgate Gnome - Freakbeat / pop
Line up: John Darby (vocals), Colin Delaney (lead guitar), Al Waites (guitar), Terry Wyatt (bass), Chris Hunt (drums).
What happened next and whether they were issued isn't clear, but the band became The Good Time Losers in 1967.
Previously The Sensations. But the line up was very different, as far I can determine.
Trafalgar Square single was written by media personality, Barry Fantoni, although the self-penned b-side was better, being a brisk, almost folk-rock number.
Played at the Star Club in Hamburg.
Single:
Trafalgar Square / Where Did My Heart Go (Fontana TF791 - 1967)
Rex Brough tells us - they Played the carnival in the Memorial park in 1976, along with Midnight Circus . Sort of 70's pop, I remember. they did a cover of the Doobie Brothers "Listen to the music". Modie Albrighton tells me that the drummer once played in the Peppermint Kreem and the band contained three brothers named Davoile.
Memories from Steve Sparkes (From Rex Brough)
"The Band recorded at Snitterfield Studio's with Monty Bird. also MSR. They also Played at the Coventry Carnival. I will have to look up the date but I think it was 1976, after they came back from their German Tour in 1975....You are right on with the Listen to the music, Andrew played the cream color telecaster. Great Guitar that one. I was playing the Black custom Les Paul. Which I still have in my collection. I am still playing regularly. Although for the last few years I have been the keyboard player mainly, lead guitar second"
Playing the Coventry Locarno.
From Pete ChambersBackbeat /Coventry Live 12 June 2009
The highs of being a Seagull
IN the 1970s three local brothers decided to form a pop group, they called themselves Seagull and embarked on something of a musical adventure.
Andrew, Simon and Peter Davoile (plus Kevin Tanner and Steve Sparks) put Seagull together in 1975 Peter was the former drummer with the bands Alice, Memories and Coventry favourites Peppermint Kreem.
“When we put this new band together, I switched to keyboards and gave up the drum stool to my younger brother Simon,” said Pete.
“We played places like Mr George’s, Tamangoes and the Locarno.”
A year down the line, and the band had built up such a reputation that they got booked to tour Germany for six months, playing American Air Force bases and German night clubs.
Whilst in Germany, Simon wrote to George Harrison’s dad Harry, reveals Peter.
“He asked if he could help in any way with our own songs. Amazingly he booked us to play a pub in Liverpool. He bought us all a pint and watched us play. We gave him a tape to give to his son George, who later (through his dad) advised us to listen to more contemporary music as our songs were missing a modern cutting element.”
Seagull continued to develop their style and writing their own material. All was looking good for the boys, until a recording session when the band were asked to release another song written by an established songwriter! The band truly believed in their own songs, and were incensed by this suggestion, and after much discussion the band refused to record another songwriters material; it would be a decision that they’d come to regret.
By 1978, the band reinvented themselves, now building their music around a ‘honky-tonk’ piano style, the next few years embarked on tours of North East clubs, perfecting their new sound.
“By 1981,” Peter said, “our brother Timothy had joined the band, and we were spotted by a local record producer, and signed to M.J. Records and released our first single SOS.
“Even EMI began to show an interest in us, and asked us to make a demo tape for them, even filming a video of the song for a potential Top of the Pops showing. Sadly the deal fell through.”
As 1990 dawned, Simon and Timothy were concentrating on recording projects, while Andrew and Peter auditioned for Opportunity Knocks, appearing in March of 1990. The band continued playing gigs carrying their piano up and down stairs, until the glamour of ‘showbiz’ finally faded, along with their creaking backs!
“What we most miss is the challenge to play in front of people who have come to hear our songs,” said Peter. “I don’t have any regrets, though it would have been nice to have cracked it.”
Band Trivia
* They were the only band to appear at the Theatre One cinema playing to the kids on Saturday morning.
* Andrew & Peter made history when they became the last act to appear on Opportunity Knocks using the Clapometer.
* After Seagull opened the night at the Winter Gardens in Malvern, Bobby Crush used Pete’s Honky Tonk piano to back comic legend Arthur Askey.
