Line up Sax John Ryan sax. Ed harmonica and vocals/ bone rhythm g Dave Coyle lead. Paul Daleman trumpet. Greg Taylor tenor sax.
Dave Lines alto sax (just passed away so heard)
cant remember others defo blue
Tim James - Says " Greg Taylor, son of a well known master bricklayer, a trade Greg still carries on today - go look at Coventry Bus Station or the new Canal Basin buildings, all Greg's work. As a tenor sax player Greg 's sound was raunchy and unique. I bumped into him a few years ago at the opening of the Cask & Bottle, encouraged him to start playing again and got him a job with Ed's Kitchen, a local R&B/Soul Band who were great until their eventual demise. Greg is a genuine lovable nutter and I hope he will keep playing"
Sax John "we`d all practice in the kitchen and get wrecked - i played with them at the Winnall for the reunion"
Tony White - Guitar. John Bradley - Guitar Rex Brough - Bass
John Kenzie - Drums
Earlier members were:- Martin Birch - Guitar/Bass. Guy....? - Vocals
This was Rex Brough's band who is the main source of this entry.
Memories from John Bradley
"....I Remember the 1979 International year of the Child gig at Tiffany's where they pulled the plug on us and the Battle of the bands gig, downstairs at the Lanch where we played at 2 million miles an hour. Also remember the recording session at Leamington where we produced a very strange sounding tape and turning Tony White's folks house into a studio for a weekend while they were on holiday. - Long time ago!
Musically, I went on to join a jazz funk band - Nightflight and we had a single out in 84 (Growing up / Out of the game) Did a demo with Tony and Tracy Tracy (The Primitives) (Crystal Carnival) Then played in a Tex mex band (The O'Pablos) as a bit of fun. Still strumming away and currently trying to master Jazz + Flamenco guitar (I've got a very long way to go !). I'm now living in Southsea and working for an ISP in Fareham as an electronic messages manager."
Memories from Tony White
"After I left the Editors I played with L'homme de Terre for a short while. Caron Joyce was the lead singer before she went on to join Dave Ged in the Mix.
After that I played with with Bassist Mark Harold (Ex The End/The Rest) in a Jazz Funk band called Nightflight. Johnny Bradley ex-Editors was lead singer. We did quite a few gigs in Cov and recorded an independent single at Horizon - 'Growing Up' on Iguana.
After that John and I formed Crystal Carnival (only 2 gigs but had some Paul Samson-engineered demos played on Radio Mercia) Actually, whats-her-name from the Primitives sang backing vocals with us before she found fame and fortune with the Prims.
In between somewhere, Mark Harold (Bass) and I formed Reflections - a really cheesy (but good) club-band - we needed the dosh. I mention this 'cos Julie the lead singer went on to sing with Smackee, who I see you've mentioned.
Anyway, around 1985 ish - Pauline formed The Supernaturals.
2 years ago I bumped into JK (John Kenzie) the old Editors Drummer and we started to mess about again with a few songs. We drafted in Dave Nicholls on Bass (Ex-Cov band Spider Murphy) and have recorded a CD which at some point I'll get a copy of to you. We're still called The Editors (Didn't want to tarnish any great memories, but couldn't think of a better name) and the CD is appropriately called Older Not Wiser."
Line up: Edgar Broughton (vocals, guitar), Victor Unitt (guitar), Arthur Grant (bass), Steve Broughton (drums).
Warwick based band, both Broughtons were ex-Tony And The Talons and Original Roadrunners R&B/Blues outfits. This band was formed around 1967 and they based themselves in London in 1968, although retained strong links with Warwick. Unitt left before they signed with Blackhill Enterprises and recorded for Harvest.
They were
frequently to be found at festivals throughout the late '60's and early '70's,
famously playing through the streets of Warwick on the back of a flatbed truck,
when Warwick District Council wouldn't let them play in the park.
Known for
their 'Out Demons Out' chant, which they appropriated from The Fugs, the
definitive version of which can be found on the Glastonbury Fayre album.
Advertised
in Hobo in 1973 (but they had been around the club circuit for a lot of years).
Advert is from Hobo No 1 June 1973.
Trev
Teasdel recalls - I met Eddie James walking his dogs. He lived in Lorenzo
Close, Willenhall where I visited John Bargent (Bo) - Co-editor of Hobo - who
knew him. Eddie also lived opposite John Alderson of Wandering John (Etc). He put
an ad in Hobo. His band had been going for ages. It wasn't the normal sort of
band we promoted in Hobo but we supported all musicians.
Line up Ron Lawrence (guitar), Chris Smith (Vocal and keyboards), Roy Butterfield
(guitar), Bryan Fisher (bass guitar) and Barry Fawcus drums. Played support to such
groups as Moody Blues, Billy J Kramer, Marmalade, Jeff Beck Band etc. Graham Richardson Unofficial roadie.
The band
supported The Moody Blues on 17th December 1967 at Coventry Technical College
Arts Ball at Hotel Leofric with Blossom Toes, Coloured Raisins, East Side
Protection. http://www.webwriter.f2s.com/moody/tourbooks/1967tour.htm
Chris Smith
joined the Sorrows in Italy later in 1967
Bryan Fisher writes
"The last group I was in before moving to South Africa was East Side Protection which included Ron Lawrence and me, Roy Butterfield, a brilliant guitarist who played with The Tom Robinson Band and also Chris Smith who joined The Sorrows when Don Farndon left. ESP played support to some great groups such as The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues, Marmalade, Nashville Teens, Staus Quo and many others. Great times and so many wonderful memories, a picture of East Side Protection."
The
Earthquakes hailed from Derby originally but settled in Coventry. They were
managed by the Sunshine Music Agency in Gulson Rd. Coventry via Craig Ward etc..
Co-director
of Sunshine and the main songwriter - Bob Young of A Band Called George - offered
them a song -Dancing to the Music earmarked to be released on the Bell
Label,alongside A Band Called George's own single NCB Man - again written by
Bob Young. However - I'm not quite sure why - perhaps they split up but it was
reported in Hobo that the single was subsequently offered to Mad Cat Molly.
From the
unpublished version of Hobo issue 3
"MAD
CAT MOLLY are another band set to make a single for possible release on the
Bell label. Again it is a Bob Young composition (no relation to Neil Young
Jamie!!) called Dancing to the Music originally going to be done by the
Earthquakes who hail from Derby. The line up is Steve Lore on lead; Mick Murphy
on Rhythm; Paul Wright on bass and Chris Potter on drums. They have quite a few
booking lined up around the country thanks to Sunshine Music Agency."
V/A Something Stirs (The Dead Mourn The Living) LP
(Adventures In Reality Recordings-A.R.R. 013-1984)
1. Attrition - Something Stirs
2. Attrition - Pain
3. Attrition - The Beginning Of The End
4. The Furious Apples - Ajmer
5. The Furious Apples - Girl On Fire
6. The Furious Apples - Almost The Truth
7. Bourbonese Qualk - Stop The City
8. Bourbonese Qualk - Sunset Sex
9. Bourbonese Qualk - Invocation
10. The Legendary Pink Dots - Jungle
Memories from Mike Moore
" I was in the original gigging line up along with Greg Crabbe, Mike Crabbe, Steve Fardon and Nick Farrington. After a couple of years of gigging the usual venues, The Lanch, The General Wolfe, Warwick Uni etc. etc. there were some changes. I left and John Westacott took my place. John Hobbley joined on drums. My brother Raphael Moore joined as did Andy Flywheel on keys. Greg remained at frontman and his brother, Mike, on Lead Guitar. A single, "Engineering", was released and a couple of tracks on a Cherry Red compilation EP produced by Paul Sampson. Les Pillier was the 'manager' before he ran away to live in France. Fantastic days. Final gigging line up included appearances by Baz Eardly and Clive Layton. Is this of any use? I've passed your site details on to my brother, Raph who has some nice stories documented. Regards, Mike Moore"
Memories from Raphael Moore
"While the band rehearsed with John Hobley he never gigged or recorded with the Apples. Neither of the compilations was on Cherry Red - my brothers bad memory !!! Baz Eardley never played with the Apples, he did drink and party with us though !
The initial line ups comprised of the Crabb brothers, with Nick Farrington on drums and Martin Wilson, Steve Fardon, Mike Moore on guitars and bass.
This line up did perhaps 10 gigs and split.
In spring 1983 Greg Crabb reconstituted the band to record and promote a single, recruiting Robin Hill (Pink Umbrellas) on drums, John Westacott (ex-Urge) on bass and myself (Raphael Moore) on guitar, along with Mike Crabb. The single: Engineering b/w Belladonna, was released in October 1983. This was the first release on John Lord's Sonar label, John was the owner of the Cabin. Paul Sampson engineered and produced.
After that, the line up evolved into Greg Crabb - Lead Vocal, Michael Crabb - Lead Guitar
John Wright - Bass, Raphael Moore - Rhythm Guitar, Clive Leyton - Keyboards
The Apples had one track "Terminal Passion" on a Leamington compilation, "What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen (vol 3)". Furious Apples contributed three> tracks to the "Something Stirs" compilation, a four way effort with Attrition, Legendary Pink Dots and Bourbonese Quark.
We were the first band managed by Wayne Morris, owner of the European Son T-Shirt shop in Gosford Street and a budding pop svengali. Post Apples, Wayne immediately picked up the Primitives and was in large part responsible for transforming them into the successful female fronted pop band most people will remember. His next band, Birdland from Birmingham, were also NME darlings and enjoyed some success.
John Peel played the single and Apples tracks from both compilations and some interest was shown by CBS as I remember, but they chose to sign King, a much more polished and professional outfit. I left the band in 86, my place was taken by Gary Fairchild (ex Conspirators), but I don't think they gigged more than a few times after I left - nothing to do with my absence. I think in retrospect the demise of the band could reasonably be put down to sibling friction between Greg and Mike Crabb.
Memories from Mike Crabb
"Hi. Congratulations on the Coventry music scene website. I formed Furious Apples with my brother Greg Crabb around 1983. Went on to record a single with Paul Sampson (who later joined the band briefly) and appeared on various compilation albums etc.. Keep up the good work! Mike Crabb."
Memories from David O'Byrne
"Just to add a couple of line on Furious Apples. I managed (and I use the term in its broadest sense) the group for about six months in 1985 when the lineup was Greg Crabb - Lead Vocal, Michael Crabb - Lead Guitar, John Wright - Bass, Raphael Moore - Rhythm Guitar, Andy Flywheel (?)- Keyboards, Whippet - Drums. I was invited to manage the group by Greg, after Wayne moved on to greater things, which at that point - pre Primitives (and I should mention that the Primatives original singer and founding force was Apples fan, Kieron McDermott) )was solely the hilarious, 'Adolf Hitler European tour' T shirt. My only qualifications for the job were having interviewed Greg for my own 'To Hell with Poverty' fanzine and having contributed a live review to a London music mag I was writing for - hardly sufficient for what turned out to be something of a nightmare. I was fortunate in being able to benefit from the publicity brought by the tracks on the 'What A Nice Way To Turn 17' and 'Something Stirs' compilations, but actually had nothing to do with either their recording or release. As I recall my contribution to FA consisted largely of trying to ensure that at least five of them were sober enough to play - I think I succeeded on only two occasions. More significantly I did also organise their first (only?) gigs outside the Coventry area - namely two gigs in Birmingham, one at the Market tavern Hereford, and their only London date at some Goth cellar in Hammersmith. Organising transport for the latter was interesting as neither the band nor myself had any money. Luckily 'Mars UK' had a special promotion offering half price tickets for national express coaches in return for six vouchers from Mars bar wrappers. At the time trawling Coventry precinct for discarded Mars bar wrappers didn't seen very Rock N' Roll, and in retrospect it doesn't either. But it worked, and the gig went off rather well - except for Michael's guitar being nicked. Whatever did happen to the video? Cheers" - David O'Byrne Now working as a freelance financial journalist in Istanbul.
Memories from Abbe Collins
"Just visited your website re Coventry bands. I played keyboards on single Engineering/Belladonna ( I don't know what other keyboard player was doing at the time.) Had great fun at the Cabin studios, though just a wide-eyed school girl at the time and probably spent more time making coffee than I did laying down my track. Rock and Roll"
Memories from Nick Farrington
"Hi I have just read about the furious apples on your website and would like to add the following comments. the original line-up of the furious apples had a guy named M.S on drums from whom I (nick farrington ) took over.This came about after I was invited to watch them rehearse at the cutalong in Bedworth. When M.S went to the bar for a drink Mick Moore invited me to play a song with the band (honky tonk women) The next week I became the bands drummer and stayed for around 2 years. This was around 1981 and Martin Wilson had already left so I never played in a line-up that included him.They were great days and I would someday love to play a gig with that almost original line-up i.e. Greg and Mike Crabb, Mick Moore ,Stodge and Myself"
From Sonar Records Wikipedia
"Coventry - Spring 1983. The Furious Apples vocalist Greg Crabb recruited Robin Hill (Pink Umbrellas) on drums, John Westacott (ex-Urge) on bass and Raphael Moore on guitar, along with Mike Crabb, and Abbe Collins on keyboards to record a single - Engineering b/w Belladonna, was released in October 1983. This was the second release on the Sonar record label. Paul Sampson engineered and produced. The Apples were the first band managed by Wayne Morris, owner of the European Son T-Shirt shop in Gosford Street and a budding pop svengali. John Peel played the Apples single and some interest was shown by CBS." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonar_Records
Coventry Indie band based around the enigmatic Greg Crabb, mainstay of the Coventry Music Scene in the mid 80's (he also ran the Pilgrim Club disco). Along with his brother Michael, they were heavy giggers and knew how to promote themselves. = including Super 8 Promo films. Members came and went. Single Engineering on Cabin Studios label - Sonar - received considerable interest from CBS but despite efforts of manager Wayne Morris and a name change to The Pilgrims - it wasn't to be. Greg went on to form the Mudsliders with Baz Eardly, Clive Layton, Ted Duggan."
Fun Boy Three 1981 - 1983 From Rex Brough and Wikipedia
Following a split from the Specials, the Fun Boy Three had many hit singles before splitting up in 1983.
Terry Hall - Vocals. Neville Staples - Vocals. Lynval Golding - Vocals, Guitar
Singles
The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum / Faith Hope and Charity - 1981
It Ain't What You Do / The Funrama Theme - 1981 (with Bananarama)
The Telephone Always Rings / The Alibi - 1982
Summertime / Summer of 82 - 1982
Tunnel Of Love / The Lunacy Legacy - 1983
Our Lips Are Sealed
The More I See - 1983
He Was Really Saying Something - Bananarama & Fun Boy Three -
Albums
The Fun Boy Three - 1982
Waiting
From Wikipedia
"They dispensed with the darker, moody sound and demeanor which they and Jerry Dammers had crafted with great success in the ska revival of the late 1970s and went into a much brighter, poppier phase with this new band, though maintaining savagery and wit within the lyrics and Hall's wholly expressionless persona.
Together, they set about making music which covered a variety of genres. The band enjoyed six UK Top 20 hits, including "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" and "Tunnel of Love" and created two albums of which the eponymous Fun Boy Three was the most successful.
The trio's last UK hit was "Our Lips Are Sealed" from the album Waiting, co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's, who had scored a U.S. hit with the song a year earlier. They then toured the United States and split afterwards.
They were also credited with helping launch the career in 1982 of Bananarama, whom Hall first saw in The Face magazine. The three women provided credited chorus vocals on the hit "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)"; the Fun Boy Three later sang on the Bananarama song "Really Saying Something"
FROM THE SUN circa 1966 - 1968 Source Broadgate Gnome and Colin Williams and Pete Clemons. From Broadgate Gnome - "Psychedelic group or rather blues and free form.
Line up: Mick O'Rourke (vocals), Colin Williams (guitar), Tony Warner (organ), Reg Sparke (bass), Rick Sparke (drums). (The original singer Pete ? was replaced by Mick O'Rourke from The Gazelles.)
Formed towards the end of 1966 as a soul band, but quickly switched to their own material. Colin Williams, who was the arranger described the group as '..trying out new material with a very free-form basis. It's a sort of cross between blues and American West-Coast'. Mick O'Rourke was also in The Gazelles and The Image.
"Began following on from Soul sect with R & B and soul, playing in clubs and pubs all over the North East of England. British blues was in its infancy but Colin became more influenced by Eric Clapton and John Mayall (with Peter Green) and Ainsley Dunbar. From the Sun restyled themselves with new vocalist Mick O'Rourke (after original vocalist Pete, had moved on). They went on to forge a new sound. They played local venues like the General Wolf, Walsgrave and Plough with the sound of blues and a more free-form sound. They began playing some of the things that Colin had written and were also influenced by some of the things coming from the west coast of America. They gained a reputation for being one of the hottest and most creative bands in the city.
This photo of Tony Warner is from his daughter Haley Warner.
This information came via Sheryl Davis and Paul Kennelly and there may be more to come!
Sheryl tells us that Friday's Child was her brother's band - Steve Davis who is the tall bloke in the photo below. Sadly steve is no longer with us. They were all from Stoke Park school.
No idea as yet of the line up but the band played the Dog and Trumpet every Friday night in the early 1990's and also had gigs at upstairs at Old Browns/ Busters night club/ Tic Toc Club, Colin Campbell /Rose and Crown. They also played, as the photo shows, the Lower Precinct with two other bands. One of them, the Pilgrims were ex Furious Apples Greg and Michael Crabb.
Coventry-born Steve Davis taught us many things in his 44 years, one was to live his life to the full, be late for the odd meetings etc.
Though sharing his love of music was one of his biggest aims in life. It all started when Steve started at Earlsdon Primary School when his music teacher Mr Bennett saw something special in that little boy and taught him to play the bass guitar.
Steve spent many hours of practicing at home and became a self-taught natural with a gift many admired. By his teens Madness, and The Specials were among his favourites.
Steve played in many local bands; Fridays Child, The Done thing, The Torches, Spangles to name a few in his life, during school, during his university days and beyond, playing around the country for weddings, parties and anywhere they were asked, Steve playing his beloved bass guitar.
During the 80s things took a strange twist for Steve when he heard of a steel band starting at Earlsdon Methodist Church. Steve along with his sister Sheryl and Elaine (his wife to be), joined Dayspring but this time with Steve playing the bass pans.
Dayspring played in some fantastic places over the years, such as Brixton academy, Blackpool winter gardens, Battersea Park playing to thousands of people
Steve took control and became musical director of Dayspring in 1997 where he arranged music and led Dayspring.
Steve even managed to reform with some of the original and previous members in 2015 calling themselves ‘re Sprung’.
In memory of Steve, to celebrate his Dayspring life and encourage involvement in music there will be a concert in aid of Dayspring Steel Band arranged by his family and friends at Earlsdon Methodist church on Albany Road on Saturday, June 4, at 7pm where Dayspring and friends will be playing many of Steve’s favourite pieces such as ‘Mr Blue Sky’, 'Message to you Rudy' and 'Soul Limbo'. Tickets available on the door are £5 adults and £3 concessions.
" Before I split from Inzane Dice, we had a last minute change of name (Fridays Angels from the Generation X song), possibly the night before we split. The reason for the split escapes me now? Possibly it wasn't quite the band we all wanted as musical tastes changed.
So 1985/1986 and it was back out looking for a new band again. Anyway, band number five was just over the horizon. Advertising myself as a Fridays Angel, looking for band members, a guitarist named Russ contacted me.
I had advertised for a guitarist or answered an advert for a band, in a similar type of music I was into at the time. I was into bands such as Wrathchild, Hanoi Rocks, and the Babysitters and a host of other similar Glam and sleaze type bands, and so was looking to join a band similar to some of these. I'd gone with my then girlfriend Jacqui to meet up with a guitarist, Russ Frame, at his house. His mum answered the door, and a upon opening it, shouted up the stairs to Russ to come down. This guy bounded down the stairs and looked a cross between a Babysitter/Hanoi rocks Bernie Torme type character. At the time he just seemed to be perfect for what he was looking for and what I was looking for. We chatted for a couple of hours and found so much musical common ground that Fridayz Angelz were born.. Well within a few weeks at least.
And so started the auditioning again. The audition took place at the old Horizon studios (where again The Specials connection lies, as they used the place too.) Obviously I got the gig and 1st or 2nd rehearsal in, 'Who's She Killin Now?' was written. Russ decided he liked the name Fridays Angels. So after a few letter changes so as to cause no trouble with my previous band, FRIDAYZ ANGELZ* the glam band were born. The band had been together in various forms before I joined and played a mixed bag of tunes, including a Rush Tune and a Stooges tune. The writing of songs began quite quickly and gigs soon followed. The highlight of being with this band was getting to support (amongst others) The Babysitter's at the Legendary Marquee Club in London. I got to get into the studio with the band for the 1st time also and recorded 3 demo's over our time together. The band lasted a few years and was the heart and soul of my life during that time. So after several years of ups and downs, demo's and line-up changes the band split up due to the poaching of two members of the band by up and coming Birmingham band, The Brooklyn Dogs. One final line-up of the band was put together and lasted several rehearsals before splitting up through lack of direction and enthusiasm from the line-up. The final nail, was losing our then, new bassist, to ex-Tigertailz singer's new band St Jaimz, in London. The guitarist from another local glam band Dressed to Kill, also went off to join St Jaimz."
Line upAndy Beglin - Vocals, Paul Hartry - Guitar, Leigh Urquart - Bass, Dave Medforth - Keyboards, Chris Hartry - Drums
The following was taken from the band's website -
"One evening in the spring of 2001, Leigh and Andy were in town, on a ‘bender’ when Leigh fell over Andy (who was under a table singing), Leigh realised that this amazing voice should be part of a band. So with Leigh on Bass, they hooked up with Dave on Keys, Paul on Guitar and Chris on Drums, to become ‘Four Kings’.
They started writing and performing in their home town of Coventry.
Four Kings take their musical influence from many directions including bands such as ‘Supergrass’, ‘Pink Floyd’, the ‘Stones’, ‘The Doors’ and ‘Led Zeppelin’. Their stage presence, look, dress and performance have also taken influence from these bands. An eclectic blend of melodic, powerful, dramatic rock ‘n’ roll, their instruments are weapons they use to defend themselves and make themselves heard.
'Four Kings are everything that made you fall in love with scuzzy and dazzlingly powerful rock ‘n’ roll in the first place’.
Dayle Crutchlow – Coventry Evening Telegraph.
During the last three years Four Kings have gained a strong following and have shared a stage with bands such as ‘The Darkness’ (Sheffield Barfly, Aug 2002, when ‘The Darkness’ played to seven people), ‘The Datsuns’, ‘Kasabian’, ‘Goldie Lookin Chain’, ‘Mooney Suzuki’, and ‘Biffy Clyro’, in various cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leicester, Northampton, Wolverhampton and of course Coventry.
In 2004 Four Kings was invited to be the first British band to play at the ‘Athfest’ music festival in Athens, Georgia (home town of R.E.M and ‘The B52’s’), where their performance secured them a place in next years line up.
Unstoppable! Four Kings are a force to be reckoned with!
The best is yet to come! "
Pete Chambers adds (in Godiva Rocks) "The band have been compared to various rock giants - i would prefer to ignore such remarks and rejoice in the fact that they have a pretty original sound."
Music Matters Curator Pete Chambers writes for the Observer.
Andy Beglin
Andy Beglin has been creating music since 2000.
He fronted bands from 2000 to 2018.
His first band, Four Kings (2000 to 2005), played the Athens Festival, Georgia, USA in 2003.
Next up was DBMA (2005 to 2008) who successfully played Godiva main stage for three years running.
His last band, Dark Actors – whom Andy fronted from 2011 to 2018 – won Godiva Unsigned in 2012 and released their only album Shrine in 2015.
Andy also sang with The Mustard and Blood Band many times from 2011 to 2016 performing sold-out concerts.
Andy decided to teach himself guitar in 2015 and started writing a collection of songs over the next five years.
These created “Memories from the Mantelpiece” – a collection of 14 songs produced and mixed by Michael Gallacher (who also played an integral part on keyboard, guitars and bass).
The album also includes Andrew Shanley (guitar), Nick Jones (drums) and Jade Hartley (backing vocals). The album, recorded between 2016 and 2020, is a mix of west coast Americana and English soft rock and pop.
Andy is looking to launch his debut album ‘Memories from the Mantelpiece’, which is out now, in the coming spring with a few dates (not yet announced).
He is looking to build on this album by releasing his first single. This is a great album with some superb harmonies with great instrumentation.
You can listen to Andy Beglin’s songs on Amazon, ApplePlay, Spotify, YouTube and other online platforms including music updates on his Facebook page
Andy grew up in Coventry, attended Cardinal Wiseman School and has a five-year-old Son. He lives in Finham with his wife and their tuxedo cat.
No real information about this group except what's on their business card (which I think was given to me in 1973 by Johnny Adams (who was in Fission at the time - later in Squad). Possibly Johnny Adams was in this band.
Manager F. Smart, 40, Chandros St. Coventry. Mari-ann / Rick / Dek / Keith / R. Phillips, 53, Furnace Rd. Bedworth.
No idea of when they operated - possibly early 70's.
This band were originally called Midnight Circus. (Check their page out too) In 1974 they played their first or early gigs for us at the Hobo Workshop - Holyhead Youth Centre (associated with the roots of Two Tone) in Coventry and by 1976 were playing the Memorial Park festival with many other up-coming Coventry bands before changing their name to the FLYS -
Source - Rex Brough
The band recorded a demo in 1977 that failed to attract much attention from record companies, so they formed their own Lama label and put out an EP, Bunch of Five, around the end of the year. That caught the fancy of EMI, which signed them up in a hurry and put out the EP's "Love and a Molotov Cocktail" as a single. The album Waikiki Beach Refugees appeared in 1978. Several Flys singles appeared in early 1979, culminating in the release of the second album, Own. Intraband quarreling had led to King's departure and the arrival of Graham Deakin, the former drummer of John Entwistle's Ox. A move to Parlophone Records did little to salve the bickering, and the Flys broke up in 1980. O'Connor joined his sister Hazel's band and then took his skills behind the scenes as producer, arranger, and engineer; Freeman performed on Alison Moyet's Raindancing album, played briefly with Roddy Radiation and the Tearjerkers, and then formed The Lover Speaks with Hughes; Pete King went on to join After the Fire before his untimely death at age 26.
Singles
Love and a Molotov Cocktail / I can crash here / Civilisation - EMI 1978
Oh Beverley / Don't moonlight on me - EMI 1978
Fun city / EC4 - EMI 1978
Waikiki Beach Refugees / We don't mind the rave - EMI 1978
Name dropping / Fly v Fly - EMI 1979
We are the lucky ones / living in the sticks - EMI 1980
What will mother say / Undercover agent zero - Parlophone 1980
The Flys on John Peel September 1979
EPs
Bunch of Five (I can crash here / Me and my buddies / Just for your sex / Saturday sunrise / Love and a Molotov Cocktail) - LAMA 1977
Four from the square (Sixteen down / Night creatures / Lois Lane / Today belongs to me - Parlophone 1979
Others on You Tube -
More John Peel Flys.
Name Dropping
Saturday Sunrise.
A lot more of the Flys on YouTube if you search.
Albums Waikiki Beach Refugees EMI 1978
Own EMI 1980
I think Neil's piece from the Flys My space describes them best -
"In the beginning there were three young lads from Cov in the UK. David Freeman, Joe Hughes and Neil O’Connor. Hazel O'Connor Molotov Cocktail Neil was slightly older than the other two and had made their acquaintance through David’s mum, Esther Freeman, a lovely lady who was Neil’s Yoga teacher. ( yeah he was a bit of a late flowering hippy….) Joe took up the bass, Dave and Neil, the guitars and voices and they started to try to do something. They gave themselves the name "Midnight Circus" and were probably bloody awful but, hey, it was a good laugh. In those days there was never a full time drummer The Flys formerly Midnight Circus except for one guy, Paul Angelopolis, an American guy from Florida, in the same age group as them who wasn’t half bad except for when he partook more than he should’ve. Sadly Paul abused too much and died of a barbituate overdose at the age of 24. And that was sort of the end of "Midnight Circus". By now it was 1977 and there was a change in the air. So they dropped the name and reincarnated as "The Flys". But still no drummer. Around this time they happened upon a guy named Chris King who started to take a managerial interest in the lads and, as luck would have it, had a younger brother, Pete King, who was a good drummer and so deserved an audition. 197872 Here was the guy they’d been hoping for years to meet. And so The Flys became Dave, Joe, Neil and Pete. Chris had a huge amount of belief in the band and proposed that he’d set up a small indie label and sign up the band to release a limited edition 7 inch EP and so they went off to Pathway studios, an 8 track in Islington where all the great Stiff recordings had been made, to spend a Saturday recording their repertoire of 14 songs, or so. 284373 Then 5 of the recordings were chosen, mixed, mastered and became the EP "Bunch of five" on Chris King’s "Zama" label which included the titles…."Love and a Molotov cocktail" "Can I crash here" "Civilisation" Eventually EMI were to sign the band after having heard the EP and seeing the band on stage 362246 opening for The Buzzcocks tour in the Autumn of ’77. A condition of the contract was that the "Zama" indie release had to be limited to 2,500 copies as EMI wanted to re-launch with the title "Love and a Molotov cocktail". In the late winter of ’78, with EMI money, they went on a UK nationwide tour opening for John Otway and Wild Willie Barrett and as spring arrived moved to London and started to record their first album for EMI, "Waikiki beach refugees". Maybe they’d been too long in each others company, it’s hard to know exactly why but rifts started to appear. The first casualty was Chris. The Flys were no exception to any other bands in that they were full of insecurity and that insecurity pushed Chris away. Pete continued to play with the band who, by now, were opening for "The Ruts" around the UK and playing shows in their own right around Europe but he was never totally happy without his brother around. Probably he felt torn in his loyalties, Which is no surprise and eventually he was offered the chance to join "After the fire" who, at the time, were about to tour with ELO. For Pete this became a dream come true as ELO’s drummer became to ill to play and Pete ended up playing drums for ELO for most of the tour. After Pete they recruited Graham Deakin, a lay it down Keith Moon type who came to the band from John Entwhistle’s "Ox". And so with new drummer, Graham, the guys went down to a 16 track in Somerset to record their second album which was to be called "Own". Although they continued to record more singles, EP’s, tour and make many TV and Radio appearances throughout the UK and Europe their time together started to unravel and in the spring of 1980 they called it quits. Neil went on to play guitar and record with his sister Hazel O’Connor. Eventually, in the mid 80’s, he moved into the field of recording and producing working mainly from Martin Rushent’s "Genetic studios". David went on to follow a solo career securing a publishing/ development contract with Dave Stewart. Eventually Joe joined him, they called themselves "The lover speaks" and in the ‘90s they were rewarded with a huge songwriting success when Annie Lennox covered their song "No more I love you’s". Sadly Pete succumbed to cancer before he could reach the age of 30. Graham was never heard from again. These days Neil lives in Montreal, Canada producing and performing still. Joe and his wife split their time between the UK and the States with their band "Cicero Buck". David’s a bit of a hermit as of writing. "Die Toten Hosen" from Germany and "Duanne Peters" have both covered "Love and Molotov cocktail". Hazel included it in one of her TV shows too. Photo L to R ( taken by Pete Vernon 1978 ) Neil O’Connor - guitar, keys, vox David Freeman - guitar, vox Joe Hughes - bass, vox Pete King - drums Managers and road crew were……….. Chris King -manager 77 to 78 Mark Rye –manager 78 to 80 Vance Anderson -tour manager 77 to 80Mick Anderson - backline 77 to 80 Record labels…………….. Zama-indie - 77 to 78 EMI - 78 to 80 See for miles - re-release in the 90s Captain Oi - re-release in 2K.
By Neil O Connor.
Review from Alternative Sounds - 1979
THE FLYS - NAME DROPPING / FLY V FLY (EMI)
Get ready for the next Flys single - as the chorus line of the song says, it is amazing! Featuring David on vocals, there's some good lyrics for all you posers to sing-along to. There's some nice juicy guitar playing too, and with a catchy tune like this, all I can say is - make way for a hit. The B Side is a novel little instrumental. The guitar work in it is most unusual - good if you're feeling like a jerky dance. A single well worth adding to your collection.
Biography
This Coventry, England-based group enjoyed a minor league role in the new wave, but owed more to power-pop and astute songwriting than punk. Singer and guitarist Neil O'Connor (brother of Hazel O'Connor) met school kids David Freeman (guitar, vocals) and Joe Hughes (bass, vocals) in the mid-70s, and formed Midnight Circus, eventually recruiting Pete King on drums. A name change to the Flys coincided with the discovery of punk's first tremors, but a demo in April 1977 brought an apathetic response from the usual channels. The band issued Bunch Of Five, an energetic EP, on their own Zama Records label in time for Christmas. Quick as a flash, EMI Records snapped them up, rushing out one of the EP tracks (and perhaps their finest ever moment), "Love And A Molotov Cocktail", as a single. After a tour with the Buzzcocks and John Otway And Wild Willy Barrett came "Fun City", recorded at Pathway Studios. Waikiki Beach Refugees (also the title of their next single) emerged in October 1978 to an enthusiastic response, while the band toured Europe. 1979 saw a flurry of singles - "Beverley" in February, "Name Dropping" in April and "We Are The Lucky Ones" - but internal quarrels led to the recruitment of a riotous new drummer Graham Deakin (ex-Frankie Miller and John Entwistle's Ox). Flys Own, rawer than their debut, coincided with a tour with the Ruts in autumn 1979. The EP Four From The Square was released in February as the band transferred to Parlophone Records. This was followed by "What Will Mother Say" in May 1980. Internal pressures began to erupt and the Flys broke up soon afterwards. O'Connor joined his sister for two years and two albums before becoming a musical arranger, and then a producer and engineer. Freeman issued a cover version of the Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love", took a degree, published his poetry, sang on Alison Moyet's Raindancing and later formed The Lover Speaks with Hughes (after his spell with ex-Specials Roddy Radiation And His Tearjerkers). Pete King, meanwhile, joined After The Fire, but sadly died aged 26. In 1991 See For Miles Records compiled an excellent self-titled retrospective of the band.
Comment from the Hobo site from Stu Knapper (Lead singer with Riot Act)
"Got to tell you that I loved The Flys, In fact I am sure that I still have a few Fly's badges still kicking around in a cupboard somewhere. I saw them in the early days a couple of times at Mr Georges as they always seemed either get the support slot or top the bill when the headline didn't turn up. This happened a few times during '77 I remember no shows from Eater, Elvis Costello and Generation X and on at least one occasion the Fly's got the gig. I think they suffered at the hands of EMI who at the time where really pushing their top acts like Kate Bush and Queen. I was working in Virgin for some of the Fly's releases and I can tel you that they never got the push that might just have broke them to wider audience. But lets not forget the great records and some good memories." Posted by: Stu Knapper | 02/29/2008 at 07:06 PM
Hazel doing Neil O Connor's Molotov Cocktail (Neil did the music for this and wrote the song for the Flys originally)
Neil O Connor's version of his sister - Hazel O Connor's Will You
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