The AUTOCRATS
Sunday, January 8, 2023
The AUTOCRATS
Attrition
Attrition
Attrition
This is their Bandcamp Site for album and track downloads
Source - Rex Brough
Martin Bowes - Vocals, Keyboards lots of other stuff
Julia Waller - Vocals
Ashley Waller -
Click here for an extended interview with Martin Bowes covering Alternative Sounds and Attrition
Trev Teasdel's Interview with Martin Bowes (2008)
ATTRITION OFFICIAL WEBSITES
https://attrition.co.uk/
https://attrition.co.uk/
https://www.thecagestudios.co.uk/
Singles
Fear/Devoid - 1982 / Monkey in a Bin - 1984 / Deliverance - 1984
The Voice of God - 1984 / Shrinkwrap/Pendulum - 1985 / Take Five - 1987
Haydn (remix) - 1988 / Haydn (the final session) - 1989 / Turn To Gold - 1989
Thin Red Line - 1991 / Something In My Eye - 1992 / Lip Sync - 1993
The Eternity ep - 1997 / Kissing a Virtual Angel - 1999 / Red letter/Kharb - 2000
Albums
Interview with Martin Bowes from Peace and Freedom 1988 http://www.booksmusicfilmstv.com/Music/attrition-interview-1988.html
Bio From Martin's Attrition Website
Beginnings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attrition_(band)
In 1979, Martin started a xeroxed fanzine called Alternative Sounds to document the Coventry music scene (including such notables as The Specials and Furious Apples). The fanzine ran for 18 issues until 1981, and culminated in a vinyl compilation, "Sent from Coventry" (on Cherry Red) and a brief appearance on the BBC's Something Else programme. During this time, Martin met Julia at a local gig and, with the addition of Martin's brother Chris on guitar, Attrition was formed. In 1980 Chris was replaced by Julia's brother Ashley Niblock on synthesizer, and a short time later they replaced their live drummer with a drum machine; these changes facilitated Attrition's development beyond the post-punk of the early 80s into more experimental veins of sound.
1980s
Influenced by punk's do-it-yourself aesthetic, Attrition took part in the emerging cassette culture, contributing multiple early tracks to underground cassette compilations and fanzines alongside contemporaries such as Portion Control, Konstruktivits, Chris & Cosey, The Legendary Pink Dots, Nurse with Wound, and Coil. Attrition's first album release came in the form of Death House, a cassette of two experimental electronic soundtracks inspired by zombie films. In 1983, Attrition received their first exposure in the national music press through a review by Dave Henderson in his "Wild Planet" column in Sounds, which led to their "Dreamsleep" track appearing on Henderson's compilation The Elephant Table Album, the band's first vinyl appearance. A postal collaboration via exchanges of 4-track recordings with Seattle-based improvisational collective Audio Leter led to Attrition's second cassette album release, Action and Reaction. Attrition's first London concert followed, with a supporting slot from Coil, and the first European tour in April 1984 with the Legendary Pink Dots.
The debut album The Attrition of Reason appeared on Third Mind Records in autumn of 1984. The next year, Julia left the band to join the Legendary Pink Dots, and Bowes returned with new band members Marianne, Alex Novak, and Pete Morris to release the second proper Attrition album, Smiling, at the Hypogonder Club, which was generally well received. The following year, however, this lineup dissolved and Bowes released In The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts, a collection of rarities, compilation tracks, and B-sides from the preceding few years. This was the last release on Third Mind. The band then switched to Belgium's Antler-Subway Records for the release of At the Fiftieth Gate in 1988, which saw the addition of guitarist Gary Cox.
1990s.
After a short hiatus, Bowes began work on music once more and Julia rejoined Attrition in 1990. A compilation of songs from previous releases was released by Projekt Records in the US, introducing Attrition to US audiences. "A Tricky Business" was released in 1991 on Italy's Contempo Records and marked a new era for the band. These US releases were complemented with European editions on German labels Hyperium and Trisol. The Hidden Agenda came out in 1993, followed by Ephemera in 1995, which mirrored the dark ambient nature of early album Death House.
1996 saw the release of 3 Arms And A Dead Cert, which showed an increased use of organic instruments, including the first use of live orchestral elements as provided by Franck Dematteis of the Paris Opera. This album also was the first proper release on Projekt, a relationship that would continue for many years and would see the release of a succession of albums during the '90s that saw progressed development of Attrition's signature sound. Also in 1996 the band toured the US for the first time, at the culmination of which Julia left the band once more. The following year, Bowes revisited various works from the past decade of Attrition music and recorded new classical string variations of the songs, releasing them as Etude. After heavy touring in the late 1990s, including a stop at Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Attrition released The Jeopardy Maze in 1999.
2000s.
Five years passed between The Jeopardy Maze and the next Attrition album, Dante's Kitchen, released in 2004. During the interim a remix album and a rarities album were put out and the entire back catalogue of Attrition was reissued on CD in Europe and the band focused on touring and playing live again. Attrition finally founded their own label, Two Gods, in 2006 and released Tearing Arms from Deities, a 25th anniversary collection of material spanning Attrition's career, and Something Stirs - The Beginning, a collection of many of their cassette compilation tracks from the early 1980s.Two Gods would serve as a vehicle for releasing remastered reissues of the entire Attrition back catalogue in the following years. It has also served as a label for releases from other bands, including Rossetti's Compass.
In June 2008, Attrition once more became a multi-member act with the addition of female vocalist Sin D'rella. Bowes and Sin then released the twelfth album proper for the band, All Mine Enemys Whispers - The Story of Mary Ann Cotton, a concept album built around the true story of a mid-19th century serial killer in England, the arresting officer of whom Bowes is a descendant. The album bears a marked departure from what has come to be seen as the signature Attrition sound, ditching prominent synthesizer base lines, percussion, and vocals for atmospheric, ambient, and found sounds. Guests on the album include Emilie Autumn, Erica Mulkey, and Bowes' own two children.[
2009 has seen the release of a live album, Kill the Buddha!, that celebrates 25 years of live touring, and Wrapped in the guise of my friend, an album of Attrition songs covered by other bands. In 2012, Martin worked with his wife Kerri on their first full-length movie score, Invocation. Martin taught music technology at City College in Coventry for many years and left in 2011 to work full-time on mastering and production for Attrition and other artists in his studio The Cage. In 2013, the band released, The Unraveller of Angels, which was followed in 2015 with Millions of the Mouthless Dead. The latter album Martin made with Anni Hogan (of Marc and the Mambas fame), which explored First World War poetry set to dark ambient scores, including a guest appearance from Wolfgang Flur (ex-Kraftwerk).
Musical influences and characteristics
Martin Bowes has cited a wide variety of influences on his music, including experimental rock, punk, post-punk, and industrial groups such as The Velvet Underground, Crass, the Sex Pistols, Magazine, Joy Division, and Cabaret Voltaire, early experimental electronic groups like Kraftwerk, classic rock'n'roll (Elvis), and even Beethoven.
In the early 1980s, Attrition was grouped into the post-punk movement, and as post-punk birthed subgenres and cross-pollinated with others, the band came to be seen as an early and influential part of the fledgling industrial and darkwave genres. Later on they would also gain a considerable following among the goth scene. By the early 1990s Bowes had become the primary member and songwriter and Attrition had developed its own distinctive electro-acoustic sound. This was based on Martin's deep growl, Julia's fretless bass work and breathy sub-operatic vocals, and a backline of electronic instrumentation, comprising analogue synthesizers (including a Korg Mono/Poly and Korg MS-20), sequencer (Roland MC-202), drum machine (Roland TR-808), and various effects units.
"At first, there wasn't the same sort of scene and we were in more of an 'industrial' thing. There was nothing like the clubs you get now, it was actually quite difficult to play anywhere that would appreciate you. It's a lot easier now, it's not just Goth, it's a mix - Darkwave or whatever. That's gotten stronger, so that has helped, but really, we were there before it was built."
In 2022 the original 80's ATTRITION line up of Martin Bowes, Ashley Niblock and Julia Waller reunited for the first time in 35 years, joined by long time member Simon Stansfield. They performed shows in the UK and are starting work on a new album together...2023 will see the release of the new album "The Black Maria" and shows all over the world. This was a chat at Martin's place where they had been rehearsing in The Cage... Thanks to John Waller for filming us! Music: "Behind Innocence, Lies" from their debut album, The Attrition of Reason (1984)
Singles
Fear/Devoid - 1982 / Monkey in a Bin - 1984 / Deliverance - 1984
The Voice of God - 1984 / Shrinkwrap/Pendulum - 1985 / Take Five - 1987
Haydn (remix) - 1988 / Haydn (the final session) - 1989 / Turn To Gold - 1989
Thin Red Line - 1991 / Something In My Eye - 1992 / Lip Sync - 1993
The Eternity ep - 1997 / Kissing a Virtual Angel - 1999 / Red letter/Kharb - 2000
Albums
Interview with Martin Bowes from Peace and Freedom 1988 http://www.booksmusicfilmstv.com/Music/attrition-interview-1988.html
Bio From Martin's Attrition Website
Beginnings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attrition_(band)
In 1979, Martin started a xeroxed fanzine called Alternative Sounds to document the Coventry music scene (including such notables as The Specials and Furious Apples). The fanzine ran for 18 issues until 1981, and culminated in a vinyl compilation, "Sent from Coventry" (on Cherry Red) and a brief appearance on the BBC's Something Else programme. During this time, Martin met Julia at a local gig and, with the addition of Martin's brother Chris on guitar, Attrition was formed. In 1980 Chris was replaced by Julia's brother Ashley Niblock on synthesizer, and a short time later they replaced their live drummer with a drum machine; these changes facilitated Attrition's development beyond the post-punk of the early 80s into more experimental veins of sound.
1980s
Influenced by punk's do-it-yourself aesthetic, Attrition took part in the emerging cassette culture, contributing multiple early tracks to underground cassette compilations and fanzines alongside contemporaries such as Portion Control, Konstruktivits, Chris & Cosey, The Legendary Pink Dots, Nurse with Wound, and Coil. Attrition's first album release came in the form of Death House, a cassette of two experimental electronic soundtracks inspired by zombie films. In 1983, Attrition received their first exposure in the national music press through a review by Dave Henderson in his "Wild Planet" column in Sounds, which led to their "Dreamsleep" track appearing on Henderson's compilation The Elephant Table Album, the band's first vinyl appearance. A postal collaboration via exchanges of 4-track recordings with Seattle-based improvisational collective Audio Leter led to Attrition's second cassette album release, Action and Reaction. Attrition's first London concert followed, with a supporting slot from Coil, and the first European tour in April 1984 with the Legendary Pink Dots.
The debut album The Attrition of Reason appeared on Third Mind Records in autumn of 1984. The next year, Julia left the band to join the Legendary Pink Dots, and Bowes returned with new band members Marianne, Alex Novak, and Pete Morris to release the second proper Attrition album, Smiling, at the Hypogonder Club, which was generally well received. The following year, however, this lineup dissolved and Bowes released In The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts, a collection of rarities, compilation tracks, and B-sides from the preceding few years. This was the last release on Third Mind. The band then switched to Belgium's Antler-Subway Records for the release of At the Fiftieth Gate in 1988, which saw the addition of guitarist Gary Cox.
1990s.
After a short hiatus, Bowes began work on music once more and Julia rejoined Attrition in 1990. A compilation of songs from previous releases was released by Projekt Records in the US, introducing Attrition to US audiences. "A Tricky Business" was released in 1991 on Italy's Contempo Records and marked a new era for the band. These US releases were complemented with European editions on German labels Hyperium and Trisol. The Hidden Agenda came out in 1993, followed by Ephemera in 1995, which mirrored the dark ambient nature of early album Death House.
1996 saw the release of 3 Arms And A Dead Cert, which showed an increased use of organic instruments, including the first use of live orchestral elements as provided by Franck Dematteis of the Paris Opera. This album also was the first proper release on Projekt, a relationship that would continue for many years and would see the release of a succession of albums during the '90s that saw progressed development of Attrition's signature sound. Also in 1996 the band toured the US for the first time, at the culmination of which Julia left the band once more. The following year, Bowes revisited various works from the past decade of Attrition music and recorded new classical string variations of the songs, releasing them as Etude. After heavy touring in the late 1990s, including a stop at Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Attrition released The Jeopardy Maze in 1999.
2000s.
Five years passed between The Jeopardy Maze and the next Attrition album, Dante's Kitchen, released in 2004. During the interim a remix album and a rarities album were put out and the entire back catalogue of Attrition was reissued on CD in Europe and the band focused on touring and playing live again. Attrition finally founded their own label, Two Gods, in 2006 and released Tearing Arms from Deities, a 25th anniversary collection of material spanning Attrition's career, and Something Stirs - The Beginning, a collection of many of their cassette compilation tracks from the early 1980s.Two Gods would serve as a vehicle for releasing remastered reissues of the entire Attrition back catalogue in the following years. It has also served as a label for releases from other bands, including Rossetti's Compass.
In June 2008, Attrition once more became a multi-member act with the addition of female vocalist Sin D'rella. Bowes and Sin then released the twelfth album proper for the band, All Mine Enemys Whispers - The Story of Mary Ann Cotton, a concept album built around the true story of a mid-19th century serial killer in England, the arresting officer of whom Bowes is a descendant. The album bears a marked departure from what has come to be seen as the signature Attrition sound, ditching prominent synthesizer base lines, percussion, and vocals for atmospheric, ambient, and found sounds. Guests on the album include Emilie Autumn, Erica Mulkey, and Bowes' own two children.[
2009 has seen the release of a live album, Kill the Buddha!, that celebrates 25 years of live touring, and Wrapped in the guise of my friend, an album of Attrition songs covered by other bands. In 2012, Martin worked with his wife Kerri on their first full-length movie score, Invocation. Martin taught music technology at City College in Coventry for many years and left in 2011 to work full-time on mastering and production for Attrition and other artists in his studio The Cage. In 2013, the band released, The Unraveller of Angels, which was followed in 2015 with Millions of the Mouthless Dead. The latter album Martin made with Anni Hogan (of Marc and the Mambas fame), which explored First World War poetry set to dark ambient scores, including a guest appearance from Wolfgang Flur (ex-Kraftwerk).
Musical influences and characteristics
Martin Bowes has cited a wide variety of influences on his music, including experimental rock, punk, post-punk, and industrial groups such as The Velvet Underground, Crass, the Sex Pistols, Magazine, Joy Division, and Cabaret Voltaire, early experimental electronic groups like Kraftwerk, classic rock'n'roll (Elvis), and even Beethoven.
In the early 1980s, Attrition was grouped into the post-punk movement, and as post-punk birthed subgenres and cross-pollinated with others, the band came to be seen as an early and influential part of the fledgling industrial and darkwave genres. Later on they would also gain a considerable following among the goth scene. By the early 1990s Bowes had become the primary member and songwriter and Attrition had developed its own distinctive electro-acoustic sound. This was based on Martin's deep growl, Julia's fretless bass work and breathy sub-operatic vocals, and a backline of electronic instrumentation, comprising analogue synthesizers (including a Korg Mono/Poly and Korg MS-20), sequencer (Roland MC-202), drum machine (Roland TR-808), and various effects units.
"At first, there wasn't the same sort of scene and we were in more of an 'industrial' thing. There was nothing like the clubs you get now, it was actually quite difficult to play anywhere that would appreciate you. It's a lot easier now, it's not just Goth, it's a mix - Darkwave or whatever. That's gotten stronger, so that has helped, but really, we were there before it was built."
BELOW - ATTRITION on YOU TUBE - A GIRL CALLED HARMONY
ATTRITION : One Horse Rider
In 2022 the original 80's ATTRITION line up of Martin Bowes, Ashley Niblock and Julia Waller reunited for the first time in 35 years, joined by long time member Simon Stansfield. They performed shows in the UK and are starting work on a new album together...2023 will see the release of the new album "The Black Maria" and shows all over the world. This was a chat at Martin's place where they had been rehearsing in The Cage... Thanks to John Waller for filming us! Music: "Behind Innocence, Lies" from their debut album, The Attrition of Reason (1984)
ATTIC DRESSERS
ATTIC DRESSERS
Steve Edgson and Paul Samson - " In 1984 the Pink Umbrellas (or The Attic Dressers as they were then known) split and Paul concentrated on production and engineering at Cabin studios and Steve formed the Giraffes." Source - Pete Chambers 
THE ATLANTICS
THE ATLANTICS
Source - Pete Chambers - Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat
" One of the city's first Rock n Roll outfits based around the energetic vocalist Johnny Martin and guitarist - Don Kerr / Mick Calcott - bass / Eddie Milton - Rhythm Guitar / Tony Chambers - Drums. Sorrows guitarist Pip Witcher was later a member. Don and Johnny joined the Reg Calvert venture - Freddie Weir and the Werewolves.
Don came up with the group's name giving an British slant to calling a band after classic cars. In this case the Austin Atlantic A90. Johnny got to back Gene Vincent at the Orchid Ballroom and eventually formed a country band The Big City Boys. Don joined the Brook Brothers. He also played on the hit singles War Paint and Ain't Gonna Wash for a Week. Don joined Staveley Makepeace - (associated with Lieutenant Pigeon)
"The ATLANTICS were also formed during the very early 60s and this band included Johnny Martin on vocals, Don Kerr, Mick Calcott, Eddie Milton and Tony Chambers. Also future members of The Sorrows Phil Packham, who had by now left The Vampires, and Pip Witcher who performed at some point with The Atlantics.
The places they played included: Collycroft Club, Bedworth most Thursdays; Newdigate Club, Bedworth, most Tuesdays; St George’s Hall, Nuneaton, most Saturdays, the Ritz cinema, Longford, on the odd Friday night or Sunday afternoon; the Stag and Pheasant, Lockhurst Lane, Sunday lunchtimes - on the same bill as the Vampires and The Zodiacs."
New Article by Pete Chambers in Coventry Telegraph 2014
Photo below - The Atlantics playing at Rootes Ryton in 1959
The Atlantics, one of the very first rock ‘n’ roll bands to come out of Coventry. I thought now was the time to tell a little more about this trailblazing band.
The Atlantics were formed from the Hepjacks skiffle band at a time when rock ‘n’ roll was still young, (Don came up with the name the Atlantics, giving a British slant to the American trend of naming bands after classic cars – the car in question is the Austin Atlantic A90).
The legendary Buddy Holly was still alive and rag-tag horde of British skiffle bands were all looking to America again for inspiration and were discovering that their ‘do-it-yourself’ music was slowly evolving into full-on rock ‘n’ roll.
It was November 5, 1958 and a young guitarist named Don Kerr had just auditioned for the skiffle band The Hepjacks, he got the gig, and by the time vocalist Johnny Martin joined they had transformed into a real rock ‘n’ roll outfit.
I recall a chat I had with Jonny a long time ago, he told me that he believed they were the first rock ‘n’ roll band in the area as far as he could remember. He was of course talking about a real working band that played shows, not just rehearsed in their bedrooms or whatever.
He recalled that there was The Atlantics from Coventry, The Grasshoppers from Birmingham and The Dolphins from Nuneaton. The band’s personnel at that time was Don Kerr (lead guitar), Johnny Martin (vocals), Mick Calcott (bass), Eddie Milton (rhythm guitar) and Tony Chambers (drums).
The band soon began making a big noise in the area, not just for their stylish rock ‘n’ roll, but also for their manic stage antics that saw frontman Johnny throwing himself down on the stage floor still clutching the microphone, singing like there was no tomorrow.
The Camberley News and Bagshot Observer had this to say about Johnny in the 60s: “Johnny Martin, a tall blond-haired attractive lad, seemed to get some sort of message over to the teenagers. They stood at his juggling feet, gazing in awe at his frenzied acrobatics. Amazingly enough he still kept in tune.”
They secured a residency at the Rootes Ryton club every Wednesday night, this only helped to increase their popularity and bigger gigs beckoned like the Centre Ballroom (now the Aston Court) and the Majestic Ballroom (later the Orchid) in Coventry.
By November 1959 though, Johnny and Don had left the group, as the pair wanted to go pro and move to London to gig.
Ricky Lee replaced Johnny. Don’s space was filled by Pip Witcher, who would eventually become a member of The Sorrows.
Ron Cooke had joined and Mick also left and his replacement was Tony ‘Corky’ Clarke who went on to become a legendary producer for the likes of the Moody Blues.
Al King joined as the sax player. So by then all the originals had gone and had been replaced by new members, though the band went on for another two years at least.
Don and Johnny formed new band “Johnny Martin with Freddie Were and the Werewolves” under the management of Reg Calvert. Because of his dyed blond hair Johnny was immediately christened “The big beat blond bombshell” by Reg. They had a lot of fun with Reg and the Werewolves, but eventually they moved on.
Johnny got to back Gene Vincent at The Orchid Ballroom and he eventually formed a country band The Big City Boys. Don joined the Brook Brothers and played on the hit singles ‘War Paint’ and ‘Ain’t Gonna Wash for A Week’. He joined Stavely Makepeace in the late Sixties.
(Pic The Atlantics on stage -Johnny Martin and Don Kerr)
Asgard
ASGARD
L to R - Bill Walker / Terry Westwood / Richard Kilbride
ASGARD circa 1969-71
Sources Richard Kilbride - Bob Mansfield - Trev Teasdel - Malcolm Downs.
A three piece organ based group with their own material in the style of The Nice and Pink Floyd.
An article on Asgard by Pete Clemons - Here
And another article - Asgard in London https://coventrygigs.blogspot.com/2022/11/asgard-in-london.html
Line up
Bill Walker - Organ and Mellotron (on recordings) Richard Kilbride - Bass / Vocals Terry Westwood - Drums
Guest musicians who joined them on occasions -
Neol Davies (later of The Selecter) Sitar / acoustic guitar.
Mick Gawthorpe (of Jazz rock band Whistler with Kevin Harrison) Saxophone / Flute
Manager - Paul Padun (Asgard Enterprises - Paul Fenn, 645 / 7 High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex.
Roadies - Bob Mansfield / Adrian Watton (the bands light show and effects member) Malcolm Downs.
John Peel
Asgard were taken under the wing of John Peel for some time, through the efforts of Paul Padun our manager, We played with John Peel on his new band spot at 'Mothers' - Erdington in Birmingham. Asgard made its debut at the Torbay Blues Festival and also appeared at Torquay Town hall with John Peel at a Blues festival as support to Blodwyn Pig who failed to turn up! So we improvised a set to fill their spot. He also put us on a C.N.D festival in Victoria park (with a huge audience), headlined by The Crazy world of Arthur Brown and The Liverpool Scene. We also did many Gigs with Principal Edwards Magic Theatre in St. Ives, who were also his protogies. The Roundhouse in London. Asgard gigged at Mothers on our own accord not long after the Victoria Park gig (At which we replaced the then relatively unknown Black Sabbath) as we impressed John Peel and he invited us to perform at his regular Friday night radio slot live from Mothers. Although entering the college circuit at a late stage, Asgard's popularity increased steadily, and the demand for Asgard was proven by the number of return bookings they have received so far that year."" Richard Kilbride
"Paul Padun (Asgard manager) and elements of Asgard stayed at Peel Acres. Tonight we were supposed to drive to Coventry to see Asgard play but there was talk of fog on the M1."
Richard Kilbride
"We stayed at his place. He shared a Scalextrix set with Marc Bolan. It was just amazing. What with that and his record collection covering every wall floor to ceiling. It was a bit like I imagined heaven would be like, in those days."
"We stayed at his place. He shared a Scalextrix set with Marc Bolan. It was just amazing. What with that and his record collection covering every wall floor to ceiling. It was a bit like I imagined heaven would be like, in those days."
John Peel from Peel Thoughts - Disc and Music Echo - January 3rd 1970 - Cutting here.
John Peel says in his column " Paul (Padun) and elements of Asgard stayed at the Acres. We were supposed to drive to Coventry tonight to see Asgard play but there was talk of fog on the M1"
Sunrise by Asgard 1969
Month (Part 1 and 2) by Asgard
Trivialities part 1 and " by Asgard
The second part of Trivialities has lyrics sung and written by bass player Richard Kilbride.
Trivialities by Asgard
Trivialities to even deeper (deeper) meanings
that must be on my way.
somewhere.
The act of pleasing people
must be on my sometimes
If I can find my way
Listen to me people
I am on my way there
trying to find out how to please
To please you all
Trivialities
to even deeper things that
must be on my way
Even deeper deeper things
must be on my way
anywhere
The Origin of Asgard
"The band was formed as a school pal band in 1966. We were then called Union Jack and were a modish four piece Guitar, bass, Farfisa and drums. We performed Who type material (hence the awful name).
The three of us that became Asgard all lived within 200 yards of each other at Eastern Green and as Bill had a good shed behind his Garage that became our rehearsal studio, (every night). We soon started writing our own New wave or Psychedelic type music and did cover Nice and Pink Floyd. The name was inspired by Norse mythology, land of the gods."
From Richard Kilbride (Bassist).
They were one of Coventry's top progressive bands
They were one of Coventry's top progressive bands
Style of Music -
They described their music as 'An experiment in Sound'. Mostly their own compositions but influenced by organ based bands like Pink Floyd and The Nice.
C.J. Runicinan of Principal Edward's Magic Theatre wrote
"The original sound produced by Asgard comes as a refreshing change from the usual heavy cliché ridden bands who 'blow the mind' with volume and distortion. Asgard put the emphasis on quality and clarity of sound. Their sound has been described by other musicians as 'atmospheric'. The best example is the climax of their act, simply called Kill which is concerned with the emotional rejection, an intolerance towards love, peace etc. A very powerful end to their act. During the past three years, their sound has changed and will keep on changing as a continuous experiment in their search for a fluid and descriptive sound."
Asgard practiced in the Little Theatre at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club, 18, Queen Victoria Road, Coventry. and played gigs there.
The Arts Umbrella News (Weds 9th December 1970) entry for them was:
“Our resident electronic-instrumental group practise this Wednesday and most Wednesday in the little theatre. They don’t mind if sympathetic ears listen. But we emphasise that these are not performances, but music workshop sessions.” Wednesday 9th December 8.30pm.
Some of the Gigs we played in the Coventry area -
"We played a lot at the Umbrella Arts Club and the International Centre under the Cathedral as well as the usual haunts that all the bands played in. We played Warwick University Arts Festival Sunday March 7th 1971 at the ‘Blues Workshop’ with Pink Fairies, Whistler, Sorrows Skin Alley / Bubastis and Tuesday June 23rd 1970 they played a ‘Heavy Concert’ for Peter Waterman's progressive music venue - The Walsgrave with Wandering John and Pantomime - Coventry Police Ball Room on a 'Penny Tour' with Comus (fantastic!) and Demon Fuzz..The Village (Colin Campbell) Fri 8th January 1971 / Coventry Arts Umbrella Club - Transcendental Cauldron / Music Marathon and Band nights / Lanchester Poly Student Union / The Plough Club, Coventry / Jericho - in Coventry Cathedral Ruins - Saturday July 12th 1969 with Cy Grant, West Indian Steel Band, Indian Classical Dancing. "Since the Torbay Blues Festival, Asgard have played their own totally original music at clubs and colleges throughout England."
" From Richard Kilbride
Below Advert for the Police Ballroom Gig with Asgard and Comus 1970 from Broadgate Gnome.
Some of their Tracks -
Kill - Trivialities Parts 1 and 2 - Sunrise - Month - Parts 1 and 2 - Cover of Pink Floyd's Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Asgard Splits up
"The band moved to Devon to re write and re format the band, but doing so in a cottage we rented that had no electric, defeated the project and Bill went off to Uni, Terry went back with Bob to Coventry and myself and Adrian Watton (the bands light show and effects member) stayed, seduced by the area. I later formed a 6 piece band called Bo-Speak that had a good run of support playing throughout Devon, This band was a fusion band playing self written sets in the Talking Heads, Brian Eno type stuff." Just as an aside Paul (our manager) went to live with John Peel in his mews apartment in Upper Harley street whilst working for bands such as Roxy Music, Pink Floyd, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre and Chicargo Blues Band (as did Terry when the band (Asgard) split up)" Richard Kilbride.
From Asgard Roadie - Bob Mansfield - A bio of drummer Terry Westwood (sadly now passed away through cancer.)
"When the band went their merry ways Terry toured with Climax Blues Band along with Paul Padum for a short while after leaving Tialta Cottage in Westwood Ho, Devon. He then married Janet and lived with me in Coventry for a while until he got himself a house in Coventry. They have two sons, Neil and Lee, both of whom live near to him now in Kings Lynn. (Which is a great help at this present time). He left the heating industry (we originally both met as apprentice gas fitters in 1967) and became a lecturer in welding at Lloyds training school and got into education (technical). He joined CITB and moved back down to Westwood Ho to become regional manager for the local CITB moving finally to their head office in Kings Lynn to write their quality control system and become their health & safety director (I think). He was made redundant a number of years ago but remained on the payroll as an independent consultant, setting up his own business in the process. In between all of that he took an open university Masters Degree."
"Terry Westwood was the drummer (very much on the Nick Mason vogue) and whom the band met on the road actually jamming with them one wet Wednesday night at Mothers in Erdington. Unfortunately Bill Walker had a fatal heart attack weeks after he married circa 1975/8 ish as did their manager Paul Padum (Coventry lad, lived in Foleshill of Ukraine family) and knew Neol Davies (Cat's Grave - later the Selecter) who actually never really played with Asgard as a member, more of a guest line up when he was into the Sitar. Paul Padun died in Bahrain whilst working with Charles Aznavour circa 1980" Bob Mansfield.
Neol Davies in 1970 playing sitar with long hair - he guested with Asgard.
Memories from Trev Teasdel
" I first saw Asgard on my first visit to the Coventry Arts Umbrella club. The Transcendental Cauldron was an underground fringe arts festival or 'happening', which took place during Halloween, and which it's organisers hoped would bring the Umbrella more in line with what was happening at places like The Arts Lab in Drury Lane. They played on Friday 31st October in what was a weekend festival.
http://coventryartsumbrella.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/transcendental-cauldron-1969-umbrella.html
Asgard played in the Umbrella's Little Theatre out the back in Queen Victoria Road. It was a small shed with a stage and seats that held about 50 people. Asgard followed Last Fair Deal (an acoustic Country blues offshoot of Wandering John). Al Docker and I used to put the bands on at the Umbrella c 1970 / 71 and often sat in on Asgard's rehearsals. Sometime Neol Davies would join in on sitar or acoustic.
Bill Walker (the main composer and organ player) was a nice guy, quite, intelligent, and incredibly talented. One night at the Umbrella club, I was beginning to learn guitar so as to put music to my lyrics. I was tinkering on somebody's acoustic when Bill came over and taught me how to play the lead riff to Pink Floyd's Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun. Asgard of course covered that in their set, but I hadn't realised until then that Bill also played guitar. He was extremely patient while I mastered one of my first riffs!
Asgard played in the Umbrella's Little Theatre out the back in Queen Victoria Road. It was a small shed with a stage and seats that held about 50 people. Asgard followed Last Fair Deal (an acoustic Country blues offshoot of Wandering John). Al Docker and I used to put the bands on at the Umbrella c 1970 / 71 and often sat in on Asgard's rehearsals. Sometime Neol Davies would join in on sitar or acoustic.
Bill Walker (the main composer and organ player) was a nice guy, quite, intelligent, and incredibly talented. One night at the Umbrella club, I was beginning to learn guitar so as to put music to my lyrics. I was tinkering on somebody's acoustic when Bill came over and taught me how to play the lead riff to Pink Floyd's Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun. Asgard of course covered that in their set, but I hadn't realised until then that Bill also played guitar. He was extremely patient while I mastered one of my first riffs!
Asgard inspired a couple of my own lyrics: after the band played at Pete Waterman's Progressive Music venue at the Walsgrave pub (I did the door for Pete and he put music to one of my lyrics) I walked home, my head was full of Asgard's music and Bill's organ playing. Outside the wind was howling, it was particularly gusty and rainy night and their music inspired a new song. I only have a few lines from it now - lost in time - but here is the start inspired by Asgard...
The drums of the wind are beating
The night is awash with electric tears
Bushes dance to the riff of the city.
The drums of the wind are beating
The night is awash with electric tears
Bushes dance to the riff of the city.
Oh he can't play his Farfiza
Like the wind howls the blues tonight
No he can't play his Farfiza.....
Like the wind howls the blues
(By Trev Teasdel - 1970)
Another memory of Asgard that inspired a lyric was one Saturday afternoon upstairs at the umbrella, Asgard were due to play in the evening. A guy called Mick came in and complained "God the sun is hot" Terry Westwood of Asgard, quick as a flash, quipped "Well you shouldn't have touched it then!" -
Walking home along the London road to Willenhall that night after their concert, I wrote a new lyric, inspired by the bands I'd heard and using a Jew's harp to get the rhythm as I walked (it was after 2am so no one was around!) and Terry's quip inspired one of the middle 8 sections ( using as a symbolism) here and the refrain was influenced by their track Trivialities - Part 2.
BLACK LIZARD STREAM
Like the wind howls the blues tonight
No he can't play his Farfiza.....
Like the wind howls the blues
(By Trev Teasdel - 1970)
Another memory of Asgard that inspired a lyric was one Saturday afternoon upstairs at the umbrella, Asgard were due to play in the evening. A guy called Mick came in and complained "God the sun is hot" Terry Westwood of Asgard, quick as a flash, quipped "Well you shouldn't have touched it then!" -
Walking home along the London road to Willenhall that night after their concert, I wrote a new lyric, inspired by the bands I'd heard and using a Jew's harp to get the rhythm as I walked (it was after 2am so no one was around!) and Terry's quip inspired one of the middle 8 sections ( using as a symbolism) here and the refrain was influenced by their track Trivialities - Part 2.
BLACK LIZARD STREAM
by Trev Teasdel July 1970
Black cats creep out of the shadows
Liquid black and evil faced.
Black clouds crawl over the sky
Like Turtles over the sand.
Pinstripe pain within my frame,
I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Black lizard stream
Multicoloured claws and fangs.
I tried to turn the turnstile gate,
But the coin wouldn’t drop.
Now I find it’s much too late
Someone else has claimed the shop.
And I have lost my way
We have lost our way
Bridge
The mountain peaks, they touched the sun
But promptly burnt their hands.
A herd of hills leave their homes
Searching for a match to strike.
And I’m so low, I’m bound to go
Cos I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Black wizard dream
Burning cauldrons and magic potion.
I tried to wave his magic wand
But the spell backfired.
Now I find it’s much too late
The wand has been acquired.
And I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Bridge 2
A cloud in jest bathed its legs
In burning molten lava.
The cloud in pain, swore to rain
Forever, hereafter.
And I’m so low, I’m bound to go,
For I have lost my way.
We have lost our way..
The following are comments made on the original Asgard posts on Vox blog between 2007 and 2009. Vox has now closed down but i preserved the comments from that blog.
Jim Pryal (Coventry drummer and producer) - adds a piece about the band's Van -
Liquid black and evil faced.
Black clouds crawl over the sky
Like Turtles over the sand.
Pinstripe pain within my frame,
I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Black lizard stream
Multicoloured claws and fangs.
I tried to turn the turnstile gate,
But the coin wouldn’t drop.
Now I find it’s much too late
Someone else has claimed the shop.
And I have lost my way
We have lost our way
Bridge
The mountain peaks, they touched the sun
But promptly burnt their hands.
A herd of hills leave their homes
Searching for a match to strike.
And I’m so low, I’m bound to go
Cos I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Black wizard dream
Burning cauldrons and magic potion.
I tried to wave his magic wand
But the spell backfired.
Now I find it’s much too late
The wand has been acquired.
And I have lost my way.
We have lost our way.
Bridge 2
A cloud in jest bathed its legs
In burning molten lava.
The cloud in pain, swore to rain
Forever, hereafter.
And I’m so low, I’m bound to go,
For I have lost my way.
We have lost our way..
The following are comments made on the original Asgard posts on Vox blog between 2007 and 2009. Vox has now closed down but i preserved the comments from that blog.
Jim Pryal (Coventry drummer and producer) - adds a piece about the band's Van -
"Transits were the favoured mode of transport for bands. Long wheelbase 35cwt with partition for the gear and aircraft seats and side windows behind the driver were considered 'de rigour' I remember Asgard had a white bull nose' Perkins deisel Transit of that very spec."
Mick Gawthorp (Ex Whistler - flute and sax) -
"they were essentially a trio built around Bill's formidable keyboard skills. The picture of Neol shows him before he grew his hair seriously long ... and big beard. I've probably mentioned this before but Asgard played one gig in St Ives with Principal Edwards Magic Theatre and another before a huge audience in (I think) Victoria Park with - amongst others- Liverpool Scene. The Warwick Uni gig at which Whistler played was one of a couple, but I remember very well Twink (one of their drummers) smashing some poor student's acoustic up for added dramatic effect."
Trev Teasdel
"Thanks Jim and Mick - the pic of Neol was from Broadgate Gnome 1970/71. I remember the band van - had a lift in it a couple of times with Al Docker. I was at the Warwick gig with I think Loz Netto - the Pink Fairies were too and Loz had a go on their guitars in the dressing room while they filled a condom with water in the loos - it exploded drenching two gentlemen in suits! Wasn't Twink one of the Pink Fairies - I know there was a Cov Twink but I didn't know he was a drummer. I will check my diary entries to see if their names are in there. I didn't know of the St. Ives gig but it would figure - we sat for hours listening to Bill playing while they practiced and never really got board!
Jim Pryal - (this is good] I remember the Cov Twink and his mate Mark. Cov Twink in them days looked like Jim Morrison- complete with buckskin fringed jacket. They were regular visitors to the Whitley village flat I shared. A nice bloke but yer wouldn't mess with him. The Cov Twink fancied himself as a drummer but to my knowledge never played a set of drums or played in any band at all, ever. I might be wrong.
Mick Gawthorp [this is good)
"We probably knew each other all those years ago! I played sax/ flute in Whistler and also did a couple of gigs with Asgard, one of which was in Cornwall (near St Ives) and the one in Victoria Park which I think was vaguely related to a Festival of Light type thing. What I remember about that gig was John Lennon wishing everyone all the best via a telephone call! I think Liverpool Scene also played. Bill, who was as you say a virtuoso performer, went out with my sister (Jill) round about the same period. I also remember visiting a few of them (including Paul the manager) one summer when they had a house in Devon/ Cornwall. Hang on, I also remember a roadie (nice guy) who went out with - or maybe even married - a girl called (I think) Elaine. Was he a bus-driver at some point? This is going to get even more confusing as there now seem to be two Micks on this sight. If we do know each other, its been a long time!!!Posted by: mick | 10/25/2007 at 11:31 PM
Bob Mansfield (Asgard roadie) - I Came across this by accident and have answers to some of your questions. Bill Walker was the musical genius behind Asgard (Greek mytholigy, land of the gods). Who am i? Ex roadie and friend who has great memories of those days at the Umbrella club and many more clubs and venues of the 70s/80s and who will never forget Bills rendition of tecarter and fugue (The Nice version) as i walked down the aisle.
Bob Mansfield - The one in Cornwall was a bit of a disaster as i remember, badly organised 'hippy type' gathering where no-one had a clue what was going on and we got landed with a 'disabled guy' who was a bit of a nutter. We also did a bit of a mini tour down in Devon the same year, Terry had to lend his drum kit to Keef Hartley as there van got lost somewhere. That was Torquay town hall with Family and a few other bands i cant remember, we ended up playing 'Green Onions' in a working men's pub for a chip supper we were that hard up. The roadie you remember wasn't a roadie, he was in charge of the light show, named Adrian, married Elaine, had an affair with a school girl he met on his bus, got divorced, married the schoolgirl, had two kids, started wandering again, got divorced, got the sack and we haven't heard of him for a few years. Rumour has it he is still in Bideford somewhere? Anyhow, long time ago and i have work to do. PS i was the hard working roadie.
Mick Gawthorpe - Absolutely you were! I also remember the 'disabled guy' who seemed to assume that Asgard would do a set/ jam with him. On the Cornwall gig we all shared a caravan with him. And how could I forget Adrian? Or Elaine? Can I take it that you didn't move down to the West Country with them (but just kept going by the look of your address?)
Bob Mansfield No, we ALL moved to North Devon to 'Tialta' cottage (no gas, electric, running water or sanitation but hey did we care?) opposite Top Camp (Ex co-op holiday camp) on the hill in Westwood Ho where Terry met Janet whom he later married. Spent a beautiful summer lazing around whilst trying hard to get a job (spent two weeks in 'the toy works' and that was it) Bill worked for Dennis Diamond )local frozen food company) and used to come home with pockets full of peas and burgers, got raided by the local plod as they thought we were all drug dealers, worked a bit with a couple of local bands with Dave Easterlow (fellow roadie) who was living in Instow with a band from Leamington Spa (who had a guy named Digger who played guitar) and then when the lease was up on the cottage decided to head back to Coventry. Gill (new wife) had a job in Bideford but there was very little going on in rural Devon so we thought it best to head home. Richard married 'Gilly Willy' but got divorced within a couple of years, he also worked on the buses with Adrian but didn't get the sack.
Mick Gawthorpe Its all coming back now. John Westacott (bass player with Whistler and later Urge) and I went to the West Country one summer and called in at what must have been the above. Met up again with Nick Trevisick (former Whistler drummer) who had moved back to the West Country but who had been banned from the house by Paul manager! Zoot Money played some place there and I think Spirit of John Morgan had a residency someplace. I know Neol Davies and I went to the Blind Faith concert in Hyde Park and I'm sure I can remember getting there in Asgard's van, in which case you probably drove!
Further info regarding Asgard Umbrella gigs - from Trev Teasdel
ASGARD also played alongside the Birmingham Band Ghost at the Umbrella Club In September 1970 (a Friday night). I remember going to the CBR Music Agency in Queen Victoria Rd. with Al Docker who put on the bands at the Umbrella before me. He booked them and Birmingham bands Audience, Pantomime and Tea & Symphony via CBR - maybe others. The CBR HQ was just a few doors down from the Umbrella. I think it was a good night - well attended - I did the door at that stage.
Asgard also played alongside Trad B Jefferson and April at the Umbrella July 1970
BroadgateGnome
"Well we was only learning. The disabled guy was I think called Phil, played guitar a bit like Ry Cooder., Lesley will know, she lived with him for a few years, He owned a caravan site, lived in one of the vans cos of all the mad women in the farmhouse. Him and Dave once did a wheelchair race off the quay at Penzance as a fund raiser, and both ended up having to be saved from the water. Him and Kevin (Al dockers mate in the Iis) were the first people to have computers (apricots ) in Cornwall He took to computer programming, went to the states and made millions.
He was the treasurer for gigs and stuff, and often came back from paying the artists, but still with the money,,,cos they had such a good time,,,we only found out the truth years later
Pearl
Posted by: BroadgateGnome | 10/28/2007 at 07:40 PM
Coventry Kid
There is no point asking me about those days. I think Pearl means Rick, who was sometimes called Phyllis. Especially when it got picky. Yes Lesley lived with him, but with his wife's blessing. Giggle. I thought the Asgard gig was before the major exodus from Cov.
I met Rick at Exeter in 66, he was a chem major. There was a big theatrical cooperative thing at Exeter, Edwards was just one of the faces. At weekends and summer break many of the performers would head down to Ricks . Most would end up sleeping in the woods above St Ives. I did a couple of Magic Theatre trips , met Hawkwind at one , another was to Mothers.
The Digger thing on Cornwall didn't start until late 71, before that it was just hippy trippy.
I was with Rick until 75 , when he missed getting caught up in Julie by a squeak. We divorced in 1980.
Wasn't one of the links with Asgard via Lesley.a relative of her foster parents or something like that. She has the same surname as the drummer
Who knows what has happened to Ollie's website.?
Kathy. Posted by: CoventryKid | 10/28/2007 at 08:25 PM
A and R
There's chap called Bob somewhere who collected photos and info on everything that happened in Cornwall.(except Julie) I am not sure how early he was down there from , so maybe not for the Penzance and St IIves does. He definitely did the Polggooth fayres and then stayed with the crew through The Elephant Fayres and Treworgey and was amongst those who were poached when Beavis went commercial with Glastonbury.
But he collected stuff from all kind of people. Dave might still hear from him , I think hes the chap that got the Legs and later just Malcolm all the work in the Comedy tent year after year
I keep waiting for him to show up on the Festivals site.
Pearl
Colin Barnes
Stumbled across this blog. I am from Cov and saw Asgard somewhat bizarrely) at the Coventry police social club when they were on a 'Penny Tour' with Comus (fantastic!) and Demon Fuzz. It was 50p to get in I think so it must have been 1971. I also remember Twink; hanging round the Golden Cross, didn't know he purported to be a musician though!
Loads of other memories of bands. Posted by: Colin Barnes | 09/17/2008 at 10:01 PM
Richard Kilbride
I was the bass player that no one can remember... Thankyou and it is Richard KILBRIDE not Mc...... It is so bizarre to see all these names and places that had become more of a dream than a true memory and I am so glad that the band has
Posted by: richard kilbride | 01/22/2009 at 09:57 PM
Mick Gawthorp (Ex Whistler - flute and sax) -
"they were essentially a trio built around Bill's formidable keyboard skills. The picture of Neol shows him before he grew his hair seriously long ... and big beard. I've probably mentioned this before but Asgard played one gig in St Ives with Principal Edwards Magic Theatre and another before a huge audience in (I think) Victoria Park with - amongst others- Liverpool Scene. The Warwick Uni gig at which Whistler played was one of a couple, but I remember very well Twink (one of their drummers) smashing some poor student's acoustic up for added dramatic effect."
Trev Teasdel
"Thanks Jim and Mick - the pic of Neol was from Broadgate Gnome 1970/71. I remember the band van - had a lift in it a couple of times with Al Docker. I was at the Warwick gig with I think Loz Netto - the Pink Fairies were too and Loz had a go on their guitars in the dressing room while they filled a condom with water in the loos - it exploded drenching two gentlemen in suits! Wasn't Twink one of the Pink Fairies - I know there was a Cov Twink but I didn't know he was a drummer. I will check my diary entries to see if their names are in there. I didn't know of the St. Ives gig but it would figure - we sat for hours listening to Bill playing while they practiced and never really got board!
Jim Pryal - (this is good] I remember the Cov Twink and his mate Mark. Cov Twink in them days looked like Jim Morrison- complete with buckskin fringed jacket. They were regular visitors to the Whitley village flat I shared. A nice bloke but yer wouldn't mess with him. The Cov Twink fancied himself as a drummer but to my knowledge never played a set of drums or played in any band at all, ever. I might be wrong.
Mick Gawthorp [this is good)
"We probably knew each other all those years ago! I played sax/ flute in Whistler and also did a couple of gigs with Asgard, one of which was in Cornwall (near St Ives) and the one in Victoria Park which I think was vaguely related to a Festival of Light type thing. What I remember about that gig was John Lennon wishing everyone all the best via a telephone call! I think Liverpool Scene also played. Bill, who was as you say a virtuoso performer, went out with my sister (Jill) round about the same period. I also remember visiting a few of them (including Paul the manager) one summer when they had a house in Devon/ Cornwall. Hang on, I also remember a roadie (nice guy) who went out with - or maybe even married - a girl called (I think) Elaine. Was he a bus-driver at some point? This is going to get even more confusing as there now seem to be two Micks on this sight. If we do know each other, its been a long time!!!Posted by: mick | 10/25/2007 at 11:31 PM
Bob Mansfield (Asgard roadie) - I Came across this by accident and have answers to some of your questions. Bill Walker was the musical genius behind Asgard (Greek mytholigy, land of the gods). Who am i? Ex roadie and friend who has great memories of those days at the Umbrella club and many more clubs and venues of the 70s/80s and who will never forget Bills rendition of tecarter and fugue (The Nice version) as i walked down the aisle.
Bob Mansfield - The one in Cornwall was a bit of a disaster as i remember, badly organised 'hippy type' gathering where no-one had a clue what was going on and we got landed with a 'disabled guy' who was a bit of a nutter. We also did a bit of a mini tour down in Devon the same year, Terry had to lend his drum kit to Keef Hartley as there van got lost somewhere. That was Torquay town hall with Family and a few other bands i cant remember, we ended up playing 'Green Onions' in a working men's pub for a chip supper we were that hard up. The roadie you remember wasn't a roadie, he was in charge of the light show, named Adrian, married Elaine, had an affair with a school girl he met on his bus, got divorced, married the schoolgirl, had two kids, started wandering again, got divorced, got the sack and we haven't heard of him for a few years. Rumour has it he is still in Bideford somewhere? Anyhow, long time ago and i have work to do. PS i was the hard working roadie.
Mick Gawthorpe - Absolutely you were! I also remember the 'disabled guy' who seemed to assume that Asgard would do a set/ jam with him. On the Cornwall gig we all shared a caravan with him. And how could I forget Adrian? Or Elaine? Can I take it that you didn't move down to the West Country with them (but just kept going by the look of your address?)
Bob Mansfield No, we ALL moved to North Devon to 'Tialta' cottage (no gas, electric, running water or sanitation but hey did we care?) opposite Top Camp (Ex co-op holiday camp) on the hill in Westwood Ho where Terry met Janet whom he later married. Spent a beautiful summer lazing around whilst trying hard to get a job (spent two weeks in 'the toy works' and that was it) Bill worked for Dennis Diamond )local frozen food company) and used to come home with pockets full of peas and burgers, got raided by the local plod as they thought we were all drug dealers, worked a bit with a couple of local bands with Dave Easterlow (fellow roadie) who was living in Instow with a band from Leamington Spa (who had a guy named Digger who played guitar) and then when the lease was up on the cottage decided to head back to Coventry. Gill (new wife) had a job in Bideford but there was very little going on in rural Devon so we thought it best to head home. Richard married 'Gilly Willy' but got divorced within a couple of years, he also worked on the buses with Adrian but didn't get the sack.
Mick Gawthorpe Its all coming back now. John Westacott (bass player with Whistler and later Urge) and I went to the West Country one summer and called in at what must have been the above. Met up again with Nick Trevisick (former Whistler drummer) who had moved back to the West Country but who had been banned from the house by Paul manager! Zoot Money played some place there and I think Spirit of John Morgan had a residency someplace. I know Neol Davies and I went to the Blind Faith concert in Hyde Park and I'm sure I can remember getting there in Asgard's van, in which case you probably drove!
Further info regarding Asgard Umbrella gigs - from Trev Teasdel
ASGARD also played alongside the Birmingham Band Ghost at the Umbrella Club In September 1970 (a Friday night). I remember going to the CBR Music Agency in Queen Victoria Rd. with Al Docker who put on the bands at the Umbrella before me. He booked them and Birmingham bands Audience, Pantomime and Tea & Symphony via CBR - maybe others. The CBR HQ was just a few doors down from the Umbrella. I think it was a good night - well attended - I did the door at that stage.
Asgard also played alongside Trad B Jefferson and April at the Umbrella July 1970
BroadgateGnome
"Well we was only learning. The disabled guy was I think called Phil, played guitar a bit like Ry Cooder., Lesley will know, she lived with him for a few years, He owned a caravan site, lived in one of the vans cos of all the mad women in the farmhouse. Him and Dave once did a wheelchair race off the quay at Penzance as a fund raiser, and both ended up having to be saved from the water. Him and Kevin (Al dockers mate in the Iis) were the first people to have computers (apricots ) in Cornwall He took to computer programming, went to the states and made millions.
He was the treasurer for gigs and stuff, and often came back from paying the artists, but still with the money,,,cos they had such a good time,,,we only found out the truth years later
Pearl
Posted by: BroadgateGnome | 10/28/2007 at 07:40 PM
Coventry Kid
There is no point asking me about those days. I think Pearl means Rick, who was sometimes called Phyllis. Especially when it got picky. Yes Lesley lived with him, but with his wife's blessing. Giggle. I thought the Asgard gig was before the major exodus from Cov.
I met Rick at Exeter in 66, he was a chem major. There was a big theatrical cooperative thing at Exeter, Edwards was just one of the faces. At weekends and summer break many of the performers would head down to Ricks . Most would end up sleeping in the woods above St Ives. I did a couple of Magic Theatre trips , met Hawkwind at one , another was to Mothers.
The Digger thing on Cornwall didn't start until late 71, before that it was just hippy trippy.
I was with Rick until 75 , when he missed getting caught up in Julie by a squeak. We divorced in 1980.
Wasn't one of the links with Asgard via Lesley.a relative of her foster parents or something like that. She has the same surname as the drummer
Who knows what has happened to Ollie's website.?
Kathy. Posted by: CoventryKid | 10/28/2007 at 08:25 PM
A and R
There's chap called Bob somewhere who collected photos and info on everything that happened in Cornwall.(except Julie) I am not sure how early he was down there from , so maybe not for the Penzance and St IIves does. He definitely did the Polggooth fayres and then stayed with the crew through The Elephant Fayres and Treworgey and was amongst those who were poached when Beavis went commercial with Glastonbury.
But he collected stuff from all kind of people. Dave might still hear from him , I think hes the chap that got the Legs and later just Malcolm all the work in the Comedy tent year after year
I keep waiting for him to show up on the Festivals site.
Pearl
Colin Barnes
Stumbled across this blog. I am from Cov and saw Asgard somewhat bizarrely) at the Coventry police social club when they were on a 'Penny Tour' with Comus (fantastic!) and Demon Fuzz. It was 50p to get in I think so it must have been 1971. I also remember Twink; hanging round the Golden Cross, didn't know he purported to be a musician though!
Loads of other memories of bands. Posted by: Colin Barnes | 09/17/2008 at 10:01 PM
Richard Kilbride
I was the bass player that no one can remember... Thankyou and it is Richard KILBRIDE not Mc...... It is so bizarre to see all these names and places that had become more of a dream than a true memory and I am so glad that the band has
Posted by: richard kilbride | 01/22/2009 at 09:57 PM
A MORE RECENT DISCUSSION ON COV - THE MUSIC PAGE ON FACEBOOK 2022
Trev TeasdelAn interesting discussion transpired around this video with myself - Malcolm Downs (Asgard roadie) Richard Kilbride (Asgard bassist) and Fred Bison / Pete Clemons - music writer.
Malcolm Downs
Trev I reckon the acetates were recorded about 1970 maybe even 71, Bill and I were still at school until summer of 1969 so had to be later than that.I had some very early stuff recorded on my 4 track tape recorder probably from about 1967, but it disappeared into the annals of time many moons ago. Wish I still had it. Never been aware of any master tape, so probably straight to acetate. Maybe for an album, Richard may remember or maybe Bob Mansfield.
Richard Kilbride
Trev Teasdel It was recorded to a tape. We then had the acetates made for Paul to take around to A&R men at record labels I remember offing around London with him one day trying to get it listened too. We even went to Apple but could even get through the door. It was a very disappointing day. We also had Muff Winwood come to the shed to hear us play but he didn't like what we were playing and said it wasn't for them. I had the only surviving copy of the acetate but have a CD it's was copied to. Getting the mix right in those days was difficult and as the band was basically a rhythm section driving the keyboard it had to fill much more than had we had a guitarist. Once Bill got the Lowry organ. The sound improved immensely. A much richer Hammond like sound. I always felt the Farfisa keyboard was a very thin sound.
Sunrise benefitted with the recording studio having a mellotron which was put on the 4th track. We only had the studio for a morning so couldn't do many takes We never got into the studio with Dandelion. We couldn't afford the fees and Peel didn't have a studio of his own. He had invested already with Principal Edwards and a few others so there was nothing left in the pot for us. We needed to raise £2000 to cut an album, which might as well have been £2 million for us then. I think the acetate was recorded 1970 before Bill got the Lowry.
Fred Bison
Malcolm Downs if you were both at school in 69, crikey you must have really young when playing dates in London that go back (I think) as far as 1967
Malcolm Downs
Fred Bison we both left after the upper sixth in summer 1969 aged 18 ! Don’t think the London gigs were until 1970ish.
Trev Teasdel
Malcolm Downs What school? Think Fred said the gigs were from 1968 Melody Maker
Malcolm Downs
Kenilworth Grammar School. Where we lived in Eastern Green was outside the Coventry City boundary when we took the eleven plus, so we had to go to Warwickshire schools.
Bill and I went to infants, junior and secondary school together so were good friends for many years.
Fred Bison
Malcolm Downs check out adverts from national music magazines at bottom of this link. Fairly sure they are from 1968. At first I thought their was maybe another Asgard. But seeing Ra Ho-Tep also was too much of a coincidence.
https://coventrygigs.blogspot.com/.../asgard-in-london.html
Asgard in London
Malcolm Downs
Fred Bison the last advert has listings for Sunday May 4th which would make that one 1969. Can’t see any dates on the others unfortunately. We were just finishing A levels about then so maybe they did have gigs in London whilst we were still at school… See more
Richard Kilbride
The Acetate I think was recorded in Leamington Spa. Also as the band moved to Devon in summer '71. All those gigs would have been either late 69 or through 70. We moved to Devon in the spring of 71. We certainly didn't do any London gigs in 68.
I left school in 67. We were certainly doing loads of gigs in 69. I was a year older than Bill and Terry. Terry left school same year as me. He became an apprentice gas fitter.
I had a few weeks at Coventry art college but as I could only get in on a pottery course. I chucked after only turning up about 3 times and went job hunting. Ended up in a Builders merchants as a trainee manager for a while before realising it was a con to get cheap youth Labour. Then went and worked for Cov corporation as a mowing and gardening hand at Canley .
John Peel Story from Richard Kilbride
"Our Manager Paul Padun had become friendly with Peel through doing some roadying for Alexis Korner's band, I think it was Rocket 66 or 88. He played Peel a tape which resulted in him putting us on at Mothers on his up and coming night. Through that Peel got us many other gigs. We played with him at the Torquay Blues festival. On the night we played Blodwyn Pig were to headline but they didn't turn up. The audience were getting a little hostile when Peel asked if we could go back on. We told him we didn't have much more material but we would happily improvise a set. He went out front and told the audience that he had persuaded us to return back on and hoped they would appreciate us helping to save the night. We were a bit apprehensive but it all went well in the end. In celebration Peel offered to treat us all to fish and chips, so we hiked off with him only to get refused to be served because we were a bunch of scruffy hippies.
From there we did many gigs with him, including a big CND demo in Victoria park London. We went on before, The Crazy world of Arthur Brown.
We played another at the Roundhouse with Principal Edwards Magic Theatre. We did many gigs with them too as they had just signed to Dandelion and had an album out. Dandelion, Peels own label nearly bankrupted him. He wanted us to record for him but we needed to help pay for the recording studio. I was mowing Lawns for Coventry Corporation, Terry was an apprentice and Bill was studying so we could hardly afford to pay for the van and diesel let alone a studio in London.
How we came to stay at Peel acres, I think was due to us having a couple of gigs in London and were offered his floor, (we spent many nights on floors) I think one was at the famous Eel pie Island. We were like kids in a sweet shop with floor to ceiling albums and some unopened on his inside steps, from record companies and bands. So we played as many as we could, treating them like gold and playing with scalextric til the wee small hours (daylight).
I remember playing table football with Peel at Mothers one Thursday, which was his up and coming talent night. By then we knew him fairly well and its a huge shame we were just a little late to the Dandelion party or things might have been very different.
He was a real gentleman and his enthusiasm for new music lasted his whole life.
I was very sad when I heard of his death in South America.
We were very young at the time, I was just 20 and Bill and Terry were 19. We seemed to always be with older bands and hero's, looking up in awe and seeking advice, watching for that special something that many of those bands had.
Mothers was another amazing venue, I saw so many bands there including,
Pink Floyd, Free, Canned Heat, the Nice, bonzo dog Doo Dah Band, Jethro Tull, Family, Brian Auger.....etc, etc. Happy days."
The Nadir came when we decided to move down to North Devon, to reinvent the band. We hired a cottage with a Caravan in the garden, Tealta cottage above Westward Ho! We moved down with our respective ladies of the days but when we found that the Electricity had not been connected and we had to find places to sort out a new more complex set, it all seemed to fall to pieces. The idea of having a room with gear set up permanently lacked only A/C current.
We all got jobs, enjoyed the beaches and slowly drifted apart music wise. Then at the end of the Summer Bill left to go to Uni, Terry went back to Coventry with Bob and Gill, our roadies. I stayed in Devon with Gill and Adrian the light show technician and his Lady Elaine.
By now Paul had managed to get offered the whole remains of a tour, that would have included the U.S., replacing a band called T2, who had split. So again another huge opportunity had gone.
Paul stayed in London and became road manager for Alexis Korner and also toured in the crew of Pink Floyd.
He managed to get me an invite to Alexis Korners 50th birthday bash, that was held in the great Gatsby set, in Pinewood studios. The musicians present and playing included, Alexis himself Zoot Money, Eric Clapton, who bummed a cigarette off me after the gig, Chris Farlowe, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker Bob Geldoff was there with Paula Yates. Eric Clapton had just come out of rehab and played behind the curtain until he was called out by Alexis, to rapturous applause.
It was a pretty awesome party, with lumps of dope on the tables and the Rolling Stones mobile recording studio outside recording it all."
Paul Padun was in my class at school, as was Roye Albrighton.
I saw them In Kettering 1970(?) supporting Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, who had recently moved there...(God knows why...)...
I loved watching these lads. I was lucky enough to appear at gigs with Wandering John as the support act. Rich Kilbride is sadly, the only surviving member, and I value his near lifelong friendship!
Principal Edwards had a house in the Country, can't remember where but we stayed there a couple of times. When all of us, including Adrian the light show tech, Bob and Gill and Mick, the roadies and them and theirs. There was about 20 to feed.
I remember a huge pot of mashed potato I helped one of their dancers to prepare. I had a bit of a crush on her. Also The residency mentioned was at Blaises. The Roundhouse was a sort of hippy fest thing. First time I saw vegan food... mainly stalls selling lentil and chickpea gruel but very tasty.
I saw Asgard a couple of times, once in the old Butt's Technical College canteen supporting Status Quo if my memory is correct. Quo's 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' had just been released.
I do have the original acetate. Unfortunately the more it got played, the worse it got and when one of our dear friends was soldering a jack plug in our practice shed. He flicked the old solder off the iron, straight on to the acetate.
The recordings shown here were recorded from the acetate.
I also have some photos and flyers plus the original copy of Disc where Peel mentioned us. Paul Padun (our manager) became a friend of Peels as he moved to London to promote us, working for Alexis Korner, The Climax Blues band and eventually toured with Pink Floyd as a techy.
We once stayed overnight at Peel acres. The floor to ceiling record collection on every wall was mind bogling. We were like kids in a sweet shop picking albums to play and playing on the Scalextric he owned with Marc Bolan and took up a room.
Unfortunately Peel had overstretched himself with Dandelion and required us to put up funds to record.
As we were totally broke having to support a long wheel base transit, which was de riguer for bands in those days.
The first thing Bob, our roady did after picking us up for a gig, was to put out his hand to the 3 of us in our aircraft seats, (also de riguer) behind him in the back and ask for 10 bob for diesel to get us to the gig.
We never ever saw a penny of the money earned by playing. It all went back into the gear and the van
The Umbrella club was a regular jaunt either to play or just hang out.
Great days indeed.
Julie Goodall, the wife of Wandering John manager Dave has past over some of Asgard memorabilia that she found to the Coventry music museum. Which I hope hand over all the stuff, including the famous acetate, when I can get to visit.
The headliner on the night we were playing had broken down enroute and there was no way they were going to make it.
He asked if we would do another set in their place. Wee had no other material to offer, so we went on and improvised.
It was well received and our reward was to be treated by Peel to fish and chips all round.
Off we traipsed to the nearest chippy. On entering, the proprietor, a foul mouthed individual, told us all to "get the hell out of his shop.
as he wasn't serving dirty long haired hippies in his establishment"
So Peel, ourselves and hair roamed the streets of Torquay until we finally found a chippy happy to serve us.
Those were the days.
Also Jericho - The Cathedral Ruins I remember the gig well. We were on last and our set ender, Kill, that had a typical prog rock excess of improvisation, happened to quieten just as the hour bells started to ring for 11pm, purely by accident I might add
We enthusiastically incorporated it into the number by joining in with the chimes, which went down rather well with the audience.
The ruins must be one of the very best places to get the honour of playing in. This was the line up with Cy Grant and the West Indian Steel Band and Indian Classical Dancing.
We enthusiastically incorporated it into the number by joining in with the chimes, which went down rather well with the audience.
The ruins must be one of the very best places to get the honour of playing in. This was the line up with Cy Grant and the West Indian Steel Band and Indian Classical Dancing.
Below - Asgard in action
Terry Westwood on drums
Bill Walker - Organ
Bill Walker organ
Richard Kilbride on Bass
Mick Gawthorpe Sax - with Whistler but guested with Asgard.
Richard Kilbride - bass
Bill Walker - organist
Asgard in London c 1969 / 70
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)