GOD'S TOYS

GOD'S TOYS

BAND INDEX

Rex Brough says - 

"A band that almost "made it" Brilliant live. Supported Adam and the Ants on tour. Apparently it was hell, and split up the band. Dill Formed I. Chris Dickie became a recording engineer, working at RAK with Mickie Most."

Martin Bowes told me that Dill helped him start Alternative Sounds although he didn't continue to be involved.

Line up - Dill - Vocals, Chris Dickie - Bass, Nick Kavaz - Keyboards, Larry Lupin - Guitar, John Hobley - Drums.

Single

All the born losers / I love the sound of my own voice 1980

Everybody's got a mother / Package tour to heaven (Badge BAD 7) 1981

From Pete Chambers - Godiva Rocks

" After the Revolution that was Punk, many bands were heading away from New Wave looking for something that had the ethos and strength of Punk, but harnessed in a far more creative ''arty' way (or Arty-Natty) as the band's first ever song put it. God's Toys were such an animal. Fronted by Dill, who was forever the Divine frontman, one of those guys that was always a star, despite if success would come his way or not, he was it. They played their first gig at Warwick University supporting the Specials and Squad. They once described themselves as as a fun show band and that pretty much summed them up. With Dill leaping around the stage in bizarre clothes, and Larry Lupin in even more bizarre clothes and full make up)...Chris Dickie (bass player) just happened to share a flat with Jerry Dammers who helped in the Toys conception. Their original rock and reggae made them fleeting darlings of the national music press. They released two singles but despite all the interest and the constant rumours that they were about to break and a support slot with Adam and the Ants it did not transpire. Chris Dickie left to become a recording engineer at RAK with Mickie Most. Larry joined the Giraffes. Dill formed I"

Memories from Peter Howard (Via Rex Brough)

"Well. I was never in Gods Toys but seeing as they were good mates I lent Larry my Les Paul copy that went on tour with them when they supported Adam and the Ants. You¹re quite right. That tour destroyed them. The straw that broke the camel¹s back was the gig at Coventry Tiffanys. For the first time the sound was brilliant, they were seriously rocking and as they were on home turf, going down a storm. And then suddenly, the plug was pulled and that was it. Bastards. I saw Larry and Chris just before the Ants came on. Larry was in tears and Chris was going beserk. Enough said.[One of their singles] had one of my photos on the sleeve. They were at the time one of the best bands in Coventry. Happy days."

YouTube Video

You might have to click back to youTube to view this one.

Horror Movie    

DARWIN DREAMS WHILE HUMANS SCREAM

HIDDEN MONKEY CHICHEN EGG

HATE SIN LOVE AGAIN

AMERICAN DREAM

Mr.MIMIC

Perilous Seas

Everybody's Got A Mother

From Alternative Sounds (Cov 1979)

The Giraffes (Also The Two Giraffes)

 The Giraffes (Also The Two Giraffes)

Sam McNulty (ex-Squad) - Vocals and guitar, Nigel Williams (from the Wedge café) - Guitar, Larry Lupin (ex-Gods Toys) - Bass guitar, Steve Edgson (ex-Analog, Pink Umbrellas, Reluctant Stereotypes) - Clarinet / Guitar, Martin (from Wedge cafe) - Drums (replaced by Rob Hill ex- everyone), Ted Duggan - Drums for a short period.

Dominic Hazel - original bass player.

Memories from Mike Crabb (Via Rex Brough)

"I remember their alcohol fuelled Friday night residencies at The Giraffe House(Rose & Crown) with great fondness."

Later Sam McNulty and Steve Edgson formed The Two Giraffes - see this video.

Gypsy Lee

 Gypsy Lee

Ticket from Pete Waterman's Progressive Music gig at The Walsgrave Coventry.

BAND INDEX

Gypsy Lee were a heavy R & B outfit who played Pete Waterman's progressive music night at the Walsgrave pub on Tuesday September 1st 1970, along with Rod Felton (Electric) and Last Fair Deal ( an offshoot acoustic blues trio associated with Wandering John.

My only information on them is from this night at the Walsgrave. I used to do the door at the Walsgrave for Pete and was there on the night. The place was packed and Gypsy Lee went down a storm, especially their cover of the Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin.

The highlight of the night for me was when the young Pete Waterman joined them on stage with his flute! They launched into Rock Me Baby, with Pete on a raucous vocal and staccato flute - Jethro Tull style.

Pete had sang and played with a number of bands before he became the top DJ in Cov - the Pilgrims in the mid 60's and Tomorrow's Kind in 1967. Pete seemed to know the guys more than just because he had booked them so it's possible there were some old band mates in this band, but i can't be sure of that!

GEORGE AND THE DRAGONS

GEORGE AND THE DRAGONS

BAND INDEX

circa 1963 - 1964 - Beat group - Line up: Brian Wilkins (vocals, guitar), Roger Lomas (lead guitar, vocals), Rick Bradford (bass), Tom Russel (drums). Beatles and Shadows cover versions. Lomas went on to form The Clouds - Source Broadgate Gnome

GENEVA WHEEL

 

GENEVA WHEEL

C. early 70's
Played Lanchester Poly (Coventry) Mon 5th April with Indian Summer / Fresh Maggots / Tsar / Whistler & Ra Ho Tep.

BAND INDEX

Gdansk

 

Gdansk

BAND INDEX

Gdansk
Featuring guitarist and vocalist Danny Cunningham, previously of Coventry punk band ‘Squad' Gdansk are - Derek Finan on drums, Mick Tedder on bass, and Barney Cunningham on lead guitar.


GDANSK ON SONAR RECORDS
"Now available for download, and 12” 33 rpm vinyl the tracks on the 'Prospect Street' EP were produced by Gdansk and written by Danny Cunningham and Gdansk.

The Cunningham / Gdansk penned track, 'Stand Up' was issued as a pre-release single in Spain and is available on the Sonar 25th Anniversary album.

The GAZELLES

The GAZELLES

BAND INDEX

circa 1964-5 - Source Broadgate Gnome. R&B / Beat group

Line up: Michael O'Rourke (vocals), Graham Stansfield (lead guitar), Christopher Hollsworth (rhythm guitar), William Campbell (bass), Christopher Cooper (drums).


Managed by Fred Burden, they came second in 1964's 'Big Beat Contest'. They later cut some demos at Panthos Studios, turning professional in 1965. Stansfield and O'Rourke went on to The Image.

Most Local groups find it a Waste of Time to Turn Pro.

By Andy Anderson - Coventry Standard July 8th 1965

(From the article below)

The big beat boom may be over but at least one local group still looks forward to  a professional career and a possible place in the record charts.

The group is the Gazelles and they are managed by Fred Burden. The five Gazelles are bass guitarist William Campbell 17, lead guitarist Gordon Stansfield 16, rhythm guitarist Christopher Hollsworth 18, drums Christopher Cooper 18, Vocals Michael O'Rourke, an engineer.

Their manager told me that the group formed 12 months ago and were keen on turning professional and were quite willing to give up their jobs to have a go at the charts. 

"We have been held up waiting for Gordon Stansfield to sit his O'level GEC's" said Mr Burden. The Gazelles came second in last winter's Big Beat Contest in Coventry and were then tipped for a professional career.

TOO MANY LATE NIGHTS

They have already made a test recording at Panthos Recording Studios, Balsall Common and are looking forward to a recording contract in the near future.

Mr Burden said that the group had been offered plenty of bookings but had turned some of them down. "We feel it is detrimental to the boys health to expect them to do an ordinary job in the daytime and work for the group in the evening and rarely get to bed before two o'clock in the morning" he said.

"Playing in a group is exhausting work and the Gazelles would be relieved to turn professional"

At the moment they are making only a small profit from booking as hire purchase payments on their £1,800 equipment and travelling expenses leave little in the way of spare cash.