A5
Musical Genre/Type: Pop
Formed: 1984
Chris Edden (Bass and Lead Vocals)
[Also in: Lambent Lamella]
Steve Hayes (Drums and Backing Vocals)
[Also in: Lambent Lamella]
Pete Fulleylove (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals)
[Also in: Lambent Lamella]
09/02/84
A5
Tavern in the Town
25/02/84
A5
The Nag’s Head
Nuneaton
17/08/85
A5
Love On Board
Tamworth Arts Centre
27/10/85
A5
Tamworth Arts Centre
Tamworth Herald – 03/02/84
A5, an original and exciting new wave band who once traded under the name of Lambent Lamella, will be making their town centre debut on Thursday, when they will be appearing at the Tavern in the Town. Like all Tavern gigs entrance is free and a great night looks in prospect.
Tamworth Herald – 17/02/84
 A5 – Tavern in the Town
IN AN effective combination of diverse influences, A5 have succeeded in achieving an original sound. On Thursday night at The Tavern they delivered an exciting nine-song set.
A5’s music incorporates an innovative use of synthesizer (Tim Burgess) with more traditional rock-guitar work.
The strength of this group lies in the powerful pulsing beat – built up by Steven Hayes and Chris Edden – and the vocals; a curious and provocative combination of Robert Smith and Julian Cope.
Personal favourites were ‘The Night That Lasts Twenty-One Years’ and ‘Love To You’ which I understand the group will be taking into the studio shortly.
Although I thought the band were entertaining, it seems I was in a minority – maybe it’s un-hip to clap – most of the appreciation of the band came from Buttercup (the resident DJ) and the Thin-Kim Morrison-lookalike behind the bar. The band deserved more.
A5 have a track ‘Mind Transmitter’ on a compilation album entitled ‘Breakaway’ (Venture Promos) to be released at the end of the month.
Their next gig is at The Nag’s Head, Nuneaton, on February 25 and they return to the Tavern in April.
RACHEL HARRIS
Tamworth Herald – 24/08/84
A5 – demo tape
THE great thing about going into a studio is that suddenly a whole new world of sound is open to you. Instead of the drab confines of guitars and amps which is experienced at concerts, bands have a chance to fiddle around with a variety of switches and come out with a totally different, unique type of sound.
Studios open the door to experimentation and on this tape it is clear A5 went straight through the door and locked themselves in the room.
For here is a tape that has so many twists, turns and diversions that you can easily get lost inside its all embracing technological jungle.
Take the opener ‘Love To You’. It is a simple, tuneful number which unveils the fact that it is a really very complex song which has obviously taken a great deal of time to write and properly structure. It is catchy enough to be a hit and yet interesting enough never to be a throwaway. And that is a winning formula.
The other three songs although less commercial still have a powerful body and combine a list of influences which include The Banshees, the Police and The Cure.
There is even a touch of The Doors on ‘Strike a New Line’ and just to complete the picture the opening to ‘She Called The Storm’ is a dead ringer for ‘The Lebanon’.
All this makes for an intriguing assault on the ears from a band clearly enjoying the music they make. It is different, diverse and occasionally bizarre. Music like this shows that experimentation can and does work and there is a message there for people content to go into the studio and come out sounding wooden and half-hearted.
SAM HOLLIDAY
Tamworth Herald 21/09/84
TAMWORTH’S ROCK FANS can look forward to another Arts Centre ‘double-header’ this weekend when the venue plays host to two very diverse gigs.
Tonight energetic Burton trio Delusions of Grandeur will return to the centre to play alongside two acts which they say reflect the dual side of their music – new wave band A5 and synth duo Select Elect.
And then 24 hours later there won’t be a synthesiser in sight when new trio The Parade will play alongside youthful power rock outfit Sacred Oath.
Delusions of Grandeur will be coming to the Arts Centre for the second time this evening when they hope to build on their first show a few months ago.
Then the band impressed everyone with their tight modern pop sound – but turned a few people off with their onstage verbosity. But tonight lead singer Geoff Noble has promised more music and less verbals and hopes his band will win over everyone to their powerful entertaining music.
Supporting Delusions to night will be A5, a band who made considerable impression at Tamworth’s pop festival recently. A5’s sound was described by everyone at the time as being new wave meets Hawkwind, which seems to be an apt description of a band who combine very modern touches with effect-induced psychedelia.
Back-up
Select Elect will need no introduction but they have promised a more ‘live’ set than ever before. Th eband say they have become increasingly wary of letting tape recorders do their back-up work so tonight the band will be aiming at playing live as much as possible.
Tonights gig begins around 8pm and tickets from the Arts Centre cost 60p or £1 on the door.
Then on Saturday night the Arts Centre will pay host to two guitar-based bands who couldn’t be further apart musically. Sacred Oath, the young and enthusiastic new heavy group will be playing their second gig in about a month at the centre and will no doubt be out to catch the legions of rock fans who have recently taken Wolfsbane and BHX to their hearts.
Playing with Sacred Oath will be a band new to most people – The Parade. The band, formerly known as The Visitors, are a powerful trio influenced by bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, The Buzzcocks and The Stranglers. As this probably implies, they play new wave orientated music – but the story doesn’t end there.
“We are influenced by a lot of people but we have a sound all of our own,” said guitarist Brian Lacey.
The Parade are a band who feel they have a point to prove and are determined to get away from the image that most people have tried to hang on them that they are a Jam-copy band.
“I never even listen to The Jam anymore and we sound nothing like them. I can’t understand why people think we do, unless it’s just because we are a trip,” said Brian.
The Parade play a set of originals that vary in speed, feeling and sound and they are not sure who they will appeal to.
The Parade will be playing alongside Sacred Oath tomorrow night in a gig that kicks-off at 8pm. Tickets are just 50p and like tonight’s show, an intriguing night is in prospect.
Tamworth Herald – 04/01/85
A5 – Atherstone Memorial Hall
MORE than 300 people turned out to welcome A5 to a special Christmas gig at the Atherstone Memorial Hall in a good trouble-free atmosphere, the band launched straight into their set with the crowd-pleasing ‘Activation’.
The first half of the lengthy set went down very well with the enthusiastic crowd but the band seemed to lose the audience midway through their show. One of the reasons was the distraction of three dancers who gave a spectacular performance during four numbers.
Eventually A5 won back the crowd and the best received song of the whole night was undoubtedly ‘Love To You’.
A.F.
Tamworth Herald – 05/04/85
The A5 does not exist anymore. No, the ancient road is still there, what we mean is that the Atherstone ‘alternative’ band have thrown in the towel.
The reason is listed as ‘musical differences’ which is rather sad as many people recognised the band as a welcome breath of alternative air.
The highly-talented guitarist Peter Fulleylove is now looking for a new band. Peter, who is into the Banshees, Big Country and U2, wants to hear from any similarly-influenced musicians in the area.
Tamworth Herald – 12/04/85
A5 are still together. The band has not disappeared as we ‘gossiped’ last week – they have merely had a change of personnel – and sound. Singer Chris and drummer Steve have stayed together and recruited two new Tamworth-based members Bryan Robinson and Richard Reeves.
This according to Chris has taken the band along the U2 path but just to add more dimension to their sound, they now want a sax player.
Tamworth Herald – 21/06/85
AN EXPERIENCED guitar teacher who has helped bands as varied as Love On Board, Sacred Oath, the Royal Family and A5 has reported a couple of vacancies for would-be rock guitarists. Mr. S Harrop was formally a professional player himself and has been successfully teaching people for 11 years. He can teach any style of music but the majority of his pupils seem to be HM guitarists which says a lot about the current trends in the local scene.
Mr. Harrop comes highly recommended by several of his protégés so if you have a guitar and want to learn how to play it contact him.
The new-look A5, who have just released an interesting new demo (to be released shortly), have lined up a number of dates. They are due to be playing with Love On Board at the Arts Centre (June 28) and are to headline shows at Rugby (August 5) and Hereford (August 9).
The new line –up of the band is Steve Hayes (drums), Chris Edden (bass and vocals), Richard Reeves (guitar) and Bryan Robinson (guitar).
28/06/85
Love On Board
A5
Tamworth Arts Centre
Tamworth Herald – 28/06/85
 TAMWORTH ARTS CENTRE stages two impressive-looking gigs this weekend – and there isn’t a heavy band in sight. For tonight the new-look A5 team up with the ever-hardworking Love On Board and then on Sunday night we have the partnership that gave us one of the gigs of the year – Breaking Point and The Magnets.
The two interesting looking gigs should provide ample evidence that Tamworth’s non-heavy scene is alive and thriving. Recently several local music fans have been heard to moan that ‘all we get at the Arts Centre is metal bands’ but this weekend that
Theory can finally be laid to rest.
Tonight’s show is vitally important for A5 who are now a totally different outfit to the Killing Joke style group who used to carry the same name. After the group’s split, which came shortly after their bizarre show at the ‘Battle of the Bands’ contest, frontsman and bassist Chris Edden decided he would keep the A5 name and took the band’s drummer Steve Hayes with him.
The duo then teamed up with two local guitarists Brayn Robinson and Ruchard reeves and suddenly A5 part two was born.
As well as shifting to a new sound, the band also now consider themselves as a Tamworth groups as opposed to an Atherstone one. With three members coming from Tamworth, A5 are now likely to be oncentrated more in this area.
And the sound? Well, Bryan and Richard have brought U2 and Big Country influences to bear on the band and the overall effect now is a neatly fused new wave guitar-orientated sound displayed perfectly on A5’s entertaining new demo.
Love On Board, playing with A5 tonight, should need no introduction as they seem to have as many gigs under their belt as Elizabeth Taylor has husbands.
The group have revamped their sound of later and are now playing more intelligent Scottish pop with the triple guitar attack of Nick Reed, Glen ‘Redneck’ Lewis and Neil Jones and the enthusiastic beat of drummer John Twist.
If Love On Board need no introduction, what about Sunday’s double-act the Magnets and Breaking Point.
The former is the longest surviving band in Tamworth while the latter is an outfit so weighed down with praise and hyperbole it is a wonder they can stand up! For the Magnets the gig will be another in a spaced-out series of shows to get the band in trim for the Bank holiday rock festival.
Image
They are still basically a synth band (they will probably never shake off that image) but over the past few non-Rikk Quaysian months, they have developed their sound along more traditional pop and rock lines. It all makes for a well-rounded and entertaining set and judging by the band’s last show at the Arts Centre, a good reaction is certain.
Also, ready for a more-than-warm reception are Tamworth’s most brash and brilliant act, Breaking Point. I have given up trying to describe the awesome strength of this band and now just beseech any lovers of fast, melodic, powerful music to pay an Arts Centre visit on Sunday night.
So, two most enjoyable looking gigs are on offer this weekend and with modest entrance fees for both, there is no reason why the Arts Centre shouldn’t be packed on both nights. And if it isn’t, well it will probably show that heavy music has the monopoly on fans as well as bands in the musically buzzing town…
Tamworth Herald – 12/07/85
A5 WENT on first and went down well with the local crowd having a fair response to the half hour set they delivered.
The opening number in particular impressed me – “She Came From the Ice Age” – A5 have a lot of edge. Another enjoyable number was a slower one, a love song titled “Without A Trace”.
Love On Board, I felt, didn’t produce one of their better performances, but two numbers stood out for me in their one hour performance – “Train Across The Canyon” and “Responsible For This” which showed their potential.
The crowd didn’t go overboard, and I felt more appreciation should have been shown. There is a chance to catch both bands again on August 17.
J.C.
Tamworth Herald – 26/07/85
Also losing personnel are Atherstone-based Spirit of Water who have lost their bassist and have decided to pull out of the TamworthBank Holiday Rock festival at the Castle Grounds.
They will be replaced by first substitute, A5, who are delighted to have the chance to let the world hear their new-look sound.
Tamworth Herald – 16/08/85
Tomorrow night, two very different bands – A5 and Love On Board – will tread the Arts Centre boards. Both bands have recently come in for praise – A5 for their Arts Centre show last month and Love On Board for what was described as a lively, entertaining support slot to Dance Stance last week. Both gigs look very interesting and are both scheduled to start at 8 pm.
Tamworth Herald – 25/10/85
A5 have been lined up for an Arts Centre show this Sunday although at time of going to press there was no more details about the show or the support.
Tamworth Herald – 06/12/85
Tim Burgess, former keyboard player with A5 is on the lookout for a new band. Tim, an accomplished musician with a lot of keyboard equipment, is interested in playing with any sort of band although he stresses that he has no transport.
Caption: A5…a powerful and exciting nine-song set
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