Fans - Memories

Hi! I’ve just stumbled across this web site and have been reading about the bands and the great times we had. I played in the band BHX and I was the good looking guitarist mmm! Fronted by Mick ‘the fish’ Goodby does anybody remember us and more importantly were we any good? Those days were ace and it would be great to turn the clock back just for a night The bands that we played with were all fab although it was tough to say it at the time. I even lost my demo tape we did - would love a copy if anybody has got one. For anybody that did come to see us play and actually paid I would like to thank you for your support and for making those days even better. Rock n roll.
Keith Edwards B.H.X.

I was a Youth Leader at St. Johns Youth Club and I remember recruiting all the lads and girls to build the stage and paint the hall and make lighting boxes so we could be one of the best venues in Tamworth. And all we had for the PA was a record deck with a couple of microphone inputs. They were great days!
Andy Malkin

I used to manage and promote bands such as BHX, Wolfsbane and One on One. Most gigs were held at the Arts Centre with the odd sortee to The Coach & Horses in West Bromwich, The General Wolf in Coventry and various working men’s clubs around the outlying villages, I particularly remember Austrey as they wanted us to turn the drums down!!! I am still involved in management now and look after bands such as Symphony of Pain (Ex BHX bassist, Rob) GLOW (Ex Omen Guitarist, Ted and Ex Aardvark, Ni) and The Cellarmen (both Tamworth lads). I still look back now at the Arts Centre days with great fondness and yes it was always a better gig upstairs in the auditorium.
Ralph Rea

Assembly Rooms
In the very early 70's (I think) there was an advert for some men's toiletries where a guy is looking into the mirror pretending to be a pop singer. You can hear his thoughts and at one point he's heard to say "split my pants at Tamworth Assembly rooms" (à la P. J. Proby) so Tamworth Assembly Rooms was obviously well known as a rock venue.
BB

Breaking Point
Does no-one remember Breaking Point? Probably the best band ever to grace the Tamworth music scene. With songs like 'Ode to Nikolas Romanov' 'Come the Day' 'Guilty' 'Resurrection' 'Come on Britannia'. I notice that on the characters page the roadie for Breaking Point - Buttercup is on the leader board, as is the bassist, Daydo, what about Kevin Briggs the song writer, guitarist, vocalist, performer? I still have many recordings of Breaking Point, live videos, and the single, and I have to say of all the bands from back then theirs are the only recordings I still own.

Spiral Eye
One of the best gigs the Arts Centre hosted must have been Spiral Eye circa 1989. "The Eye" had a big following, basically the people who supped in Hamlets. Thing was, it was a whole circle of people who went to the pub, back to each others places and spent most of their time with each other, getting monged. It wasn't a hippy thing, although elements of that attitude were there, it was a great time to know some great people. The Smiths (Jim + Si, not the band!), Mr. Fox, Dalt, Bobs, Shaun + Helen, Pete Wright, Rob Kinson etc. Some of us preferred Punk music, some preferred Hawkwind, Floyd and 60's garage. Spiral Eye were a big part of that scene, and that particular gig was the dogs. Starting with Rem switching on a radiogram, making weird sounds and launching into "Sentinel". Spiral Eye would have been signed, sealed and delivered if they'd waited 5 years. Top band, top lads and one of the great unsigned bands. And I bet Daz McFerren tries to release a solo recording of "Uncertainty" in my lifetime, and Rem will sue him over the keyboard solo!!!
Rob Maddison

The Powerteens
I've just had a look at the history for 1968 and see that my then band (Power and Glory) did many gigs with The Teenbeats from Dosthill. I remember one time, at Atherstone Memorial Hall both bands got up at the end for an encore (The Powerteens). I used to get on well with Phil Bates and Ron Allcott, Ron later joined some of my other Tamworth Bands - Duterium, Chapter 24.

Tamworth Arts Centre
I can't believe that the Arts Centre didn’t start to be converted until 1973 and yet it was 1977 before we (Willow) became the first rock band to play there. For many years it was a stomping ground for the bands I was in. I performed there with Willow, Ice and Dickens between 1977 and 1988. What a great venue. I enjoyed playing upstairs in the theatre best of all. Great memories.

It's great to know that I can trace my career from 1968-1990 on the Tamworth Bands website, which I think is great. So many half-forgotten names and events, some long forgotten. Clem Clempson, Phil Bates, DHSS. I still have fond memories of the Arts Centre and Tamworth Assembly Rooms.

Having worked as a musician in Tamworth from 1968 to when I moved to Nottingham in 1991, I just got to say that your website has enabled me to remember so many forgotten and half forgotten things, people and places. Thank you. Mick Rutherford

Tamworth Rockers
Approaching old age and surfin’ as you do, I typed in 'Tamworth Rockers', a bit of a biker set in the 70's to anybody who remembers that far back. I recall Bakerloo at the Leyfields Community Centre; Kippa the lunatic DJ at every bloody disco (good man); Geoff Owen (thinking DJ); bad heavy sessions at the Flying Scotsman; who was the nutter DJ at the Assems who used to smash up his turntables? A group called Bandylegs at Kingsbury WMC supported by a new band called Black Sabbath; Polesworth WMC seeing Emperor Rosko. Thrown out of many sessions at Hurley WMC, Daydo crashing his Kwacker outside the police station after a night in the George and a few spliffs. Fran Ingley in Tenby with the Rockers; Pree at Tamworth youth club raving over Status Quo; stoned at the Bower etc. Patch, Gib, Max, Bogey 1&2, Sam, Meatloaf, Steve, Dan, Paul B, Joicey, Pete H andloads more plus Atherstone Rockers - where are you? Jagger

TamworthBands.com
This website is getting better and better, the whole layout is excellent.
Rob Maddison

Tamworth Bands
Hi, I have played in many bands in the Tamworth area, including two or three already getting a mention in your pages. I’ve also played in all the main venues as a solo performer too, with plenty of 'Herald' cuttings to back it up! I still play in Tamworth and also teach guitar. I'll compile a list of gigs I've performed in the area and names of people who played in the bands. how does it work if I want to add my name into existing files on bands who seem to forget that I played with them - i.e. Convention (1976-77) and Chico (around 1983)? Good luck with what you are doing - I've really enjoyed looking at some of the old photos!! Cheers Barry Hunt
Barry Hunt

[Barry - just send all your various band details to: info@tamworthbands.com and you'll be added - Ed.]

Tamworth Arts Centre
I have many memories of The DHSS and Wolfsbane. I worked at the Arts Centre bar while the Rat Hole was at its best. I still have the t-shirts and many photos of those great days. Could do it all again. [Wendie - send me any photos you have - cheers Ed.]
Wendie

The Cutthroats
May Dad was in The Cutthroats, he was the bass player (like me!) I was wondering if the rest of the band have visited this website - if so leave me a message.
Cian Mills

The DHSS
Strange that yourself ‘Eddie Armchair’ just happens to be number 3 in the Characters listing. Fair play though, the DHSS were pretty good…though I only had the privilege of seeing them twice as I was a young whipper-snapper in those days. Oh, and I do happen to be the proud owner of an A4 sheet of DHSS stickers that you gave away free at The Arts Centre once.
Kev Blount

Dickens
I remember that Dickens were voted No. 2 Best Band (behind Wolfsbane) and had many songs listed in the best songs category in the Tamworth Herald Musicbox page, around Christmas 1995 or 96. I also remember them doing a tour and that at Tamworth Assembly Rooms they were supported by Gaff the Horse in Tears and another band that I can't remember.
Jon

The Wanderers
The Wanderers played the Wilnecote Congregational Church Garden Party in June 1963 or 1964. In the evening the group played in Wilnecote Parish Hall for the young people. If my memory serves me correctly Roy Taylor (the lead guitarist - Ed.) lived in Jonkel Avenue, Wilnecote and his Father helped to manage the group. The Garden Party was held in Matthews the Butchers grounds and the group performed on the small balcony in front of the bungalow. This area is now all built on with houses.
Bryan Shakeshaft

Tamworth Music Scene
During my last year of school and for many a gig afterwards the Tamworth music scene was such an important part of my life. I met many friends which I still see today and saw some excellent (and bloody awful) bands. I still have the following demo cassettes: The New Puritans, King Woderick and the Yogots, Flowers in the Attic, Vindaloo Breakfast, Spiral Eye, Bash out the Odd. There's such an eclectic mix because I didn't pay for a single one of them - blagged them all! I have to admit I became a bit of a groupie for a while but soon grew out of that and just got wasted at every opportunity instead! I have recently begun to go and see some local bands again with our good friend Slim of Touchin Cloth. They reformed last year after we persuaded them to play at our wedding and they haven't stopped since! If you get the chance to come and see them I can safely say that they have improved (I know it's not hard!) The Tamworth music scene will never be what it was back then but we should still support the lads and lasses who give it a go - there's still some talent out there!
Jayne Jones

Battle of the Bands 1994
I remember the Battle of the Bands in ‘94 at Rockwells in Bolebridge Street. The place was packed to the rafters and I remember thinking the floor was going to collapse under the strain!! Blistering sets from Mr Fixit, Truthful Lies and Baby Mammal almost tore the roof off! When the result came through that Mammal had nicked the win there was almost a riot with Reeman and Quay almost strung up!!! Watching the Truthful Lies posse of teeny-boppers blarting into their alcopops was worth the entry fee alone...classic night…classic gig.
Cheers lads, Steve Talbot

Tamworth Music Scene
Being in a band (Stressex 1991-93) we played in Tamworth, mainly at the Rathole and the Arts Centre...great venues. Tamworth was one of the last great places which supported the unsigned bands...Thank you Tamworth.
Andy Taylor (now living in Chicago USA)

Tamworth Music Scene
I was in the Pyschedelicatessen from 1988-1991 but above all I was a huge fan of the Tamworth music scene. I came from Brum but worked in Tamworth from 1987-1990 and got into the local music scene from talking to the local kids coming into Our Price music where I worked, the wealth of talent from a large array of bands in such a small area amazed me and it was a shame that none of them hit the big time because they should have! My favourites were King Woderick / DHSS / Spiral Eye / Flowers in the Attic, is it still happening there or is it now a happy memory from times gone by? Ah! well must go now, wipe a tear from my eye and carry on with my fellow OAP friends in my new band www.thedaysonline.co.uk bye bye everybody...bye bye.
Andy Lane

Vince Watts and The Reliants
I was at the Reliants gig where Vince (Watts) smashed his guitar up. I picked up a chunk off the floor, and still have it somewhere in the attic! I was also at the Reliants Arts Centre gig. We had a punk band (The Less) but only played gigs at school. Used to practice at The Old Stone Cross and at my mates garage in Glascote. One day Vince walked by and taught me the chords to 'David Watts'.
Andrew Morgan

Vince Watts versus Joss Cope
The aftermath of the Norman Conquest and the Formaldehyde Daffodils gig at Tamworth Arts Centre...I recall Vince Watts and Jonathan Cope getting into a mini handbags-at-ten-paces fight about nothing, but Vince's broken glass got the better of Joss Cope's handbag. It ended with me accompanying the bleeding Joss Cope, paying a visit to Casualty with his slashed lip/cheek. I was more bothered about my bass/amplifier that I had left back in the Arts Centre.
Dave Cooksey

The DHSS
The DHSS will always be Tamworth's finest band! Oh yes! too many memories to put finger to keyboard, would Quay's equipment work? Often not! An ace band, fantastic t-shirts and badges and wonderful demo tapes that I still listen too. As the bassist from the Shakespeare Monkeys, we dreamed of a support slot....but it was not meant to be! Ho, Hum.
Simon

Heimdall
Heimdall did a fantastic gig at 'Hopwas Scout Hut' and were very Hawkwind inspired. They had (from failing middle aged memory) Chris Gould, Clifford (Chippy) Chipman and Steve Owen as members. They had a following who did some 'Stacey dances' stuff but with clothes on i.e. headbanging/cosmic posing etc. The only song that I can remember was written by Chris Gould and it was called 'Witch Woman Reserat Lemtrac' or something like that and it was written about a friend of mine who was a goth before there were goths. I'd love to hear about Heimdall and if anyone has got any memories about that fantastic gig at the Scout Hut!
Tina Jameson