The Parade
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The Parade
Photograph courtesy: Tamworth Herald
The Gallery |
Musical Genre/Type: Pop
Formed: 1984
Brian Lacey: Guitar and Vocals
Andy Stokes: Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals
Ian Simpson: Drums
22/09/84
Sacred Oath
The Parade
Tamworth Arts Centre
26/10/84
The Parade
Ideal Standard
Tamworth Arts Centre
20/12/84
Sitting Pretty
The Parade
Tamworth Arts Centre
11/01/85
Ideal Standard
The Parade
Coleshill Town Hall
08/02/85
Edward ian Armchair
The Parade
Love On Board
Tamworth Arts Centre
26/10/85
The Parade
Swish Sports and Social Club
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 05/10/84
Bands aim for a pure magic
The Parade – Sacred Oath
IN these days when the music profession is regarded as a multi-million pound business, it is sometimes all too easy to forget the real values involved in creating sound.
Music has nothing to do with the pound in your pocket or the record company moguls, it should be all about creating a sound that you love to play and hoping that as many people as possible will love to hear it.
That is why it is always refreshing to see young bands starting out full of enthusiasm and anticipation and as yet untainted by the ugly, industrial reality of the pop biz.
Two such bands are Sacred Oath and The Parade – groups that could not be further apart musically, but who both share a common heartfelt belief in the music they make and the effect it can have on people.
Take Sacred Oath, probably the youngest band in the area, they have a pure non-cynical approach to their sound which makes them enjoyable to watch and very enjoyable to listen to. Their sound is straight and heavy and owes much to ancient punk rock riffs which they have metallised into epic, fully-blown rock numbers.
Musically, they play with an enthusiastic mania made all the more palatable by the admirable democracy of letting both guitarists – Paul Keaton and Murray Pickett - share the inevitable guitar solos. Both have considerable talent and as poseurs, they are even more adept.
Add to this the searching and sometimes very emotional vocals of Star Trek, the bruising bass of Niz Concannon and the almost overwhelming power of female drummer Vick the Viking and you have got a truly winning combination.
They all looked good, smiled a lot and treated the audience to a wonderfully crazed ending when people were diving into the centre of the stage with buoyant glee. All in all a terrific show packed full of potential.
Potential is also a word that sticks in mind about The Parade.
After starting with a little uncertainty, they just got better and better and the crowd became increasingly excited at their music. The music had overtones of The Clash, The Quads and yes, The Jam.
I can’t really understand the group’s claims that they sound nothing like The Jam – it’s as if sounding like one of the greatest groups EVER is a bad thing!
Still, influences or no influences, The Parade are still very much their own band. Some of their songs have infectious tunes and meaningful angry lyrics and if there was one criticism I would make of an otherwise superb night, I would say the band failed to get their true power across by keeping the bass and drums at a disappointingly indistinguishable level.
So two bands to watch out for in the future. Both have a lot to say and a lot to play and until they feel the beckoning clutches of the outside world, they should delight a lot of people with their sheer, honest approach to music.
SAM HOLLIDAY
Tamworth Herald 05/10/84
Bands aim for a pure magic
The Parade – Sacred Oath
IN these days when the music profession is regarded as a multi-million pound business, it is sometimes all too easy to forget the real values involved in creating sound.
Music has nothing to do with the pound in your pocket or the record company moguls, it should be all about creating a sound that you love to play and hoping that as many people as possible will love to hear it.
That is why it is always refreshing to see young bands starting out full of enthusiasm and anticipation and as yet untainted by the ugly, industrial reality of the pop biz.
Two such bands are Sacred Oath and The Parade – groups that could not be further apart musically, but who both share a common heartfelt belief in the music they make and the effect it can have on people.
Take Sacred Oath, probably the youngest band in the area, they have a pure non-cynical approach to their sound which makes them enjoyable to watch and very enjoyable to listen to. Their sound is straight and heavy and owes much to ancient punk rock riffs which they have metallised into epic, fully-blown rock numbers.
Musically, they play with an enthusiastic mania made all the more palatable by the admirable democracy of letting both guitarists – Paul Keaton and Murray Pickett - share the inevitable guitar solos. Both have considerable talent and as poseurs, they are even more adept.
Add to this the searching and sometimes very emotional vocals of Star Trek, the bruising bass of Niz Concannon and the almost overwhelming power of female drummer Vick the Viking and you have got a truly winning combination.
They all looked good, smiled a lot and treated the audience to a wonderfully crazed ending when people were diving into the centre of the stage with buoyant glee. All in all a terrific show packed full of potential.
Potential is also a word that sticks in mind about The Parade.
After starting with a little uncertainty, they just got better and better and the crowd became increasingly excited at their music. The music had overtones of The Clash, The Quads and yes, The Jam.
I can’t really understand the group’s claims that they sound nothing like The Jam – it’s as if sounding like one of the greatest groups EVER is a bad thing!
Still, influences or no influences, The Parade are still very much their own band. Some of their songs have infectious tunes and meaningful angry lyrics and if there was one criticism I would make of an otherwise superb night, I would say the band failed to get their true power across by keeping the bass and drums at a disappointingly indistinguishable level.
So two bands to watch out for in the future. Both have a lot to say and a lot to play and until they feel the beckoning clutches of the outside world, they should delight a lot of people with their sheer, honest approach to music.
SAM HOLLIDAY
Tamworth Herald 26/10/84
THE ARTS CENTRE will be under the spotlight again tonight when two energetic young bands will bring their fresh, powerful sound to Tamworth.
Headlining will be the always interesting Parade and playing with them will be Coleshill’s finest outfit Ideal Standard who are said to have a Jam/U2 sound.
For Ideal Standard, who we intend to feature in a future MUSICBOX, it will be their second gig after they recently made a strong impression with The Dream factory. The band are said to be young and very enthusiastic and although their set is mainly cover-orientated, it is hoped they will play some original numbers on the night.
The Parade meanwhile are hoping the gig will further enhance their growing reputation which will continue when they go into the studio shortly for their first ever demo tape. All in all an intriguing night is in prospect and the action begins at 8pm.
Tamworth Herald 14/12/84
BOTH Breaking Point and Sitting Pretty will this week play their special Christmas Party gigs. Breaking Point will line up alongside popular Lichfield act Artful Dodger on Sunday and Sitting Pretty fans will have to wait until Thursday to hear their Christmas good tidings.
Pretty’s Arts Centre gig will be unique for a number of reasons. Not only will the band selling videos and tapes on the night but they will also be coordinating, a strange Christmas Carol Service by many of Tamworth’s local musicians.
People as varied as Mike Turner (Sitting Pretty), Brian Lacey (The Parade) and myself will join together in a series of traditional carols while a hat goes round for donations.
All the money raised will go straight to the Ethiopian appeal and any local musicians that want to help by joining in this most original of carol services is urged to come along on the night.
As well as the carol service the night will feature Sitting Pretty playing a host of new seasonal tunes and dynamic young trio The Parade – currently doing well in the Musicbox poll.
Farewell
 The night of fun starts at 7.30pm and everyone is urged to be early. For Breaking point their farewell to 1984 comes this Sunday and it will probably be the first time many fans have seen new powerhouse drummer Chris Orton in action.
Chris, formerly of Wild Child, has helped to instil a fresh power into the band and they are hoping to play several new numbers to make it a night to remember.
“1984 has gone pretty well for us and we are now confident that ’85 can be even better,” said Breaking Point vocalist Kevin Briggs.
So, two unmissable concerts which should put you really in the mood for a noisy, happy Christmas.
Tamworth Herald – 04/01/85
The Parade – New Beginnings (Demo Tape)
A COUPLE of years ago a highly promising young band called The Visitors split up.
The band, spearheaded by the powerful forces of Brian Lacey and Mark Mortimer seemed destined for success but somehow the personalities of the two mainstays just couldn’t click at the right time.
After the split there was a certain amount of regrettable animosity but through it all Mark Mortimer, who of course went on to create The Dream Factory, always said ‘Brian will go far, he is genuinely talented’.
Mark still believes that, and after listening to this excellent new demo I think a lot more people will be believing it as well. For Brian’s songwriting on this three-tracker reveals a maturity and talent that far belies his teenage years.
One number in particular – ‘A Kinda Living’ – is quite simply irresistible and is my first contender for next year’s Musicbox local song of the year.
Strength
For it is the songwriting above all that makes this tape stand out like a shark in a fishpond. The actual playing, production and packaging are good but you get the feeling that the strength of the tunes on offer would shine through if the tape was recorded in a bathroom.
The tape opens with The Parade standard ‘Welcome to the Working Week’ which has nothing to do with the Elvis Costello song of the same name but is equally palatable.
It has a snappy, uncomfortable beat layered over by Brian’s smooth textured voice which only hints at the onstage aggression with which he normally delivers this song. ‘WorkingWeek’ is over far too quickly. It acts as a perfect foil to the outstanding second track ‘Before’.
Here, the beauty of Andy Stokes’ bass line carries a mellow and rather melancholy lyric, evoking a mist of emotions which take you right into the mood Brian was feeling in when he wrote it.
That is an almost unnerving and unique experience but you’re soon back to smiling with ‘A Kind of Living’. This is a buoyant, good-humoured pop song packed with ‘ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-baers’ and complemented by a tune that would have fitted perfectly on the Jam’s superb ‘Sound Affects’ collection.
Classics
It is exactly the sort of music that, if things had gone differently, The Visitors would now be making. As it is, this is a clear statement by Brian Lacey, which proudly says: “this is me as I am now – you can take it or leave it.”
Well I will certainly take it, Drummer Ian Simpson and Andy Stokes both do their jobs well but the sheer presence of Brian Lacey’s contribution to this tape takes it out of the Good Tapes League and into the Local Classics section.
If they can keep up this standard, The Parade look set for a very bright future and this tape can do nothing but good in their search for that elusive success.
SAM HOLLIDAY
Tamworth Herald – 08/02/85
 TAMWORTH’S alternative poet Edward ian Armchair will come out of retirement tonight to join The Parade and Love On Board in the first ever miners’ benefit concert in the town.
Edward who gave up stagework in 1983, felt it was time local musicians did something positive to support the miners – and so he decided to take the initiative himself.
After gaining the support of fellow sympathisers The Parade and Love On Board, Edward booked the Arts Centre and is now set to perform tonight’s unique show.
“Although I gave up performing a while ago, I have wanted to do a miners’ benefit for several months, and so I finally made the decision to go ahead and do it,” said Edward.
He is convince that local young people support the miners’ cause, and he is confident many of them will rally round to attend the gig.
“I think is important we do concerts about issues at home because a lot of people are suffering hardship through this dispute. Even if they reach agreement there will be a lot of families in financial difficulty so we must do everything in our power to help them,” said Edward.
Politics aside, the concert will also be a chance for some people to hear Edward’s unique brand of poetry for the first time.
Rare chance
Since being a founder member of legendary punk band The Reliants, Edward has always had a high profile in the local scene. But it is with his original poetry performance that he has probably made most friends.
His poems cover a whole variety of modern issues – serious and not so serious – and give people a rare chance to hear modern live poetry.
Joining Edward tonight will be a superb trio The Parade who dedicated one of their songs at the ‘Rock for Ethiopia’ gig to the miners. The band who have an excellent three-track demo under their belts, play powerful new wave-orientated pop which combines speed with subtlety and aggression with sobriety.
Completing the official line-up is Love On Board whose recent re-appearance at the Tamworth Rocks for Ethiopia gig brought delight to many people. Their jovial modern pop sound has made them many friends and there is no doubt that their appearance will bring extra money – and people – into the event.
Tonight’s gig – which may also feature other as yet unconfirmed names – kicks off at around 8pm and Edward is banking on a good response from local people.
“The miners are fighting for the working man and we will all suffer if they lose that fight.”
Entry to the gig is £1.
Tamworth Herald – 04/10/85
And finally just a message to people wondering what The Parade are up to. Well contrary to popular belief they are not dead. Guitarist Brian Lacey said that the band’s low profile of late had caused people to think they had split up or contracted a mystery disease.
The truth is that the band are bursting with ambition to get going again. So don’t listen to rumours…stick with GOSSIPBOX. We always tell the truth…
 Tamworth Herald – 25/10/85
On Parade
The Parade are playing a special free concert tomorrow night (Saturday) at their ‘home ground’ – the Swish Sports and Social Club on the Lichfield Road estate. The group, who have just recorded their second demo, will be hoping to showcase a great deal of their new material which they have been working diligently during the summer months.
Tamworth Herald – 01/11/85
The Parade – Time For Change (Demo)
EARLIER this year The Parade made quite an excellent demo tape. Containing the now immortal ‘Kind of Loving’ it towered above many of its contemporaries as one of the best demos to have ever come out of the town.
Everything looked promising for the band at the time – but they sadly failed to capitalise on the success of the demo.
Gigs became fewer and fewer, they missed the Festival for the second year running and it seemed if all the zest that made their first demo such a triumph died a premature death.
Noe, enter the resurrection. For the band are back, raw and hungry and sounding once again if they have re-discovered their once illuminating vision.
The four songs on this demo are all very enjoyable and more proof – if it was needed – of the sheer weighty talent of Brian Lacey as a songwriter.
No matter how long he stays away he always comes back with something you wish you had written – songs of a craft and inventiveness that show his talent is a natural, vital one.
Whether they like to admit it or not, and I suspect they won’t – the overall direction of the tape is still very much that of The Jam circa ‘The Modern World’. One track in particular, ‘Tonight’ sounds just like an unreleased demo from that much under-rated album, and the ghost of Paul Weller still, however unconsciously, haunts the writing of Brian Lacey.
But there is so much more than The Jam’s influence detectable to the discerning listener.
Almost as dominant is the feel and sound – particularly in the rhythm section – of The Who in their ‘My Generation’ mood. It is music with a sparse, dance-orientated atmosphere that would become very popular indeed with many of today’s mods.
I am sure the band would rather stick pins in their eyes than be considered a mod band, but there is no doubt of their appeal in this arena.
Elsewhere, I spotted The Small Faces, The Boys and most pleasingly of all The Undertones. Put all these very strong elements together and surely The Parade can’t fail – and they don’t.
“Time For Change” is a memorable, well-rounded demo packed with good tunes and impressive musicianship. Drummer Ian Simpson lets rip with some occasional Rick Buckler-esque drumming and Andy Stokes beefs up the rhythm section with some never predictable and always interesting bass work.
Occasionally the bass becomes the lead instrument which sounds not unlike – dare I say it – Jean Jacques Burnel.
Stronger
And then of course, there is Brian. His voice is getting stronger all the time (the emotion on ‘I’ll Cry instead’ is very real) and his guitar playing is faultless. With fine production from Expresso Bongo and a wise choice of ‘A’-side (the catchy, powerful “All of the Time”) it is a demo to play again and again.
Now the band’s priority must be to ensure that they don’t let the promise of this tape fall away as it did after the last blast from the recording studio. The Parade are a very good band who are slowly becoming a great band. Keep on keepin’ on indeed!
The Parade
If you have any further information about this band please email: info@tamworthbands.com |
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