Tubilah Dog

Tubilah Dog
(1985-1990)


“One of the country’s best festival bands in the late 80s and still going…” Igraine – Comment on Godiva Rock Cov Telegraph article.



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Line Up
Steve Mills – Vocals (Ex-TRESPASS/FX)

Jerry Richards – Guitar

Alf Hardy – Synths.

Mark “Banni” Bannister – Guitar.

Andy Copeland – Drums

John Oddy – Bass replaced by

Tom (UK WARRIORS) – Bass

Tim Kelsell – Bass

Steve “Lennon” Whitaker/

Neil Fisher (Lighting and Stage)

Tracks on My Space – Lament for the Lady of Tarn / Star City / Short Story / Watching / Anywhere / She Talks to Angels / Flight 2342 / Le Chien Noir / Timothy Archer pt 2 / Stoat
And hear more on Sound Click  and more on You Tube.


From Rex Bough



Played Colin Campbell regularly, amongst all other venues in Coventry/ Birmingham/Rugby/Leamington area. Went on the Free Festival Circuit of the late Thatcher era, often supplying the PA and lighting for Wango Rileys guerrilla stage. (Our Big Blue van was often the target of police interest.) Witnessed the police-instigated violence of the late 80s Stonehenge Festivals. Joined forces with DAVE BROCK of HAWKWIND and played in various line-ups under the HAWKWIND banner as well as “HAWKDOG” and “DAVE BROCKS AGENTS of CHAOS.” Supported HAWKWIND on major UK tours 1988-1989, including 3 nights of HAMMERSMITH ODEON (No Sleep ’til) one of which was broadcast live on Radio One (including support band). Played the all-dayer ACID DAZE events alongside Spacemen3, Suicide, Pink Fairies, Doc & the Medics, Robert Calvert etc. Supported Doc and the Medics, and headlined gigs supported by then unknown band The Levellers. Finally ran out of energy/money/optimism and gave it a rest before insanity truly set in. STEVE MILLS and JERRY went on under the name TUBILAH DOG with members of ANGELWITCH, the last gigs being around 1991. STEVE released a home produced album under the name on the Italian BEARD OF STARS label. The only recording released of the original Tubilah Dog is on a compilation of late 80s festival bands “Travellers Aid Trust” released on Flicknife Records, supposedly for charity. TUBILAH is HALIBUT backwards.

JERRY RICHARDS Joined HAWKWIND and also works as Foley artist with Andre Jacquemin, worked on many films from the Handmade/Python stable. ALF HARDY engineers at Cabin Studios. MARK “BANNI” BANNISTER is a ighly skilled electronics engineer now works FOH and maintenance for PA companies. ANDY COPELAND went to Film School. JOHN ODDY is a respected PA installer/engineer on the Dance/Club scene and was one of the invisible forces behind the success of the seminal Eclipse/Amnesia Club in Coventry. TIM KELSALL now runs TOTAL MUSIC COMPANY) STEVE “LENNON” WHITAKER DJs under the Black Cat moniker and still promotes gigs and prepares and lights stages in Coventry.

And from their My Space


“A Justified and Ancient collection of old farts , younger farts and a bunch of inveterate hash heads who rock like Paris Hilton in the prison showerblock bending over for the soap. A collection of like minded lunatics who should know better considering their education The grandaddys of *Post Rock* a melange of guitars, things that go whibble, topped off with a lyrical content that is both acerbic and stupid within a single sentence The house band for a P K Dick convention Syd Barret’s idiot offspring caught scrumping apples from Roger Waters orchard Steve Mills ; Vocals;Guitars;Keys Tim Kelsall; Bass Alf Hardy; Keys Chris Beach;Guitars Mikey Walsh : Guitars & large femme following ..arf arf… ..”




“TUBILAH DOG” .. Formed 1984 in Coventry from a bunch of festival going hash fiends. Early line up consisted of Alf Hardy (keyboards), Mark “Banny” Bannister (guitar), Steve Mills (vocals), Jerry Richards (guitar), John Oddy (bass), Andy Copleand (drums). Played just about every free festival betwen 1985 and 1990 John Oddy moved to mixing the sound Tim Kelsall, Steve’s old compadre from a couple of rock bands joining on bass. After 1990 went through many line up changes these days the band consists of Steve Mills Vocals (guitar), Ashley Dreher (bass). Alf and Banny play keyboards and guitar on studio projects…
Similar bands… HAWKWINDS. The Dogs often played as HawkDog with Dave Brock and Harvey bainbridge from HAWKWIND. Songs have been described as sounding like … The CLASH playing JETHRO TULL… Euro Pop meets the MINISTRY on black acid… and PINK FLOYD on skunkweed. At present Steve is producing and playing on the album โ€˜Dark Erotikaโ€™ for the Artist Bel Adair.
Steve Mills, ENGLAND for ProgArchives
The Hop Pickers Ball was Tubilah Dog’s way of finishing off the hop picking season. A lot of Coventry folks had been after the summer festivals and the band wanted to have a bash to celebrate the homecoming/end of the hard work. It was a quid a ticket – to pay for the petrol costs. Screech Rock turned up out of the blue and played support. Dave Brock was at the gig; the year after, Tubilah Dog were playing support with Hawkwind.
It was a frantic late night drive down from Coventry to Kent; trying to find the venue down dark country lanes and making many wrong turns. Space cakes, cider and ‘shroom tea were a-plenty when we got there. We freaked out to the ultra violet madness that was Screech Rock, met old friends and danced to the Dogs. At one point the cops drove past us…slowed down and looked in amazement as freaks and hop pickers partied their arses off…and then they drove off into the foggy night.



Tubilah Dog on Spotify. Below is a graphic only  – click on link below to sign in to spotify.





https://open.spotify.com/album/1mpY4beNVOFwPqO4YYEDiw?si=HL-Guut6SuCihs4qwQRerQ

Here’s what they missed.
01- Imhotep
02- Hassan I Sabbha
03- Making Love On The Telephone
04- Forty Floors Up
05- The Facts
06- Step Down
07- Waiting For A Jam
08- Not Just Another Maybe
09- Safe Zone
10- City Of Tiny Lights
11- ‘U.F.O’ theme
12- Saucer Surfing jam
13- Motorway City
14- Shot Down In The Night
Source: Tape copy of the original mixing desk recording {a bit rough in places }

YouTube Video



working on the hops


Tsar

Tsar
c 1970 / 71 was Al Docker’s band.

A progressive band led by drummer Al Docker and based at the Coventry Arts Umbrella

Al Docker

where Al had been involved in organising the band nights.

I was also involved with Al organising the band nights and remember Tsar and I think the line began as a three piece (according to Denis Burns) with –
Al Docker – drums
Ron Lawrence Bass
( Ron had just left the folk rock outfit April – later went on the play with Sniff and the Tears and session for the kinks etc.)
Charlie Bullen – guitar.Loz Netto – Lean guitar (Later with Sniff and the Tears)

At some stage Loz Netto became involved as the guitarist (he’d played with
Nak-ed-en with John Bradbury on drums and also later played with Sniff and the Tears – on the single Driver’s Seat).
Tsar also recruited a sax player from Warwick and a female violinist.


Tsar played their own material.


Below – from The Broadgate Gnome 1970

Charles Bullen with Kevin Harrison of Whistler and Urge.


Tsar practiced at the Umbrella and played there. They also played the Lanchester poly tech, Whitley Abbey School among other venues.

Comment from Dennis Burns “If I remember correctly, Tsar started out originally as a 3 piece – Charles, Al, and Ron Lawrence on bass.
Dennis”

The True Expression

The True Expression

Charley Anderson (Ex Selecter) “My first taste of engineering live sounds touring with this band from Coventry. Gaps Hendrickson roadie, Tony Banger Walsh was the chief security officer ๐Ÿ˜‰ Vocalist George E Austin, Vernon Clarke and Don Mayers were TRUE EXPRESSIONS the best soul vocalist band from Coventry.”



“Charlie Aitch from Gloucester arrived in Coventry with Lynval where they were living and playing some music. They came to Coventry to join up with local music guru Ray King. I went on the road mixing for a soul band True Expression, sang and sometimes played bass and also learned to play the rhythm pans with the Tropical Harmony steel band at week end they always have a gig and I was never out of work. Lynval ended up with Jerry Dammers in the Automatics (The pre Specials) Aitch and I formed Hard Top 22 consisting of the members who would eventually become the Selecter: Gaps, Aitch, Desmond, Komie Amanor, and I.” From an interview with Charley Anderson via Marco the Bass. http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2009/07/exclusive-interview-with-charley.html

The TRITONS

The TRITONS


circa 1966? Source Broadgate Gnome



Jeffery Garner – Rhythm Guitar.

There’s an entry for The Tritons on the Tamworth’s Bands website which seems to date them as being around c1966.

26/03/66
Fazeley Swifts FC Grand Dance
Len Dawson Quartet, The Tritons (Coventry)
Drayton Manor, Tower Suite, 8.00pm-12 midnight
Admission: 6/6



25/03/66
The Tritons
Wood End Working Men’s Club


TRIGON

TRIGON


1974 Progressive rock / jazz funk / folk

Trigon formed in 1974 with Rick Thawn who had been rhythm guitarist with Fisson (Johnny Adams’s band) and Paul Samson. They were featured in Hobo Magazine in 1974 and played several times for the Hobo Workshop at the Holyhead Rd. Youth Centre. 


This is an entry from Hobo Magazine – 1974
TRIGON

“Are another newly formed band to hit the scene. Featuring Rick Thawn (Ex Fission) on lead guitar, Gary Kirton on drums, (Ex Whistler), Paul Samson (Ex Mick Green Blues Band ). Terry Hyde on bass. There music is jazz-rock orientated, heavy with percussion, although they try to make their music as comprehensive as possible. Plans include entering for the Melody Maker contest and a possible tour of Austria. (Trigon also played the Hobo Workshop later in 1974).”

………………….

NotePaul Samson (who was in this band) was for a while confused with Paul Sampson (with a p’) of The Reluctant Stereotypes. We have now established that there were two Coventry guitarists with a very similar name, hence the confusion!


Transient

Transient

c 1985 – 87

Information from Keith Lawrence.

“Transient was formed after I advertised for members in the Cov Telegraph in 1985. We rehearsed at the Arches Industrial estate via a business Co-op and also had rehearsed at the old abattoir in Upper York Street where King also rehearsed among other bands. We were extremely new to being in a band and were very low on finances. I was trying to make our overall sound as original as possible and although we may have sounded slightly Gothic as our sound was quite dark and sparse we were certainly not really a Goth type band. We never played outside the Coventry pub scene, playing mostly at The Sir Colin Campbell and the Hand and Heart. Towards the end of the lifespan of the band, we did a demo at Cabin studios. Peter Every assisted with that recording. 

Band members were 
Andy Camwell on drums, 
Simon Jones on synthesizers, 
Ron Holman on bass, 
Dana Craney backing vocals and me, 
Keith Lawrence on vocals and guitar. For very brief periods 
John Hobley (formerly A God”s Toy) and another chap (sorry name forgotten) played the drums each for one gig, before we folded.

After we split up in 1987 I was probably the only one left from the original line up who carried on with trying to form bands, write songs and do recordings , I have done a couple of CD LP’s in recent years and do all the writing , playing and recording at home, which is a great pleasure. I just make the music I like to hear, which nobody else makes any more . I am more enthusiastic about making music than I was, even than when I started and care even less about the pop industry than I did in the past. I am really looking forward to making a lot more music after I retire in the not too distant future.

Hope you will add this Trev, Although we were never well known, I know there are people who may remember us as one of the few bands who tried to be original and not get blitzed, out of respect for our audience, before we started a performance in public.”


Trad B Jefferson

 Trad B Jefferson

c 1969 / 70 – Blues / R n B. They played the usual gigs in Coventry including the Coventry Arts Umbrella Music Marathon – Saturday 22nd November 1969 and again the Umbrella Friday night sessions organised by Al Docker and Trev Teasdel July 1970 – Trad B Jefferson + April

Also the Colin Campbell – The Village Friday 22nd January 1971 


No details of the line up!

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Travelling Riverside Blues Band

Travelling Riverside Blues Band

The Travelling Riverside Blues Band (‘The Travs’) formed some 20 years ago, and after a few line up changes settled into being a must-see Blues/ R&B band, who gigged up and down the country and abroad, always popular at bike rallies, music clubs and pubs. Featuring the legendary talent of Johnny Alderson, AKA Johnny Slide on Lead, Slide and Resonator Guitars. They played at the last Leicester Blues Festival, and at the 2010 Tenby (Pembs) Blues Fest, and still play bike rallies and music venues everywhere. Their music is a gutsy and heartfelt mix of original and old blues covers.



JOHNNY (SLIDE) ALDERSON. โ€“ Slide it in Johnny. John, electric, acoustic, Dobro &

National Steel guitars with equal fluency. born 9th December 1950, John is a virtuoso guitarist who plays electric, acoustic, and Dobro & National Steel guitars with equal fluency. He has, over the years, performed with Wandering John, Snake, the Travelling Riverside Blues Band, Meantown Blues Band, ABCD, the Howlers / Just Jake / Ottoman / Last Fair Deal… to name but a few. His great love and speciality is the blues although he has, in his time, played many styles of music. A showman at heart, John first used a radio guitar link in the late 70s and has, since then, been seen performing behind bars, in car parks, on tables and pretty much everywhere else you can imagine (and a lot of places that you can’t). John has a large number of guitars, most of which he made himself, being a carpenter & joiner by trade. JOHN IS KEEPING THE TRAVS ALIVE!
< Johnny also makes and sells excellent DELTA RESONATOR GUITARS – check his site HERE

TREV MUGLESTON โ€“ the kind of name you’d find in a Dickens’ novel. Trev, lead vocals and keyboard – born in 1957 in Tamworth. Mad on the Blues, he started playing guitar at 13 and joined his first band at 15. At 23 he was also playing keyboard and joined the Dave Smith Blues Band. In 1999 when the lead singer left, Trev took over the role as lead vocalist and front man. He also played in One Over The 8 and still plays for Zootsuit Blues who play swing blues. Trev joined The Travs in October 2007, his lead vocals and keyboard playing have added a new musical dimension to the band with his fantastic abilities.


PAUL BAIMBRIDGE โ€“ or Bram as he’s known to one and all. Bram, bass guitar – a local Nuneaton lead guitar hero whose influences are mainly rock and blues. Paul started way back in the early 1970s, he writes and has recorded his own material and has played in various bands including Tripper, Firebrand, Heavy Metal Thunder and Highway Man. He has played bass for AB/CD โ€“ Tribute to Bon Scott since 1990. He runs his own studio and has done live sound for many major acts. He’s also the proprietor of his own music shop. He joined The Travs in 2006.

ROB TYSALL โ€“ all round percussionist and good guy! Rob, drums and backing vocals โ€“

born 1959 in Rugby, started playing at 14. His musical influences are rock, blues and progressive metal. Rob has been a studio session drummer and has played in many bands including Tripper, Firebrand, Paris, Tin Alley and Mr Beat. He writes and has recorded his own material. He has been the drummer in AB/CD โ€“ Tribute to Bon Scott since 1998, and is a lead and harmony vocalist in his own right. Rob has also held Jam Sessions in the Midlands for the last 15 years. Plus he is also a professional photographer. He joined The Travs in 2006.

Original line up in the 80’s included Tony (Mojo) Morgan on bass (Formerly of Mick Green Blues Band / EMF and now with Mojo Morgan’s Hoochie Coochie Blues Band .)

Tracks on My Space
Worried
Further Up On The Road
My Babe
Johnny Slide’s Sample






Transposed Men

Transposed Men

Line Up

Neol Davies (Later of The Selecter) – Guitar / songwriter / Vocals

Desmond Brown (later of The Selecter) – Hammond Organ

John “Brad” Bradbury (Later of The Specials) – Drums

Steve Wynne (aka Vaughan Tive) – Bass, (Later of The Swinging Cats)

Kevin Harrison (Later of Urge) – Guitar / Vocals


A Neol Davies band prior to forming The Selecter in 1979. The band were playing Neol Davies songs that were later done by The Selecter, including the On My Radio (Kevin Harrison had a demo version of this by Transposed Men on his Personal History site – which seems to have disappeared now). 



You can hear the Kevin’s Rehearsal version of On My Radio by Transposed Men – prior to The Selecter version here. 

Neol Davies had written and recorded the instrumental track The Selecter (The Kingston Affair) back in 1977 – played by himself and John Bradbury on a four track portastudio and produced by Roger Lomas. At that stage the band The Selecter did not exist. When the track The Selecter was released as the B side of Gangsters by The Specials, Neol Davies formed the band called The Selecter out of Transposed Men (Neol and Desmond Brown) and the rest of the members from Charley Anderson’s Hard Top 22 and the addition of Pauline Black.

From Kevin Harrison’s Personal History

” I join ‘Transposed Men‘. The name comes from a sixties book cover I have glued to the front of an old drum machine. Neol Davies and John Bradbury were already friends of mine and the line-up showed great promise. I had already recorded a few demos of Neol’s songs at Brad’s cellar in Warwick at a prior date. Anyway the main bulk of the songs we played became staples in The Selecter’s set and many featured on their first album. Virgin Records were interested but nothing happened. Anyway when Brad left to join The Specials everything fell apart. After awhile Neol and Desmond teamed-up with some of the ex-members of Hardtop 22, Pauline Black joined them on vocals, and The Selecter was born, Steve Wynne eventually joined The Swinging Cats and sometime after that Dexy’s Midnight Runners”


From Marco on Bass interview with Neol Davies

” We rehearsed a set and played several gigs, and nearly got a deal with Virgin Records. The line up included Desmond Brown on Hammond organ (who joined The Selecter), Kevin Harrison on guitar (he later formed urge) and Steve Wynn on bass. I have one recording of several songs from a mono cassette at a rehearsal which Kevin has helped me archive and enhance.”

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