THE PILGRIMS (1989)

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Nick Edgington tells us
“Another great Cov band of the late 80’s was The Pilgrims, with Greg Crabb (Formerly with the Furious Apples in the early 80’s) their charismatic lead singer. When they played sober they were really good. But if they decided in advance to have a few drinks, they changed the band name to “The Raggle Taggle Gypsies. They were much funnier then, and it was once described as “a typically tight performance”.

When a Cov “face”, John Westacott, (formerly a bassist with Whistler and harmonica player with Last Fair Deal inthe 70’s and with Urge (on bass) in the early 80’s, when he turned 50, the Raggle Taggle Gypsies let him join them on stage at the Colin Campbell(now the Phoenix).
This is the flyer for that gig, possibly in 1989.”

THE PILGRIMS -1965

c 1965? This was Pete Waterman‘s first band – Pete Waterman on Vocals and guitar / Kingsley Joyce on Organ, Keith Jackson, John (a cousin of Keith Jackson) on drums, Duncan Hall. He later joined Tomorrows Kind, and then went on to conquer the world of pop…..

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 THE PRISTINES

Pristines Via John Docker / Genre: Indie / Psychedelic / Shoegaze. Location Coventry, Midlands, UK 

Record Label Sunday, Series Two, Cloudberry, Edition 59, Susy etc

Type of Label Indie

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Download their album here (£1) on Band camp

http://thepristines.bandcamp.com/album/keep-passing-the-open-windows

Tracks on My Space – Rose Honey – It’s My Problem – Sea Horse – Suitable Lies – A Parting Kiss – A Second Pick Twice not Out – Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm – Coping – Digest of Mayflower –

Albums and singles for sale on the My Space.

My Space Video – Betswy Song 

from the above website – The Pristines came out of Balloon Farm etc.

“A song Pristine Christine was a particular favourite – sometimes The Balloon Farm did it in rehearsals, and I had to sing it as it was out of Tony’s vocal range.

Hence The Pristines a band name made up on the spot which has stuck now for over 15 years and numerous albums!

Everyone agreed the song didn’t sound too out of place amongst all the others on the compilation cassette. So, I chanced my arm (and my postage stamps), compiled a first homemade cassette album called Honestly and sent it out to the fanzine community. 

To my surprise they liked it (I was expecting derision more than anything..) 

Songs were included on fanzine compilations. To me it felt like getting a record deal. 

I was delighted. 

The unthinkable – the smell of vinyl

Indeed the unthinkable for 2 reasons. 

I was asked to record a real record for a split single release

It was in the UK

Some lovely people at a label called Pillarbox Red (I’ll never forget you guys) must have heard one of the tapes and sent me a letter asking me if I wanted The Pristines to be on a split 7″ single! 

A vinyl release!! something I had always dreamed about, one day making a record of my own was now about to come true.

The drawback… 

I needed to go back into a real recording studio to make the record for only the second time ever (The first was for The Balloon Farm demo/single), but this time I had no band with me and quickly had to drum up (pun slightly intended) a bass player & drummer.

We did 2 songs Pristine Dream the requested song for the single, and a new song I Think You Know both of which I had to teach the others in valuable studio time – lucky the songs were so easy.

Fortunately, they came out really well. 

Even more fortunately it was the best recording on the 4 track 4 band single. 

They sent me 20 copies to sell. I handed them out to my friends at Silvers (the Indie club and mecca for the indie kids in Coventry, the one set up by DJ Cap as I mentioned earlier..)I secretly hoped they were as jealous as I was proud.”

Bio: (From My Space)

The Pristines – out of Coventry, England.

Indie lo-fi guitar pop – you know the type – jangly chiming guitars with a touch of psychedelia thrown in for good measure. Or

GAZE-EDELIA!!

Released 4-track tape cassette albums via fanzines in the early 90s before being asked to produce singles for the likes of Pillarbox Red records (UK) and most notably Sunday Records (USA).

Debuted with the Souls to the Devil 7″ e.p for Sunday, which was quickly followed by the Kimberley Somebody single. The Pristines also appear on Sunday Records compilations and also featured on the Happy Sunday rare flexi with a cover version of labelmates They Go Boom! “She’s Not My Friend”.

The Pristines finest moment on Sunday was the album Teen-Fraud, Pop-Whore (part one), which still sounds as refreshing and pure today as it did when released in 1995.

Other mentions must go out to all the other labels that also put-out material be as singles, cassette-singles or on compilations. Most notably Elefant (Spain), Meller Welle Produkte (Ger), A Turntable Friend (Ger) and Sofa (Japan).

The Pristines still release CD albums today, however, no longer for Sunday but purely self-produced. “Teen-Fraud” was followed up by the equally poppy Get Caught in Showtime (2000), and the much darker & challenging 3rd album Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? (2003). Before a whopping 17-track third album Coping: Not Coping (2005).

Recently MySpace has led to the band forming new alliances and further releases have occurred. November 2007 saw the release of a 3-track mini CDR single on the Miami based Cloudberry records, a popular & productive new label running very much in the old fanzine ethos really independent style (cloudberry 59). 

Cloudberry also put a Pristines track on their 5 band e.p Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing that was not available by general release but given as a handout at selective indie nights at clubs in London & Sweden.

More recent developments have seen The Pristines agree a deal with Series Two Records to release the album States of Mine in 2008.

This new album was completed in 2007 but has so far only been circulated in demo or promo format on the whole.

This album has now got a release date for 24/06/08. Orders by Paypal from Series Two – see their MySpace page.

Also  – The Pristines’s on Face book http://en-gb.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=370268742500

Ballon Farm – Pristine’s records on offer on the Facebook site.

The Pristines – Betswy Song (Coming Home)

The Pristines – A Parting Kiss (live_Jun96).mpg

 Draft version

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The band was formed in 1985 – Years active 1985–1992; 2009–present

Labels Lazy Records, RCA

Kieron McDermott – vocals replaced by  Tracy Tracy (born Tracy Cattell)

Paul Court vocals, guitar  / Steve Dullaghan – bass 

Andy Hobson – bass replaced by Paul Sampson – bass 

Pete Tweedie drums replaced by Tig Williams October ’87.

Current Members 

Paul Court (guitar, vocals) / Tracy Tracy (vocals, tambourine)

Ralph Moore (bass) / Tig Williams (drums)

Produced by Paul Sampson

Singles

Thru The Flowers (Link with interview)

Really Stupid (Live version on link)

Stop Killing Me 

Crash (Live version on link)

(Lots more Primitives on You Tube)

Albums

Lovely (1988) UK #6

Pure (1989) UK #33

Galore (1991)

From Wikipedia

” Their career was also boosted when The Smiths singer Morrissey named them as one of his favourite bands. After a successful first album, which presented them with their UK Top 5 hit single “Crash” in early 1988 (and made the Top 3 in the U.S. Modern Rock Charts), their career began to fade in the early 1990s. They split in 1992 following the commercial failure of their final album, 1991’s Galore. Their major rivals within the ‘blonde pop’ scene were Transvision Vamp and The Darling Buds, both of whom bore a similar look and sound.”

Steve Dullaghan died in Coventry on 4 February 2009 (Hobo Site Tribute here)

After nearly 18 years, The Primitives reformed for live shows in Coventry on 2 October 2009 and the Buffalo Bar in London on 9 October 2009. In spring of 2010, The Primitives toured the UK and also performed a single US concert at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York. The Primitives also went back into the studio with original producer Paul Sampson. The concept is a covers project of lesser-known female-fronted songs, including Lee Hazlewood’s “Need All the Help I Can Get” originally recorded by Suzi Jane Hokum in 1966 and “Breakaway” recorded by Toni Basil in 1966. During the summer of 2010, the Primitives have also recorded a few new songs for future release, such as “Rattle My Cage” and “Never Kill a Secret”.

Version from Coventry Music Exhibition Launch – Herbert Museum / Art Gallery Oct 2009

I actually saw the reformed Primitives at this – 

More of the Coventry 2009 concert Here

 Draft version

Presage
Rock / Alternative / Experimental – c 84 – 86 – Source Rex Brough – Presage My Space –
Hear the following Presage Tracks –
A Question of Time (2009)
Nailed -2009
Turn it Around – 2009
Alternate World – Live 2009
Time Game – Live 2009
Follow Us – 1985
In Trance – 1988

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Steve Kavanagh – Guitar / Vocals / Programming

Richard Priest – Vocals

Adrian Currall – Bass / Keyboards

Tracy –

Rob

Influences Hawkwind / Sky / Killing Joke / Mansun / Suns of Arqa / Ozerics

Memories from Steve Kavanagh Via Rex Brough and Presage My Space (an amalgam!)

“Hi, I was in Presage between 1984-1986. We rehearsed at sight and sound studios in the room next to the Primitives (and 20 Days). Our ex Vocalist Richard Priest later managed Jarvis Cocker’s Pulp and our keyboard player ended up in Bjorn Again. I also played with Shady Deal between 1989-1996. I’m currently in a new duo with my brother in law, our first gig is at the windmill (Ma Browns) on 17/10/04. I also have recorded two solo l.p’s at my home studio. The Shady Deal album is now available at cov library. Presage play original material and enjoy playing live and are not trying to please anyone else but themselves – if you like are music -great – if not, never mind – To book the band currently – go to their My Space and message”

PRESAGE (Sight & Sound Studios Coventry 1985) Adrian/Steve/Tracey/Rob
‘Presage’ also rehearsed at St.Thomas More school in Syvechale at the same time as them (1983)

PRESAGE REUNION OCTOBER 2007 – L/R STEVE/ADRIAN/TRACEY/ROB

Presage youtube now defunct.

 Draft version

JOHNNY CLIFFORD AND THE PRESIDENTS circa 1964- 1965 – Beat Group – Line up: Johnny Clifford (vocals), Roger Bassett (guitar), Andy Evans (guitar), Mike Watson (bass),Mike Odey (drums). Source Broadgate Gnome

 Draft version

1967 – 68 Source – Rex Brough

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Tom Ryan – Drums 

Ray Haywood – guitar 

Paul Kennelly – Vocals 

Modie Albrighton – Guitar 

Dave Faircloth – Keyboards

December 1967 to April 1968

Beat group – Line up: Arthur Albrighton (guitar), plus others . Arthur is

Roy Albrighton’s brother. they became Peppermint Kream .This band changed it’s name to the Peppermint Kreem.

The Plague were also known as The Makeshift before they became The Plague.
Peppermint Kreme on Facebook

Paul Kennelly tells us
” With the addition of Bob Hopkins, who had moved from guitar to keyboards, we decided to switch names from Makeshift to The Plague. Bob Hopkins of course, goes right back to my Art School days so he was hardly a new face but he did add a new dimension to our sound. Our first gig with the new name was Friday, December 8th at The General Wolfe, Coventry.This photo session was in The War Memorial Park, Coventry. We did 46 gigs as Plague, then , first of all , Brian left the band and I believe , finished playing drums altogether . We replaced him with Tom Ryan from ” The Pacifics ” then , very suddenly, Bob Hopkins announced he was leaving. I have to say, we were not expecting it. I can remember very clearly , we were all standing in the driveway at the Barker Butts flat. Trying to decide what to do. Yet again, a name change was agreed. Ray Haywood suggested Peppermint Creams and I said, how about Peppermint Kreem . On 26th April 1968, we appeared as a 4 piece at The Heart of England Club , Meriden , as Peppermint Kreem. It would be July 13th before we set on a new keyboard player ( Dave Fairclough ). “

Pete Clemons article for the Coventry Telegraph gives the background and developments to the band – Read on this blog https://coventrygigs.blogspot.com/2013/11/peppermint-kreem.html
 

circa 1966 – Beat group – Became Five Alone in January 1967 and then Flowers November 1967 Source Broadgate Gnome.

DRAFT version

This is Paul Sampson’s psychedelic band. Superb! Paul became the main engineer and producer at Cabin recording studios, and had hits with the Primitives. One of Coventry’s heroes…

Single Available on Amazon

Raspberry rainbows / Oh No The Insect Man – to buy / Listen

The Pink Umbrellas were from Coventry and featured Paul Sampson (guitar vocals) Steve Edgson (clarinet) Barry Jones (bass) and Robin Hill (drums). Steve and Paul were formerly in a band called Reluctant stereotypes, the lead singer of which was Paul King (later of King – Love and Pride etc).

Memories from Gary Swain

“I spent many evenings in the early 80’s watching the Pink Umbrellas. I know they recorded an album for Ready Steady Go that was never released but a while ago I heard from Steve Edgson’s former wife that he has a copy of it. I’d love to get hold of a copy. It would be a shame never to hear Lucy’s Room again.”

From Dean Nelson – ” The Pink Umbrellas

In 1981, Steve Edgson & Paul Sampson formed “Pink Umbrellas” along with Robin Hill and Barry Jones. Theirmusic was described as “Psychedelic Pop” and was influenced by The Beatles, early Floyd and The Doors. They released one single in May 1982 “Raspberry Rainbow” on the “Ready Steady Go” label.”

From Pete Chambers – Pop into the Past
“1981 Paul and Steve moved formed The Pink Umbrellas.The band began as a duo, eventually blossoming in to a fully-fledged band, with Paul taking on the lead vocals. Paul’s love of the psychedelic was much in evidence with tracks like Raspberry Rainbows and Mind of a Child. It was around this time Paul became the house producer at Coventry’s Cabin Studios.

In 1984 the Pink Umbrellas (or The Attic Dressers as they were then known) split and Paul concentrated on production and engineering at Cabin studios.”

Draft

The PINES

circa 1964

R&B/Blues

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Line up: Allan Waites (rhythm guitar), John Gilroy (lead guitar), Malcolm O’Sullivan (vocals), Terry Twigger (bass), Barry Eaton (drums).

Formed mid-1964 as a “..strictly R&B ” band. Recorded a demo at Panthos Studios in October 1964 including “… a re-styling of Bo Diddley’s Mona …” .

Met songwriters Bill Bates and Ken Hawker (who wrote Is It Me for Brenda Lee ) who encouraged them to move to London for a recording test.

Became Little Darlings November 1964 .