Pete Waterman – Oct 1974 Interview

Posted on 2 June 2023 by trevor

Pete Waterman – Oct 1974 Interview

by Pete Clemons

Pete Clemons interviewed by Pete Waterman

In more recent years Coventry’s Pete Waterman has tended to take a back seat as far as the popular music of today goes. Today he appears quite content to give his opinions on rail related matters. Additionally he can be found helping with the build of a new OO gauge model railway which was recently displayed at Chester Cathedral as well as being featured on TV.

But there was a time, well before he became a household name, when Pete was known as Coventry’s ‘King of Philly’ – a nickname earned because of his following as the top soul DJ and his visit to Philadelphia during 1974.

At that time, the then twenty-seven year old Pete, had lived in Coventry all his life – sung in the Cathedral Choir, worked in rock groups and as a DJ – and is the biggest local music personality.

An interview with Pete, conducted during October 1974, recently came to my attention and so I decided to transcribe it. I found it all quite fascinating:………………….

Q. When did your career as a D.J. begin to develop?

P.W. My days as a D.J. began quite simply in the early 60’s it was before the time of disco equipment as we know to-day. It consisted of one turntable only. They needed somebody to change records fast – and I could change records faster than anyone else. The main cause of my interest in soul was John Lennon. I met Lennon when I was working at Matrix Ballroom in Coventry. Reg Calvert, who owned about 6 ballrooms in the area, was so keen on the Beatles that he booked them on 60 different dates. I was working the deck when this guy with Levi Jeans cane up and asked me in an accent I’d never heard before whether I had any Miracles records? any Marvellettes? any Motown? Well this guy sold me right away – I mean Levi jeans in 1962. All I could say was that I’d never heard of them. He went to the van and gave me ‘Way Over There’ and ‘Shop Around’ by the Miracles, ‘Mr. Postman’ by the Marvellettes and ‘Finger tips’ by Stevie Wonder. Then there was the Beatles themselves – really incredible, numbers like ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’.

Q. Your trip to Philadelphia this year was the culmination of a career developing steadily over the years and finally put you on the map nationally. How important is this national recognition to you?

P.W. My work until recently has always been in Coventry -in 1968 I started working at the Locarno and been packing them in ever since! That is apart from a spell at the Birmingham Locarno. It’s much more important for me to be known locally on a friendly basis where people can come up and say hello. That’s why the growth of local radio is so important. National fame means people just stare at you.

Q. Philadelphia has recently taken over as the worlds No. 1 music city at the moment. How did your visit come about and how did you fare over there?

P.W. I went over to Philadelphia in April this year and spent some time working with Gamble, Huff and Bell of Philly International. The trip was completely on the spur of the moment. I just packed my bags, flew to the U.S.A. and presented myself to them. Bell with a letter of introduction I had secured from C.B.S. over here. The fact that I was English helped a good deal – first in getting in and secondly for a wider experience. I had the advantage of being able to visit both black and white stations -which are very different!

Q. Music is in a rut here. Where do you look for a breakthrough? and do you see any sign of this?

P.W. There was no sign of the Beatles before they broke. At the moment we are suffering from a whole series of one record artists – ‘Top of the Pops’ has lost the influence it had. What I do see from my work in the ball-room is a big swing back to dancing. The Bump will be bigger than the Twist, mark my words.

Q. Coventry and towns north seem to be leading the soul movement. Is this what is happening? and why are the provincial areas leading the Capital?

P.W. Certainly that’s true -more black acts break in the North. Manchester and Birmingham are the two centres where the record companies aim at first. ‘Year of Decision’ by the Three Degrees and ‘The Sound of Philadelphia’ by M.F.S.B. are cases in point. Where soul records sell in the south only after they’re national hits. It’s all tied up with the move back to dancing. In the Middle and North of England we have what I’d call a ball-room tradition where people dance till they sweat. They don’t have the sophisticated clubs and smart discos of London where they go dressed to kill. South of Watford the people are into James Brown and Al Green – but that’s it.

Q. Pete, it’s been a long trail – you’re reaping some of the rewards in a bigger way now. What does the immediate future offer?

P.W. I’ve got a series of programmes scheduled for November on B.B.C. Radio Birmingham – the story of modern music. When Dave Simmonds goes on holiday I’m filling his Radio One spot for two weeks. Then I’m writing a bock on Philadelphia and my experiences -it should be out early 1975. Embassy, (the subsidiary of CBS) have asked me to put an album together for Christmas, the ‘Pete Waterman Philly Story’ or some such thing. Then I’m setting up my own label – Cricket Records – in about a month’s time. Initially I’ll be licensing records from America but later hope to record my own artists before too long.

…………………………..

This is the audio for Pete Waterman’s Radio interview with Pete Clemons on the Coventry Music Scene- Here on Sound Click

https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14607163

The following is an article Pete Waterman wrote for our Hobo magazine in 1974 – he’d just been to a Three Degrees concert and met the ladies –

PETE WATERMAN’S SOUL ARTICLE (1974) from HOBO – Coventry Music and Arts Magazine

As you know by now our small shop (The Soul Hole) has now moved to the top of Virgin Records in the City Arcade. Our new shop will, we hope, bring more people into the faith. We had a good time at the shop in the I AM boutique but the stock was getting too big for our small shop. The move will not, we hope, change the service that we are so proud of. The new shop will give us more room to serve and talk. Also you can stand up! (The Soul Hole was originally in the cellar of the I AM boutique with a low ceiling!!)

THE THREE DEGREES
Anyway, down to business. As most of you know by now, I spent the 5th and 6th of March with the Three Degrees. Sheila, Fay and Valerie. On Monday the 5th I went to the Mayfair Hotel in London to see the girls do their own thing. The girls got on and did When Will I See You Again. The first thing that took our breath away was their see through dresses, but they are far from just good looking foxes. At dinner I sat with Peter Winfield (for all those who don’t read sleeve notes) Peter is the cat who played keyboards for BLOODSTONE on both Natural High and their new album. For all the foxes and cats not into our faith, Pete also plays for COLIN BLUNSTONE, and writes for a National rock paper.

Pete is a soul freak, like myself and we both agreed their harmonies were the tightest we’d heard for some time. The voices were fantastic, Sheila takes the lead most of the time. The next in line was Dirty Old Man, this was fantastic, with the girls showing they can handle the audience with fun and firmness. Then they did “A Woman Needs Love” proving they can sing ballads as well as up tempo Nos. Their footwork was as good as any I’ve seen before, and if any in the audience weren’t sold on that, the next was they’re single Year of Decision. It had everybody on their feet shouting for more. But it was all over, Pete and the Colin Blunstone band went off to record the Old Grey Whistle Test, and I went to the girls bedroom to have a natter to them about their early years for all the people who knock our music- God knows why!

Just as a boost to our egos, David Bowie was there to pay homage to the three ladies of soul. It seems that Rock stars are getting back to their roots with Bowie telling me that he is soon to be recording with top black acts in the states and John Lennon saying Ann Pebbles I Can Feel the Rain is the best record for two years.

New Sounds to Look Out For

The Ojays new single is a track off their latest LP (as are all the new Philly singles) and is called For the Love of Money. The Intruders – I’ll Always love My Mama (2 Pts)

Trammps new single is a track off the 1970 British Motown company, picking the slower track. USA Marvin Gaye scores with his controversial single You Sure Like to Ball taken from the Let’s Get it On album. A new single soaring up the American charts from the M.F.S.B. band on Philly International is called Tsop, taken from the TV series Soul Train.The end five bars feature the 3 Degrees.

LP of the month – too many really to pick one but look out for Blue Magic and import Out Here on my Own Lamont / Dozier. Superb LP’s. Next Billy Paul single The Whole Town’s Talkin’ .

Also check out – Rock me Baby – George McCrea / Help Yourself – Undisputed Truth / Dancing Machine – Jackson 5 / I Lied – Bunny Sigler / Mighty Mighty – Earth, Wind and Fire / Be Thankful For What You’ve Got – William Devaaughn / Chameleon – Herbie Hancock / Sagittarius – Eddie Kendicks / If You’re Ready – Staple Singers / Got To Get You Back – Sons of Robin Stone / Pepper Box – The Peppers

See ya soon. Keep the faith right on –

Pete Waterman (1974)

From the Coventry Telegraph 1974

ANOTHER PIECE FROM HOBO 1974

In 1974, we reported in Hobo reported that “Dave Simmons, Radio One DJ on the Saturday Soul programme, dedicated last week’s programme exclusively to the Philly Sound, thanks to the efforts of of our own Pete Waterman, who has just returned from the very place with a hoard of interviews and information about the Philly Sound. Pete was interviewed throughout the program by Dave and the interviews Pete himself did were broadcast.. Next issue, if Pete gets it together, we will have an article for Hobo on the Philly sound from the expert!” We didn’t that second article but we did his review of a Three Degrees concert.

Coventry Automatics / The Specials 1978

Posted on 1 June 2023 by trevor

Coventry Automatics /
The Specials 1978

by Pete Clemons

Coventry band, The Specials, began around the same time as the Rock Against Racism movement which began to organise itself during 1978. And, according to Jerry Dammers, anti racism was intrinsic to the formation of the band.

One of the earliest gigs by the newly named Specials was at an Anti Nazi League gig held at Warwick University. It is interesting to read feedback from that gig. Reports within the appraisal appears to be conflicting as to how it was all viewed. Which I guess was typical of the time as universities were still coming to terms with the punk rock movement and its spin off’s:………..

At Westwood on Saturday you had the opportunity to view the most promising talent that the city of Coventry has produced over the last year or so. The charge was a modest 50p and the band described were The Specials, only recently and, formerly the Coventry Automatics.

Events at Monday night’s Anti Nazi League concert highlighted some of the difficulties Warwick University Student’s Union is now facing over the question of open gigs.

Three bands took part; God’s Toys, Squad and The Specials. Scuffles began during Squad’s performance, but did not escalate until their last number, when a minor disturbance broke out among thirty or so fans.

This continued for some time until stewards formed a wall in front of the audience to prevent them from leaping onto the stage. An eye witness remarked ‘The stewards showed remarkable restraint under extreme provocation’.

Arts Federation stewards calmed things down before the arrival of the main group, The Specials, a New Wave/Reggae band. However there were numerous surges towards the stage as well as repeated attempts by members of the crowd to entice individual stewards into acts of violence. The Specials contributed to the uneasy atmosphere by singing ‘You’re gonna get your f… ing heads kicked in’, which brought immediate verbal retaliation.

One of the group shouted ‘Why don’t you continue throwing paper planes at us, you know they split our heads open?’. The band returned for an encore which added to growing antagonism as some of the crowd began to threaten stewards. The lead singer of The Specials then challenged the audience ‘Come and kick the seven bells of shit out of the bouncers’.

When the band finally left the stage the audience quietened down and began to drift away. The entertainments steward was instrumental in keeping order. He made clear his disgust with the situation. He criticised the choice of band and ‘the type of music which encourages these people’. He added ‘I detest trying to control these little kids who should still be at school’. However he praised the ANL stewards who were doing a good job.

Entertainments officials at the concert estimated about 620 people were present, of which about fifty per cent of whom were non-students.

Conflicting opinions exist as to the nature of the night’s proceedings. A spokesman for Warwick University Against the Nazis, stressed that there was really no trouble at all, it had been a good evening, and everyone had enjoyed themselves.

The porter for the night concurred that it was ‘One of the quietest nights we’ve ever known, crowd and incident wise’. He continued ‘I saw no trouble at all’.

However the Arts Federation house manager, claimed another side to the evenings entertainment. ‘Two of our stewards refused to wear Anti-Nazi League tee-shirts. They were worried’. He added that ‘After a gig by The Dependants and Hardtop 22 gig I was forced to take out life insurance for my lads, because they refused to work otherwise. He also accused a former Warwick student, and general secretary as being responsible for some of the charges towards the stage.

Dance Craze

Posted on 21 May 2023 by trevor

Dance Craze

by Pete Clemons

The Odeon cinema in the Skydome centre recently put on a ‘for
one night only’ showing of the shining new 4K restoration of the classic 2 tone
era chronicle ‘Dance Craze’. I completely enjoyed revisiting this film again.

Additionally both the original album, the film soundtrack and
the film itself have now been re-released in a wonderful variety of
presentation packs.

This 1981 documentary captured the live adventures of all of
the main protagonists from the 2 tone movement. It was an inspired decision, on
the part of the film makers, to create this piece of history. Such was its
importance to preserve this moment in time.

A resulting VHS tape released after the film had originally
done the rounds was notoriously bad quality.

This newly cleaned up version is a very welcome release. And
the whole collection has had considerable success in a variety of charts. I
have read comments from several of those involved. ‘It all seems like a
lifetime ago’ was the most common utterance. But even after 40 years this new
release is still hitting number one in some of those charts.

Thumbing through some obscure local press I recently came across this great
review from 1981, and yes, The Specials were still being referred to as the
Coventry Automatics.

‘Dance Craze (Two-tone) – Which songs changed your life? ‘Tutti
Frutti?’, ‘Rock Around the Clock?’, ‘Heartbreak Hotel?’ ‘Please Please Me?’,
Anarchy in the U.K.?’ ‘Stairway to Heaven? (God forbid). How about ‘Gangsters?’

The latest album from the Coventry Automatics and their
friends, in which a cast of forty three, skank till we’re dizzy, is the live
one. Everything here is already available on studio albums, but the liveness we
in Coventry know and love captures it all so much better.

Six bands, fifteen songs: ‘Concrete Jungle’, ‘Man at C &
P ‘Nite Klub’ from the Specials, ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘Night Boat to Cairo’ and
‘Razor Blade Alley’ from Madness, ‘Too Much Pressure’, ‘Missing Words’ and
‘Three Minute Hero’ from the Selector, ‘Big Shot’, ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ and
‘Ranking Full Stop’ from the Beat, ‘Lip Up Fatty’ and ‘Inner London Violence’
from Bad Manners, and the feminist anthem ‘Easy Life’, my favourite single of
1980, from the immaculate, underrated, now lamented Bodysnatchers.

If you’ve seen them all live, you’ll appreciate just how good
they all are; if you haven’t, well this will help teach you. The spirit of the
last 18 months, living forever. We danced at Westwood, the Lanch, the Union,
Tiffany’s, the Lyceum, Top Ranks and Palais. Now we dance in our living rooms.
Come the film, they’ll be skanking in the ABC1′

The Session – 2TC

Posted on 21 May 2023 by trevor

The Session – 2TC

by Pete Clemons

In these hard and gloomy days, it is comforting to look
forward to the small pleasures the powers that be have allowed us. And anyone
who values the local music scene cannot be ignorant of the existing rhythms and
sounds produced by this long lasting five piece.

Enigmatic is the nearest word I can think of to describe the
The Session. Yet there’s no denying that Dean MacDonald can write songs like
they’ve never been written before. An earful of ‘Jester’s Script’, or the
diversely different, ‘When She Smiles’, tend to tell all about their range.

This gig was being performed the night before the home leg of
Coventry City’s play off against Middlesborough. As such there was a definite
sense of excitement in the air.

The Session played a very strategic game dominating play
right from the off. Their set began with ‘Loaded Hobo’ a rousing song that
expressed the virtues, or not, of being in a rock n roll band. The home crowd
appeared to have lapped it all up. By the end of the gig, a very receptive
audience responded with chants of ‘More!’ from the terraces.

Not to disappoint the band responded with ‘Jailbird’ segued,
Paul Weller style, with ‘Ohio’. For that they encouraged local favourite, Danny
Ansell, to join them on stage.

Being in a smaller room than normal, and one with a low
ceiling, meant that the lyrics came across more audible. And, for me, The
Session resonated more. Or should that be resonation. With that comes a deeper
understanding of what makes the band tick.

The variety of talent within The Session can be appreciated
by studying a round up of the group. Here is a group with tremendous
versatility both vocally and musically. There are no anthems yet, lyrically,
they are expressive and they certainly move you. Additionally this is a whole
group effort. The body language coming from the stage suggests that this is a
happy outfit and they are completely as one.

They are a unique band in as much that they do not go through
any histrionics. They just get on with the job at hand. In short, a sympathetic
band who are completely in tune with lyrics. And, they go down a storm.

Set list: 1. Loaded Hobo, 2. Denver Hill, 3. Jesters Script,
4. Sinner In Me, 5. When She Smiles, 6. Blind, 7. Resonation, 8. Reflect Before
Aim, 9. Jailbird, 10. Ohio

Warwick University Folk Club

Posted on 4 May 2023 by trevor

Warwick University Folk Club

by Pete Clemons

I recently re-read an article I wrote, several years ago, about the folk scene in Coventry over the last 60 years. I realised that, inextricably, I had overlooked Warwick University folk club where, during the 1960s and 70s, it was as vibrant as any of the more well known clubs in the area.

The Warwick University folk club was formed during 1965 when early performing artists included Anne Briggs, The Couriers and Barry Skinner appeared there.

By 1966 the folk club claimed to be the most thriving society at the university. This was justified by the fact that it had over 200 members and meet every week. It was held in the table tennis room. Despite early criticism the space proved to be an excellent home for the club. Singers enjoyed performing before a most receptive audience and have highly praised the friendly atmosphere.

Audiences were described as ‘enthusiastic’ and the guest singers noticed it. And they were not slow in praising the club ‘You’ve got a good little club there, much more ready to sing along than at the other Universities we’ve been to. We had a ball’ said one major act.

The club did not have a heavy bias towards either traditional, or the more modern songs written in the folk idiom. The full spectrum was covered, from songs that have been in the oral tradition for centuries down to protest songs and others of the type produced by such people as Woody Guthrie, Sidney Carter and Sian Kelly.

Excitedly one announcement from 1966 mentioned ‘To come we have the renowned Al Stewart and also, it is hoped, Davy Graham. We shall also have Martin Carthy, one of the most talented of the younger British folk-singers, whose style and repertoire leave little to be desired’.

So popular the club became by 1968 folk acts were booked for a ‘Freshers’ weekend Concert. This coveted slot was normally taken by more popular chart acts.

The Strawbs who had performed at the university more than once and who were becoming very well known across the country through their performances, radio programmes and their very successful debut album were the star attraction.

Tea and Symphony, despite an album and two singles and who had been given a lot of airplay on the radio, were described as a less well known group

1968 also saw the folk club move to a bigger venue. This was documented by a review that mentioned how The Pentangle having to ‘squeeze their way through a very crowded hall to open the evening at Canley’.

By 1973 the club had seemingly peaked. By then it had moved back to the main campus and Bert Jansch had made a return visit. Despite a 200 strong audience the event was described as a ‘disappointment’.

‘Bert Jansch played in the Airport Lounge on Saturday to an audience of 200. This poor attendance is symptomatic of the lack of interest in cultural events and social hops which is evident throughout the mass of the apathetic student body. Anyway, the Concert was very good – and we should be grateful that not only did Ents not lose money but also that Bert actually turned up’.

The club did continue for several more years but things would never top those heady days.

Bedsitter Images – Al Stewart

Cliff Richard and the Drifters 1959 – Coventry Theatre

Posted on 4 May 2023 by trevor

Cliff Richard and the
Drifters 1959 – Coventry Theatre.

by Pete Clemons.

The Drifters chose the unknown path to success when, in October 1958, they met at London’s famous coffee bar ‘The 2 I’s’. Soon after getting together, and settling on the the classic line up The Drifters – known individually as, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan were booked to accompany Cliff Richard on a tour throughout the UK.

The high standard of playing achieved by The Drifters brought positive comments from all corners. Jack Good was particularly vocal ‘The Drifters are, in my opinion, the finest permanent backing group for a singer’.

That UK tour called into Coventry Theatre during the first half of 1959. Below is an account of it all. Personally I think this is an important document as towards the end of 1959 The Drifters, as a name, would disappear soon after.

‘How they squealed !. How they yelled !. They clapped and they stamped. A girl in the balcony screamed hysterically, another shouted ‘Cliff oh Cliff’. In the circle they swayed to the primitive rhythm, jigged in their seats, near danced in the aisles. Yes Cliff Richard really ‘sent ’em’ at Monday’s first night of his twice nightly show at the Coventry Theatre this week.

This 18 year old rock ‘n’ roller rocketed to the top by televisions ‘Oh Boy’ series draws more applause by winking one heavy lidded eye than all the other artists put together. Dressed in yellow coat and black shirt, and accompanied by his own group ‘The Drifters’, he sings and wiggles his way through the ‘pop’ numbers with which he has made his name – numbers like ‘Move It’ and ‘High Class Baby’ – and, believe it or not, a few ballads of yesteryear with of course one or two rhythmic alterations.

And the rest of the show. There is an all too short performance from the Tanner Sisters, whose melodious harmonies seemed on Monday to fall somewhat flat on the youthful rock attuned ears present, two comedians – but why must variety stage humour be so blue? – and some clever jugglers and acrobats. It is traditional variety, in fact. And if the older members of the audience don’t like Cliff Richard, well he is good for a laugh !’.

Originally The Drifters had included Ken Pavey, Terry Smart, Norman Mitham and Ian Samwell and some of these musicians had written and performed on Cliff’s first hit ‘Move It’. But this was recorded prior to Cliff’s huge UK touring commitments throughout 1959.

After changing their name The Shadows, who The Drifters became known as, remained synonymous with that of Cliff Richard forever more. They did however accompany star names of the time such as Don Lang, Tony Crombie, Wee Willie Wilson and Vince Eager.

Additionally Jet Harris, along with Royston Ellis, wrote a novel about what life is like on tour with Cliff Richard. The book became a best seller and proved a great success for it’s, then, young authors.

Cliff Richard & The Drifters – High Class Baby (Oh Boy!, 15.11.1958)

CLIFF RICHARD & THE DRIFTERS “MEDLEY: KING CREOLE-TV HOP-ROCKIN’ ROBIN”

May 1981 – Tiffany’s Last Stand

Posted on 12 April 2023 by trevor

May 1981 – Tiffany’s Last
Stand

Bu Pete Clemons

This return visit by the Bunnymen was not in the cavernous
sports hall of the Lanch, where they had played previously, but in the more
salubrious surroundings of Tiffany’s. Apparently Tiffany’s was now deciding to
close its doors to ‘rock’ gigs which sees the disappearance of another venue in
a city already desperately short of good places to see gigs.

However if this was to be the last gig there then it
certainly finished things on a high note. Gone is the camouflaged stage and
full combat gear, gone is the smoke and dry ice; instead the Bunnymen take the
stage dressed informally and throughout the lights are used only very
sparingly.

It’s a bold step to take as such a drastic change means that
they are now relying entirely on the music to hold attention for the hour long
set which they play. It means that the band are less remote than they were and
easier to relate to.

Instead of the traditional set-up the band formed a line
across the front of the stage, drummer as well. There are now five members as
on some songs a person who, I am reliably informed, was formerly a roadie for
the band plays guitar or keyboards. Far from swamping the songs, a third guitar
makes for a very full sound on those numbers for which it is used.

The set was composed on a fairly equal mixture of old and new
songs which will, presumably, surface on the soon to be released second album.
McCulloch is a natural front man with his boyish, impudent good looks and his
contained emotional renderings of the songs.

On several he left the guitar work to the new boy and
performed with as much passion as the late great Ian Curtis. His voice is one
of the most distinctive to have emerged from the plethora of new bands about
and comparisons are impossible to make.

However, on one or two of the slower numbers a slight Jim
Morrison influence can be detected. If any one member deserves special mention
then it must be Pete de Freitas the drummer. His sound is a very crisp and
clear one and the sparing use of the cymbals made that sound so much more
effective.

Apparently he was suffering from an injured hand but I for
one didn’t notice at all. It seems to be something about Coventry, as last time
they were here bassist Les Pattinson was unwell and only just made the encore,
and this time all of the band were slightly under the weather.

De Freitas’ stuttering rhythms are certainly the best thing
this side of PIL’s ‘Flowers of Romance’. However it is unfair to single out
only one number – the clipped guitar on ‘All that Jazz’ was immediately
danceable whereas at other times there were distinct memories of Tom Verlaine’s
playing on Television’s second album ‘Adventure’.

The new songs blended very well with the older stuff but
since McCulloch’s scouse accent prevented me from catching all of the titles,
you’ll just have to wait for the album to come out and find out for yourself.
They played all four songs from their current live EP in addition to several
tracks from ‘Crocodiles’ – ‘Rescue’ standing out as the classic which it will
surely become.

The audience, although not a capacity one, responded warmly
to the set and the band played two encores, finishing with the same haunting
melody which accompanied them as they took the stage. I wonder what Special’s
person Terry Hall, seen skulking at the back of the hall thought of it all. ‘Is
this the blues I’m singing?’ asks McCulloch. Whatever it is, it’ll do very
nicely thank-you, Ian and thank you Tiffany’s.

Guy Evans – Warwick University and Van der Graaf Generator

Posted on 12 April 2023 by trevor

Guy Evans – Warwick
University and Van der Graaf Generator

by Pete Clemons

Guy Evans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Evans

Guy Evans was and, still is, drummer for Van Der Graaf Generator. In my words he is certainly one of the most complex and expressive drummers I have ever seen perform. Guy studied at Warwick University from 1965 to 1968. While there he was a member of a couple of university bands.

Guy’s first group, ‘The New Economic Model’, were formed at the university. Although it was actually during December 1966 when Warwick University’s ‘new beat group’ called at ‘The Fixed Priced Keynesian Economic Model’ actually made its debut.

They played soul and r ‘n’ b covers and had the classic line-up of Brian Morris and Mike Kostrzewa (vocals), Guy Evans (drums), Pete Lucas (lead guitar), Mike Petty (bass guitar), Mike Haslan (tenor/alto sax), and Pete Welch (organ). Between them they did many gigs. The university equipped the band although there was some kind of controversy around the purchase of the equipment.

To have a full evening of music the university was spending quite a lot of effort and money on support bands. As such ‘The New Economic Model’ became a resident support act.

And Guy was ‘playing in a band on the same bill as all sorts of great people, learning from them. Then came the great dream moment, during February 1967, when Victor Brox’s Blues Train came to play and the drummer didn’t turn up because he’d broken down somewhere. So I volunteered to play and we had a little dressing room rehearsal and I did the whole set with them which was a real blast for me’.

1967 also saw ‘The New Economic Model’ support The Move, Alan Bown and John Mayall amongst many others.

Toward the end of 1967 ‘The Green Marble Mind’ were formed. They were comprised of three members: John Hadfield (19) – lead guitar and vocalist, educated at St Edwards School, Oxford. He has been described by an authoritative source as ‘really very good’. Alistair Smith (20) – bass guitar, also known to be operating in the Oxford area. Guy Evans (20) – drummer – ‘A lovely fella’. Possessor of a ‘Catholic taste in music’ – especially Miles Davies. Comes from Birmingham – In his third year of Economics. Described by others as ‘Neolithic’.

The group’s style was described as, among other things, ‘Blues based with Cream-Hendrix influence’. They played a good deal of university discos and dances. They were also booked to play the 1968 Canley rag week. Apparently they were ‘Not one of your clockwork groups’.

‘The Green Marble Mind’ were great’ described Guy. ‘I really enjoyed that band. It just went along with swapping the mod gear for the paisley shirts and the long hair and all that. It was a power trio, we wanted to be The Jimi Hendrix Experience really and there was a very good guitar player who was not actually from Warwick University, he was from Oxford. I think he sort of knew someone who was there and he turned up one day and could play all this Hendrix stuff, it sounded brilliant; and there was a very good bass player, so we just started playing’.

Additionally Guy was also on the committee that helped organise the June 1968 Arts Festival. The festival included bands such as Family and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath. This was just prior to Guy first joining VdGG. The rest, as they say, is history.

Welcome to Peter Clemon’s Coventry Music Articles

Posted on 8 April 2023 by trevor

This Post Remains on top as an introduction to the site. Scroll below for the latest posts.

This Blogspot is part of the Hobo (Coventry Music and Arts Magazine) archive run by Trev Teasdel.

Hobo was a Coventry music magazine c 1973 – 75 and the archives of the magazine and Hobo workshop and the general music scene of the 70’s was originally on Vox blogs c 2007 until recently. Vox closed and the site is being redeveloped and rearranged here – it’s still in progress so bear with us.

Photos of the Coventry Music Museum run by Pete Chambers

Do visit the museum if you are in Coventry – website

here http://www.covmm.co.uk/2016/

This Blog

This Hobo blogspot (one of a few) was created by Trev Teasdel (former co-editor of Hobo magazine) who admins the site. This particular was created for Peter Clemons (aka Fred Bison) for his Coventry music Scene articles originally written for the Coventry Telegraph. Pete Clemons has a huge database of hundreds of gigs in Coventry from the 60’s to the present. Both professional acts and local bands. He has had over 100 articles published in the Coventry Telegraph which, on his request, we’ve collated here and have linked them with further material from the Hobo magazine archives.

NEW – Coventry Book Launch Documenting the Music and Entertainment Scene of 1970’s by Ruth Cherrington. The Dirty Stop Outs Guide 1970’s Coventry.
Available in Coventry from Waterstones and HMV or from Amazon UK here

Hobo magazine and Workshop are well featured in the book as are many of the photos from the Hobo Archive pages here.Both Pete Chambers and Pete Clemons make a good contribution to the book as well.

Early posts on here – if you scroll right down – are Pete’s Rock of Ages Posts – gigs in Cov through the ages since the early 60’s to present.
Later posts are about important music venues in the city and their history.
Other posts are about Coventry bands from the 60’s onwards.

Pete Clemons and Trev Teasdel at BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire January 2016

Links to the other Hobo Coventry Music Archive sites

Coventry Music Scene from Hobo – This is the Hub to all the sites below

Hobo – Coventry Music Archives This is the main Blogspot for the Coventry Music Archives from Hobo Magazine with archive material from Hobo Magazine and other Coventry music magazines, feature articles and other documentation. This site is still in development.

Coventry Arts Umbrella Club
The archives of the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club which was opened in 1955 by the Goons and where some of the Two Tone musicians started out and literary figures like Phillip Larkin and much more. many Coventry bands played the Umbrella in the late 60’s and early 70’s. It also housed Coventry’s first Folk Club.

Coventry Folk Club Scene 1970’s
This is the Hobo site for Coventry’s longstanding and thriving Folk and Acoustic scene. It covers both folk archives from the 70’s and features on some of the contemporary singer songwriters out there now along with Pete Willow’s history of Coventry Folk Scene and pdf versions of his 70’s Folks Magazine 1979 / 80. Top names like Rod Felton, Dave Bennett, Kristy Gallacher, Pauline (Vickers) Black, Roger Williamson, Sean Cannon and many more.

Coventry Gigs 1960 to Present (This blogspot in fact!).

Coventry Discos, Venues, Music shops and Agencies / Studios etc.
A steadily progressing blog for a variety of other aspects of Coventry’s music scene – the DJ’s, Discos, Venues, Arts fests, record shops, studios, music agencies etc etc..

Coventry Musicians Who’s Who
This blog has an A to Z of Coventry musicians. It’s not yet complete (if ever!) but there are many names and their bands on already. I will come back to it when the A to Z of bands is complete and add in names not on. Meanwhile if you are not on it – and you should be – or your friends and their bands or if your info is incorrect – do let us know at hobozine@googlemail.com.

Hobo A to Z of Coventry Bands and Artists
Meanwhile a huge A to Z of Coventry bands and artists can be found (again in development) here https://sites.google.com/site/bandsfromcoventry/

Kristy Gallagher – Benn Hall

Posted on 3 April 2023 by trevor

Kristy Gallagher – Benn Hall

by Pete Clemons

It was pleasantly surprising when I discovered that singer songwriter Kristy Gallagher was returning to the live arena. It was, possibly a brief comeback, but well worth a quick trip down the M6 to Rugby’s Benn Hall.

Kristy was taking time off due to Motherhood and performed two sets. The first included a mix of new songs and covers. The second she jokingly called her ‘greatest hits’ and added ‘this part wont take long’.

If anything, and particularly with some new songs that Kristy was effectively premiering – and which came as a complete surprise, she sounded better than I ever imagined she would. I was genuinely shocked. Kristy had certainly lost none of her charm. No sign of ring rustiness at all.

I have been following the musical career of Kristy Gallagher for getting on for 20 years now. Mainly at pubs and open mics. But I have to say that its not been often I have seen her perform on a stage as big as at the Benn Hall.

And it had me wondering if this could be the start of a whole new renaissance for Kristy. Looking around me, it was a healthy audience, certainly younger than that I would expected to see at her gigs in days gone by. Admittedly, a few of them were here to see some of the other artists whose talents were on show this evening.

Kristy was ‘representing’ Coventry a show called Girls and Guitars. If there were any signs of nerves then they were not obvious. Kristy was expressive and had lost none of the sincerity she gives while delivering her songs. If anything the years of experience gained was now being deployed. And this was, I thought, particularly relevant in her new songs.

In the form of ‘Sleep’ and ‘Time’ Kristy has songs about her new life as a mother. And these come, in my opinion, with a slightly different style. Difficult to pinpoint but more singer songwriter with integrity and slightly less folky. That said there was still room for songs like ‘Blood’ and ‘Fending the Frost’.

The event was originally initially intended to showcase four talented ladies. Sadly however Becky Morgan was unavailable due to family circumstances. As such the spotlight shon on three. The other artists involved, who each had equal billing, included:

Jessie May. Jessie is young, incredibly bright, and who’s songs are inspired by relationships amongst other things. Destined for Belfast university Jessie had more than a touch of Joni Mitchell in her voice but used in a more modern context. She has already gained Godiva Festival experience.

Josie Field, a new name to me. Born in Johannesburg, I picked up on a free spirit with a distinctive voice and style. Her treatment of her songs was confident, controlled and clear throughout. Great guitar style too.

During this, most enjoyable of events, the artists were asked about where they gained inspiration for their songwriting. Asked if this could possibly be a new start Kristy answered with a teasing…. ‘maybe’.

Kristy Gallacher Fending off the Frost

Jessie May Go on Dancing.

Josie Field All Day

Becki Morgan Save Me (Nicki Minaj Cover)