SHOES FOR INDUSTRY
They used to play a dodgy pub called The Old Castle Green and the singer wore an exploding brain wig. They were dead scary and you couldn't argue with them. They owned their own building and they had the best parties in town. Paul B Davies is often at Edinburgh and writes for radio.
PETE
BRANDT
Big Cheekbones and technique, everyone thought he would make it big time. Alas, other things always seemed to get in the way.
THE UNTOUCHABLES
Probably illegal now, as Jack Straw would be appalled at their lack of homework skills and knowledge of lowlife. As far as I can remember, the singer was 13, the guitarist was 14 or 15, and the drummer was 20 but looked 12. If Walt Disney was British, they'd be movie stars.
EXPLODING
SEAGULLS
Berserk art-college kids from Southampton, they became Peel favourites before fragmenting in a welter of sexual and musical differences. The guitarist hooked up with a couple of Art Objects and became the Blue
Aeroplanes.
THE WILD BEASTS
R & B veterans, they knew a good scene when they saw one, and flogged the newer generation crepe-soled shoes, original dark-grey jeans and PA gear. Also some groovy tunes, some Jerry Lee moves and some secret cabaret trousers (sorry Andy!). Became back-stage movers and shakers.
In the
end, suprisingly enjoyable and almost not embarassing. Nothing to do with record companies, radio or the
NME, just bands and their audience at one particular time, gone like the buildings we used to
play...
