I don’t know much about ska bands. But it seems the band Spider Nick & the Maddogs were important in the 90s New York City scene.

I am not going to write about them. This is an indiepop blog afterall. But I found out that one of their members, Derek Cornish, was previously in a band called Dreamworld. And there is at least one recording on Soundcloud that I thought I had to share with you all.

He describes the song “Everybody Looks Like You” by Dreamworld as a cross between The Ocean Blue and The Cure. He also tells us that originally the song was an instrumental that the rest of the band members were working on and that he later ended up adding lyrics and melody.

The song was part of a 1989 (or 1990) demo. He doesn’t mention if other songs were recorded in the same session. Would be nice to know. We know that the demo was recorded in Northport, NY.

Another interesting bit of info was that this was his first band and it was actually the band’s second name. Firstly they were called In the Dark.

On his account we see recordings by other bands he was involved with, always playing different music styles. DC/DC and Cinebytes are among his other projects.

I also find out that he was a radio and club DJ. Nowadays he is an audio and visual technician based in Hauppague, NY.

Then I find something curious. On the Copyright Encyclopedia, there is a mention of a “No Regrets” demo tape from 1988. It doesn’t mention what songs were on said tape but mentions some band members, Derek Cornish, Pete Propp, Dan Dembling, Mark Lipynsky and Will Timmons. Then another tape titled “Dreamworld” from 1990 with the same band members.

Thats all the info I could stumble upon. I’d be curious about more recordings about this band. Did they play live in NYC? Or somewhere in the NY state? Were there part of a scene?

Anyone remembers them?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Dreamworld – Everybody Looks Like You

Bradford. Not the band. The city.

Eddie’s Brother. Who are they? 10 years ago one of the band members uploaded a bunch of their recordings (as well as songs by other bands he had been involved with). From what I see all of these come from demo tapes, no proper releases. This is the sort of thing I was looking for.

The first demo tape by Eddie’s Brother was recorded in 1986 on a portastudio on thee parent’s house of this said member. What’s his name? Simon Kelly. The demo was titled “True Lust” and included four poppy songs, “Entice to Distraction”, “Nothing so Sweet”, “Small Pegs” and “This Diffident Charm”.

The second cassette was self-titled and included many songs. 7 in total: “Chocolate Poems”, “Exalted”, “Fly-By Days”, “Music for Cynics (part 1)”, “Music for Cynics (part 2)”, “Red Farmhouse” and “World-Out”. Again recorded in the parents house on a portastudio. The year was 1987.

The 3rd cassette was unreleased it says. So I guess the first two perhaps were sold at gigs and probably more than 10 copies were made? The 3rd tape was called “Weary of Heaven” and was recorded but was never completed. It was 1988 when it was recorded (it says remixed in 1992) and the songs included were “A State of Grace”, “Fickle the Riches”, “Like You Always Knew” and “Pitch of Roofs”. On Soundcloud they have included the song “Proper Seating” by The Table Legs, the band he was in after, as it includes alternative recordings of “This Diffident Charm” and “Red Farmhouse” as hidden tracks.

There is also another song, that is not listed on any of the tapes, “TW is for Me“. No info on this track though. Maybe is by another band?

As mentioned the owner of this Soundcloud account was later in The Table Legs but also in The Gunsmiths (circa 1988) and The Owl Service (1991).

Sadly I couldn’t find more info on Simon Kelly or his bands. But maybe someone remembers him or the bands? I’d love to learn more. Why they didn’t release anything? Did they play many gigs? Any info will be appreciated.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Eddie’s Brother – Fly-by Days

Another trove of jangle! Another treasure found.

9 years ago the obscure English indiepop band Lobster Squad added a bunch of their recordings to Soundcloud. Included are studio recordings, rehearsals and live sounds.

The first song I found is called “Drowning in the Milk of Human Kindness”. The second is called “Couldn’t You Hear Me Falling”. And then there’s more. “Pimlico” and “Summer Will Soon Be Fading”. These tracks are actually rehearsals in Westbourne and date from 1994.

In 1993 the band recorded more songs. This time in a Croydon studio. The songs for this demo tape were “Drowning in the Milk of Human Kindness”, “Out of Your Life”, “Seaside Girl” and “Tinderbox”.

Then there are more songs. I see two names tagged for them, Nigel Packer and Neil Packer. Were they band members? “Out of Your Life”, “One Day I Will”, “Drowning in the Milk of Human Kindness” and “Seaside Girl”.  These date from 1992 and they were probably recorded in Camden.

In 1991 the band went to Wesbtourne Rehearsal Studios to record another demo. 4 songs were recorded. “Summer Will Soon Be Fading”, “Seaside Girl”, “Pimlico” and “The Jazz Song”.

1989. The 1989 demo recorded at Kilburn Airwave. 5 songs this time, “Lobster Theme”, “Up to You”, “One Day I Will”, “Simple” and “What’s Your Name?”.

We keep going backwards. Now 1988. Canvey Island. Probably that’s where the recording studio was. The songs from this time period are “Out of My Life” and “Pimlico”.

On the photos usually appear two guys. Probably Neil and Nigel. But there’s also another photo of the band playing at the Powerhaus. There we see a girl vocalist. So definitely there were some changes in the band. Would be good to find out. Some songs are sung by a female vocalist, others by a male vocalist.

Based in London. I am sure of that now.

I find a bio for Nigel Packer. He is actually an author! He is a writer and journalist and has worked for BBC News Online. He loves archaeology and has been in digs in Syria and Britain. Wow. He published a book titled ‘The Restoration of Otto Laird’ in 2014.

And that’s that. Got to find some interesting bits about them. Why didn’t they release any records? Did they play many gigs? Maybe had supported some cool bands? Would be nice to know the story behind the Lobster Squad!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Lobster Squad – Up to You

This post is a bit of an archaeological dig.

There used to be a Soundcloud account for the band Blue Eyed English. That account doesn’t exist anymore.

Other than that Soundcloud account there is not a thing on the web. Blue Eyed English doesn’t exist.

So how can I find any info about them? The first thing to know is that one of their songs, “The Riddling Knight”, is on Youtube. Our friend stoneeyedkiller had shared it in his channel about a year ago. He adds one little detail about this track, it dates from 1989.

Someone comments this video and he is dead on. He/she describes the song as The Darling Buds meets Voice of the Beehive with the Heart Throbs paying a quick visit. I think that explains the band’s sound perfectly.

So what can one find about this band online? There are some little bits and pieces that one can gather…

The band recorded many songs in the studio. At least we know a few of them like “The Gardiner” from 1986, “Locks’n’Bolts” also from 1986, “Glen Logie” and “Blue-Eyed Lullabye” from 1987 and the previously mentioned “The Riddling Knight”. From what I understand the band’s recordings in studio dated from 1986 to 1991.

Then I find a name and a place connected to Blue Eyed English. The name is Shelley Patt. The place is Enfield, England. Shelley Patt was also the singer that was in a rock band called Solstice.

I found a small Shelley bio on a Czech language site. It mentions that she left Solstice in 1989 and only then she joined the band. But it tells us something more. It tells us that Shelley replaced Vikki Clayton (who has a Facebook page). It mentions too that Blue Eyed English released an album! I didn’t know this. And that the band was recording a second album even. Who knows about this? Also that the band called it a day in 1993.

So now we know a little bit more. Still don’t know the name of the rest of the members of the band. I think there was a member called Maria. And I may be wrong about Enfield. Now I start to think the band actually hailed from somewhere in Lincolnshire.

Anyone remembers them? are there more recordings? does an album really exist?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Blue Eyed English – The Riddling Knight

I’ve started 2023 with less time. I have to say for the time being I am not going to be looking for new music.

It became a bit challenging for me at the end of last year. It was very time-consuming to find quality music every week. As you know it was at least 10 recommendations weekly. it was a bit much maybe. I don’t know if any other blogs are able to do this. I hope they can. I don’t even have time to read other blogs (are there any worth checking?).

Music-wise I also have stopped buying tons of records. If I buy a few a months I’d be surprised. So looking for new bands for my own consumption doesn’t make any sense. I’d love to hear from parents who love music, how did they do during the first few years. I am now listening mostly children music!!

But I still want and have the urge to discover obscure bands. At least I have that and I hope that drive never wanes. It is a struggle, but a good struggle. Time and energy to continue digging for lost treasures.

Not much info about this Brighton band called Girls Behind Bars. There’s just one song by them called “Better Fools” on Soundcloud and it sounds great.

It is a studio demo track. And from the little details I want to think it dates from the 80s. The song has some lovely jingle jangly guitars and female vocals, and sometimes some male backing vocals. It is great.

The same Soundcloud account has two more songs. One of them has a date, of 1990, the other from 2000. But other than that there’s not much more info. Songs had been uploaded 7 to 8 years ago to Soundcloud.

Most probably they took their name after the 1949 German movie “Mädchen hinter Gittern” whose English title was “Girls Behind Bars”. This movie was directed by Alfred Braun and starred Petra Peters.

Anyhow, I hope someone remembers and know who the members where. If there are more recordings. I really enjoy the Girls Behind Bars song!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Girls Behind Bars – Better Fools

Another sad news from 2022 was that Christine Wanless, vocalist in The Revolving Paint Dream (and also on many Biff Bang Pow! songs) passed away.

I also wanted to write about it when I learned the news last September. But again, I wasn’t in the right mindset, the right mood, to write about it. Especially as I didn’t know Christine. Not in person, not online. I hadn’t written before about her bands, I had not interviewed her bandmates either.

She was an important part of early Creation Records from what I’ve read. She was the label’s first female artist. She would also become press and then label manager.

Christine was also part of a mythical band, the Formica Tops. I have only known this band by name. I would love to know more about it. Were there any songs recorded? released? Who were the other members? I know Andrew Innes from The Revolving Paint Dream (and Primal Scream too) was one. I believe they were girlfriend and boyfriend at the time.

Were the Formica Tops predecessors of The Revolving Paint Dream? I have found just one mention on JC Brouchard’s website, where there’s a recording of “La Bulle Jaune” from 1987. This is a version of the song “Yellow Ball” by The Revolving Paint Dream”. Strangely on the band members for thisi recording Christine Wanless is not listed.

The band members listed on Discogs include Alan McGee, Andrew Innes, Frank Sweeney, Ken Popple and Luke Hayes. The only one I had been in touch with is Frank, who I interviewed many years ago about his superb band The Ringing.

The band’s legendary single “Flowers in the Sky” came out in 1984. It was the second release on Creation Records (CRE 002). The two songs on this record are indiepop classics, the title song on the A side and “In the Afternoon” on the B side. Well, not the B side. It was a double A single.

It featured top people on it like Ken Popple on drums, David Musker on keyboards and Joe Foster producing. This record is indeed a classic, so no surprise the German label Edition 59 reissued it as a 3″CDR in 2009 and Optic Nerve Recordings did the same as a 7″ in 2020. Worth mentioning too that on the 3″ version a longer version of “Flowers in the Sky” was included as a 3rd song.

In 1987 the band would release “Off to Heaven” (CRELP 018), their debut album. It is a short one of 8 songs, “Sun, Sea, Sand”, “Flowers in the Sky”, “Stop the World”, “My My, Hey Hey” on the A side and “7 Seconds”, “The Judges”, “Walter Valentine’s Dead” and “Yellow Ball (Take Me Away)” on the B side. The songs were recorded at The Acid Factory in London.

Yeah, the band was based in London. I forgot to mention.

In 1988 “Green Blue Sea” is released as a single. On the B side we find the album track “Sun, Sea, Sand”. On “Green Blue Sea” we see Robert Young of Primal Scream playing bass, Dave Morgan from Alternative TV, The Weather Prophets, and more, playing drums, K. Clinton and S. Pollock on saxophone and M. Wall on trumpet. On “Sun, Sea, Sand” J. Morris is credited for bass. The songs were produced by George & Phil (who are they?) at the Acid Factory and the Greenhouse studios. In 2011 this single was re-released by Edition 59, again limited to 59 copies as a 3″CDR.

In 1990 the band releases their second album, “Mother Watch Me Burn” (CRELP 039). 11 songs this time. “The Dune Buggy Attack Battalion”, “Green Blue Sea”, “Fever Mountain”, “(Burn this House) Down to the Ground” and “Mother Wash My Tears Away” on the A side while we find “Garbagebrain”, “Electra’s Crying Loaded in the Basement”, “Mandra Mandra”, “300 (Coda)” and “Reprise: Mandro Mandro” on the B side. The album also gets released in Japan by Victor Musical Industries (VDP-28069).

In 2006 there’s a Rev-Ola retrospective CD compilation titled “Flowers in the Sky: The Enigma of The Revolving Paint Dream”. Indeed, the band was always promoted and described as an enigma. There’s very few photos of the band. Also very little information.

I believe the compilation doesn’t include any unreleased tracks. Maybe “Untitled (Love Song)” is the only one? The 22 songs are in this order, “Flowers in the Sky (45 version)”, “In the Afternoon”, “Sun, Sea, Sand”, “Stop the World”, “My My, Hey Hey”, “7 Seconds”, “The Judges”, “Walter Valentine’s Dead”, “Yellow Ball (Take Me Away)”, “Green Blue Sea”, “Sun, Sea, Sand”, “Flowers in the Sky (Long Version)”, “The Dune Buggy Attack Battalion”, “Fever Mountain”, “(Burn this House) Down to the Ground”, “Mother Wash My Tears Away”, Garbagebrain”, “Electra’s Crying Loaded in the Basement”, “Mandra Mandra”, “Untitled (Love Song)”, “300 (Coda)” and “Reprise: Mandro Mandro”

The band appeared on many compilations. Discogs lists 25 of them. I don’t know if it is worth going one by one. But maybe better to pay attention on some. The one that I think is the one that picks my curiosity the most is the compilation “A Tribute to Tricky Ricky”. This cassette was released in 1985 by Rouska (RUSK 003) and included bands like The June Brides, The Shop Assistants or The Mixers. On this compilation THe Revolvint Paint Dream contributed two songs, “Sunny Days” and “Wheels on My Scooter”. You wonder why weren’t these included in the retrospective?

The other interesting compilation is Biff Bang Pow!’s “A Better Life – A Complete Creations 1984-1991” that came out last year as a 6CD box set from Cherry Red. On it there’s an early version of “In the Afternoon” with Alan McGee’s vocals.

“In the Afternoon” is indeed the song that appears in most compilations. Perhaps it is the most well known, the beloved, song by fans.

It appears on “Wild Summer, Wow!” released by Creation (CRELP002) in 1984 on LP (later reissued on CD in 1990), “All for Art… and Art for All!” an LP comp released by Dan Treacy’s Whaam Records (BIG 8) in 1984 (also reissued on CD in 2008 by Vinyl Japan), on “Valium Orgasms – A Creation Compilation” a joint LP compilation put together by Rough Trade and Creation in 1986, on “I Love the Smell of Napalm – A Creation Compilation” another 1986 joint release by Rough Trade and Creation, on “Creation: Flowers in the Sky 1984-1987” a CD comp put out by Creation (CRELP 028) in 1988 (reissued that same year in Japan by Victor), on Vinyl Japan’s “Whaam! Bam! Thank You Dan – A Whaam! Records Compilation 1981-1984” (ASKCD43) CD comp from 1994, on the boxset “Scared to Get Happy (A Story of Indie-Pop 1980-1989” put out by Cherry Red in 2013 and on one more Cherry Red boxset, on 2021’s “The Sun Shines Here (The Roots of Indie-Pop 1980-1994”.

“In the Afternoon” appears too alongside “Flowers in the Sky” on the boxset “Creation Artifact 45 – The First Ten Singles (1983-1984)” that Cherry Red put out in 1985. It also appears, on “Creation Soup Volume One” (CRELP101) from 1991 with the same accompanying song and on “Creation Soup: Volumes One to Five”, a box set release that was Creation 100 on their catalog that same year. In 2011 the same two songs appear on the double CD compilation “Upside Down: The Creation Records Story”.

“Flowers in the Sky”  appears on “The Patron Saints of Teenage” a Japanese compilation CD from 1994r released by TriStar. That same song also gets featured on “Children of Nuggets – Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era 1976-1996) released by Rhino in 2005. Then also in “CD86 – 48 Tracks fromt he Birth of Indie Pop” released by Castle and Sanctuary. And lastly on 2019’s “Big Gold Dreams – A Story of Scottish Independent Music 1977-1989”. Curious why it was on the Scottish music compilation… sure some members were Scottish, but it was a London band no?

Lastly “Sun, Sea, Sand” is on “C88” CD from 2017, “Green Sea Blue” on “C89” from 2018, “Garbagebrain” on “Just a Bad Dream: Sixty British Garage and Trash Nuggets 1981-89” from 2018, “The Dune Buggy Attack Bttalion” on “Various – Losing Touch with My Mind – Psychedelia in Britain 1986-1990” from 2019. All Cherry Red boxsets. They fit Revolving Paint Dream in different music genres for their boxsets.

Another interesting bit of information is that at some point there was a live band called The Revolving Brides which was a mix of Revolving Paint Dream members and June Brides members. How cool! I read that on February 21, 1988, this super group was supported by The Sea Urchins. Are there any recordings by this group? Live recordings at least? Did they play original songs?

I find then a post by JC Brouchard on his blog Vivonzeureux! JC was involved in Biff Bang Pow! and he remembers recording with her the song “If I Die”. He also remembers her from recording “Bébé Tchernobyl”. I didn’t know of this version! The original, as far as I know, was “Chernobyl Baby” the song that the mystery band Baby Amphetamine released on Creation in 1987. Another cool bit of info he mentions is that Christine played a gig with Biff Bang Pow! in Reims, France, on October 25, 1986! That must have been a special gig indeed!

It doesn’t seem Christine continued making music. These were the projects she was involved with.

As I said I don’t have any connection other than loving her songs, her music. Some of her songs will be forever indiepop hits, legendary songs that will be included on compilations of the genre. They are genre-defining indeed.

It is a shame that legends like this have left us. I just hope 2023 is a bit nicer to all of us. Better, nicer news is what I want to hear.

Because I didn’t have the opportunity before, and because this is my only column to the outside world, I just want to thank Christine. For the good times listening to her songs. I would have loved to be born 15 years earlier or so, and in London, so I could have attended one of their gigs. Would have been incredible. I would have been thrilled.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
The Revolving Paint Dream – In the Afternoon

Thanks so much to Michael Tiley-Evill for the interview! The Sun Set Strip was an 80s band that didn’t release any records but recorded many songs in demo form. For many it will be interesting to know that this was a pre-Action Painting! band as it featured Andy before he was in the well-known Sarah band. It is a bit of an obscure band, so I asked Michael, some time ago, to do this interview and learn more about this project!

++ Hi MIchael! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still making music?

Yes, sorry for such a long time to reply but I’ve never been a fan of being interviewed, so always try and get others to do it!

I don’t ever want to seem rude so this time i’m going for it.

Yes since SunSet Strip with Andy (Action Painting!, Socialist Leisure Party), Matt (The Music Liberation Front Sweden, Milton Underground Resistance, Pigeon Head, Copernicus Rice), Ben, Dave, Adrian (The Music Liberation Front Sweden, Eastney Droners), Ali (Paul Groovy and the Pop Art Experience), Andy, Stu (Gunk).

I have been in Babalu, TheUltraWideBand, The Sleeping Flies and The Music Liberation Front Sweden.
Also had labels Electronic Watusi Boogaloo that we done with Kindercore and now I run Shambotic and work with Old Bad Habits

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

John Peel on an old radio tape player when sailing late at night with my family.
New Order, Joy Division, The Fall, OMD, The Cramps, Gong, The B52’s.

I also loved record shops and album art sucked me in.

My first instrument was a guitar which I taught myself watching TV.

++ Had you been in other bands before Sun Set Strip? If so, how did all of these bands sound? Are there any recordings?

I was in the 14th Day of May with Gavin which turned into SSS whilst at school.

++ Where were you from originally?A town called Fareham with a creek right in the middle of the south coast of England

++ How was your town at the time of Sun Set Strip? Were there any bands that you liked? Were there any good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

It’s alway been a cultural dead zone but actually had a few fantastic record stores and staff whilst growing up in the early 80s. For example Tony who worked at HMV who now manages Thee Lonely Hearts who are releasing stuff on my Shambotic Label.

None of us were really in to drinking, maybe the odd smoke. So Andy, Matt, Ben, Adrain, Dave and later (Richard from Jane Pow) and I used to hang just play records and talk endlessly about music. This was pre Sarah and very early in Creation times. Post Punk, Paisley Underground and  Psychobilly was quite popular at the but none of us really fitted in which is probably what attracted us all to each other.
Music moved much faster then than it does now!

Later on the scene really kicked off with the J&MC, Bodines, Mighty Lemon Drops, June Brides, early Primal Scream and the Jingle Jangle version of My Bloody Valentine. Also the great stable of early creation bands Jasmine Minks, Loft, Revolving Paint Dream, Meat Whiplash, Biff Bang Pow and my favs Slaughter Joe.

++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?

The band started at school and as will all future endeavors your in the band/community/collaboration if your there!
I still feel some of the most important people in bands aren’t actually playing anything and quite often don’t get credited but without them the magic wouldn’t have happened.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

I never really think of things as creative or a process. They are just moments in time which thankfully we can save due to modern technologies.
It a experience that transcends human life. When something comes together, whether it be bashing in time or adding the correct herbs to a pot, when you look at your fellow collaborators and feel that magic it truly is some magical.

We practiced everywhere from bus stops to bedrooms.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name? 

I’m not sure tbh Byrds, Love, Doors I think Andy may have came up with it, pretty sure it wasn’t me even though some say it was.

++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?

To be honest our influences go all over place as we are complete music geeks. I think the only things that didn’t influence SunSet Strip would be 70’s Prog and mainstream pop in the early/mid 80’s

++ I am only aware of 4 songs that are now available online as the “Dirty Patches Bubblegum Stars” demo. Was this the original name of this demo? Was it released as a demo tape back in the day?

Yes we re-released this under The Music Liberation Front Sweden moniker when we released we were all back in a band again.

It was supposed to be a flexi that would come with a Bite Back compilation (which has become iconic in the Portsmouth area) but being all 15/16 and they wanted us to pay half, paper rounds just didn’t pay that much sadly so never happened.

++ These songs were recorded in 1986, for many year 0 for indiepop. The start of the C86 sound. What do you think about it? Did you feel part of a scene then?

No we didn’t feel part of it at all but then Andy and Lee went on to become Action Painting who recorded on Sarah it made us realise we were possibly a quiet part.

++ Where were these songs recorded? Did you have previous experience at recording studios?

We recorded them in what is now a legendary Portsmouth studio called Crystal Rooms, we had earlier experience recording with a Hells Angels band Fester and the Vomits but that’s a whole other story!

++ Was there any interest by any labels to put your music out?

We didn’t really care about releasing it at the time! Hanging and making a noise with our best friends is all we cared about

++ And how come there was no releases by the band? Could have self-released maybe?

We were just too young TBH, we all went on yo actually release but for all of us it’s always been more about the connection than releasing anything.

++ Aside from these four songs that are now available digitally are there still unreleased songs by the band? Were there other demos?

Yes several 🙂

++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “Just for a While”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

Pretty sure that was Bens song, Dave may have wrote the words! Dunno we didn’t care about that back then and really I still don’t now. All my projects are uncredited and all split equally.

++ If you were to choose your favorite Sun Set Strip song, which one would that be and why?

Probably The Party’s Over as I remember that one the most and Matt and I have recorded a new version sampling the old 🙂

++ What about gigs? Did you play many? 

We only played a couple of gig but they are in the Portsmouth archives of history as one caused a riot and the other blew our young minds.

++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

Running from a shit load of people fighting it was exciting!

I would say for all of us or best memories and gigs would come later.

For me one of my greatest moments was being on stage as The Music Liberation Front Sweden with Steve Duffield (Beta Band, King Biscuit Time), Joe Foster (Slaughter Joe), Damo Suzuki (Can) and The Demons.

++ And were there any bad ones?

Never

++ When and why did Sun Set Strip stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?

We didn’t ever break up.
Andy became Action Painting!
I moved to Sweden
Matt moved to Bristol
Ben Moved to France

We are all still part of The Music Liberation Front

++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands afterwards?

Yes

++ Has there been any Sun Set Strip reunion? You were telling me there were plans to re-record the songs and gig, right?

Yes 🙂

++ Was there any interest from radio?

We didn’t care

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

Yes at the time we got loads of negative press which made us not care and become completely un press un promotion interested

++ What about from fanzines?

We made our own and have actually just made a new one with the Greek Label Old Bad Habits https://oldbadhabitslabel.bandcamp.com/album/lower-than-underground-vol-1-compilation-with-1st-issue-of-lower-than-underground-fanzine with Shambotic which all members of Sunset Strip release on now

++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

Friendships

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

We love crafting, screen printing, running a record label, caring for others.

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Do what you want to do and don’t listen to anything negative. You don’t need to make money or be famous to be successful and for filled. Make Art and bad Art doesn’t exist!!!

We love Cloudberry so much! A badge of honour to have any involvement with you xxx

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Sun Set Strip – Just for a While

2022 was a difficult year in general.

A lot of important people left us. I lost someone very close at the tail-end of the year.

It was difficult to me to pay attention what was going on. I remember seeing news of indiepop legends passing. But it is still a blur. Even now that we have changed our calendars. Now that we are in 2023.

Going backwards I recall writing about some of the legends that passed by. But I missed some others that deserved a tribute from my part. I don’t have an answer why I didn’t write about them at the time of the news, or at least when I learned the news.

I will do it now. Maybe it is a strange way to start the year but at the same time, I feel it is good. It is good in the way that I won’t have to look back and feel I didn’t do something I should have.

Tommy Cherry passing away in the first half of 2022 was a surprise. And I meant to write some lines before 2022 was over. But my life has been a bit upside down, with lots of adjustments since I became a father, that days passed and didn’t manage to do what I wanted to do.

I interviewed Tommy many years ago. I am a big fan of his band The Bachelor Pad. That was back in 2008. The year I started the blog. His interview was fun, and I was happy to meet such a talented person.

I remember asking if his songs would be released at some point in a retrospective CD. He said if I was interested. I was. I remember then dropping him a line again asking if we should do it. But I didn’t happen.

We emailed a bit in early 2009. He sent me some flyer scans that could be part of the release. He liked the overall look of the Cloudberry Cake Kitchen and was keen for The Bachelor Pad to be released in the series.

He mentions to me that he has found the video for “Meet the Lovely Jenny Brown” and “Country Pancake“. At that point I hadn’t seen it. It wasn’t on Youtube. Only “Coroner’s Wife” video was on there.

He tells me that he went to see Magazine play the other night. He had seen him previously in 1978. He mentions they were fabulous.

Then he offers to send me loads of fanzines from the time. I say I couldn’t abuse. I say if he has two copies of the same fanzine I’d be happy to take one… he says he has found LOADSA stuff he hasn’t seen for donkey’s years and asks me if they use that expression in America. That he most prized possession among his fanzines is not a ’77 Sniffing Glue zine but The 10 Commandments zine with Orange Juice in the cover.

In 2010 I hear back from Tommy. He tells me he has tracked down the guys from Toadhall Studios and was heading to Manchester to get the master tapes.

And that was the last time I heard from him.

I would have loved to release this record. But this story is nothing special, lots of times you make this progress towards a release and then it never happens. It’s part of doing a label. Life get in between. Sometimes for the artist, and sometimes for the label. This is a hobby in the end and sometimes there are other priorities.

Many years later, in 2014, I hear from someone wanting me to help getting in touch with The Bachelor Pad legend. Lucy from the Sarah Records Doc asked me for his contact info. Not sure if she contacted him, not sure why she wanted his info. Maybe she wanted to interview him? That’d been super cool. I wonder what came out from that.

In 2020 at last there’s sort of a retrospective release. The label Emotional Response releases “All Hash and Cock”. This compilation includes many of The Bachelor Pad’s hits. But not all. On vinyl you can only fit as much. Maybe on CD it would have impossible to fit all the band’s songs on one CD. I don’t know. I never knew if there were unreleased songs. I didn’t ask about that. I don’t know why. It is odd. I usually ask about these things.

A 10″ vinyl titled “Meet the Lovely Jenny Brown” was also released by Emotional Response in 2020. It included a rare piano vocal mix of the title song.

We lost touch. We became Facebook friends eventually, but didn’t really retake the project.

On Facebook too The Bachelor Pad appeared with their own page where lots of great memorabilia was shared.

I never met Tommy in person, even though I visited Scotland a few times. Never coincided at a concert. I would have been giddy to meet him.

The last music project he was involved with was with The Whores (of Perception) I believe. That was around the year 2000. The played a few gigs at the 13th Note in Glasgow and released a record. Then they imploded.

For Tommy the highlights of The Bachelor Pad was playing with The Telescopes and also appearing on the plot of a John Constantine Hellblazer comic book that was written by fellow Scottish indiepop-legend Grant Morrison (ex-The Fauves) and published by DC comics.

I wonder if one day there will  be a proper acknowledgement of the quality of The Bachelor Pad and the talent of Tommy Cherry. I would love to have met. It seems he was lots of fun, original, and with a brain packed with a huge amount of cool ideas.

Rest in peace Tommy.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
The Bachelor Pad – Country Pancake