Thanks so much to Stuart Watret for the interview!! Just a few weeks ago I was writing about the Isle of Man band Angels Arc and I had no clue about them. I only knew one song and had seen a photo of the band members. This time around the indiepop community helped instantly! My friend Phil Reynolds from Tea and Stoliday put me in touch with Stuart. Happily Stuart was up for an interview and share more details about the band. I believe it is the first time I interview a Manx band and this is a very cool sounding one!

++ Hi Stuart! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

Hey there thanks for the chance to fill in some of the blanks! I’m all good and yes I am still involved in music.

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

I remember a violin and an accordion being in the house growing up.  The violin was broken and the accordion came out at Christmas – as such I amused myself by singing.

Fast forward to the age of 10 and I was in the Boys Brigade, they had a marching band and I brought a bugle home; my parents were thrilled.

The world turned and I ended up on the side drum; something clicked and that was me, forever walking around with drum sticks.  It was all rudiments and marching tunes, a great grounding in drumming.

My brother was a gateway to Black Sabbath, Led Zep and Steve Hillage – eventually I picked up British metal bands of the 80’s, and of course ac/dc.

At the same time I was loving the new wave of british pop, Talk talk and Duran Duran.

++ Had you been in other bands before Angels Arc? What about the other band members? If so, how did all of these bands sound? Are there any recordings?

We formed a band just as school finished called for Stories for Boys, we played a mixture of covers and originals, I played drums and the lead singer was Simon Rea, who went on to form Truman Falls; who are just about too release their third album. On bass was Paul Haley (who also played bass for Angels Arc); Keyboards was Andy North and guitar was Alessandro Spadoni.

SFB recorded 5 songs during their short lifetime, recorded at a friend’s house in Onchan.  SFB, Without You, Hiding no motive, Serious Side and Into the Blue.

University loomed for Alessandro and Andy and so that was that.

I drifted through a couple of bands, usually drumming, occasionally singing and playing guitar.

++ Where were you from originally?

I was from Scotland originally and moved to the Island at the age of 10.

Paul I think was from Preston originally but had moved to the Island with family.

Mark arrived from Preston much later.  Preston was obviously a hub for us 🙂

++ How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process? What instrument did each of you play in the band?

I think Paul H met Mark first, we used to drive about and he had a tape with some of Mark’s songs – that got me interested.

Paul S came on board after that.

++ In the photo I posted, who is who from left to right?

Mark Jackson / Paul Salmon / Stuart Watret / Paul Haley

++ You moved from Preston to the Isle of Man right? Was the band started in Preston? Or did the band start in the Isle of Man? And why the move?

Everything came together in the island.  Island bands always had the same issue – where do we go from here?

If you aspire to greater things then you have to leave the island, that is always an issue; some people have no ties, some do.

So ultimately the whole band never left.

++ One thing I couldn’t find online was when was Angels Arc active? Was it in the 80s? the 90s?

That should be easy to answer, but the dates are a bit hazy.  My best guess is 1990/91

++ How was Douglas at the time of Angels Arc? 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?

At the time of Angels Arc the live scene on the island was past its peak.  Venues were closing and the scene was definitely smaller.

Bushy’s had the main venue, Angels Arc did one gig there as a showcase for potential management.

I think also we lost our excellent record store called Shocks.

++ Were there any good bands in the Isle of Man that you’d recommend me?

Earlier there were some great bands, Joe Public – their lead singer went on to some acting success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-xzNDXRv70

Klever Shirts – who have just reformed and recorded new material. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMt5cr_D0I

Twenty /20 – who made a series of cracking demos and landed some publishing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v26I4R9BucM

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

We practised in the basement of Paul Salmon’s flower shop, surrounded by beautiful blooms.

Mark would play us a new song and mention a feel, we would collaborate thereafter.

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

Anglezark is an area in Lancashire near Preston – I think we started with that and ended up a few drinks later with Angels Arc.

++ I couldn’t find also if you put out any releases? Did you?

We never did, and there were easily 20 great songs.

++ Did you make demo tapes perhaps? If so, can we do a sort of demo-graphy? With years they were released and which songs were on them?

Demo 1 was made on the island in the same Onchan house as SFB recorded. (91)

Two tracks – Pale Imitation & Gina

Demo 2 was made in Preston at West Orange (Brimfull of Asher was recorded there I think) (93)

Four tracks – Headlong, Love Avenue, Sagittarius & Saving Grace

++ You were telling me that there was a session of recordings at a house in Onchan. How was that experience? Who produced the songs? How did you like Onchan?

Of course I now live in Onchan.

I was a friend of a local media presenter and historian Charles Guard, we met when I worked at the local radio station.

He wrote and recorded soundtracks at the time, he was working with the BBC on a feature with Jonathan Pryce called ‘The Man from the Pru’.

Anyway he kindly agreed to take some time and record the band, the kit was setup in the living room with lots of bright blue mic stands borrowed from the radio station.

++ Was there any interest from labels in releasing your music? Did you consider self-releasing?

No label ever heard anything; we did accost Gary Stevenson (Go West producer) and make him listen to Gina all the way through, but no joy there.

Del Amitri’s management came over and we played a showcase for them – they asked the usual questions, can you move to the UK.

It was clear as a band we could not all do it.

++ The only song I’ve heard so far from you is “Gina”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

I think I probably asked Mark the same question at some point; from memory it was a girl he met while touring America with hi previous Preston band  – I think called the New Scientists.

++ If you were to choose your favorite Angels Arc song, which one would that be and why?

So many good songs, Gina is up there but for shear musicality Headlong from the second demo is 5mins of pleasure.

It has a middle section where different guitar lines just build and build.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

We did a lot of rehearsals and maybe 5 gigs !

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

The Bushy’s showcase was the biggest venue and crowd we played as Angels Arc.

The gig itself I don’t remember, but I do remember talking to the visiting management and trying to keep them impressed 🙂

++ And were there any bad ones?

Yes we did one in my GF’s hotel for the residents, had to ditch the originals for Stones covers.

++ When and why did Angels Arc stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?

Mark left and headed back to Preston, I went to London for a term at Drum Tech in Acton, the Paul’s remained on Island.

After a year I went back to Preston and joined Mark, we tried to recruit more members; in the meantime did the second Demo at West Orange.

I had a friend at Uni in Preston, we met up and a year later I started Uni, that was the end of Angels Arc.

I formed a cover band with some friends that was financially great for a student – weddings, Christmas parties and everything in between; that lasted off and on for 4 years.

Leaviing Uni I moved back to London and advertised for band members, this time I was singing and playing Guitar – I met my long time collaborator and Harvey was born.  We wrote and recorded and searched for other members; found some, lost some and it never really took off.  We revisited our tunes recently and started releasing on Spotify, we have 350k streams so far.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1YjfIJL2PGTyCOsPq10WRS?si=el9FcfAVSS2_qQgLqM3anQ

++ Has there been any Angels Arc reunions?

Mark came to London and stayed over he was doing an Acoustic singer songwriter night.

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

Alas no

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

We had a couple of articles on Island

++ What about fanzines?

No

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

The band was probably the Bushy’s show, but the session at West Orange was great for the quality of the output.

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

I enjoyed sailing for a while, I have a young family so that keeps me busy – and I am mixing Harvey’s output for Spotify.

++ I always like to ask my UK friends, what football team do you support? And if you go to the matches often? 

The first match I ever paid to see was Manchester United v Montpelier at Old Trafford, I enjoy football but don’t support one team.

++ Never been to the Isle of Man so I’d like to ask a local about what you would suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

The island is a magical place,, especially in good weather. We have a famous motorbike race every year called the TT, our population of 80,000 swells by almost 50,000 fans and racers.

There are beautiful beaches and walks, and even one mountain.  Our national dish, is chips, cheese and gravy!

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for the interest!

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Listen
Angels Arc – Gina