Thanks so much to Gerry Cooke for the interview! Some time ago I wrote about The Beautiful Strangers, trying to find info about this London band that only released one 7″ back in the 80s. Happily Gerry came to the rescue and able to answer my questions! Enjoy!
++ 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 at home while growing up?
I was brought up in a care, but being in care gave me the opportunity of having a record player and access to records. I remember listening to the Beatles, ‘She loves you’ on repeat play for hours. My first instrument was a recorder, which I learned by ear. I started playing bass in 1977; again I learned to play bass by ear.
++ Had you been in other bands before The Beautiful Strangers? What about the rest of the members? If so, how did all of these bands sound like? Are there any recordings?
Yes, I was in a few bands before the BS, the notable ones were ‘The Ya Yas’. We were an R&B band, more mod than boogie (as reported in Time-out magazine, a London based Mag). With this band we made recordings with some of the members of Madness. The two founders of the band Phil Payne and Phil Saxby went on to form the band ‘Arnold’. Mark Saxby also played with X-ray Specs in later years.
The other band was ‘Hearts Agas’, a bit of a glam rock type band. We made lots of recordings and did loads of gigs around West London in the early to middle 80s. The guitarist from that band, Jo Almida, went on to play with the band ‘Dogs d’Amour’.
++ Where were you from originally?
I am from South East London, born in Chelsea.
++ How was your town at the time of The Beautiful Strangers? 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?
South East London during that time was great. There were great bands everywhere and record stores on every street corner. As for the pubs and venues there were loads. I played at many of them.
++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?
The band had already formed when I joined it. I was asked to play in the band by the ex-drummer, of ‘The Ya Yas’. He told the other members of the band that he knew a great bass player; I auditioned and was asked to join them.
++ Were there any lineup changes?
Yes, in 1985, I left because my first child was about to be born. They took on another bass player; he lasted just 6 month and then left. I re-joined the band and not long after we went on to record ‘Elizabeth’.
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
I was given free range to play and create the bass lines. I was given the chords and went on from there. As for practising, If my memory serves me right, it was in a studio near London Bridge, Borough Market.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Keith Sparrow, he can be found on FB.
++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?
The main influence behind the band were ‘The Smiths’. My own influences were Paul Gray from ‘The Hot-rods’ and Bruce Foxton from ‘The Jam’.
++ As far as I know you only released one 7″ back in 1986. This was a self-release, right? How did that work for you, doing the label part? Did you enjoy it? How many copies were pressed?
Yes, just one record, and yes it was a self-release. You’ll have to ask Keith about the artistic side, he did all that. 1000 copies were made.
++ You named your label Two Zeros Above. I was curious about the name, what does it mean?
Again Keith and Sheila (the guitarist).
++ Were the songs on the 7″ your first proper recordings? Or had you had any experience in recording studios prior to them?
No, they weren’t. I recorded with Polygram before. I also recorded in Pathway Studios, with ‘The Ya Yas’ and some of the members of ‘Madness’.
++ The songs on the 7″ were recorded at Elephant Studios with John Hurst and Nick Robbins. How was that experience? Any anecdotes that you remember?
Jon Hurst… I remember that I didn’t have a lot of money during that period; I had 2 kids by that time and no spare money to buy new strings so I had to record using old strings. It was also during the time of the printers strike so every time we finished recording we had to battle through the protests of the Wapping printer’s strike.
++ On the back of the sleeve there are photos of all of you and I was wondering where were they taken? And also why does your name appear as Jerry instead of Gerry?
They were all taken in Keith and Sheila’s back-garden. My name was spelt with a J and not a G because in those days I just thought it was cooler with a J!
++ Why weren’t more releases by the band? Was there any interest by labels to release you? Maybe big labels?
We did record a second single, ‘Family’ in 1986 at London Bridge Studios and it was produced by Mark Dearnley. Who went on to produce an Album by ‘ACDC’. Some labels were interested but nobody seemed to know what to do with us unfortunately.
++ Are there more recordings by the band? Unreleased songs?
Yes as above and lots of demos. Again ask Keith.
++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “Elizabeth”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
Keith wrote the song so you’ll have to ask him.
++ If you were to choose your favorite The Beautiful Strangers song, which one would that be and why?
‘Heavens’, which is the B side of ‘Elizabeth’. Because it was a complex bass line and when we played it live, it sounded as good as the recorded version.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
We played loads, all around London and Brighton.
++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
We played at the Herne Hill Tavern, we supported a big band, it was either ‘The Bigger Splash’ or ‘The Mystery Girls’. I can’t remember. What I remember was the entire place was rammed and the crowd adored us. It was a great gig.
++ And were there any bad ones?
Yes a couple, Camberwell, we had an audience of 2 people!
++ When and why did The Beautiful Strangers stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?
We broke-up at the beginning of 1987, because we didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Keith and Sheila went on to other bands, John disappeared. As for myself I have been involved in many since.
++ Did you get much attention from the radio?
For a few week ‘Elizabeth’ was played on Radio one. We were on ‘Singled Out’ – hosted by Janice Long. The song was reviewed by Kirsty Maccoll and Peter Powell. And Capital Radio played it too.
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
We had good reviews about the single.
++ What about from fanzines?
Keith was a cartoonist and he created his own fanzine. Keith had a database of followers and he used to create the fanzine is and send it on to people.
++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
It was the first time we heard ‘Elizabeth’ on the radio.
++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
I have been involved in motor racing during my life. I raced in a French championship on my 50th birthday. I worked a racing circuit for 11 years here in France.
++ Anything else you’d like to add?
I am still playing bass. I am currently involved in 2 bands here in France. A recording band called ‘Nephast’. You can find our album ‘You Have To Know’ on Deezer, Amazon and most of the download websites. Some of the local radio stations have played a few of our songs.
I am also involved in a band called Black Jack V. We are a covers band, 60,70,80,90 pop-rock. We play most weekends in pubs and bars here in South West France.
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