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

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Listen
Sun Set Strip – Just for a While