44 posts tagged “coventry”
HOW COOL!
BBC RADIO COVENTRY COVER THE COLIN RICHARDSON MONTY PYTHON STORY
Hannah Tobin of BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire got in contact with Colin Richardson after Hobo had
uploaded an interview with Colin, part of which dealt with he's scoop of bringing the Monty Python team to the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry for the first ever live performance in 1971. Colin and also David Partridge (who was in the audience) were interviewed on BBC Coventry Tuesday October 20th 2009 on the Annie Othen show.Thanks to Rosie King at the BBC for allowing us to relay the interview on the site.
A little while ago I did a piece for the Hobo site on the Arts Festivals at the Lanch Poly (now Coventry University) in the early 1970's, involving the organiser Ted Little who went on to bigger things in the
Arts World.
As a result Colin Richardson got in Contact - I'd seen his name on the Lanch arts Festival Programme for 1971 as the BRON Agency Booking Agent but knew absolutely nothing about him. After many e mail and Skype exchanges I realised what a fascinating musical career he had had from early Jazz roots, through being night manager with for the Marquee club, through managing Colosseum, through Charisma and much more.
As Colin had been instrumental in booking some of the
major artists that played the Lanch Poly Student Union and had amazing background stories, as for example the bringing of Monty Python to Coventry for their first ever live performance, I decided to do a very full interview with Colin.
Here's Colin's full story on booking Monty Python for their first Live Gig in Coventry Monty Python in Coventry
The interview is on this site in several stages - the links are here
Part 1 Colin Richardson Interview Part 1 As Musician
Part 2 Colin Richardson Interview Part 2 The Jazzhouse / Manfred Mann
Part 3 Colin Richardson Interview Part 3 Marquee Club
Part 4 Colin Richardson Interview Part 4 Booking Agent
Part 5 Colin Richardson Interview Part 5 Managing Colosseum
Part 7 Colin Richardson Interview Part 7 - Artist Management / Charisma
COLIN RICHARDSON IS ALSO ON VOX - http://colinrichardson.vox.com/
MORE THAN TWO TONES - Launch Review
Having been on the steering group for the Coventry Music History Exhibition - More Than Two Tones over the past
two years, (along with Pete Chambers, Richard Elms, Trev Teasdel (me), Huw Jones, John Dawkins, Roger Lomas, Neol Davies, Dave Fisher, Pete Walters and Herbert Museum team) I was invited to the launch at the
Herbert Museum and Art Gallery last Friday (2nd October).
This is a temporary exhibition lasting until January 3rd.
Down in Coventry
Living now on the edge of both Teesside and the North York Moors, I travelled down to the Two-Tone Motor City by National Express down long stretches of arterial lanes and souless motorways passing through the wonderwell of York and the urban guerrilla of Birmingham where I was picked up and ushered to Cov by my young nephew in his smart new car, albeit with a heavy accent on the accelerator!
Coventry seemed surprised to see me after all these years and spread the rumour loft to loft 'Trev is back' but the cars and buses and lorries bustled on regardless. After spending the afternoon with my mother and sister in Chapelfields, I was driven by my nephew down to Priory Street where things were already happening.
Striding down the new Cathedral steps, trying to avoid eye contact with devil on the side wall, I saw a crowd entering
the Lanch Poly (now Coventry University) Student Union building. Priory Street has become the iconic street in Coventry having had three Cathedrals, one of which was bombed and it is near where the Lennons laid acorns for peace in 1969 and where the Lanch Poly SU held its arts festivals and put on some of the top undergraound in the 70's and early 80's from Soft Machine, Jack Bruce, Colosseum, Clash, Selecter, UB40 to name just a few. Priory Street is now where Pete Chambers does his BBC Coventry Pop into the Past programme with his Walk of Fame outside in Priory Place - with it's tributes to the Specials, Hazel O Connor and Pete Waterman etc. At the other end - the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery but more of that soon.
THE 8th TWO TONE PLAQUE
The gathering at the Student Union was to launch the 8th Coventry Two Tone plaque.This being the place where Roddy Radiation wrote Rat Race in the Student Union. Horace Panter, Pauline Black and Jerry Dammers all did their degrees there.
The fact that the plaque had already been up a year (I know because Pete Chambers photographed me below it a year ago) didn't matter - it was a good way to start the launch and attract a crowd and a flashing of journalists! Pete Chambers and Horace of the Specials addressed the crowd and answered questions. Afterwards it was camera and notebook madness with Pete and Horace most likely 'Braggin' and Trying not to lie!' as they say in the song!
Stories of Indian Summer
The crowd then moved up past the old Cathedral to the new Herbert Museum and Art Gallery for the launch. There was
quite a crowd of invited guests,many seemingly of the Two Tone generation but quite a mixture of ages really. I was hard put though to find anyone from the early 70's music scene. Bob Jackson, the former Indian Summer front man who over the years has played with John Entwhistle, Pete Brown, Badfinger and the Fortunes came up and spoke. He too had expected to see more familiar faces. Neol Davies of Selecter came up and shook our hands but wasn't able to stay as he was guesting at a Ska gig in Birmingham.
Neol had originally wanted to reform The Selecter for 30th Celebration and I suggested they might play at the Exhibition launch. Neol however was unable to get Selecter back together again but there was talk of a Two Tone jam or a solo performance from Neol, but Neol was off to Brum instead. Roger Lomas (Ex Sorrows and producer of the Selecter and also on the steering group, was touring the contient with The Ripps. Bob Jackson told me a story about how they had to push his Hammond Organ all the way from Grafton Street near Gosford Green to the Lanch poly for a gig owing to a lack of transport and also corrected a story I'd heard that when
the Nice played the Lanch poly. Rumour in the 70's had it that Keith Emerson borrowed Bob's Hammond albeit that Emerson was notorious for throwing knives into his Hammond as part of the act but that Emerson bought him a brand new one to replace it! Bob revealed that the story had gotten a little far fetched and Bob confirmed he turned Emerson down! Bob's Hammond was precious and there was no mention of any replacement - not that Bob - in his own addmission - was opposed to throwing knives in his own Hammond as part of the act at one stage but no way would he let anyone else do that -even Emerson!
I agreed to interview Bob for Hobo on the Indian Summer days and beyond. Bob was always good for some interesting news update stories in the 70's when I ran Hobo magazine I was amazed tofind Bob looks more or less the same as he did in the 70's - he still has the long hair and the colouring and so was easily recognisable!
The Launch
After much socialising and free drinks and Liquorace Allsorts - Pete and Horace opened the launch with a speech. Unfortunatley little of it was audiable in the new cathedral-like reception hall except for the words 'Two Tone' which seemed to resound in the rafters like a sacrad word! I commented to Martin Richards of the museum that Pete would probably love that - the rest of the words were presumably fillers and acknowlegements anyway and the crowd were anxious to see the Exhibition..
Without giving too much away (you really will have to go and see for yourself) the exhibition was rather smart with a mix of Gold discs, costumes, guitars, posters, recording desks and outline histories. Sure it's not going to please all of the Coventry musos - much that was mentioned in the planning wasn't evident but given the size of the gallery and the time scale and pressures, I think the team did a great job and although it focuses on the big names mainly, it presents a convincing picture of Coventry as an important musical centre. It will be what the fans from across the world will want to see. Sure there were names missing - I didn't see Dando Shaft for instance and it didn't portray the underground music scene out of which Two Tone emerged, but it was probably better for being simple; being a temporary exhibition and the first of its kind in Coventry. The Hobo Vox site (here) gives a lot of that background anyway although I didn't notice the urls to the Coventry music sites that I thought were going tobe displayed!
But it gets the thumbs up for all the hard work the team did to make it happen at all and hopefully this is just the start of documenting the rich musical history of the city.
The Concert
Meanwhile downstairs in the restaurant the stage was being prepared for the musical aspects of the night. Early plans for the launch had included The Selecter or a Two Tone Jam with Neol Davies at least, The Vampires - a Cov band from the 50's.
Once more Pete Chambers took to the stage but this time we could hear him loud and clear through the PA. We knew the Primitives were headlining but who was on first? I was delighted when Pete introduced a young Coventry singer songwriter called Kristy Gallacher. I'd communicated with her and had a copy of her CD but never got to see her live, living a long way from Cov. Kristy did a short but highly effective set. The sound system and lighting was superb and Kristy looked great in her stageoutfit. Kristy is a great example of the new talent coming out of the city, proving that the cities musical achievement is not all in the past - far from it - there's a thriving acoustic scene and although mixed, has a good representation of female singer songwriters (in the seventies - with a few exceptions like Beverly Martyn) music scene was largely male dominated (ok maybe some bands had the cursory 'chick singer') but the lads ruled!
Now some like Kristy and Janine are not only talented muscians and writers but run some of the top venues in the city
- a measure of how far women have come. Kristy led us through some of her best songs with confidence and skill and such good guitar accompaniment with touches of jazz funk, finger style and rock in the chording. Her songs tell an evocative and heartfelt story with great wit, ingenuity and rhythm. Speaking to her afterwards I realised what a lovely person she is and, in the best of the Cov Scene spirit, selfless enough to give much of her time to promoting other up coming artists (she runs at least two acoustic venues herself). Kristy ended the short set with an uptempo number and had the audience not been so close to the stage, I would have been both dancing and listening (but as those who have been to the Writers Cafe in Stockton know - I need space for my kind of dancing!).Kristy's Home page is http://www.kristygallacher.com/
Next on were the Primitives. I was excited to see the Primitives as they emerged after I left Cov.Produced by Paul Sampson -who used to play for us at the Hobo Workshop - Holyhead Youth Centre in the mid 70's with his jazz rock band - Trigon. Paul went on to be a leading member of the Two Tone band Reluctant Sterotypes with Paul King who later topped the charts
with his own band King. For those not in the know - the Primitives were a kind of Blondie style groups who had hits in the mid 80's - like Crash. Sadly it wasn't the original line up with the passing of Steve Dulla. Their performance is on You Tube for those interested. Very much a pop style band with plenty of dancable tunes and it was a treat to see them live despite the abscence of one of it's leading members.The Primitives underpin the diversity of music that has come out of Coventry over the decades, from rock n roll, progressive pop, metal, folk rock, ska and punk and much more. Here are some photos of the concert by Chris Johnson http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjohnsonphotographics/sets/72157622380970547/
Inspire
On the advice of Kristy, I headed to Inspire for a glass of Vino before heading back to my sisters. Although I didn't recognise anyone I knew, it is apparently one of the places Coventry musos now go. Maybe the equivalent of the Dive bar in the 70's. Inspire is interesting for those not from Coventry. So called because Coventry's smallest spire of the three famous ones is just that - the church got blown away by the Luffwaffe. The pub is literally in the base of the spire with an outside lounge area and a powerful landlord who keeps order by thunderbolts!!! It often has live music or a DJ.
The flying visit was over - next morning bright and early back on the coach heading towards Leeds through blustery headwind and then out in to Middlesbrough and home!
It's forty years since one of Coventry's coolest blues / rock bands formed in Coventry c 1969 with their hippy following. It's lead singer John Gravenor with his shock of red hair was an integral part of the Coventry scene, albeit a wandering one,hanging out in the muso pubs like the Dive bar and the Cross when not playing.
Lead guitarist John Alderson - known otherwise as Johnny Slide recently played with Neol Davies formerly of the Selecter.
Line up was
John Gravenor - Vocals
John Alderson - lead / rhythm and slide guitar
Ade Taylor -Bass
Al Walder (and later Jim Pryal - Drums)
Sadly the band split up as bands often do leaving a live tape behind which has never seen the light of day.It was to be the basis of their first album on the 'Pig Mother Label' back in those alternative days.
Recently their former manager - Dave Sullivan - passed away and as a tribute to him, and through the work
of his wife - Julie Sullivan, the band is set to reform for a tribute gig in Coventry. Details are yet to be circulated but a CD of the live tapes is on the cards. It will be great to hear the band once again - such great music - songs like Catfish, Doncha Worry, Take me Where I belong, Hangman,Dead Dog Dead (a tribute to Beefheart) and Image of Ezra may re-emerge. The album is to be called Wandering John - Captured Live In Coventry
Bassist Ade Taylor e mailed me out of the blue with the news the other day and I spoke on the phone to him for the first time since 1980 when I left Coventry. The band are looking for somewhere to rehearse for 2-3 days practise, and maybe the loan of some equipment if anyone can help. A possible venue, could be The Beer Engine, in Far Gosford St. They are also still trying to locate their original drummer Al Walder if anyone knows of his whereabouts. It could the band will have two drummers or share duties if they can find Al, as I'm sure Jim Prayal will be up for it.
The band formed from two other bands one of which was Interior War.I plan to interview Ade Taylor to get a fuller history of the band. Ade Taylor is now living in Devon with his wife Angie and has returned to music -
"I got back into music in the mid ninetys, after a long lay-off. At first on bass and then I
switched to guitar round '97 as a band needed a guitarist and not a bass player!
I have come on in leaps and bounds and my last band were called "Misspent Youth".
We did 3 Gigs in Germany, last year.
My latest project is my own band called "Mint Condition" which includes some really
good musicians and great singer. I play guitar and do backing vocals. We do lots of
good oldies like; Stones, Beatles, Green Day, Snow Patrol, Wilson Pickett, Chuck Berry,
Bryan Adams etc."
switched to guitar round '97 as a band needed a guitarist and not a bass player!
I have come on in leaps and bounds and my last band were called "Misspent Youth".
We did 3 Gigs in Germany, last year.
My latest project is my own band called "Mint Condition" which includes some really
good musicians and great singer. I play guitar and do backing vocals. We do lots of
good oldies like; Stones, Beatles, Green Day, Snow Patrol, Wilson Pickett, Chuck Berry,
Bryan Adams etc."
John Gravenor is down near Hastings and John Alderson now lives in Leicestershire, so there's some distance logistics to sort out there.
This is something that a lot of people who have contributed to the Hobo site have wished for, although it's sad that it took Dave's passing to make it happen. Our thoughts go to Dave's wife Angie who is organising all this.
Wandering John always had an entourage loyal to the band who were friends many of whom left for Brighton in 1970. Neil O Connor (Hazel's brother) was one of them. Here is a You Tube tribute song for Alex Murphy, one of the band's roadies.
'You and Your Adored' - HOBO reviews the new acoustic Barricades Rise Album
HOBO REVIEW
Coventry's distinguished musical heritage is not all the past!
Coventry's dynamic acoustic duo - Barricades Rise create vibrant musical fire and brimstone with
only two accoustic guitars and bongos on their new album You and Your Adored. Coventry's distinguished musical heritage is not all the past - the city is once again ablaze with musical talent and Barricades Rise bring drama, soul and dynamics to the acoustic areana.
They just do not sound like your average acoustic due! The sound grabs your attention from the first bar and holds it with dynamic interweaves of vocal grit and harmony and the rhythms build and rage and fade and build again. It is at once a professional sound, full of energy and integrity that would hold its own against electric bands.
These two lads have definate talent and drive and add a destinctive sound to the range of music that is spilling out of the city these days.
You can hear some of their work on this Reverbnation widget and make up your own mind.
Check out their website for more details http://www.barricadesrise.moonfruit.com/
Barricades Rise are a two piece acoustic act hailing from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK that formed in December 2007. They have been compared to the likes of Turin Brakes, Starsailor, Puressence and Elbow. Jonathan’s voice rips through each track with a passion and power that is rarely heard with today’s front men, whilst Michaels guitar playing is the perfect match and with over ten years of playing together they compliment each other flawlessly.
WELCOME
THIS POST STAYS ON TOP LIKE A HOME PAGE - LAST UPDATED 9th August 2009
A HISTORY OF THE COVENTRY MUSIC SCENE IN THE 1970'S BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY RESTRICTED TO THE 70'S. A RESOURCE FOR RESEARCHERS, FILM MAKERS, WRITERS AND MUSICIANS AS WELL AS FOR THOSE CURIOUS ABOUT THE COVENTRY MUSIC SCENE IN THE YEARS BEFORE TWO TONE BROKE AND THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED OR AROUND AT THE TIME. More details in the profile.
HOBO WAS A 1970'S COVENTRY MUSIC MAGAZINE AND THE HOBO WORKSHOP AT THE HOLYHEAD YOUTH
CENTRE WAS OUR MUSIC VENUE. It was run by Trev Teasdel - along with various co-editors at various times including Bo (John Bargent - orginal c0-founder), Barbara Wainwright, Arthur Brown.
Pete Waterman contributed a Soul Hole article and advertised his Soul Hole Record Store prior to fame.
WE WELCOME FEEDBACK.
You can scroll down endlessly (there's a lot of posts on here) or for an organised index and to access band and Cov My Space directories and other Cov website click on the
Check out Charley Anderson's latest - Ghetto Child
later with the People Band and Skalatones.
CHARLEY HAS A NEW VOX SITE
Recent posts - new
Colin Richardson - Interview with Trev Teasdel Part ! (Colin was booking agent for the Lanch Arts Festival in Cov and night manager of The Marquee in London and manager of Colosseum HERE
The PRIMITIVES - Tribute to Steve Dullaghan HERE
TED LITTLE and Lanchester Arts Festival HERE
Asgard - More Photos and John Peel Cutting HERE
ASGARD - and a tribute to Terry Westwood and Bill Walker HERE
RELUNCTANT STEREOTYPES - tribute to Steve Edgson
November sees the launch of the research and development of a COVENTRY MUSIC EXHIBITION at the Herbert Musem that will open to the public in October 2009. Neol Davies is organising a Two Tone jam session to both launch the exhibition and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Two Tone.
Early Dando Shaft and New Modern Idiot Grunt Band tracks available HERE
1ST TWO TONE RECORD - GANGSTERS / THE SELECTER
TT1 AND TT2 1979 - Paper Label - Plain White Sleeve (No date Stamp)
Colin Richardson has one for sale at half the Catalogue Value £7.50
If interested e mail on bristol_blue@blueyonder.co.uk
NEW COVENTRY VOX BLOG FROM HOBO MAGAZINE -
COVMUSIC TIMELINE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO GUIDE RESEARCHERS FOR THE COVENTRY MUSIC EXHIBITION - VIEW AND COMMENT AND WATCH IT GROW - WILL BE A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A WHILE.
The COVENTRY ARTS UMBRELLA - Opened by Harry Secombe and the The Goons in 1955 has seeded both
the music and the poetry scene in Coventry. The first folk club in Coventry was held there in the 60's. In the 70's Two Toners - Neol Davies and John Bradbury frequented the Umbrella. It has a long history and in 2005 the Umbrella celebrated it's half century anniversary with a poetry broadcast on BBC Radio Coventry and the launch of a poetry anthology - UNDER THE UMBRELLA.
The Anthology is available from the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery shop. There will be a new post on this about it soon and they have a website www.umbrellaclub.org.uk
Loving New Cov Band Rider at the moment (check them out on Vox) BOOKS
Pete Chambers launches his well produced new book on Cov Music
replete with fantastic photos of Cov's rich musical heritage. At £5.99 it's a must buy for anyone passionate about Cov Music.
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Read about Horace's New Book HERE
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Read about Horace's New Book HERE
NOW IN PAPERBACK FOR £7.99
THE GNOME LABEL
THE NEW CO-OPERATIVE RECORD LABEL!
The former Coventry Magazine - Broadgate Gnome launched their new Co-operative Record Label! The idea began in Coventry in 1970 as an alternative to the music business - an early form of the music collectives that formed in the 80's, along with gig-swopping networks to enable bands to play further afield. TwoToner Neol Davies and Selecter Producer Roger Lomus were among those who performed at the initial gigs years before Two Tone.
"We work on the principle of Mutual Aid and devote our time to actively promoting an alternative to the big business of the Music Industry. We have no paid employees but rely on a collective of experienced people who believe in the ethic of cooperation. This is a project that has been 40 years in the making, which is now made possible by new technology.."
The Gnome are aiming for four releases each quarter and to develop from there (keep an eye on their site for details and developments) - Gnome Label and Gnome Fest
The Gnome wrote -
More details on these can be found on the Gnome Label site Here
"Songs from the Coventry Underground Is a collection of the earlier songs from poet and performer Trev Teasdel.
It is very apt that he should feature at the very beginning of our Retro-Cov platform.
This is the guy that played an important role in the development of Coventry musical conciousness. He kept an alternative voice alive with the production of Hobo magazine that continued the trail from where the fading footprints of the Gnome could still be identified. Taking over the booking of live bands at the Arts Umbrella, he continued the policy that allowed many of the new local bands an airing as well as bringing in some excellent but not often seen names from outside of the City.
He also created one of the cornerstones of the Coventry Music scene, with the inception of the open jam sessions at the Holyhead Road Arts centre.
He left Coventry to study and has since been as active as ever, with an impressive workload of teaching new writers, running poetry magazines and venues from his Teesside home while still writing and performing his own material.
But that's not the only reason for choosing his work for this release. He is a master craftsman of his artform. His lyrics are carefully honed with the
occasional surprise. The working of the words " under the Speenhamland scheme" into the lyric of Captain Swing, written some 20 years before the arrival of Billy Bragg, is phenomenal and deserves a place in the record books.
Aside from that, his work reverberates with the angst and expectations that many living in Coventry at the that time will have felt. Often written on long walks home up the London Road after the last bus, or in teabreaks while working at the GEC. The collective lyrics paint a picture of youthful exhilaration and myradiacl inspirations with echoes of revolt. Some might suggest that they could have been written in and about any city in those times. No they could only come from one place....Our Coventry.
Trev has posted many of his lyrics and the thought and activities behind their writing on his Vox space HERE
This is the guy that played an important role in the development of Coventry musical conciousness. He kept an alternative voice alive with the production of Hobo magazine that continued the trail from where the fading footprints of the Gnome could still be identified. Taking over the booking of live bands at the Arts Umbrella, he continued the policy that allowed many of the new local bands an airing as well as bringing in some excellent but not often seen names from outside of the City.
He also created one of the cornerstones of the Coventry Music scene, with the inception of the open jam sessions at the Holyhead Road Arts centre.
He left Coventry to study and has since been as active as ever, with an impressive workload of teaching new writers, running poetry magazines and venues from his Teesside home while still writing and performing his own material.
But that's not the only reason for choosing his work for this release. He is a master craftsman of his artform. His lyrics are carefully honed with the
Aside from that, his work reverberates with the angst and expectations that many living in Coventry at the that time will have felt. Often written on long walks home up the London Road after the last bus, or in teabreaks while working at the GEC. The collective lyrics paint a picture of youthful exhilaration and myradiacl inspirations with echoes of revolt. Some might suggest that they could have been written in and about any city in those times. No they could only come from one place....Our Coventry.
The brilliant 1980 Coventry Album SENT FOR COVENTRY produced by Martin Bowes of Alternative Sounds
Magazine in Coventry and now in the band Attrition (who will be featured in the Retro Cov album is now available for download HERE
You can listen to excerpts from the tracks which include - The Wild Boys, Clique, The End, The Urge, Hot Snacks (Machine), Solid Action, The Mix, Vietnamese Babies, Squad, Riot Act, Protege, Homicide.
This is from the illustrious Two Tone Period in Coventry when Coventry was buzzing with musical life and bands. See the Alternative Sounds supplement with more info on the bands shortly - watch this space.
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You can listen to excerpts from the tracks which include - The Wild Boys, Clique, The End, The Urge, Hot Snacks (Machine), Solid Action, The Mix, Vietnamese Babies, Squad, Riot Act, Protege, Homicide.
This is from the illustrious Two Tone Period in Coventry when Coventry was buzzing with musical life and bands. See the Alternative Sounds supplement with more info on the bands shortly - watch this space.
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Colin Richardson - the booking agent from Bron responsible for booking many of the acts for the Coventry Lanchester Arts Festival in the early 70's tells the story of how 'How a modest little Polytechnic in Coventry came to be favoured with such a prime coup as hosting the first ever live performance of Monty Python's Flying Circus?'
PART 6
'Live' Python found at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry!
By Colin Richardson
1971 Lanchester Arts Festival included many well-known artistes on the 10 day programme of events, including Elton John, Ralph McTell, Caravan, blues legend Big Boy Crudup, Leon Russell and Andre Previn (conducting the London Symphony Orchestra), but the high point of the student-run mixed media festival that year, was without doubt, the first 'Live on Stage' performance of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
How did a modest little Polytechnic in Coventry come to be favoured with such a prime coup? Here's how it happened.
I had been the Festival's booking consultant in 1970, working closely with Ted Little, the student organiser. We made
a good team, as he was always open to my ideas and suggestions, though quite firm of mind when it came to final decisions as to which act was chosen. I guess he must have been pleased with my contribution, as he retained my services for the following year.
At some point during the planning, he asked if it would be possible to book one or two of the Monty Python team to perform a couple of sketches from the cult TV show, as they were immensley popular with the student fraternity. I was doubtlful, as none of them had ever made any live appearances hitherto and I was pretty sure that they only produced their unique humour for the TV cameras. However, I said I'd see if there was any chance of one or more being interested. I had no idea who their agent was, but, as luck would have it, there fell into my lap a circuitous conduit to to one Python ear. It went like this: I had a little band going at the time...a quintet playing jazz and dance music around the club/college circuit and we had a singer by the name of Jean Hart,
who was an American living in London and she was the girlfriend (later wife) of the comedian Bill Oddie. Bill would occasionally 'sit in' with the band, singing a credible blues. He knew most, if not all, of the Python team, so I asked him (through Jean) if he knew how I could go about contacting their representative. To my astonishment, he offered to introduce me to Eric Idle (it's possible that he was sharing a flat with him at the time, though I'm not certain about that) and eventually I got the summons to attend his presence. Being a bit of a fan myself, it was with some trepidation, awe and downright nerves that I presented myself, but he very quickly put me at my ease with his relaxed and friendly attitude. He asked a few questions about what dates we had in mind, the Festival organisation, its history etc. I threw as many 'names' of artistes that had already been booked, or who had appeared in the previous 2 years and described how well run it was and he took it all in. I was expecting him to indicate who, if anyone, might be up for taking part, when he said something that had me almost fainting with inner excitment. It was along the lines of: "Well, your timing couldn't be more fortuitous (he could even have used the word 'serendipitous') as we've been discussing the possibility of doing something live on stage and, if we did, we would definitely do it outside of London, in case it didn't work for us. If you can find out whether ther Belgrade Theatre is available for a 3 night run, that would certainly increase the odds of us agreeing to do it, as we have all worked there before and know that it would be ideal for us".
In something of a daze, I promised to get back to him asap and left to find a phone to call Ted Little and give him the
astounding news. He didn't seem to take it in at first and kept asking which of the Pythons was I talking about. I said "All of them..the tout ensemble', the whole damn Circus!" After they brought him round, he checked the Belgrade's availablity and phoned me back to say that we could have 3 nights, bang in the middle of the Festival. I passed this on to Eric and, soon enough, the dates and the deal were agreed. For the life of me, I can't remember the details, except that the shows would start at 12 midnight and that the fee was extraordinarily reasonable. In a cloud of euphoria, I passed this incredible news to Ted. Tickets went on sale a few days later...and all three shows sold out in about 20 minutes!
Needless to say, the shows were a fantastic success, the student audience a proven fan base who already knew most of the sketches, not that this in any way diminished their noisy enjoyment of them. I recall that,on the first night, the entire front row was wearing 'Gumby' style knotted handkerchiefs...to the astonishment of the first Pythons onstage.
Alex Murphy was roadie with Wandering John and a great and interesting besides - never seen again since he went off with a cult in the late seventies.His friends miss him.John Gravenor (former lead singer with Wandering John is accompanying Neil on this track.)
Hazel's version of Neil's song.
Neil's 70's band The Flys with Molotov Cocktail
Neil's recent version
And an acoustic version on Canadian radio, There now you have every version under the sun of The Flys late 70's single Molotov Cocktail except the featured on Old Grey Whistle Test! Neil has other tracks if you go to hi You Tube site.
EMF - Anti- Bellum. This was Mojo (Tony) Morgan's Ska band c1979 - 81. They are featured on the 1981 Battle of the Bands album and this was a single although it didn''t chart. Mojo's idea for the band was to mix Ska with blues bass-lines.I was their resident dancer for a while! CND were big in Coventry at this time (as elsewhere) as this song reflects. Unfortunately it's still relevant!
HOT SNACKS - aka MACHINE - Character Change. This was Ollie Oliver's band (aka Doc Mustard). Silverton (original drummer with The Specials) was the drummer on this track -was replaced by Jim Pryal. Going around 1970 - 81 time. This track featured on The Sent To Coventry album.
With Someone Nice Like You - by Trev Teasdel- In 1979 Mojo Morgan asked me to write some songs for his new band EMF. This was one of two I wrote for the band before he got two female singers in the band who wrote their own material. It just a cassette writing demo on acoustic guitar - cleaned up a bit on computer.
ASGARD - were a Coventry band in the style of Pink Floyd / Nice operating around 1969 - 71 period who were promoted by John Peel and played a number of prestigious gigs - eg Mothers in Birmingham after Pink Floyd and with Peel and Hyde Park etc. Following a recent post on Asgard with some of their music, bassist Richard Kilbride has sent these archive photos of the band and cuttings.
First a cutting from Disc - Asgard are mentioned in John Peel's column - some of them, including their manager Paul Padum stayed at Peel Acres.
Asgard played in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral in 1969 as part of the West Indian concert calld Jerico -
Asgard bassist proposed free open air concerts in Coventry in 1969 in which people could even bring along poems to read (great initiative Richard) according to this Coventry Evening Telegraph article -
The council response is interesting!!
"NO LONG-HAIRED BEATNKS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO ELEMENT" - "THE SALVATION ARMY BAND..ARE A RAVE!!!"
"Councillor Arthur Taylor, Chairman of the Recreation Committee said he would be glad to make the park available to respectable pop groups but we do not want long-haired beatniks in the San Franscisco element playing in our parks! We have the Salvation Army band playing in our parks and it's a rave! But whether pop music is eeryone's choice, I don't know." Well -
I must admit - I've never heard the Salvation Army band described as a 'Rave' before!!!!
Asgard were invited to Alexis Korner's fiftieth birthday party!!
The following are photos of the young Asgard at play with guitars and dumpeer trucks in the 60's and photos from gigs and rehearsals etc.
Along with these photos was one of another band from the 1970c period - no idea who they are or if it's a Cov band or one Asgard played on tour with - if any or Richard can throw light on this photo - let me know.
Lively performance poem by Trev Teasdel with his raging guitar lashing out on the times we we live in semi surreally and energetically.
Written 2006 and performed at the Writers' Cafe in Stockton endlessly and many poetry performance gigs around the country with Keith Armstong.
Cover pic froma chalk drawing done by Teesside artist Adrian Moule on the floor of the Writers Cafe.
