SONS OF MONKEYS

More of a collective than a band, fronted by GRAINGER REECE, main man behind the STOKE MUSICIANS COLLECTIVE.

Grainger Reece

REECE had previously been part of WALTER MITTY. SONS OF MONKEYS recorded two songs – Maxwyn Is An Architect, & Bells – which were released on a double A-side single with DECADES BY NIGHT’S Life Spiral. The band performed at the S.M.C.’s CLAP HANDS concert. THE SONS OF MONKEYS were for a time known as THE WESTERN TRIO.
GRAINGER also worked under the pseudonym ED COLI, and gigged with an outfit called THE EMPTY PIANOS.

SMALL THOUGHTS

Played the infamous CLAP HANDS concert in 1982. Formed in ’77 under the name EMERGENCY. Line-up: CHRIS PLIMBLEY – drums, GRAHAM HOWE – guitar, MARK HAYWARD – keys, KEV BOCHEWSKI – bass and vox. Punk influenced with a nod to the big guns of the sixties.

SKEPTIX

Longton based punk band, comprising SNOTTY on vocals, FISH (STEVE BROOKES) on guitar, USH on bass, and CHIG (IAN CHADWICK) on drums. FISH & CHIG were previously in THE VERMIN. A second generation DISCHARGE outfit, they released many singles in the 1980s. Played the 1982 CLAP HANDS gig under the name CHAOS.
The band have an excellent website:
http://www.theskeptix.com/
CHIG later played drums for THE FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN.
FISH played in DISCHARGE, SECTION 5, and DEMON.
The band reformed in the late nineties, to even greater success.

PLUS SUPPORT

A JOY DIVISION type band from the early 80s. Had quite a big following, were due to play the CLAP HANDS concert in ’82, then pulled out.
MARK ‘BOCKO’ BOSSONS – Guitar – now performing with UMBRELLA SUN.
CARL ‘BAZ’ BARRETT – vocals
DUNCAN ‘DUNC’ – (can’t remember his surname) – drums
Other members may have been ANDY ‘MANDERS’ MANSFIELD ex THE FITZ or TIM ‘MAC’ McLOUGHLIN ex DARK PARADE.

LAST CHANCE

MARK TURNER, ex FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN & A NUL NOISE on vocals & gtr, KEN on vocals & gtr, TONY on bass, & BODGE on drums. Played the CLAP HANDS gig in ’82.

ELEGANT UNEASE

Early 80s electro-pop/futurist combo based in the north of the Potteries, comprising NIGEL MADEW on vocals/keyboards/electronic percussion, ARTHUR BOSTOK on keyboards/vocals/electronic drums, and STEVEN BOOTH on guitar & keyboards. A 4-track cassette, titled INNERVISIONS, was recorded in 1982, featuring Innervisions, Time, I See Ice, and Life’s Tragedy. Sold well around the Chico’s & Maxim’s club scene of the time.
Ex ALL THE MADMEN synthman MICK RICHARDSON joined the band in mid-82 for a number of live gigs, including the Victoria Hall debacle CLAP HANDS. The band faded away shortly afterwards.
MICK RICHARDSON went on to contribute to the works of THE FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN, RED FETISH & THE CONE.
NIGEL MADEW died in 2002.
http://crispynuggets.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/elegant-unease-innervisions-1982.html

 

DEFECT

This punk band formed in December 1980. COLL on vox, DAVE on bass & vox, YOGURT on gtr & vox, GRIZZ on drums. Played the CLAP HANDS gig in ’82.

DAY FIVE

NICK RHEAD (THE IMMORTALS, A NUL NOISE, NO POPPIES) played drums, JEFF – gtr/vox, ALISON, bass/vox, and STEVE DARLINGTON – gtr, (ex ESPRIT DE CORPS). PAUL DAVIS ex THE SHOCK was a member for a while. BILL ‘JOCK’ WHITE was also involved somewhere. CND propogandists. ALISON & JEFF were previously involved with the Limited Warfare theatre group.