Category: Rock/heavy/metal

DISCHARGE

DischargeFormed either late ’77, or very early ’78, one of The Potteries’ first punk bands, Shelton based. Various ‘rehearsal’ line-ups existed, including one with NIGEL BAMFORD (son of BBC reporter Barney Bamford) on bass; first proper gigging line-up was TERRY ROBERTS aka TEZ on vocals, his brother TONY ROBERTS aka BONES on guitar, ROY WAINWRIGHT aka RAINY on bass, TONY AXON aka ACKO on drums, (RAINY played guitar for the first two gigs, and NIGEL BAMFORD played bass). The band looked destined for oblivion, until ACKO left the band in 1979 (due to getting his girlfriend pregnant and having to sell his drumkit!). Final gig was supporting The Damned & The Ruts at the Victoria Hall.
imageTEZ took over on drums, and new vocalist KELVIN MORRIS aka CAL was recruited. The band’s musical & lyrical direction veered towards CND/anti-war sentiments, and they were (somewhat surprisingly) signed to Mike Stone’s new record label, CLAY RECORDS.

They were managed by TANYA RICH between 1978 and 1980, she was responsible for getting them their record deal. They achieved some success, touring parts of Europe, even having a single – Never Again – reach the Top 75, and the album Hear Nothing… reach number 40 in the album charts.Discharge 1981
Various personnel changed would occur, BONES formed his own band BROKEN BONES, replaced by STEVE BROOKES aka FISH from THE SKEPTIX, and towards the late 1980s the band seemed to disintegrate – RAINY was seen working as a postman around Stoke in 1989 . In the mid-90s, the band got together again with various line-ups, and continued well in to the 21st century.
21st Century DischargeNIGEL BAMFORD managed THE VEINS, and later THE BATWING CHAPS, and is now a concert promoter.
TEZZ also played drums in US punk band BILLYCLUB, played guitar with THE MINISTRY on their 1989/90 USA tour, and also worked from time to time with SECTION 5.

Rainy & Tanya
Tanya and Rainy

DEMON

DemonPut together around 1980, originally as a studio band to record a heavy metal album and single for Hanley record label CLAY RECORDS. Band then followed up with live work. Many well-known Potteries rockers have featured in the band at one time or another, including DAVE HILL; LES HUNT (ex HUNTER); ex VERMIN, SKEPTIX, SECTION 5 & DISCHARGE member FISH; Radio Stoke broadcaster CHRIS ELLIS(ex HUNTER); and GAVIN SUTHERLAND of THE SUTHERLAND BROTHERS.
20+ years on, the band seem to be as popular as ever.
CHRIS ELLIS went to live in Australia, but later returned to live in Leek.
http://the-demon.com/

THE CITY ZONES

 

1990’s rock band THE CITY ZONES has seen an issue of a new single “Spoils of Humanity” available worldwide on download. The live track recorded by the BBC in the late 1990’s was never released. Written by TIM SANDERS, ANTHONY MACHIN and IAN AINSWORTH from the group was adopted by The Green Party for advertising during the 2010 election campaign. Since this release showed promising sales previous releases have seen reissues such as THE CITY ZONES most popular recording La Maison De L’Amour. THE CITY ZONES were an extremely popular support band of the 1990’s all the members originated from Stoke-on–Trent including 1992/3 Bass Guitarist ANDY WHITFIELD (ex GRACE).

The 7 piece outfit originally failed to make a major impression on the singles or album charts but were a consistent live act throughout the 1990’s. The 2010’s may prove to be the time for the ageing rockers – line up..TIM SANDERS (Vocals /Bass), JULIE GATOR (Keyboard, backing), ANTHONY MACHIN (Guitars),IAN AINSWORTH (Vocals), STEVE THOMKINSON (Guitars), KEVIN THOMKINSON (Percussion).