Thanks so much to Gerard Wood for this interview! I had written about his band Happyhouse which was active in Nottingham in the early 90s. I had found a bunch of their recordings on Soundcloud and wrote a piece about them months ago. Luckily Gerard got in touch and was willing to share more details about his music adventure! Enjoy!

++ Hi Gerard! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

I’m good, not involved with making music at all these days.

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

Much like any young kid growing up in 1970s Britain, “Top Of The Pops” on TV was the main way of actually seeing bands.  The first record my mum bought for me was “Gonna Make You A Star” by David Essex, which was 1974, so I obviously started young ☺

I had a go at violin and then cello at school (pre-teenage), but never persevered with them.  I bought a cheap sky blue Strat copy in about 1987, and learning consisted of a “Book 1” on How To Play Guitar and the Billy Bragg “Back To Basics” songbook + “Audio Aid” which was far more useful.  After that, everything was learnt by ear (and was often approximate at best…)

I listened to all sorts whilst growing up in the early 1980s.  Dexys & The Jam would mix with Queen, Springsteen & Dire Straits, along with pop fun like Haircut 100, OMD and (to start with) The Cure.  I didn’t really notice “indie” music until about 1986 – the Mary Chain and The Fall, then I started listening to John Peel earnestly and it all changed.

++ Had you been in other bands before Happyhouse? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded by these bands?

Yes, I was in a band whilst still at school in Northampton, with the horrendous name of Brilliant Failure. Gian Sammarco, who played Adrian Mole on UK TV at the time, was our singer.  Despite being fairly clueless, we did manage to write a few original songs (well, original-ish).  We played at The Old Black Lion in Northampton in early summer 1989 to a fairly large crowd (helps having a national TV star as your frontman), also the main band on had some connection to Spacemen 3 if I recall, who played/recorded in the town a bit in the second half of the 1980s.

At the same time, I was creating the demos for what would eventually become the first happyhouse songs, although I had no intention of actually doing anything with them.  I bought a cheap 4-track and drum machine in June ‘89 and off I went.  Fairly obvious I was obsessed with The Cure at the time ☺  Everything was fairly long and fairly grim!

++ Where were you from originally?

Northampton – see above!  Virtually no music scene to speak of, the main venue (The Roadmender) was shut far more than it was open.  The one moment of joy was in 1988 when Pixies and My Bloody Valentine came to town – that was probably a bit of a life-changer too, the first local gig I’d been to with my mates.

++ How was Nottingham at the time of Happyhouse? 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?

Nottingham was great, the total opposite of Northampton – venues, loads of touring bands, so I was at gigs every week from the moment I arrived in for university in October 1989 – Trent Polytechnic (now a university) was the best at the time. I met Chris, the band’s bassist, in the queue to see The Wedding Present (I think) a few weeks later and it turned out we lived in the same hall of residence at the university.

Nottingham had Selectadisc, a cracking independent record shop (or shops, it had three different ones on the same street – one for singles, one for LPs, one for 2nd hand).

++ Were there any other good bands in your area?

I’ve got to admit, I didn’t follow the local scene at all.  Apart from the bands that friends played in, I wouldn’t have a clue!

++ How did the band start? How was the recruiting process?

As mentioned above, I met Chris the bassist late in 1989 before there was any thought of a band.  Kris was a drummer on the same uni course as Chris, and was already playing in lots of bands by Feb 1990 when he joined us and we actually started practicing in a practice room.  Jon arrived later in the year – not sure how he came to join us!  We may have put an ad up in the Student Union?  Can’t remember.

++ What instruments did each of you play in the band?

Me (Gerard Wood) – guitar + vocals
Chris Griggs – bass
Jon Bridgett – guitar
Kris Daryanani – drums

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

The songs were pretty much written before we all came together and started practicing in 1990, so I think I just handed out tape copies of the demos.  We practised pretty regularly in the ‘BandSoc’ practice room at the university – which was basically a basement cellar with terrible acoustics. The songs got a bit of gradual rearrangement to add a bit more energy to them!

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name? You were saying it was after a Chinese takeaway?

Yes, in 1990 Chris & I moved to a house in Radford, Nottingham, and the Chinese around the corner was called “Happy House”.  I guess due to our sound and the Siouxsie song of the same name, it seemed like a good idea at the time!

++ And about Happyhouse Chinese restaurant around your corner, were you a fan of their food at all? Or was it mainly a joke?

I think it was just a takeaway, not sure there was any sitting down in there.  I probably never went in – it was just the name that struck me.

++ First things first, how come there were no releases by the band?

No-one asked us! I didn’t have the first clue about how to get gigs, let alone get anything recorded, and it was still pretty early days anyway.  We didn’t last long enough to get to the ‘proper recording’ stage.

++ On Soundcloud there is a collection of 14 demos. They seem to be from different periods of the band. The first four tracks are not from Happysad. They date from 1989. Can you tell me a bit about these 4 songs, where they were recorded? Was it just yourself? Did these songs eventually end up being part of Happyhouse repertoire?

That Soundcloud blurb is a bit misleading, it’s certainly inaccurate ☺

I wrote and recorded lots of stuff on my own in June-August 1989 in Northampton after buying a 4-track and a drum machine. I put together a 60 minute demo (10 songs) of the ‘best’ of these in September which I took with me when I started Nottingham Uni.  The first three songs on Soundcloud are on the tape, only the first two (‘Drifting In Your Heart’ and ‘Just Like This’) are from the original demo – happyhouse played these two at every gig. There is another song on this tape that isn’t on Soundcloud that the band regularly played – ‘Believe In You’.

++ Then in 1990 C. Griggs joined as a bassist. Was this already Happyhouse or not yet? The two of you record three tracks as far as I know influenced by The Wedding Present’s “Brassneck” EP. They were recorded in Northampton. Do you remember where? And how come you didn’t find a full band for these recordings?

Chris & I were uni mates, and he was a bass player.  There was no band to start with. New faster songs were written (along with a few more of my epics) and we recorded them over a week in March 1990 in Northampton.  Kris the drummer joined for some practises around this time, but we weren’t a band yet, hence just the two of us and the drum machine.

++ I also wonder about these demos. Were they released in some form? Maybe as demo tapes? And if so, did you use to sell them or to get gigs, or send to radio shows and fanzines? Or were they just recordings for yourselves?

The first tape from 1989 was a ‘this is what I do’ thing in the hope of interesting someone.  Later ones were mainly just for the rest of the band to learn the songs.  I never gave any away otherwise, they weren’t exactly great audio quality!

++ And are there more songs recorded by the band? Unreleased ones?

The band just had one go at recording as a whole, that was it.  We had no plans to send demos out at this point, really.

There were LOADS more songs that I recorded, though.  Chris would have appeared on a number of the later ones.

I lost ALL of my 4-track masters in a ‘heating accident’ in the late 1990s, so a lot of songs have been lost forever.   All that was left were 4 demo tapes I’d mixed.

++ My favourite song of yours is “You Know”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

It was inspired by the need for shorter, faster songs ☺  It was one of the clutch of songs written early in 1990 that Chris and recorded.  Very quickly!

++ If you were to choose your favorite Happyhouse song, which one would that be and why?

“Just Like This”.  I didn’t write that many bassline-driven songs, and this one seemed to work. Probably the first song I wrote that I was at least marginally happy with ☺

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

Nope ☺ We had a few cancellations and postponements along the way.  My diary says we had something planned as early as June 1990, but we never actually made it onto the stage until Feb 1991. We played 3 gigs in 4 weeks, had a break for exams (possibly), and played an all-day festival in June.  That was about it, I think!

++ And what were the best gigs that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

They were all good fun, as I remember.   It snowed a fair bit on the day of our debut gig, so we quite surprised to get a good audience.  We played one gig where our drummer had to run off (literally, I think!) to another bar and play a second gig with another band straight away.  Another, we were the only band left on the bill, we were a guitarist short, and we had to fill about 2 hours.  A few songs got their only live airing that night!

++ And were there any bad ones?

No, they were all good fun.

++ When and why did Happyhouse stop making music? Were any of you involved in any other projects afterwards?

The university calendar probably didn’t help – straight after out last gig, it was the summer vacation and we went our separate ways for a bit.  When we returned, I decided we should try to get a female vocalist.  There was one audition, it didn’t work out, and things basically fizzled out after that. I don’t think I even recorded any solo demos after 1991.

As mentioned before, Kris played in loads of bands, I think he worked as a session drummer, he certainly filled in as a touring drummer for a few bands who DID make records (Ludicrous Lollipops I remember, Midway Still perhaps? All a fog now).

Late in 1995, Chris & I formed a very short-lived band, Roobarb with a drummer who lived next door to us (Stuart Saunderson), for the sole purpose of playing a pub gig for someone’s birthday in January 1996. Practices were held, and we ended up playing a second ‘proper’ gig a few days later at the Filly & Firkin in the city (probably supporting Stuart’s main band, Figgis, at a guess).  No original stuff here!  The band had a definite end-date as I moved to Abingdon (Oxford) the following week for a new job.

Stuart later played with David Cronenberg’s Wife, who released lots of records ☺

Chris has also played in a few bands in the Manchester area from the 2010s.

++ Also after the band split you were a music photographer for an Oxford magazine. What magazine was that? What did the job consist of? And did you photograph big bands? indie bands?

Yes, Oxford was a bit of a change, there seemed to be music everywhere. I spent a year or so going to the ‘bigger’ indie gigs, much like I’d have done in Nottingham, and then gradually to more local band gigs, where I got to know some of the people involved in the music paper (Nightshift, still going – nightshiftmag.co.uk), the promoters and the bands.  If I could have been in this position in 1990, maybe happyhouse would have had a different life ☺  I didn’t fancy starting up or playing in a band, so I started taking photos of the gigs, and by early 1998 they started appearing in the paper (and also my own website). As this got me into gigs for free, I started going more and more, so at times there was hardly a night when I wasn’t covering something.  Not great for the day job!  I also went to London quite a bit, and got the odd photo in other papers and magazines (NME, Time Out).   That put me in touch with more indie labels – I took quite a few for Fortuna Pop! – Sean ‘paid’ me in records ☺  Also managed to get a photography credit on the Marine Research CD – photos were taken at a Candyskins gig!

As for photographing the ‘big’ bands, I generally managed to avoid them, either by accident or design.  I was at a tiny Coldplay gig with my camera in early 2000 in Oxford, had a quick look, decided against, and returned to the bar.  Well done me, they’d have been worth a few quid now.  I did cover Snow Patrol at around the same time, I suppose they were the ‘biggest’, and also the earlier incarnations of Foals.  But I focussed on the smaller indie bands/ local bands.  Prolapse were definitely the best!

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

Er, no ☺

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

The first gig was reviewed (with photo!) in the Nottingham Uni newspaper.  I was interviewed after our last gig by someone from the Sheffield Uni newspaper (at least think that’s what he said).

++ What about fanzines?

No.  We didn’t play enough, not at all in the city centre.  I don’t even remember any local fanzines – I’m sure they must have existed.  The Fat Tulips were around at the time in Nottingham, their Heaven Records label was running at the time, I bought quite a few of the singles they released.  I’ve still got FT tapes that I was given at the time, obviously not proper releases, so I must have known someone.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

The first gig, as it was a long time in the planning! (Here’s a clipping of a review of this first gig!)

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

At age 19, it was pretty much music, music, music and beer, although I was a very conscientious maths student too!

++ Never been to Musbury or Devon, but have been in Nottingham. So I want to ask you, as a local. What do you  suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Moving to Devon was well after the band’s existence, and I left Nottingham nearly 30 years ago, so I don’t think I’d be the best person to ask!

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

The above is all making a very small band who only played live over a 4 month period and only really existed for a year or so sound far more important than we actually were ☺

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Listen
Happyhouse – You Know

Thanks so much to Stuart McArthur for the interview! I wrote about the superb Scottish 80s band Moroccan Coco some time ago on the blog. As it sometimes happen, Stuart got in touch and, even better, he was keen to tell the story behind the band. Also it is worth noting that the band would became the very good Kick Reaction a few years later, and Stuart shares some details about that too. Moroccan Coco only released one single, “One Day”, but it is a great one, totally worth tracking down!

++ Hi Stuart! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

All good still involved with music and now recording a new album for release next year, a true homage to quality songwriting.been touring the world and releasing albums and singles since Kick Reaction and also toured with major artists.

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

Started playing guitar and accordion at 8 years of age then moved mainly to guitar and piano, then around 13 moved to bass guitar to which I started playing in garage bands punk was an inspiration especially The Clash, Talking Heads, Blondie.

++ Had you been in other bands before Moroccan Coco? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded?

I joined Moroccan Coco after Peter saw my earlier band Adventures in Motion he wanted the rhythm section to form Moroccan Coco.

++ Where were you from originally?

Originally from south Glasgow.

++ How was Glasgow at the time of Moroccan Coco? 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?

Good bands to note were Hipsway, The Big Dish and many others. Listen Records was in Renfield st Glasgow that’s where most vinyl was available.
At the start of Moroccan Coco we played in schools, prisons, even dinner parties, as we had a string quartet and trumpet, and percussion, we had a lot to take on the road. The break happened when we played in Covent Garden in 1983, from then on music press would follow us as the image and music was enigmatic.

++ Were there any other good bands in your area?

As said above, and the best Scottish band The Blue Nile, we recorded along side in the same studio when they were cutting a walk across the rooftops. Secondly The Associates more importantly Billy Mackenzie was a genius, a sad loss.

++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process?

How was the band put, we had Aztec Camera’s drummer playing for a while and hired a string and brass section, myself and Peter more or less managed the and chose who was best for the sound. Myself and Peter were intrinsically linked as a partnership.

++ Was there any lineup changes?

Only to session players. We changed drummers at the end before formation of Kick Reaction. Steve barker was a great addition, also did away with the string quartet.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

We used Glasgow based studios for pre-tour rehearsals, and had a warehouse we rehearsed for arrangements.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

Moroccan Coco was peters idea from far flung shores, and sounded semi glamorous, with Kick Reaction, me and Peter sat in my kitchen and he said kick and I said reaction!!!

++ You only released one 7″. But I am curious about the before. Did you record demos prior to the 7″? Were you familiar already with recording studios?

I had been recording demos from a very young age, Peter was also experienced, there are many demos out there from both Moroccan Coco and Kick Reaction, in those days we were going all around the country for major labels recording demos, with certain producers to see if it fitted, all pre-dates the release of YTT.

++ The “One Day” 7″ was released in 1983. The Sound of Young Scotland was still a thing then? How did Postcard Records influence or inspire you?

With one day it was recorded in a Railway Arch, the studios were a bit grim, we had to record at night, cost and train noise, I really liked Edwyn Collins and orange juice, as it was also a very fresh sound , and Alan Horn was doing a Phil Spector impersonation.

++ The 7″ was released by your own Steam Radio label. Wondering what’s the story behind the label name. I believe there was a song with the same name, right? Also why did you end up releasing it by yourself?

Back then it was a bit of do it yourself and build it and they will come, the opposite to the industry today, we saw the label as a vehicle, and also to gain more artistic control, as with all labels you do sacrifice your soul in the creativity, so it was mainly control, we had fanzines set up and it was distributed into all record shops and radio stations, we did a huge bill posters campaign, and this was especially effective in other cities in the UK.

++ My favourite song of yours is “One Day”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

“One Day” is just and everyday song about life and feeling good about life

++ If you were to choose your favorite Moroccan Coco song, which one would that be and why?

Probably “Friday Away from High Street”, it was the circumstances of how we cut the song late in downtown Edinburgh.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

Literally hundreds to thousands, which most bands from that period had to do.

++ And what were the best gigs in general that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

Robert cray used to ask for Kick Reaction when he came on tour in the UK, so we had a great respect and loved his music and band. The associates of course, Billy Mackenzie used to ask if we wanted champagne before we played! Kick Reaction were a formidable band musically, with some of the best musicians of that period, we played so much it became our badge of honour, there are many rock and roll stories but they generally stay on the road.

++ And were there any bad ones?

We stayed in Peter O’Tooles country house when recording “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, on Leamington Spa, and the house staff would let us row on the lake, which was outside Mr O’tooles house, so that was slightly off.

++ When and why did Moroccan Coco stop making music? Then you started Kick Reaction (who I hope we do an interview afterwards). Was that immediately or were there any other projects in between?

Moroccan Coco around November 1984 January 1985 saw Kick Reaction in many back to back rehearsals, in between we were writing and rehearsing.

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

All Scottish TV to start news channels FSD then when we were doing a capital radio session in London and a TV production company contacted us for Saturday night live with Ben Elton, we played stopping to speak, we were told that capital radio had over 5 million listeners that night tuned into Kick Reaction.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

We were in all major press NME inset page on our London arrival, Record Mirror front page, list magazine feature, Sunday Times magazine, we were called an intellectual rock band, we also featured in many local press Edinburgh Evening News, Glasgow Herald, London Evening Standard, we were even in The Face magazine.

++ What about fanzines?

Moroccan Coco were fanzine based and we’re in all local and U.K. fanzines at the time it was the main promotion route for bands.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

There is always a buzz and a point where you think this is it we are on our way, that would have been the interest at the time on 1985 in London where we sold out goldsmiths college and the borderline club, we were at a pinnacle and with the increased buzz and gigs we are selling out in London we believed we were nearly there.

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

I am interested in classic cars, however music is my lifeline, and I have been very fortunate in other business interests, but music is a completion of my life.

++ I’ve been to Glasgow a couple of times and really enjoyed it. But still I’d love to ask a local. What do you  suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Ok Glasgow had  a transformation in 1990-2000 and became , dare I say it cosmopolitan, Two Fat Ladies is a great restaurant, Lariosto is the best Italian, and also head for Merchant City where Cafe Gondolier is, and again very cultural place. Go to Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and the People’s Palace,

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Only that o am forging ahead with a new album, and an audio book is being produced with one of the songs, so I’m in a later in life creative buzz, and the album will feature many known artists, and 12 totally new songs with intricate arrangements, I have been recording in Air Studios and Abbey Road, and RAK studios which I prefer,  the album is called “The Metropolitan” and the music is under Wolf McArthur Wolf music(c). Speak soon.

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Listen
Moroccan Coco – One Day

Thanks so much to Craig Beck for the interview! I had written some time ago about this fantastic Newcastle, Australia, band on the blog and happily a week or so ago Craig got in touch! Now based in London, Craig was keen to tell me many details about the band, answering all the questions thoroughly! This is great, I love interviews like this! Also it seems he plans to release many of the demos and unreleased tracks by the band in the future, so keep an eye on Burning Winter for sure!

++ Hi Craig! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

Yes, I am and quite a lot and have for most of my life.

I currently own and run a publishing company called Audio Wallpaper LTD based in the UK where I’ve resided for the last 8 years. I came to the UK for a career sidestep from running Universal Production Music for Australia & New Zealand. I’ve been in Production music since being employed with BMG since 2004. My goal was always to start my own business and now successfully produce 4 libraries as well as manage another.

https://www.audiowallpaper.com/#/home

https://www.cratediggermusic.com/

I no longer play live and haven’t since moving to the UK, but I’ve been writing, recording and producing my own music since I was 16 but in the last 14 years have released music under my artist name of “SKYBABY SIREN” in which I do mostly everything with the help from some amazing singer songwriters. These days it’s mainly a hobby.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SM8CK5F7RR0Bm4IhZGS9W?si=_2KzmV-oRVmejwxaDgKnOw

Before this I was in the Anatomy Class, Etherland (Simon “Starling”), Luxury, Promenade.

To note LUXURY was a mix of some well-known artists who were in bands such as Glide, Scarlet, Jesus and Mary Chain and still write and perform. We had a modicum of success with this band that included a record and publishing deal but imploded around 2002.

https://open.spotify.com/album/11XHbyykgfQRwXOqgCfW6D?si=ABcemkaYTuuWpuESiBvrkA

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories?

For me music was always in my early life despite not having musical parents. They didn’t have a decent music collection and I was mainly subjected to artists such as ABBA, Meatloaf & Dire Straits but in saying that we always listened on Sunday nights to the radio show with Casey Kasem that was an American top 40 so I suppose that’s most likely one of the reasons as to why I have an eclectic taste in music and has helped greatly in my career. My Nanna once told me she noticed I’d be ear wormed quite regularly with tunes and my first was Glen Campbells “Rhinestone Cowboy”.

++ Do you remember what your first instrument was?

Apparently, I destroyed a toy drum set when I was quite young – 50 years later I can finally play the drums a little.

But my first official instrument was probably the bass – I made a mock instrument from some cardboard, a ruler and 4 rubber bands – no it didn’t make a sound but it was a start.

++ How did you learn to play it?

I moved onto the acoustic guitar when I hit high school. I had some lessons but hated it and then taught myself. I later moved onto Bass and now flip between the two but I think I’m a better rock Bassist and probably wouldn’t call myself a guitarist, but I manage to get sound out of it. I’m more into riffs and simple chords with loads of fx.

++ What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

Hmmm, pre-teen my taste was probably just mostly commercial and listened more to compilation tapes. My first artist obsession was Aha – I only found out recently that I live just down the road from where “Hunting High & Low” was recorded along with loads of other artists and albums that I grew up with. More on that later.

In my teenage years luckily, I had some friends with good taste guide me along but bands that stood out for me were The Cure, The Cult, The Church, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, Pink Floyd and then loads of Aussie Indie stuff like the Hoodoo Gurus, Oils, INXS and loads more – I was a music fanatic.

++ Had you been in other bands before Burning Winter? 

Yes, my first garage band and first gig was with a band called “The Lost Spirits” which then morphed into “The Violet Wake” to “The Wake”. My close friend and band member was Craig McGuiness who went onto to form “The Hanged Man” who was also later to be on “The My Beautiful Pigeonhole” compilation in which I had a part of recording it as well at 48Volts studio.

++ What about the other band members?

Blake Doyle – Drums – later played for “The Crying Suns”

++ Are there any songs recorded by these bands? 

There are no recordings of The Lost Spirits and there is a VHS live tape of The Wake performing at Newcastle University which from memory was a band comp and won by Rob Taylors “Sitting Ducks” who went on to be my mentor, sound engineer teacher and then later producer for Burning Winter and some of Luxury.

Rob Taylor credits – The Whitlams, Def Fx (Both of which I assisted recording on – more on this later) and many many more Aussie bands – to note he was also responsible for the association with Phantom Records which lead to The Corridor and My Beautiful Pigeonhole release.

** Not sure I’ll ever release that Wake stuff – the quality isn’t great, and I’d have to track down a VHS machine to transfer but I’m not sure it’s worth it.

++ Where were you from originally?

I was born in Eastwood Sydney and moved to Newcastle around 1975 – I still call myself a Novocastrian as it’s where I have lived the longest so far, but I’ve been told I can say I’m from England now 😉

++ How was Newcastle at the time of Burning Winter?

Newcastle had an amazing and flourishing indie music scene in the early 90s.

I went to many gigs, but Newcastle was also in this transition stage of once being a steel manufacturing city with the BHP along with it being a major port.

The earthquake in ‘89 I suppose you could say was partly responsible for the area getting a makeover given the magnitude of damage.

Personally, I loved growing up in Newcastle but knew that if I was to grow and get anywhere musically and career wise I’d have to leave.

++ Were there any bands that you liked?

There were loads of bands I liked from Newcastle around this era such as MeMeMe, Bugbears, The Long Knives, Golden Section and Einsteins Wireless.

But I also had a fascination with cover bands. Newcastle was the cover capital of Australia I reckon, and I went because I admired the way those musicians played their instruments so well. Yes, they couldn’t write music but it really helped me focus on making a band tight as well as other production values. I used to frequent a club where a band called “Young Guns” resided – from memory they played every week on a Tuesday or something and there weren’t that many people who went BUT they always played well no matter how many people were in front of them and that taught me a very valuable lesson.

++ Were there any good record stores?

OMG! Record stores were my life and very much miss them. I now occasionally get to Rough Trade in Notting Hill London (Home to The Smiths and The Sundays) and you can guarantee of walking out of there with something decent new.

There were 4 record stores I frequent nearly every day in the late 80s & 90s. Oscars was the main one for new vinyl along with another one on Hunter Street and then there was 2 second hand shops, one on Hunter street next to Muso’s Corner and the other was Cooks Hill books and records. Before leaving Oz, I reckon I had close to 1000 records which I sold the majority of because of my move abroad.

++ What about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

So many and I went to them all as well as played them.

Tatts, Cambridge, Lucky Country, The Workers, Newcastle Uni bar on the hill to name a few but as I said, so many and I loved them all – live music was also my life.

++ Were there any other good bands in your area?

Some bands were better than others, but they all had a certain style or quality about them – some wrote great songs but were poor performers, others were great players but the originals not as good.

One standout for me were “The Plants” – they had great originals, and the front man Chris was truly charismatic and a true rock star, they also played awesome covers from the likes of The Pixies, Bunnymen and a plethora or other great global indie artists. It’s truly a major shame their songs were not properly recorded as I still feel they could have been huge as they had the X factor much like Silverchair but way more credible.

++ How was the band put together?

Two of the members Darren Rowe and Phillapa Rees were originally from a band called “Moonscope” (Darren – Ex Hipslingers) and I think we were just at a pub watching them one night with Mark “Joel” Hetherington the drummer. I think Darren at the time was at a loose end with Moonscope and we all kinda bonded on various musical influences. Darren was actually playing bass at the time, and I believe he wanted to play guitar which turned out to be a blessing because I still feel to this day he is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever played with and an amazing songwriter.

++ How was the recruiting process?

So, no recruiting as such – I think I’d also finished up with a band at the time and was looking for like-minded folks and I’d switched from guitar to bass.

++ Was there any lineup changes? I believe the keyboardist Rachel Rose was replaced by Phillippa Rees?

So Phillipa came first – she played keys, flute and backing vocals – she just didn’t turn up to a gig one night and I think she’d just had enough of us boys.

Then came Rachel and jeebers that was so for the best – she more or less took over front person duties singing and playing guitar. Rach was a massive Pink Floyd fan and particularly Gilmour which was great cause so was Darren and eventually me. My son is even called Floyd.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

So, we mainly rehearsed on the top floor of a building on Hunter st in the city centre – I think it was an old bank. We shared this space with bands The Galore, maybe The Goddards and someone else (Soz, can’t remember). It was a great space for jamming and rehearsing and we’d even have underground parties/gigs there which were so much fun and super cool.

We’d usually jam out ideas and improvise but mostly someone would have an idea they’d written or recorded, and we transformed those into band tracks.

Because we had our own space, we also each had our own storage area along with the main performance area so we setup a make shift 4 track recording studio in it in which I we all took full advantage of. I was there almost 3-4 nights a week sometimes by myself honing my craft. I still have all the tapes from those sessions and released an anthology a couple of years back under the SKYBABY SIREN monicker called “Never seen the light of day” – Weirdly some of those tracks get a lot of streams and I’m not sure who it is but it kinda freaks me out someone actually digs those tunes.

If it wasn’t for that studio space I wouldn’t have become better at song writing and production which had then pushed me into being a sound engineer but I really liked the idea of doing everything myself and I’m still pretty much the same these days – it’s not that I’m a control freak it’s just that I really do enjoy every facet of the recording & mixing process as well as making cover art and doing promo videos.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

Sigh  – I can vaguely recollect us being at Darren’s place coming up with names and I’m not gonna claim this although I sort of remember coming up with either Winter or Burning. I pushed for “Silk Overdrive” but that was quickly rejected.

Surprisingly there is no a Burning Winter on Spotify – Part of the reason of that name was the fact we thought there was no way in the world someone would think of that name or put those 2 words together but oh how wrong we were.

I remember a little rivalry between The Galore and the BW’s and they used to refer to us as Burning Sphincter.

++ Are there more songs recorded by the band? Unreleased ones?

As I mentioned there are loads of tracks, all ranging from average to great. Some we’d recorded live on a 4 track just to get them down so we could see whether they were worth properly recording. I suppose you could have called it pre-production. Then there are 11 great tracks I recorded and mixed in a couple of studios in Sydney I was working at at the time. These will make up the official unreleased Burning Winter album yet to be titled.

There were about 6 tracks in demo stage we’d done under the band name Doradus which we had recorded but I’ve seemed to have misplaced the DAT masters which is a shame as I remember these being really good ☹

++ My favourite song of yours is “Lap of the Land”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

This track was written by Darren so I don’t know what it’s about, but I loved Darren’s lyrics, but Rachels were also amazing if not better.

++ If you were to choose your favorite Burning Winter song, which one would that be and why?

“Splinter” – for some reason it really makes me sad when I hear it but yet elated. It’s quite an epic piece and I think at the time we were quite into a UK band called All About Eve and particularly the “Touched By Jesus” album in which Marty Willson-Piper from the Church co-wrote and played guitar on. It’s still one of my favourite records.

Splinter:

Splinter in your finger, throbbing with the pain

Swelling with the poison, venom in your vains

Splinter in your heart just, underneath the skin

A sliver of a secret that makes the cracks begin

You pick me up and you throw me down

You smashed me into atoms scatter me around

You chop me up like firewood for winter

When you look for me, all you found were splinters

In your memory, run for me in fright

Chase the demons back out into, the dark and godless night

Splinter in your spirit and Splinter in your soul

A careless little splinter leaves a careless little hole

You pick me up and you throw me down

You smashed me into atoms scatter me around

You chop me up like firewood for winter

When you look for me, all you found were splinters

Splinter in your spirit and Splinter in your soul

A careless little splinter leaves a careless little hole

You pick me up and you throw me down

You smashed me into atoms scatter me around

You chop me up like firewood for winter

When you look for me, all you found were splinters

You cut me up like firewood in winter

When you look for me, all that’s left were splinters

I’ve also cut a promo video and it’s now a pre-release album single.

https://youtu.be/Xjqx5aFEN7Q?si=GtLnMruL-Sn5QsjB

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

We played so many shows and at one stage had a monthly residency for almost a year a club in the city which will filled every time. We played little small room intimate shows to rooms with thousands. Rob and Dave did our sound live and we had our own PA so the mix and lightshow was consistently good, something we worked hard on and particularly being tight.

++ And what were the best gigs that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

We did a Newcastle Uni orientation day that was quite a good show along with a few big ones supporting some popular artists. I remember one show almost commanding the audience as I started jumping up and down and so did the crowd. We did enjoy the more smaller intimate shows particularly at the Cooks Hill Hotel – it was tiny and so was the stage.

++ And were there any bad ones?

I think the only bad one I remember is when Phillipa left and didn’t show up but if it hadn’t been for that Rachel would never been part of our lives.

++ When and why did Burning Winter stop making music?

I think we imploded around 1996 – we all moved to Sydney from Newcastle to really try and make it. Darren, Rach and I lived together for a while and then they moved back to Newcastle. I stayed and tried to make in work between 2 cities. I remember the day they phoned me and more or less fired me, I was heartbroken after everything we’d been through and the lame reason they gave was because I was too loud.

++ Were any of you involved in any other projects afterwards? I read about Skybaby Siren?

I had a break for a bit after the BW’s as they really hurt me. I then went onto forming Promenade which broke after our lead singer committed suicide. That band then morphed into Luxury then that broke up in 2003. I then moved to Melbourne joined a band called Etherland with whom the singer songwriter I collaborated with for my first solo project under the banner of Skybaby Siren which has been my music hobby now for quite some time. It did start off as a band, but it didn’t work out, so I kept the name and continued writing and releasing music under that pseudonym.

I get mainly people streaming from Apple music and Youtube, Spotify seems to be a bit more lower in traffic but I have quite a decent sized catalogue out now.

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

We got a little radio airplay mainly because a friend of mine was a DJ at a local radio station.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

We always made sure to promote our gigs and other things in local and Sydney papers – we did some interviews, did some photo shoots but nothing that really help expose us to a larger fan base.

++ What about fanzines?

Not that I can remember no.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

For me I suppose doing all the studio recordings – we always had so much fun recording, and we were like a family and super close but like with a lot of bands we sadly grew apart.

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

These days the only thing that gives me comfort is cooking – I’ve been a cook since childhood and grew up in pubs and worked in many restaurants, it’s the only thing that isn’t stressful and is more meditative and comes easily. Doing music I’ve always found I have to work hard at.

++ I’ve never been to Newcastle nor Australia so I’d love to ask a local. What do you  suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

You’d need a month or more if you were going to see Australia properly and if you’re venturing all that way from the other side of the globe, I’d suggest also seeing New Zealand and also Tasmania, one of Australia’s best kept secrets.

Do Sydney and Melbourne and perhaps go to the Blue Mountains – I lived there for a while and is still one of my favourite places in the world that also includes Austria and Southern Germany, mainly Bavaria and Swabia.

Being now based in the UK I miss a good meat pie along with all the yummy fresh produce and restaurants and food Australia has to offer.

I haven’t been back since I left 8 years ago but I’m sure it hasn’t changed that much – if you’re a wine drinker then there are many areas that produce great vino – Hunter Valley, Bendigo and Heathcote VIC, Coonawarra and Margeret River along with Mornington Peninsula plus Tassie does great Rieslings.

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d just like to say thanks for your interest and support for my band and including it in your blog and I hope you enjoy the forthcoming albums. I had fun sitting down and compiling this over a couple of days, it can be nice reminiscing about the old days.

Cheers

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Listen
Burning Winter – Lap of the Land

Thanks so much to Patrick William Woodward for the interview! Billycart was a terrific but short-lived Australian band from the late 90s. Their recorded output is small, just a few songs, some of them that appeared on the “Clippings” compilation on Candle Records. One of its members, Kellie Sutherland, would later be in Architecture of Helsinki, which probably all of you know.
I wrote about them some weeks ago, and it was great to hear from Patrick and even better that he was up to fill in the blanks, answer all the questions I had!

++ Hi Patrick! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? You were telling me you are not involved with music anymore? Why is that?

Hey thank you for having me!! I am very well, living my fullest life through a cold winter here in the Southern part of NSW in Australia. Music has taken a back seat to life as a father… for now!!

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

My first instrument was a guitar, well my sisters! I was playing it upside down but hey! She taught me the correct way in time. I listened to a lot of Australian rock/pop… Midnight Oil, INXS, Kids in the Kitchen etc

++ Had you been in other bands before Byllycart? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded by these bands?

Billycart was my first venture into music with my mate Kellie Sutherland. Kellie is a great friend and a very talented musician who went onto create some amazing music.

++ Where were you from originally?

I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney about 1 hour from the city, which felt like a lifetime away as a kid!

++ How was Sydney at the time of Billycart? 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?

Sydney in the 90’s had a vibrant music scene, on any given night you could see an amazing band! The Annandale hotel and the Sandringham hotel were my favs.. never still exist unfortunately. Billycart were lucky at the time to play these venues with some of our personally favourite bands such as The Simpletons and The Lucksmiths! The city was the place to see music.. my town of Penrith provided quality cover bands!! Not to my liking

++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process?

Kellie and I meet at a music festival in Byron Bay northern NSW.. We hung out then lived together and started creating music together. Was mainly just Kel and I. We had a few friends such as Ryan James and Darren Hanlon play at times!

++ Was there any lineup changes?

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

We wrote most songs together, sharing lyric duties… i often came up with tunes then we would write lyrics to suit!

++ What about influences? I read that Kellie was a big fan of the Portland band Kissing Book for example. What about you?

I loved the Go-Betweens big fan!! Crowded House, Midnight Oil.. then were and still are today favourites!

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

Billycart the name… well at first we were called Cul de sac as in dead end street… no future there we thought! Then we settled on Billycart.

++ So I know the band through the songs that appeared on the “Clippings” compilation on Candle Records. How did your songs end up on this compilation? Were you familiar with this label? Had a good relationship?

So we arrived on the clippings compilation via Chris Crouch who Kellie and I lived with! We were such great house mates he felt it was only fair that we appear!

++ The obvious question is, why didn’t you get to release any records with them afterwards? Was there any interest from them or yourselves to do so?

I guess i feel out of love with music for a while.. Kellie moved to Melbourne and greener musical pastures and i stopped playing for a bit.. i found playing gigs pretty stressful and not really my cup of tea. Till a few years down the track and started another band called Aer Cadets.

++ And what about other labels? Did anyone knock your door to release your songs?

I never really took it seriously so i guess i never pursued labels or anyone releasing song.. never too late i guess!!

++ I ask these questions as the two songs on the compilation are great and it surprises me the band didn’t get to release a proper record. Strange to say the least! But do tell me a little more about these songs. Were they perhaps part of a demo with even more songs?

The two songs we recorded were just for the compilation, prior we recorded 8 songs i think which was released on cassette by us!! Darren Hanlon also played with us on that!

++ I read they were recorded by Angus Kinston. He was a regular in Candle compilations, recordings. How was that experience?

Angus Kinston was a great engineer and fun to work with as he was a friend! He recorded the cassette we realised as well!

++ The song “Cherish” had the help from Darren Hanlon and Ryan James from The Simpletones. What was your relationship with them? And what did they add to this great tune?

Cherish ( not the Madonna one ) was fun as Kellie and I only really played live as a two piece.. Ryan played drums and Darren guitar which made us sound and feel like pro’s!!

++ Going back to that compilation,”Clippings”, there are many bands I am unfamiliar with. Were you familiar with many of them? Knew them? Played with them?

Most of the bands on the clippings compilation were friends with each other which was amazing.. all would play together, some toured together.. Kellie was also in a band which appeared on the album, Falcon 500!

++ Are there more songs recorded by the band? Unreleased ones?

No further songs were ever recorded other than the tape and the clippings compilation.

++ My favourite song of yours is “Cherish”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

I guess cherish was a bit of a love song.. not necessarily about me but just others i observed in my 20’s.. such a time when one is learning so much… to do with love

++ If you were to choose your favorite Billycart song, which one would that be and why?

We had a song called “Bingo”.. it was about playing bingo!! It was a favourite of mine!

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

Billycart played a fair bit in Sydney and Melbourne.. loved playing at the punters club in Melbourne.

++ When and why did Billycart stop making music?I had read that Kellie ended up moving to Melbourne to be part of Architecture in Helsinki, was this the reason the band stopped, or had it already stopped by then?

Kellie moved to Melbourne and we still played occasionally down there.. we played with AIH in Melbourne at this old warehouse, think it was the first gig they played. Bunch of other bands played too. It was a memorable gig. I just didn’t appreciate how good to play shows like this was at the time. Kellie remained in Melbourne playing with AIH and I returned back to Sydney. We now ironically live pretty close to each other in Regional Australia. She has two kids and I do as well. Similar ages. We all hang out still!! I formed a band back in Sydney called the Aer cadets, again never to it to serious but enjoyed played with different people and new songs!

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

I believe Cherish got played on radio in Taiwan of all places! We received a royalty check from a radio station one year which was crazy.. should have cashed in and toured in Taiwan

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

We had a few street press reviews of our tape which were all positive! Nothing major but nice words were written.

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

I think to say we played with such a great band such as AIH in the early days for them was a tremendous privilege and hi light for Kellie and I.

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have? Newcastle United fans?

Having a young family is my hobby these days, well takes up most of my time.. which is fun.. i do still tinker with the guitar and hope to play again someday.. I love aeroplanes and all things aviation which one of my sons now does too! We have a radio scanner so we can hear planes coming into our local airport, if it’s something of interest you can assured we will be first out there to see it…

++ I’ve never been to Sydney so I’d love to ask a local. What do you  suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Sydney was a great city to live in.. we got out around 15 years ago and now live 6 hours away!! Nice to visit and take our kids to but we don’t miss it!! Its such a picturesque city.. the harbour is beautiful.. you can just catch a ferry and cruise around all day taking it all in.. never appreciated that when i lived there.. worth a visit one day for you!!

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Listen
Billycart – Cherish

Thanks so much to Martin Hall and Rob Snape for the interview! I wrote a long time ago about this great sounding Leicester band on the blog. If you check that link, and the comments section, you’ll notice already a lot of good information they both had shared with me about the band. But of course I wanted to learn more. So I asked for an interview and they were happy to share their answers with me.

So join me and learn more about this great band that only got to release one 7″ back in 1988, but who knew how to craft some pretty good songs!

++ Hi Martin! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?

Very well thank you, glad that Cloudberry records has discovered The Countinghouse! I was in a band after The Countinghouse called ‘Stax of Soul’, a fantastic group of people who covered soul classics!

++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what your first instrument was? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen to at home while growing up?

It’s always been the drums for me and Rob Snape who is co-writing this with me had a guitar in the teenage years…Nothing musically compared to when Punk came out in the UK in 1976! The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, The Buzzcocks I could go on…!

++ Had you been in other bands before The Countinghouse? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded?

Me and Rob met in 1982 and formed a band called Raw Material, but then we split (personality differences!) and we formed The Inquiry which changed its name to The Countinghouse.

++ Where were you from originally?

I’m Leicester born and bred but Rob is from Stoke-on-Trent (The Potteries!)

++ How was Leicester at the time of The Countinghouse? 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?

The 80’s in the Uk were rather depressing, society was divided politically and socially. We liked fellow bands like Diesel Park West. No independent record store that I can remember. Local superb venues were The Princess Charlotte (every up and coming band in the UK, eg: Oasis, played there). We had a residency at O’Jays, a small and intimate venue.

++ Were there any other good bands in your area?

Diesel Park West was the biggest… Skaboom were good too.

++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process?

Rob put an advert in The Leicester Mercury (local paper) and we met in a pub called The Barley Mow in Leicester city centre. We’ve been friends ever since….

++ Was there any lineup changes?

Yes lots, me and Rob were the mainstays as well as lead singer Ian Welsh. Nick Anstey on bass wrote ‘Walking By’ (Lie to Me EP) and he was replaced by Scott Sibson. We had various trumpet and sax players as we tried to create a fresh sound of jangly guitars and brass (similar to The June Brides?)

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

Rob or Ian would bring songs in and we’d arrange them together. We Rehearsed at Archway Studios.

++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?

See Rob’s comments in your blog on The Countinghouse: “We sang about everyday life and ordinary people and how UK society was divided socially and politicians were obsessed with saving money in the 1980’s by cutting services (hence the name the Countinghouse).”

++ You released a 7″ in 1988 on Clear Cut Records. My first question is about this label. Was it your own? What can you tell me about it?

It wasn’t our label but we signed because it was independent, a new start up and rather amateur. But we needed a break!

++ How difficult was it to put out this 7″? How many copies were made?

500 were pressed and we had a distribution deal with Probe Plus nationally and internationally (you can still see the single for sale in Holland today and I bought one from Australia a few years back!)

++ Before recording this record, had the band had experience recording? Did you make any demo tapes perhaps?

Yes we made several demos with the same producer (Rick Wilson).

++ For the 7″, did you work with a producer? Where was it recorded?

Can’t remember where but it was Rick Wilson from the band Diesel Park West.

++ My favourite song of yours is “Streets Where You Live”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?

It was about the fact that politics isn’t really about politicians, it’s about us, me and you, it’s all around us and it’s on the street where you live (although Rob stole the title from Nat Cole, which is rather cool I think!)

++ If you were to choose your favorite The Countinghouse song, which one would that be and why?

We love the optimism of Pack Your Bags! And the sentiments and meaning (and trumpet line!) of Closer. On the Street Where You Live is a beauty, but the two songs that used to get everyone dancing and uplifted were I Wish I was There and Within These Four Walls.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many?

We played locally and nationally. We once supported the great Joe Strummer (of The Clash!) in Nottingham and Billy Bragg’s trumpet player Dave Woodhead played trumpet (and wrote the trumpet lines) on Pack Your Bags and Closer. His solo on Levi Stubbs’ tears is a jewel!

++ And what were the best gigs in general that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

University gigs were good. And O’Jays in Leicester. And supporting Joe Strummer at Nottingham Rock City. And we played venues in Covent Garden, St Pancras and Hammersmith in London.

++ And were there any bad ones?

Lots of bad ones! Some people prefer to chat when they go out and bands are a distraction and they won’t give you a chance or recognise potential.

++ When and why did The Countinghouse stop making music? Were any of you involved in any other projects afterwards?

I was in Stax of Soul for many years. We finished because we got dropped by the label (who just packed it in), but  i really wish we’d have kept going because just a few years later ‘Britpop’ happened (Oasis, Blur) and we’d have been in the frame there we reckon!

++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?

Yes were were on local radio and BBC daytime TV did a piece on us when we were promoting the single, as did UK Midlands news but it was low level really.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

No nothing apart from local press

++ What about fanzines?

Yes, fanzines were kind to us, decent people who run fanzines and want bands to progress: there was a Walthamstow (London) fanzine that loved us and asked lots of questions in interviews (as you are doing here).

++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?

Sports such as English football, socialising with friends, travelling to different parts of the world to see that we are all still ‘Closer than it seems’!

++ I’ve never been to Leicester so I’d love to ask a local. What do you  suggest checking out in your town, like what are the sights one shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?

Leicester is a lively and friendly and multicultural city. I recommend the Diwali lights and the fantastic Asian food here!

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

Just to say thank you for your interest in The Countinghouse and our music. Please could you post a review of our songs on your excellent Cloudberry Cake blog? We would be genuinely interested in your opinions and feelings about our songs. It was an all-consuming and heartfelt and passionate project for us for many years and it would be good to keep our legacy alive!

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Listen
The Countinghouse – Streets Where You Live