Thanks so much to Paul ‘Baz’ Higgins for the interview! I wrote about the Leeds band Collapsible Deckchairs some time ago hoping to learn more details about them. I own the “William Shakespeare” 7″ and I think it is fantastic. So yeah, only natural to want to know more as there is barely any good info on the web about them. A few days ago Baz got in touch and was keen on doing this interview. I was thrilled. So yeah, I asked a ton of questions, and here are his answers!
++ Hi Baz! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still involved with music?
I’m not in a band any more. The last band I played in was “Bugwriter” back in the late 1990s. This was another band based in Leeds and played at similar venues to the Deckchairs. The biggest gig I did with Bugwriter was playing the “Breeze” festival in 1998 – this was at Temple Newsam which is a stately home on the outskirts of Leeds. We were second on the bill after Runston Parva (who later renamed as the Kaiser Chiefs and have had several hits in the UK – not sure if they are known in the US). Fellow Bugwriter band members were James Thorn (Guitar/vocals), Jon Gaskell (Keyboards/vocals) and Gary Green (Drums). Sadly, Bugwriter didn’t release any records. The musical baton has been passed to my son who is a music producer.
++ 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?
I have 3 older brothers and so I grew up listening to Beatles (which was my two elder brothers’ favourites), but in 1976 got into punk (Buzzcocks, Pistols, Stranglers, etc) I was fortunate that quite a few bands visited Leeds so I managed to see Buzzcocks, Undertones, Ramones, Ian Dury & Blockheads, Boomtown Rats, Devo, Stranglers and Police in late 70s/early 80s
++ Had you been in other bands before Collapsible Deckchairs? What about the other band members? Are there any songs recorded?
Collapsible Deckchairs was my first band. Paddy Morrison and I started playing guitars together when we were about 15 or 16. We recruited Simon Masters (who we simply called “Masters”) on drums about a year later – he was 3 years younger than us. We did our first gigs when I was 17. In hindsight I’m surprised that pubs let us play, as Masters was only about 14…we only played gigs for about a year (1981 to 1982). We were probably most inspired by the Undertones – uptempo short songs, and not at all serious. In October 1982 I left Leeds for Sheffield University. However in 1984 me and Paddy decided to get back together to record the single (both songs on the single were regulars in our gigging days)
++ Where were you from originally?
Leeds
++ How was Leeds at the time of Collapsible Deckchairs? 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?
There were a few bands at my high school. My brother Matt played drums in The Mess, together with Phil Mayne and Choque Hussein. Choque worked in Jumbo records which was the best independent record shop in Leeds at the time. Later, Choque formed “Black Star Liner”. My friend Luke Blumler played in The Gimmicks, and then went on to play in Mama Scuba. In the early 90s I briefly played in a band with him called “Kirk Out” He was a great drummer, and passed his musical abilities to his son Harvey, who is now in a EDM duo called Prospa. You can find them on Youtube/Spotify.
++ Were there any other good bands in your area?
One of the bands that played at some of the same venues as us in the early 80s was “Verba Verba”. We were a bit in awe of them as they were brilliant musicians and had fantastic songs. I’m surprised they never made it big.
++ How was the band put together? How was the recruiting process?
Me and Paddy were best mates at school from the age of about 9. We just started playing guitars together when we about 14 or 15. In 1980 we were looking for a drummer and we saw Masters playing in a band at a high school gig. The band were awful but he was great, so the next day at school I found him in the playground and asked him to join us, which he did.
++ Was there any lineup changes?
No
++ What instruments did each of you play in the band?
Masters played drums.
Paddy played guitar and sang and I played bass and sang, but for a few songs me and Paddy switched bass and guitar.
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
Initially we practiced at Paddy’s home, but later we practiced in a local Church Hall.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
I genuinely can’t remember how we alighted on the name. I think we were just looking for something quirky.
++ From what I understand the label that released the only 7″ by Collapsible Deckchairs, the Mordent label, was yours. Wondering then what came first, the band or the label? And how was running the label? What was the best part of it and what was the worst?
When me and Paddy decided to release “William Shakespeare” we just thought up a label name. The “label” was really just us two. We arranged to get the record pressed and designed the sleeve. We only pressed 1,000 copies and it was mainly to sell to mates and at gigs. I expect about 500 remained unsold. I have no idea how it got a review in Spin magazine in 1985… Later, when I wanted to release “Bingo” and “Love is Blind” it made sense to use the same label name.
++ On this label you also released two more singles as far as I know, a solo record of yours, Baz Higgins, and another by the band A to Z + the Girl Guides. I have never heard these records. Sound-wise, were they close to the Collapsible Deckchairs or how would you describe them?
Bingo was a song I wrote that the Deckchairs used to play at gigs. I just fancied recording it, and decided to release it – its probably best described as a fast novelty song. Don’t think there’s any evidence of it on the internet other than a contemporary review – https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/85/Record-Mirror-1985-02-02.pdf.
A to Z was a two-piece band (me and Jazz Matharu). The backing group/dancers were called “the Girl Guides”. Jazz was another schoolmate who I wrote some songs with, and we ended up recording “Love is Blind” and “Alison” and releasing it as a double A side. We got Paddy Hogan to sing both songs because he was a better singer than Jazz. A to Z was cheesy 80s pop… You can find a very grainy film of Love is Blind on youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-5QVwVwQX0
++ And there were no other releases on Mordent, is that right?
Correct!
++ Back to Collapsible Deckchairs, were the recordings on the 7″ the first the band had made? Or had you already been releasing demo tapes like many bands at the time?
We did a couple of demo tapes in 1981/2 at a small studio in Bradford – sadly I don’t think they exist anymore – we did a total of seven songs, all gleaned from our gig songlist. Song titles were: “Miriam”, “Fat”, “Dog Dead”, “Do the Deck”, “John’s Radio”, “Bali Hai” and “Tony Kell”
We also recorded three songs at a friend’s house (Mick Hayes) in 1982. Mick had a 4-track tape recorder. The songs we did there were all a capella, with the only accompaniment being a Casio VL-Tone (this was a pocket-synth from the era that doubled as a calculator – very strange). The songs we did were called “Smoking” “How to be successful in your job” and “I Met Her in a Pub”. We performed these 3 songs at gigs as a bit of a novelty.
++ The B side of the 7″ is “Ford Cortina”. I do wonder why dedicate a song to a car. Perhaps any of you owned this particular model?
Paddy wrote the lyrics to this one, so you’d have to ask him! The song isn’t really about a Ford Cortina, it’s just random thoughts…(“ Money comes and money goes, counting out your pennies on your fingers and toes, I walk round all day in the deepest slumber, and people have lived in houses for as long as I can remember”…) Paddy was always very creative with words and came up with some great lines. I think one night him and Masters were walking home from a pub and Masters was banging on about high-performance sports cars which Paddy found incredibly boring – hence the line… “When we we walk home under the stars, all you can talk about is custom cars, But that only makes me feel meaner – how’s about a brand new Ford Cortina”
++ On the 7″ you worked with Stuart Skinner who also produced The Darling Buds. Wondering how was the experience of working with him, what did he add to the band’s sound?
Stuart ran Vibrasound recording studio in Sheffield. I discovered the studio when we were looking for places to record the single. Stuart did the backwards drumming in the middle of “Shakespeare”. He was a great drummer and a great guy, who had been in “Mari Wilson and the Wilsations” who had a few minor hits in the UK in the early 80s. All the instrumentation on the single (apart from the backwards drumming) was done by me and Paddy. Stuart was also good enough to drive me and Paddy down to London when we went to get the record cut, at Porky’s which I think was somewhere in Soho. I got another friend called Paddy Hogan to sing on Shakespeare because he was a much better singer than me, although I did the talking bit in the middle. Paddy Hogan also sang on the A to Z single.
++ On the 7″ there were some guest musicians as well like Paul Stinchcombe on bass and Oonagh Stephenson on violin. Were they friends of yours? Were they in bands?
Paul and Oonagh were music students at Sheffield University. Although I played sax, I wasn’t great at it, and Paul was much better so we roped him in. I wanted some live violins on the single so we got Oonagh for that. Paddy played a bit of violin, but again, not as good as Oonagh so we used her for the record.
++ The record is so good that I do wonder how come there were no other releases by the band? No compilation appearances either?
Very kind of you to say so. We did consider a follow up release but by 1985 I was finishing uni, Paddy was busy working, and Masters was in another band called “Paris in the Fall”. We’d all just gone our separate ways – as you do in life at that age.. I ran a small recording studio in Leeds for a couple of years between 1986 and 1988 and Masters’ band came in to record some tracks there.
++ Are there still unreleased songs by Collapsible Deckchairs?
Only the rough demo recordings mentioned above.
++ My favourite song of yours is “William Shakespeare”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
I think it was a result of doing English “O levels” when I was 15/16 and we had to study Shakespeare and I was bored stiff.
++ If you were to choose your favorite Collapsible Deckchairs’s song, which one would that be and why?
We had a song called “Dog Dead”. Paddy wrote the lyrics and they were surreal. As I recall the first verse was “Got to get – Shot the pet – Undertaker came and saw. Goggle eyed, dropped his jaw, said he could do no job. Red he blushed – big slob, three-piece pinstripe, collar snow. Big black car, shiny wheels. Sorry business, got to go”. That was probably my favourite. However, the most popular song at our gigs was “Miriam”
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
We probably only did gigs for about 12 months from June 1981 to July 1982. Not sure how many in total, but maybe 20.
++ And what were the best gigs in general that you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
The Pack Horse in Leeds was a favourite because it was very small and intimate. In terms of anecdotes – Masters’ powers of recuperation were legendary – we were supporting the Red Guitars in Hull in 1982 and 5 minutes before we were due on stage he was unconscious under a table having downed a few pints of cider (he was only 15 at the time). Somehow, he raised himself and played faultlessly for 40 minutes before crawling back under the table.
Red Guitars were an indie band who had a few minor hits in the UK – my brother Matt played drums for them. They recently did a reunion tour in the UK, and they re-released their song “Good Technology” – you can find it on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c7vhY2-PFE
++ And were there any bad ones?
Probably, but I don’t remember (or choose not to!).
++ When and why did Collapsible Deckchairs stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?
After Collapsible Deckchairs I played with A to Z (see above). At Sheffield Uni I formed “Sax Maniacs” who did a few gigs at Uni venues. I also played bass in “Gatecrashers” which was a big band (Glenn Miller-style). Later on I played in Bugwriter (see above).
++ Was there any interest from the radio? TV?
No!
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention? I did notice that Spin in the U.S. reviewed your single, do you know how that came to be?
No idea how Spin got hold of it. We didn’t do any marketing at all We weren’t business-minded – we just wanted to make music.
++ What about fanzines?
Possibly but I don’t recall
++ Looking back in retrospect, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
Playing live was always the biggest enjoyment.
++ Never been to Leeds so I want 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?
Leeds is a fairly big town in Yorkshire, Northern England. Its not very historic, so not many great sights although Royal Armouries museum is worth visiting and the Town Hall and the Corn Exchange are good examples of Victorian architecture. There is great countryside nearby in the Yorkshire Dales. There is a fairly large Indian/Pakistani population so you can get very good curries. In pubs there are the usual traditional English beers.
++ Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for getting in touch – all these events are from 40 years ago so my memory is sketchy. I’m a bit amazed that anyone still listens to the single, but delighted that they do. I have lost touch with Paddy Morrison and Masters over the years, but I will try and contact them to see if they have any other memories.
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