Last September I wrote about the great mod/powerpop band The B-Team! And just last week Paul Rosendale from the band got in touch with me! And even faster I sent the questions for the interview today, and he replied also today! Exciting! So without further ado, it is time to learn more about this terrific band that left just a few songs but how good are these songs, right?!
++ Hi Paul! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still making music?
Hi Roque, I’m good thanks, I no longer play live (last live gig was in 2011) but would be up for it if I knew of a band that required a bass player and who wanted to recreate the authentic late 70s early 80s Mod/Powerpop sound. Still making music though, I currently produce music as backing for video productions.
++ Let’s go back in time. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
My very first Music memory was Queens performance of Bohemian Rhapsody on TV. I was 9 years old at the time and music hadnt been a big part of my life before that, but I was blown away by something I had never heard the likes of before.
My first Instrument was in 1976, an old battered Columbus Bass Guitar in burgundy red.
Later on in 1981, I purchased a 1974 Gibson Grabber bass with sliding pickup. This was the instrument I played during my time in The B-Team.
I am totally self taught, I would play along by ear mainly to songs by The Jam or Dr Feelgood. Bruce Foxton being a big influence and John Entwistle an idol.
What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
After hearing Queen I started to explore music more, and through my parents records I picked up on Dr Feelgood —my dad had their first two albums, ‘Down by the Jetty’ and ‘Malpractice’ and R&B Blues became my first love. I started to listen to The Who, The Spencer Davis Group and a lot of 60s R&B. Then punk came along in 1976 —I loved the energy of punk but never got truly into it as I wanted more melody in the music I listened to. Then along came The Jam and thats when it all changed for me.
++ Had you been in other bands before The B-Team? Are there any recordings?
Yes. I formed a band with my cousin Mark. He had been playing in a band called The Gliders with Steve Moran (of Long Tall Shorty/The Rage). When the Gliders split, Steve joined LTS and I joined up with Mark and we formed a band called ‘Annex’ —It was all synthesizers with me on bass guitar —very OMD and not my thing really.
Annex were of the time really, early 80s sounding, very like Ochestral Manouvres in the Dark or Depeche Mode.
There was a Demo EP made with four tracks.
‘Looking at You’ – ‘Starshot’ –
‘Turn out the Lights’ – ‘Souvenir’
but I havent seen one for about 30 years.
++ Where were you from originally?
I was born in Edgware, Middlesex and lived in Enfield from 1970. All the members of The B-Team were from the Enfield area in Middlesex just outside London.
++ How was your town at the time of The B-Team? 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 was a good little independent record shop called Backtrack Records who stocked all the vintage stuff and collectables, spent many a day in there. As for venues the best was The Fox Hotel. Steve Marriott (Small Faces), Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood), Geno Washington all featured as well as local bands such as The B-Team, The Way Out and XL.
++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?
The B-Team were already going strong when I joined. I was playing for Annex and we had a support spot at a B-Team gig in Enfield, a week or so later I heard the B-Team were playing locally, I had enjoyed their sound, so I decided to see them again. To my surprise, when they took to the stage it was as a three piece with no bass player. I learned from a friend that Tony Vesey had left to form another band, so I approached Kelvin after the gig asking if they were looking for a bass player.
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
Kelvin wrote all of the lyrics and we would just jam around the chord progressions he came up with, inputting our own ideas for each instrument until the songs just came together. Most of our rehearsals were done in The Haringey Centre near Tottenham in North London.
++ What’s the story behind the band’s name?
It was decided before I joined, but from how I heard it, it was a play on the word ‘Beat’
—The B-Team sounds like ‘The Beat Team”
++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?
We were all influenced by The Jam, however, other influences that crept into the sound came from 60s soul, Powerpop, Elvis Costello and Squeeze.
++ As far as I know you only released one 7″ back in 1985. I was wondering before this 7″, had you been recording already? Or was this the first time you were going to a proper studio?
Tony Vesey was the Bass player for the recording of All I Ever Wanted/Bad Day. I dont know if it was the first time for them at the time.
I had been in the Studio before, recording for Annex in 1982.
++ And how was the experience of recording at Empire Studio in Manor Park? Who produced it?
Again, that would be a question for those that were there. Tony recorded the bass but left the band before the single release, so I only ever played those songs live.
++ The “All I Ever Wanted” 7″ was released by the Diamond Record Corporation. Who were they and how did you end up working with them? Was it a good relationship?
They were an independent record label in London in the Mid 1980s. Mainly specialising in The Mod Revival happening in the UK at the time. They were run by a man called Martin Hampton who used to also promote gigs at The Fox Hotel. As well as The B-Team they recorded tracks by Long Tall Shorty, The Moment, The Scene, The Way Out and The Rage.
++ The record sleeve is interesting too. It was designed by the Artschool. Were they friends of yours or who were they? Was it their own idea the band logo?
The design was all done before I joined the band so cant help you on that one, sorry.
++ Then the band photos taken by Deborah Laight and Jo Baker, where were they taken? Do you remember?
This I can answer as Jo Baker was my partner and Deb Laight was Kelvins partner. The photos were taken at a place called Gentlemans Row in Enfield Town, Middlesex.
++ And how come both sides of the record are B sides? Was that a mistake?
No, it was not a mistake. It was a small joke that the name of the band was the B-Team so the songs were released as B-Sides.
++ Many years after you would get your two songs from the 7″ released on the “This is Mod Volume 3 – A Diamond Collection”. Did this create any new attention for the band?
Yes, a new generation of Mods discovered the band and also those that missed us first time around became aware of us. I was living in Spain when I discovered its release and on my return to the UK became aware of more people knowing who we were.
++ And what about in 2018 when you were included in the Japanese compilation “Ita Cemetry Gates Volume 3”?
I have heard that copies of the Diamond release of ‘All I Ever Wanted/Bad Day’ have been going to Japan for over £100 each, but that was before the release of this compilation.
++ I read that there used to be a live tape from a gig at the Wood Green in London 1986. Was this tape sold at gigs? Were there any other tapes by the band?
Yes, the tape was sold at subsequent gigs and I have been unable to trace a copy since losing mine in a move 20 years ago. I would dearly love to trace a copy if anybody has one.
++ Then was there a 2nd single? I read that “And All Because” was released by ASM Records. Is this true? What format was it in? How many copies were made?
The second single was ‘All Because (I Love You)’ a split single with another artist on the flipside. Again the matrix listed it as the B-Side (ASM001-B). It was released on 7″ vinyl by Main Feature Records, Marketed and Distributed by ASM records
++ Was there any interest by any labels in your music?
In 1985 Stiff records had an interest, turning up to some gigs at The Fox Hotel but nothing came of it and In 1986 John Weller had an interest in managing the band at one point.
++ And were there more songs recorded by the band aside from the 3 we’ve mentioned?
No. Just the three releases unfortunately.
++ I think my favourite song of yours might as well be “All I Ever Wanted”, wondering if you could tell me what inspired this song? What’s the story behind it?
That would have to be a question for Mr Kelvin Davis I’m afraid.
++ If you were to choose your favorite The B-Team song, which one would that be and why?
It was a song called ‘Helen Please’ from the live set. I came up with a Foxton inspired bass line that I loved playing live, I also liked the harmonies in the chorus and the whole 60s/Powerpop feel to the song.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many?
A lot in ’85/86. From Dingwalls, The Fulham Greyhound and The Rock Garden to The 100 club —which is probably the one remembered by most of the mod fraternity.
++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
Supporting Steve Marriott’s packet of Three at The Fox was easily my most memorable gig. He had been an idol of mine since my discovery of The Small Faces as a 10-year old. The fact that it was my first live performance for The B-Team made it even more memorable.
After that first rehearsal when Steve had said “He’s in”, Kelvin gave me a tape of the B-Team full live set and said,
“You’re going to need to learn all these for the next gig.”
I replied “No problem, when is it?”
He said “Saturday, supporting Steve Marriott”.
..It was Tuesday.. I had three days to learn a whole new set and go into a live gig without rehearsals.
++ And were there any bad ones?
At RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire 1986.
I had to follow the band van up to the gig on a scooter and it rained heavily all the way up. I played the gig soaked through and then at 1am had to follow the van back home while it rained even harder.
++ When and why did The B-Team stop making music? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?
I left the band in 1986 bought a house and started a family, I think they continued on for a short while after.
Kelvin started a project called ‘Screamboat’ who I rehearsed with a couple of times but never joined. Steve was also involved with them at some point. After separating from Jo I joined a band called Thirsty for a while in 1996 and then moved to Mallorca in 1999 where I had a solo show that I took around the island. On return to the UK I formed a covers band called The Retrobates and we played up until 2011. Unbelievably the last gig I played was back at RAF Wyton, the scene of my horror gig.
++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands afterwards?
There was The Screamboat project for Kelvin and Steve still plays, he has been in a couple of bands, one of which I think was called ‘Wellah’.
++ Has there been any The B-Team reunion?
No. And none is planned. Sadly Doug passed away around 10 years ago while I was living in Mallorca.
++ Did you get much attention from the radio? TV?
Had record of the week on Capital Radio in London in 1986 but sadly it was the show between 4am and 6am so nobody really heard it.
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
The local press gave us lots of coverage but nothing nationally.
++ What about from fanzines?
The band was interviewed for a modzine after the gig at the 100 club. Sadly it folded before going to press. The interview was passed to ‘In The Crowd’ —a mod fanzine, but I dont know if it ever got used.
++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
I would say the gigs to promote the release of the first single. Playing at places like Dingwalls, The 100 club, The Rock Garden gave the band exposure to a much wider audience.
++ Aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
Its all music, music, music.
++ And lastly, you just put together a Bandcamp for the band as well as a Facebook group! Tell me a bit about them, and what sort of updates we’ll be able to see in the future?
I wanted to keep the memory of the band alive as I know there is still an interest in Mod/Mod Revival spreading over four generations from the 60s to the present day. I would love it if somebody came forward with a copy of the live tape so that I could remaster it and release it on Bandcamp as a live album. I would also like to collaborate with singer/songwriters on a project as I have unfinished studio tracks needing vocals.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Listen
The B-Team – All I Ever Wanted
