No Action (6/79-12/79)
Starting Line-up: Tim O'Connor (g), Andy Turner (d) Ian List (b), Rip Savage
(v)
Not mods - the band managed three gigs. Rip Savage was subsequently a member of Gun
Control and Funhouse. Ian List went on to play with The Dagoes, The Spikes and
UVs amongst others. O'Connor and Turner went on to form The Group.
Trivia: Ian List did the mastering for the 2004 release 'Woking Class
Hero', a Paul Weller homage. He also contributed his interpretation
of 'That's Entertainment!' to the compilation.
Quote: "We were pretty crappy and did a lot of Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols
and other punk covers." Ian List, interview NKVD Records, 1997.
The Photos (6/79-8/79)
Starting Line-up: John Rickert (b/v), Stuart Harrison (g/v), Pete Beaumont
(g), Grant Fortune (d)
Again, not a mod band, but featured Rickert, Harrison and Fortune, later of
The Jump. It is rumoured that the band played one gig, at the Flagstaff Hotel in Darlington.
The Manics (1980)
Starting Line-up: Alan Gelder (k, v), Mick Jones (g), Michael Donovan (b),
Dave Moulds (d)
Watched by a few mods (of which there were very few in 1980), this
power-pop band shared members with Young Modern and had a track released on a
5MMM compilation LP in 1981. More 'All Mod Cons' than 'In the City'. Alan Gelder
had previously played with the prolific Stu Spasm in Exhibit A. The Manics
played regularly around town, at venues such as the Tivoli, and played mainly
covers of songs made famous by bands such as The Who, The Jam and The Clash. As
the band gained experience, more original songs crept into the setlist.
Quote: "I
do recall one of the guys who later grew his hair long and played guitar for
Exploding White Mice was originally a Mod kid. We played a Mod social thing
where he won his first guitar." Alan Gelder, 2005.
The Group (4/80-9/80)
Starting Line-up: Tim O'Connor (g), Andy Turner (d), Dave Williams (b)
Additions/Replacements: Richard Paarde (g 9/80)
Still no sign of mods, but an important band in terms of personnel. Rick Paarde and Dave
Williams would go on to form the Bonython Parkas.
Trivia: The story goes that one incarnation of 'The Group' was banned for
life from 5MMM airplay because of an 'offensive' song called
She's So Slack.
Tim O'Connor went on to be a member of Frente!, and was
the writer of 'Accidentally Kelly Street'.
Starting Line-up: Ken Stewart (g/v), Terry Burgan (b), John Martin (d)
Additions/Replacements: More members than the Communist Party. Dave Bell (b
1981), Kim Cambridge (b), Rodney Gilchrist (d 1987), Terry Moles (g, syn), Tim
Walker (b 1987), David Moore (d 1988-95), David Skvoc (b 1988-95), Brett
Dolahenty (d 1995), Charlie McMahon (didj 1995), Phil Paviour (b 1995), Danny
Gorman (2000), Anthony Waugh (2000) and Michael Elsley (2000) to name but
thirteen...
The Urban Guerillas deserve inclusion as they were friends of the mods, thought they were mods, and played to mods.
I didn't think they were mods, but Ken Stewart says he was and that's good enough for me.
Certainly they are more deserving of a place here than some of the later incarnations
of The Jump Mk II... Singles include '1984' (1983), 'She's Probably'
(1984), Here Come the Americans (1987) and 'Another View' (1988). Albums include
'Borrowed Time' (1986), 'Another View' (1990), 'Just a Lifetime' (1995), 'Mad in
Australia' (1997), 'Cloud Above My Head' (2000) and 'Carols by Blowtorch'
(2000).
Trivia: Once had a poster advertising themselves as 'The Very Mod'
Urban Guerillas. I saw it myself in 'Mod Image', King William Road,
Hyde Park. So there.
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