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Interviewed by Lord Pryderi
1} A little background on your musical history,when you started,
your first drum set,and the bands you've been in ?
A}It started for me at the end of "WOODSTOCK" 1966- I was 11 years old. from then on, all i wanted to do was play in a band. I tried Keyboards, but i was too impatient with that, I tried guitar, but my fingers kept getting caught in the strings, I couldn't sing very well, so i tried the drums....I was crap at that as well, but i persisted with it. I practiced for about a year, when the worst happened. I was diagnosed with Leukaemia, though my parents didn't let on to me. They made up some light hearted excuse that i was suffering from lack of iron in the blood. I'm glad they did. After too-ing and fro-ing to Great Ormond street Hospital for a couple of years,I managed to round up a few guys from school, we were all naieve, but we did get better and better, until, at the age of 16 we were invited to take part in a TV programe for schools, called "NEW SOUND SCAPE" featuring bands like Frank zappa, Bridget St John, John Martyn, and Kevin Coyne, the other lads in our band were... Ken Williams. Guitar/Vocals (15). Steve Johnstone. Guitar/backing vocals(15). and Keith Wiggett (RIP). Bass (14).The band was called...PANDEMONIUM. We also had Bob (snob) Adams, Andre Shilling, Jeff Beadle, Chas Prescot, giving a big help in hand. Our musical interest were soon going in a different direction, I was 18 by then, and wanted to Rock Harder. All i ever wanted to do, is play in a successful rock band,"I mean" I would only get regular jobs providing it came with a van or truck!!
My first drum kit was a 3 piece Broadway Kit which my Dad piced up for £8-$16, My second was a Carlton 4 peice £110-$220, My third was a Rogers 8 peice copy
£440- $880, My fourth was an 11 peice stainless steel
Ludwig kit £2,200-$4,400 with accssories, which i still have.
2} How and when you joined Angel Witch ?
A} ABOUT MY BAND It all started back in 1977, I was out of work because i was hit with Leukaemia for the second time. I had a Rock disco going with my long term friend, Rick Stanbury. We were doing a residency for a new rock club, close to where we lived in south east London. The club were introducing local live bands at the venue, featuring acts that are still around today, most have had name changes, but one young guy i still remember was Bruce Dickinson. We had one young band turn up one night who needed despirate help with dodgy cables, and using soldering irons before the doors opened. This band used to be called LUCIFER,but had just changed their name to "ANGEL WITCH".They had a stand in drummer, and sounded right up my street. I was talking to their manager after the gig, and explained that i could fill his place when he left, I was offered an audition a couple of weeks later and the rest is history. Kevin Heybourne and Rob Downing had the perfect oppotunity to get down to some serious writing, following my return to Hospital for chemo-therapy. This was proven to keep me out for three months, I was gutted!! I owe it to all of AW for awaiting my recovery, and one i will never forget. Thanks.
3} Your reflections on the early days of what
became known as the NWOBHM ?
A}We were soon back rehearsing, our Manager had been busy with bookings around London and home counties. We went out on the rampage, playing pubs and clubs, and gathering quite a modest following. We had heared of a gig in NW London, "THE BANDWAGGON" that was smouldering it's dying embers of the Punk movement, and was being entertained by some Blues Rock bands. I approched the, then DJ and promotor Mr Neil Kay, about playing there, He was very interestd, and impressed about our following. Our first night was quite amazing. He thought it would be a good idea to introduce a lot more Rock-metal bands, Like..VARDIS, MYTHRA, ETHEL the FROG, PRAYING MANTIS, MORE, WHITE SPIRIT, DIAMOND HEAD, IRON MAIDEN, and many more, as he was right into the heavy scene. Most west-end clubs followed suit, when these bands started gracing the pages of the British music press. Word had got around, and all of the major city's in the UK wanted a piece of the action. To this day, it was the genius of DJ NEIL KAY, who started of what's known as the "NEW WAVE OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL". Though he did not like the phrase.
4} Your experience with the recording of the first A/W album,
what you like about it and what you didn't like,
and those mysterious keyboards, ?
A}I dislike all studio recordings of Angel witch, in particular the debut LP.
Laying down the backing tracks was almost a fight with the producer "Martin Smith" Whose he??.Contantly being told to play straight beats, rather doing my trade marks. I think he was recording the Bay city rollers before us,,,,,must have been Gerry Bron's,(BRONZE RECORDS) bum chum!
The album was recorded over a month in between touring. The mix down was done in our absence.
I done my fukin nut when we returned, and found that it was all polished up....Too late to re-record.
He had 36 channels to play with on the mixing desk and wanted to use all of them. We were only a 3 piece for fuk sake!
Kevin Riddles was a trained pianist, someone let on to Martin S,,,,"Hey we've got a spare channel left on the desk, let's put some keyboards on it" If it ain't played live, it ain't Memorex! hehe. All in all, Angel witch was a better live band, what started as a good LP, ended fucked up.
5} Your health issues before the album,
how did that effect your playing
and how did it effect your personal life ?
A} It was devastating for my family and friends of course, but i'd had Leukaemia 11 years previous and thought if i could beat it the first time round, then i could do it again.
It never affected my playing, i just had to take care of colds, flu, ect from the English winters touring 'cos my resistance was low. I had to carry loads of tablets and stuff, "Big Flight case" hehe. I was 9 1/2 stone in weight, Not exactly the right frame for a HM drummer!!
6} What happened after the album was completed,
that caused you to leave ?
A}I didn't leave, Kevin Heybourne and his Dad (manager)
sacked me, because i partied a bit too much, i've just found out.
I wasn't the sort of person to hide in my dressing room after a concert, it was, have a shower, get changed, and go down to the bar to meet and have a beer with the fans, Sign some stuff, after all, it is about them.
I may have taken some of the lime-light from Kevin, He had no personality anyway.
7} When did you rejoin and your experience on the second album ?
A] I'd had a band called Blaque jaque shallaque with Rob Downing co- founder of AW and David Tattum.
We were doing some gigs and demo's, but nothing was happening with it.
Kevin and Ken Heybourne turned up at my home and asked me to re-join AW, this was 1984
I said i would consider it, Dave Tattum came along with me as roadie at first, but wasn't long before Heybournes voice fucked up.......That's why Dave Tattum is on Screamin' n bleedin'.
I liked this album, but the recording again lets it down.
8} What other recordings have you done or been involved with ?
A}I had been producing up and comming bands in the UK
I'm not into name dropping though.
As for drumming, I now teach it.
9} Any last thoughts or comments you'd like to say
to all the A/W fans around the world
A] Wow, what can i say........I'm really not worthy. It's all about the fans really, I'm not a person up my own ass. Anyone coming to the UK, I would certainly meet and have some fun and a beer.
Thanks to you all past and present, sorry we've let you down. Could've been bigger, could've been better Dayvog.