OUT NOW!

A new re-issue of the bands album and single tracks, together with 2 songs never before  released is now available on CD from all good record outlets, or from this site. Interested? Then e mail me asap for more details..............

ONCE UPON A TIME A MANCHESTER BAND KNOWN AS 'SPONGE' HEARD THAT THE DRUMMER OF WIMPLE WINCH WAS AVAILABLE AND ASKED HIM TO TRY OUT A FEW NUMBERS WITH THEM AT A REHEARSAL ROOM, LIKED WHAT THEY HEARD AND PERSUADED HIM TO BECOME A PERMANENT MEMBER. 

So alongside Barry Reynolds, Graham Harrop, Brian Chapman, Jack Lancaster and Pete Gray the band embarked on a hectic tour of the North West's club scene developing their style of music which was later to be known as Progressive Rock.  Larry now takes up the story.........

"What struck me right away was the combined sound of Barry's excellent lead work, Brian's Hammond Organ sound and Jack's skills withe Sax and Flute. Also their attitude was musically sharp and although we were doing mostly covers you could tell they had a lot of musical ideas of their own.I soon settled in." 

The fortunate thing was the group started gigging as soon as the rehearsals were over, playing a lot of standard covers from the R & B and Rock scene and toured all over the North West of England to begin with, eventually getting some gigs in London. About this time a certain John Rubin from Manchester expressed an interest in managing the band, promising to invest in new transport and new equipment. It was also clear that Jack Lancaster our saxophonist had caught the attention of Mick Abrahams, a guitarist who had helped launch Jethro Tull (Coincidentally we had supported Tull at the Manchester Uni) but wanted to now form his own band. He knew Jack and asked him to join offering a recording deal with Island records and so it was that they formed Blodwyn Pig and we were a man short. 

However this wasn't such a blow as we had just been offered a chance to audition for Decca and a new label they were planning and our manager John had also arranged through an agent a 6 week gig at a club in the Bahama's at the Jokers Wild club in Freeport, Grand Bahama Isle, so along with new member Dave Bowker (playing bass instead of Pete Gray who couldn't travel) we started preparing for a flight across the Atlantic and a new and defining phase in the bands history. 

The gentle whine of the 4 jet engines of the BOAC Boeing 707 changed to a different, higher frquency as the jetliner began it's descent into Bermuda after a 7.5hr flight to disembark some of it's passengers. There was a brief stop here so we had a quick mooch around the airport and surrounds in the kind of weather we had only dreamt about back in the U.K. But dusk was already upon us and by the time we lifted off for the final leg of our journey night was upon us and 2.5hrs later the pilot announced we were about to land in Freeport. 

We were soon through customs as we had only taken some bare equipment essentials such as Guitars, Snare Drum and Cymbals under the understanding that everything else, Amps, PA, Hammond Organ and a full Drum kit would be availble at the club. Meeting us was the owners rep who took us to a hotel were we would spend the night  to get some sleep and prepare for our residensy at the club. A few hours later I awoke and drew back the curtains to my room to be confronted by a beautiful horseshoe shaped pool surrounded by gently swaying palm trees and a view across the bay like you would not believe. Naturally we were all rather gobsmacked at this and immediately began to enjoy the beautifully cool blue water and the searing sun. But far too soon our escort came to collect us for our transfer to our permanent residence at the Robin Hood Apartments where we would stay during our working stay.    (to be continued....)