My first band was called the Playschool Barmy Army. We performed a cappela versions of obscure punk records and played cardboard guitars. We would recruit anyone who could fashion a guitar in wood or cardboard and had the ability to vocalise the sound of one. Our gigs, at local landmarks, were usually attended by a handful of school friends and descended into pubescent nudity and general silliness. When I eventually picked up an electric guitar, it wasn't long before I began to take music very seriously. My first proper band, the oddly-named Siere Novar, played it's early gigs at our sixth-form college in Godalming. Going against the grain of local hippy-rock bands, we sculpted our hair, applied our make-up and pouted our way around college and town, thinking we were it.
By 1986 or so and by the name of 67, we got our first gig in London at Dingwalls and got our first press, albeit in the Surrey Advertiser. As a three-piece, we moved to London in 1987 and holed up, signed on and dropped out , in north Clapham. Six years later, we got a truly 'independent' deal with Southern Records. This led to the band recording live for BBC Radio One, as well as a string of favourable reviews in the NME and support slots to Morphine, Jesus Lizard and Steve Albini’s Shellac. After parting with Southern in '95 and changing the band name to Tea, we recruited a saxophonist, and played on for a year or two. We then fell out and split up in dramatic fashion over something childish at the Laurel Tree in Camden.
Out of the ashes of 67 came Pocket Rocket, which began life as just me and my drum machine, The Phamtom Limb. Before long I began drafting in musician-friends to back me up at gigs and by 2000, Pocket Rocket was playing both electric and acoustic sets around London. Pocket Rocket's current line-up is Michael Wilson on bass, 'Lex' Luther Taylor on lead guitar and Nigel Edginton-Vigus on drums, and long may it remain so.
By 1986 or so and by the name of 67, we got our first gig in London at Dingwalls and got our first press, albeit in the Surrey Advertiser. As a three-piece, we moved to London in 1987 and holed up, signed on and dropped out , in north Clapham. Six years later, we got a truly 'independent' deal with Southern Records. This led to the band recording live for BBC Radio One, as well as a string of favourable reviews in the NME and support slots to Morphine, Jesus Lizard and Steve Albini’s Shellac. After parting with Southern in '95 and changing the band name to Tea, we recruited a saxophonist, and played on for a year or two. We then fell out and split up in dramatic fashion over something childish at the Laurel Tree in Camden.
Out of the ashes of 67 came Pocket Rocket, which began life as just me and my drum machine, The Phamtom Limb. Before long I began drafting in musician-friends to back me up at gigs and by 2000, Pocket Rocket was playing both electric and acoustic sets around London. Pocket Rocket's current line-up is Michael Wilson on bass, 'Lex' Luther Taylor on lead guitar and Nigel Edginton-Vigus on drums, and long may it remain so.
