[Music] Songs by Local Sussex Bands (1960s to 1990s)

[ROSM]

Also, and I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning it, the sax player in the Darts/Rocky Sharpe was another Lancing (and Boundstone) boy - our very own Horatio @Hornblower.

Wonderful stuff. My brother went out with Den's sister and went to school with the Podsiadly brothers who were the foundations of Rocky Sharpe. It's a small small world

 

[Swimboy64]

 

[marlowe]

Here are a few - Indian ropeman Sanj from Hastings and backed by Paul Norman (who goes to brighton games I believe)



Darts - Rita went to Roedean and Den lived in Southwick (some members of darts were previously in rocky Sharpe and the razors)



Then we had Rocky Sharpe and the Replays

Also, and I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning it, the sax player in the Darts/Rocky Sharpe was another Lancing (and Boundstone) boy - our very own Horatio @Hornblower.

I grew up in the same road in Hove as Ian Collier, the one who sang lead vocals on Daddy Cool. He was a few years older than me but I knew his sister quite well who was nearer my age so I went round their house sometimes.

Before they were in Darts Ian and Rita were already an item so I'd often see them together. I remember the curtain twitching old biddies who lived over the road expressing their outrage after witnessing the young mixed race couple walking down the road together arm in arm.

 

[Pembury Seagull]

Anyone recall the "Drivers" who played in many pubs and other venues in the Kent/Sussex border country? Best described as a"Power Pop" trio with Jam/Police influences. Most of their material was written by them - catchy and witty 3 minute tunes,

Front man Nick Van Eede went on to form "Cutting Crew and had a massive hit with "....Just Died In Your Arms ....." . Large hit in North America....

Great choice Norman. Hoped ‘The Drivers’ would get a mention - they were a great live band, and Mak Norman (bass guitar) is an Albion fan.

This video is a little dated (1983) - and was a live favourite.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Great choice Norman. Hoped ‘The Drivers’ would get a mention - they were a great live band, and Mak Norman (bass guitar) is an Albion fan.

This video is a little dated (1983) - and was a live favourite.

That's terrific. I'd like to hear a better quality recording.

So many great 80s bands that left very little in the way of footprint despite being ace.

The Burning Skies of Elysium are another. In fact there is reason to claim them:

formed in Horley, Surrey (UK) in the autumn of 1981 by brothers Chris and Graham Mitchell together with their best friend Matthew Venn. They started writing songs and by March 1982 they recorded their first two songs at Rendezvous, John Ratcliff’s studio in the south of London. Their debut on stage took place at Brighton’s Kensington Arms public house in April 1982, followed by dates at The Cartoon Club in Croydon, The Richmond in Brighton, and The Half Moon in Herne Hill. In January or February 1983 they recorded another two songs and released their first 4 track cassette ep. With most of their work centred on some of London’s top venues and earning respect from their many followers as a brilliant live band, they constantly played gigs from Brighton to Bradford. In September 1984, joined by saxophonist Ron Howe, they recorded and put out their first vinyl release, the ‘Summer House’ b/w ‘Through Flak & Flak’ 7”. Shortly after Ron would also join The Cure for their ‘The Head On The Door’ album sessions.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

There really is only one sussex band worth mentioning

 

[SeagullinExile]

Good tune. Sadly, released in 1992

 

[Brovion]

I grew up in the same road in Hove as Ian Collier, the one who sang lead vocals on Daddy Cool. He was a few years older than me but I knew his sister quite well who was nearer my age so I went round their house sometimes.

Before they were in Darts Ian and Rita were already an item so I'd often see them together. I remember the curtain twitching old biddies who lived over the road expressing their outrage after witnessing the young mixed race couple walking down the road together arm in arm.

Getting a bit O/T here, but did Ian have a brother called Brian? I used to work with a woman called Averil Collier who had some familial connection to Darts but I can't remember who/how (this was back in the late 70s / early 80s). The 'Collier' surname means Ian may have been her brother-in-law. Because I'd been to school with Hornblower we were able to swap 'origin' stories.

EDIT: Ian and Brian may have been cousins rather than brothers. Really can't remember.

 

[Is it PotG?]

The excellent Bess Atwell

 

[BrianB]

My old mate Mike who lived in Pease Pottage with his biggest claim to fame ...

just realised that it's out of time frame..

 

[zefarelly]

I'd be inclined to stretch the limit until the end of the last century . . . . Except all the bands around us at the time, including us, mid 90's never really got recorded much, nor filmed, and that that did isn't digital.

I have rerecorded and remastered a few albums worth of stuff from 92-97 but not done anything with it . . . Yet!

 

[pearl]

There really is only one sussex band worth mentioning

RUBBISH!
Your post, not the Cure

 

[pearl]

That's terrific. I'd like to hear a better quality recording.

So many great 80s bands that left very little in the way of footprint despite being ace.

The Burning Skies of Elysium are another. In fact there is reason to claim them:

formed in Horley, Surrey (UK) in the autumn of 1981 by brothers Chris and Graham Mitchell together with their best friend Matthew Venn. They started writing songs and by March 1982 they recorded their first two songs at Rendezvous, John Ratcliff’s studio in the south of London. Their debut on stage took place at Brighton’s Kensington Arms public house in April 1982, followed by dates at The Cartoon Club in Croydon, The Richmond in Brighton, and The Half Moon in Herne Hill. In January or February 1983 they recorded another two songs and released their first 4 track cassette ep. With most of their work centred on some of London’s top venues and earning respect from their many followers as a brilliant live band, they constantly played gigs from Brighton to Bradford. In September 1984, joined by saxophonist Ron Howe, they recorded and put out their first vinyl release, the ‘Summer House’ b/w ‘Through Flak & Flak’ 7”. Shortly after Ron would also join The Cure for their ‘The Head On The Door’ album sessions.

The name is ringing bells. I lived in Crawley until 1981. I used to go to a hotel venue near Redhill stn (can't remember name). The Cure played there and various other good local bands. Lockjaw with Simon Gallup.
I moved to Brighton in 1982 and remember seeing bands at the Kensington and Richmond.
Unfortunately my memory is terrible .... so annoying!

Just read up on them, sadly one of the brothers died from cancer in late 80s and Matthew Venn was killed in a car crash

 

[Dinner with Gotsmanov]

I think Holly and the Italians hailed from Brighton? Cracker of a single called ’Tell that girl to shut up’. it’s It’s on you tube but no idea how to upload the link. Anyone…?

 

[pearl]

I think Holly and the Italians hailed from Brighton? Cracker of a single called ’Tell that girl to shut up’. it’s It’s on you tube but no idea how to upload the link. Anyone…?

 

[Tom Bombadil]

RUBBISH!
Your post, not the Cure

This thread otherwise is a parade of novelty acts, also rans and never weres.

 

[pearl]

This thread otherwise is a parade of novelty acts, also rans and never weres.

Not for you then?

 

[BN9 BHA]

This thread otherwise is a parade of novelty acts, also rans and never weres.

If this thread was a competition to name the biggest band to come out of Sussex The Cure would win hands down, but it isn’t.

It’s a good thread and a few bands mentioned I didn’t know came from Sussex.

 

[Dick Head]

 

[boik]

This thread otherwise is a parade of novelty acts, also rans and never weres.

There's a lot more to music than the charts and radio f##king 2.

These are a great thread.