Droof Days

The BIG 50 - Moonage Daydream

2011-05-27T19:57:00.003+02:00

Just a little taster from our recent joint birthday party in Bristol. This was our closing number and a favourite Bowie song which we air-guitared to constantly at parties in the 70s. Although we talked about getting a band together when we were at school we never quite got around to it...until now. Plenty of photos and bits of video coming in and we'll post those at some point soon.

Droof Booth: The Pie Gallery

2010-08-10T13:34:00.009+02:00

Ever wondered what you might look like if you ate ALL the pies? We did. With a little help from the iPhone App 'Fat Booth' (and some pies) we managed to create the exact look we were...well...looking for. Here are the results:

From left to right:

Mike 'Apple Pie' Applebee, Jon 'Fatty Boy' Smith, Anthony 'Pork Pie' Hewitt, Steve 'Chubby Chops' Cox, Phil 'Double Clotted' Gilbert, Paul 'The Cube' Eustice, Jonathan 'Heavy' Handley and Nick 'The Lampshade' Arkle.

Taken from a recent second gathering of Droof Boys in Cornwall hosted by Paul E. Nick Arkle was in attendance (again) under protest as honorary Droof Boy and chairman. More photos and details of this historic event will appear here as if by magic shortly...or should that be drekkly?

Posted by Chubby Chops

BinDrivingAllNightMaHandsWetOnTheWheel

2009-11-21T09:37:00.005+01:00

Mike Applebee just reminded me that back in 1973, several of us bought copies of Golden Earring's 'Radar Love' single from a couple of school prefects for 15 pence a copy. My memory is hazy but I vaguely remember playing football out on the playing fields and then being distracted by a small crowd forming around a cardboard box full of vinyl 45s.

I don't even know if I'd heard of Golden Earring before but I bought one anyway so as not to miss out, just in case it was any good.

Little did any of us know that it would go down in history as a classic rock standard.

Where did the prefects get them from though?

Classic Albums - Crime of The Century

2009-11-19T08:43:00.012+01:00

Warning: If you don't like whimsical whimsicalness...don't read this.

I haven't done one of these for a while but I spent a pleasurable few hours yesterday re-visiting some old Supertramp albums. The reason? Well, I heard 'School', the opening track to Supertramp's classic 1974 album on the radio and it instantly transported me back in time to Droof Days. I'm pretty certain I first heard this album at Paul Eustice's place, above his parent's pub in St. Day. It was always winter and dark outside in those days, probably November. Electric bar heater set to one bar. Fags would have been smoked. Almost certainly a pint or two of Devenish bitter would have been consumed. Piles of records stacked against the wall were flicked through...and chosen...

Even before you put the record on the turntable, the striking cover artwork sets the mood. The eerie blackness and infinite vastness of space sets the tone for the similarly immense and dark music about to envelop you as the needle hits the deck.

The first few soulful notes of Rick Davies' lonely harmonica drift upwards from a cavernous space and slowly pull you down into it. Faint rumbling kettle drums echo in the distance and Roger Hodgson's textured guitar begins the hypnotic chord sequence to 'School'. Already, I'm lost, drawn in...floating in the vast arena of Supertramp's space opera soundscape.

The sound on this album is just so rich and textured...and so dark and moody. So perfect for the time. No, make that just 'perfect'. I spend almost the entire length of the album with goosebumps running up and down my arms. It's one of those albums which totally and absolutely envelops you. How did they do that?

Well, aside from the outstanding musicianship...

I don't know.

What I do know is that it was recorded at Trident Studios in London and was produced by the young and very talented Ken Scott. Yes, that's right, the same Ken Scott who just a couple of years earlier had co-produced Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars, Aladdin Sane and Pin-Ups. The first two albums back there were also recorded at Trident Studios.

T.Rex, The Beatles, Queen, Rod Stewart were just a few of the other artists who recorded at Trident back in the day. Is there time to mention that the grand piano at Trident can be heard on Elton John's 'Your Song', The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'? (sure, go ahead - Ed). Presumably this is the same piano used on Crime of the Century throughout. (and presumably Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust?- Ed)

Trident Studios

This struck me at the time because I could then, and still can, hear a very specific sound on both Crime of the Century and Ziggy Stardust. This interested me many years ago and I did some research which frustratingly I cannot repeat even with the internet and the power of Google.

What I remember discovering was that Trident had a unique echo chamber. I saw a diagram of the main studio on one of the upper floors and the echo chamber which was actually a few stories down in what must have been the basement I guess. Instrument sounds were fed into this chamber and 'echoed' before returning to the mixing console (Trident had unique custom built consoles like the one below). This must be a 'true', natural echo which is more often than not usually created using echo plates and reverb springs etc. Anyway, to my ears at least I think that the awesome echo and spaciness on both Ziggy Stardust and Crime of the Century have a very similar quality to them. Listen to Mick Ronson's guitar solo on Moonage Daydream...that's what I'm talking about.

Anyway, don't get me started on Mick...

Put Supertramp's Crime of The Century on now. I dare you.

Suddenly it's 1974 and you are a Droof Boy. You have to be at Redruth Grammar School in the morning. You'll freeze outside the main doors with your mates, waiting for some prefect to let you in. Probably have a double Classics lesson to not look forward to. Who cares. Lose yourself in Crime of The Century for an hour or two...

Posted by Steve

Halloween Meet Up

2009-11-03T11:37:00.005+01:00

From left to right: Steve Rose, Nick Arkle, Steve Cox, Paul Eustice, Mike Applebee and Philip Gilbert

It's been quite a while since the last post but there was a small gathering of Droofers last weekend in Bristol on Halloween to be precise. Four Droof Boys were in attendance with the addition of two old friends and band members who used to play in bands with Paul and Steve in the eighties. Steve Rose, originally from Bristol but now residing in Baltimore, USA. He still plays drums with his band Vulgaria. The other honorary member for the night was Nick Arkle, keyboard player and prankster extraordinaire.

In true Droofboy fashion, nobody could be bothered to make the effort to dress up for Halloween but Nick did bring along a bag of witches fingers, fangs and dubious looking lollies which came in very useful whilst sampling the delights of the Chinese food spread out on good old lazy Susan.

Plumping for the 'eat as much as you can for £15.50' option, the boys acquitted themselves well and managed to come back for seconds on several dishes. We didn't quite manage all 65 dishes on offer but it was a good effort. Phil tried squid for the first and last time.

The friendly staff at The Water Sky Restaurant were more than attentive as the lads quaffed oriental lagers and fumbled with chopsticks late into the evening. Much fun was had by all and we all piled back to Mike's to reminisce and talk nonsense into the small hours before falling asleep on inflatable things that snored in the night.

Posted by Steve

Bacon Sandwich

2009-04-10T12:17:00.006+02:00

From left to right: Perry Watson, Steve Cox, Jon Handley (kneeling), Mike Applebee, Paul Eustice, Robert Hellings and Simon Hart discuss bacon sandwiches.

This rather blurry photo (taken by Anthony with a cheap camera he tells me), shows a crowd of Droof boys on the way back from one of Jon Smith's legendary parties at Nancemellin. I think we were all a little worse for wear and probably hadn't had more than a couple of hours sleep amongst the hay bales in the barn. My memory is a little hazy but I recall somebody mentioning the fatal words 'bacon sandwich' at which point we all started salivating and the mission was then on to go and track one down in Camborne.

I think it may have been a Sunday so our quest became quite desperate but we finally managed to track one down somewhere. I remember trying the bus station but we might have eventually found a little cafe somewhere that made them. They weren't actually very nice I remember but they sated our hunger and off we departed to our separate homes.

Posted by Steve

Parker's Kitchen

2009-04-09T14:09:00.004+02:00

Mike brews up

Parker's kitchen at Melrose House was...and probably still is the centre of the known universe. Anyone who has experienced the joy of sitting around the Melrose House kitchen table whilst enjoying one of Sheila Parker's magnificent meals will know the true joy of 'home cooking' and being made to feel welcome...even if you were a virtual stranger.

This is me and Mike just back from picking 'shrooms' I believe. Shroom tea was a splendid way to end off a Sunday afternoon walk in the 'Roly-Poly' fields above Melrose House in Lanner. Our parents had to put up with insane giggling over Sunday night roasts and we are sorry for that...

Footnote: I am kitted out in full Pratts Army/Navy Surplus Great Coat (Sgt. Evans 6'7" it said on the inside pocket) gear with obligitory college scarf. Mike has settled for the casual combat jacket.

Posted by Steve

Looking For The Aliens

2009-04-02T07:58:00.003+02:00

click on image for closer look

Strange events have occurred since last week. Firstly, I suddenly found myself in contact with Paul Eustice again after an 18 year estrangement. Emails have been exchanged, memories have been jolted and a pledge to meet up in the near future has been made.

Secondly, an alien visitation happened yesterday when I discovered a package had been delivered and was left on the tank of my motorbike. On opening, I discovered two copies of the Flight Seven Seven single: 'Looking For The Aliens/Stranger'. All of my vinyl 45s disappeared after I left home as I carelessly left them in the care of my parents who duly disposed of them after I had flown the nest. My copy of this (and Mushy Doubt) were dispatched to a Lanner Women's Institute jumble sale no doubt.

Anyway, these two songs were the first ever to be recorded by the band in May 1982 (so it says on the sleeve notes). I remember two days spent at John Knight Studios, near Coverack, Helston. Recording, mixing, drinking cups of tea and smoking fags at the studios which must have been a converted military installation of some sort. From the outside it appeared to be a giant grassy mound with a door in it in the middle of it...in the middle of nowhere. I remember going outside for a smoke at one night when we were there late mixing the tracks down. My eyes scanned the starry skies looking for aliens but there were none. None that I saw anyway. I believe Paul took a few photos whist we were there...Paul?

Flight Seven Seven at Carlyon Bay

John Knight, who also ran a small advertising agency (and still does by the look of things) was so taken with us that he asked us to return and record a couple of short jingles for the local drinks manufacturer 'Jollys'. I think they were used on a TSW TV ad a few times. "We're the Jollys...."

Fun times indeed.

I have yet to set my turntable up to listen to and convert these track into MP3s...but it will happen soon.

Posted by Steve

The Brainiac Five

2009-03-16T16:00:00.010+01:00

Front and back of the EP 'Mushy Doubt'

Anyone who used to drink at The London Inn in Redruth at the end of the seventies would remember the fabulous Brainiac Five. Fronted by singer-songwriter Bert Biscoe on lead vocals and guitar, Charlie 'Dickie Hart' Taylor on lead guitar (I remember a fantastically battered antique white Fender Telecaster), Woody on bass and Steve Hudson on drums.

I had one of their posters for a gig at The London Inn on my bedroom wall for sometime and I'm pretty sure it had the date November 1978 on it. I am also pretty certain it was after this particular gig that several of us made the night-time assault on Carn Brea described here.

Anyway, I loved the Brainiacs. As I'd just started playing in band, The Imports, myself, I used to look up to The Brainiacs as something to aspire to. Bert Biscoe used to put on a great performance, usually whilst wearing a huge floppy pointed felt hat. I remember that towards the end of their second set he would suddenly put his guitar down, rush through the audience and exit through the front door....only to reappear several minutes later through a door at the back of the pub. My memory is vague but I think he used to do this during the middle eight/guitar solo of 'Endless River' which is one of the tracks featured on the Mushy Doubt EP pictured above.

I went down to watch them rehearse in Newlyn once. It was a hot summer's day and they had a basement in this amazing old house with a rambling terrace at the back which had stunning views over Mount's Bay. I thought that was so cool...being in a band and rocking out, entertaining the seagulls and probably half of Penzance at the same time.

Another favourite from their live gigs featured on the EP is "(I was a) Vegetable". The lyrics went along the lines of:

I was a vegetable...on a Saturday morning
I was a vegetable...she gave me no warning
I was a vegetable...I was a vegetable for yeeeewwwwwwuh....
etc.

It's a classic.

I'm not sure where my copy of Mushy Doubt has got to but in my Google quest to see if I could find anything relating to The Brainiac Five, I came across a Bert Biscoe compilation album called An Kynsa. You can play samples from this website.

To my delight, I discover two Brainiac Five tracks on it, the aforementioned 'Endless River' and another called 'Marilyn Munroe'...a punked up blues stomper (that Jean Genie riff) that I also vividly remember from their live shows.

Reading some of the blurb on that page I read:

"All Aboard" – a home recording of a song written in a moment for the moment – a warm time around Sal’s wedding to Ian – many friends."

Furthermore, as I play the sample I realise that it is in fact me accompanying Bert on my fretless bass to a song we basically jammed and made up on the spot. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and we'd just had an even lazier lunch at "Ian and Sal's". Bert had some lyrics and we started messing around with some chords and bass lines to go with them. Bert had a little basic cassette recorder with him and it was recorded probably in one take to maybe do something with at a later time. To me, the song was always called "Riding Along on My Best Friend's Dream". I think it very much captures the feeling of the moment...such a buzz to hear it again.

It was indeed a warm time as Bert suggests. A key time in my 'leaving home' phase. I was living at Ian and Sal's in Truro at the time. I think I'd just left college and was working at Trurographics. I was also playing bass with Flight Seven Seven. Ian & Sally would often come to our gigs and if we'd played a gig at The William in Truro they would often invite everyone back to theirs for drinks afterwards which is where I got re-aquainted with Bert again.

I believe Bert still lives in Truro and is a Truro City councillor as far as I know. Here's his MySpace site.

A few years ago he brought out a book called "Meditations on Carn Brea". It's a collaboration with a photographer Cliff Jones. Some poetry and musings well worth looking at if you know the area.

Anyway, enough of the free plugs!

Must drop him an email at some point...

Posted by Steve

Lanner Post Office

2009-03-14T10:37:00.010+01:00

Lanner Post Office - The Glory Days

Hands up who remembers Lanner Post Office back in the 'Good Old Days'?

Every time I drive past the place these days I can't help thinking it's just a pale shadow of the establishment it used to be. The red phone box has gone for a start...it just doesn't look right.

In it's day, Lanner Post Office was one of the key bases from which Droof Boys would launch operations throughout the late Seventies. Probably on a par with Melrose House around the corner, it was from these two key establishments, parties were held, decisions were made and much fun and frivolity was had by all.

My parents (in the photo) were deemed by most of the DB, a 'softer touch' than their peers so alcohol was supped, roll-ups were smoked and other various 'things' were consumed here on a regular basis with minimal interference.

The shop itself was obviously a major draw. Endless supplies of tins of beer, fags, chocolate and anything else you fancied at whatever time of the day or night. One just had to disarm the burglar alarm and avoid waking my parents to gain access to anything from a packet of Rizlas to a full-on Vesta Curry at 2am.

The so-called (by Mike A) 'Stevie-Snack' was forged right here at Lanner Post Office in the 70's. On occasions, several of us would regularly return here after a trip to The London Inn in Redruth feeling rather 'peckish'. (Don't forget Kebabs hadn't even been invented yet). No problem...

The Drill:

Arrive home and let ourselves in. Talking and giggling would cease. Make sure our dog ('Pickles' the American Beagle) is conscious and not going to start barking and wake everyone up. (He knew he would get tit-bits so he was on our side most of the time). Turn off the burglar alarm....open the door to the shop, ever-so ever-so quietly.

In we would sneak..."Can of McEwan's anyone?" "Cheese?" "Shall I cut some ham?" "Anyone need any tobacco?" etc.

Firing up the bacon slicer in the shop at 1am in the morning was a risky business but sometimes it just had to be done.

Types of beer consumed at Lanner Post Office in the Seventies

Carrying our booty, we would cram ourselves into the tiny kitchen and pull the sliding door closed. Drinking beer, smoking fags whilst cooking cheese (and ham) on toast in a kitchen measuring 4 foot square at 1.30am in the morning, whilst trying not to wake one's parents is not always possible. Most of the time we got away with it though.

The fatal error of forgetting that the dog had followed us into the shop was one of the reasons we might get caught out. His howling wouldn't almost certainly wake up my dad...."SSSTEEEEEPPPHHUUUUUUNNNNN!!!!!????"

Still, the punishments were never severe and I don't recall anyone ever getting sent home.

The only interior photo of the counter at Lanner Post Office I can find. Cigarettes on the shelves behind and the bacon slicer just out of shot. Proper Cornish pasties, sticky buns (and a box of Waggon Wheels?) visible on the counter. It was here that many of the DB would muster to purchase items of fancy at any hour of the day or night. The lady pictured here was a kindly lady named Irene if anyone remembers her.

Once ensconced in the sanctuary of my bedroom, lighting would be subdued, music would be low but audible, talk hushed but not whispered as we sat up late into the wee hours, listening to some great albums, smoking and enjoying each others company.

It was on one of these occasions that I remember the concept of 'getting a girlfriend' came up. Literally within less than a fortnight we all had one...not bad going boys.

My mother would sometimes appear in the morning with mugs of tea to the sight of several full sleeping bags over my bedroom floor.

If it was a Saturday morning we had probably already planned to walk/hitch our way to St. Agnes or Tregajorran or down to Nancemellin for one of Jon Smith's awesome parties.

To drive past Lanner Post Office now...well, you would never know...

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow? Or Just Hair Yesterday?

2009-03-13T14:22:00.005+01:00

As Anthony has already mentioned in several previous posts, hair has always been a big feature if you came from Redruth. Ok, that's not exactly true but if we cast our minds back beyond the Eighties and the Uber Mullets, you might begin to understand where we were coming from...and that it wasn't our fault particularly.

I present...Hair of 1973. Just a few heads plucked out at random from a school photo of the day. Hell, even the teachers were at it (bottom row).

Click on photo for closer look

My personal favourite has to go to the young man, far left, middle row. I don't know who you were sir but I am amazed that they actually let you into the school looking like that. Bloody hell...what happened? Looks like you slept in a tight corner or something. What did you think to yourself when you looked at the mirror in the morning? "Hey, nice hair...the girls are going to love that"?

Ok, that's enough about hair for now.

Posted by Steve

Famous Droof Boys No.2 - Rory McGrath

2009-03-13T13:52:00.013+01:00

Rory McGrath on 'Have I got News For You'.

Not quite as good looking as the rest of us and slightly older, Rory McGrath is probably the most famous droof boy to come out of Redruth Grammar School and that's saying something obviously.

He was in the Sixth Form whist we were in the first and second years I think during our time at RGS. I don't really remember him specifically to be honest. He might have sold me a cream bun or a giant Tea Cake out of the 6th Form window, as they did before Buck took over and legalised proceedings with his 'Tuck Shop'.

Cream bun - as sold by Rory McGrath as a Sixth Former

Most older boys at the school had so much hair they all looked the same anyway. Hair was definitely 'in' in the early Seventies. Just look at the school photo again. Scary. Rory's hair has calmed down a bit but is still essentially a slimmed down 1973 job in my opinion. (More on hair later).

(Temporarily I am unable to locate Rory in one of the panoramic school photos. Perhaps Anthony or Phil or Mike can help out there?)

I saw Rory ranting about how he hates carrots in Cornish Pasties on 'Grumpy Old Men' a while back. He protested that they shouldn't be allowed to include carrot as they have no business being in there. With you on that one Rory mate. That also should include peas. Don't get me started on Chicken Tikka pasties either.

Beef?...yes, potato?...yes, onion?...yes, swede/turnip?...yes, salt and pepper?...yes.

Carrot?...on your bike mate.

Ban Ginsters as well whilst you're at it...bloody horrible state of affairs.

Posted by Steve

From Phil: I can remember calling Rory McGrath a poofter (for not letting me inside at lunchtime) and regretting it - got held upside down over the lav til I apologised. As I recall he was ok though.

Nice one Phil, thanks for sharing.

Famous Droof Boys No. 1 - The Aphex Twin

2009-03-13T13:22:00.009+01:00

One of my favourite Aphex Twin tracks (shame about poor sound quality)

It recently came to my attention that not only is Aphex Twin (Richard James) from Cornwall, but he is a 'Droof Boy' proper as he went to Redruth School in the Eighties. More than that...he actually grew up in Lanner, just down the road from me. He is also exactly (minus one day) ten years younger than me. Shit, I probably sold him sweets over the counter at Lanner Post Office.
Posted by Steve

Uber-mulletts

2008-10-19T18:33:00.002+02:00

Mike's wedding again, with wind-blown super-mulletts. Left to right Jon Cox, Jon Handley, Catherine Parker, Anthony, Phil G and Steve Cox. Red ties were obviously very fashionable too.

Posted by Anthony

Mullets and fags

2008-10-19T18:30:00.003+02:00

Mike's wedding again. Lot of hair in those days, and none of us were ever seen without a fag in our hands. Left to right: Bill Palastre (now a respected senior nurse up Bath way), Steve Cox, Catherine Parker, Mike Parker, Steve Booth, Jon Cox

Posted by Anthony

Jon Smith

2008-10-19T18:28:00.000+02:00

Jon at Mike's wedding.

Posted by Anthony

Hello John, got a new motor!

2008-10-19T18:23:00.002+02:00

A little bit outside the timeframe, but still the same folk. Mike Applebee was the first of us to get married, though I can't remember what year it was, I think about 1982. I bought my first tie for this gig. Here I am at Mike's wedding trying to sell something to Steve Cox - Jon Smith and Phil G in the background.

Posted by Anthony

Long hair

2008-10-19T18:17:00.004+02:00

A fine head of hair, if I do say so myself. Definitely in my hippy phase, about 1978. Weird thing was I was far more into punk music than hippy music (though I did like prog rock too).

Posted by Anthony

Euphoria

2008-10-19T18:12:00.002+02:00

My first band was called Euphoria, originally me and 'Big' Chris Gibbs, later joined by two other guys whose name I can't remember. We never gigged under that name, though later Chris and I played together in PSI, who did at least perform in public and even released an EP. This is us at my folks house, shortly before the police turned up (again) to tell us to turn the noise down. 1979.

Posted by Anthony

Nancemellin

2008-10-19T18:05:00.002+02:00

Jon was a farmer's son, and occasionally there were parties in one of their barns.

These were legendary in their drunkeness, though the more extreme pics have yet to be unearthed and scanned in. I have fond memeories of Caroline, the girlfriend of Jon's older brother Brenton who let us all snog her repeatedly. That's the Cornish for you. Here are Steve and Jon, roughly 1978.

Posted by Anthony

Flight 77 Rock Carlyon Bay

2008-10-14T13:22:00.005+02:00

More photos taken by Robin Burns around 1981/82 at a guess. This was a local band night at Carlyon Bay and the biggest stage we ever played on. All that room to run around in and yet we were tethered to our effects pedals by puny 10ft guitar leads. At this gig we met our future sound man Colin Hannah who had just come back from touring with the likes of Shirley Bassey and U2. I think there might be some crude video footage of this gig somewhere.

We had a pretty good time on this stage and loved having a huge sound blasting through a 4.5K rig. I remember hearing my bass sound bounce off the back wall and shake the stage during the sound check...what a great feeling that was.

Shame about the Macsalvors white jump suits...I can't remember who's idea that was but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Posted by Steve

Flexitoys Smashing Night!

2008-10-14T13:10:00.004+02:00

Not much to add to that really (click on press cutting for full sized view you can actually read).
Posted by Steve

Hair cut at last!

2008-10-04T20:38:00.004+02:00

Partly as a result of getting in so much trouble, I cut my hair shortly after the last pic. Big improvement I think we can all agree. Here I am in 1980 on the Pyramid Stage, which I used to put up and take down and generally roadie on around the free festivals.

Posted by Anthony

PSI

2008-10-04T20:29:00.002+02:00

Straying away from Cornwall a tiny bit, but just to show Steve wasn't the only rocker. Anthony played in various bands, mostly crap ones, but the one I was most proud of was PSI, sort of acid-rock. This pic was taken by Jon Smith at a very stressful gig in London, as Kings Cross skinheads had threatened to 'do' us if we played. What actually happened instead was the drugs squad, though subsequently we did have trouble with the skinheads, bless 'em. Seemed to get in trouble a lot in those days, probably because my dress sense still left a lot to be desired. Check that headband!
Posted by Anthony

St. Agnes fashion

2008-10-04T20:25:00.002+02:00

Anthony outside his step-mums about 1979 just after coming back from Berlin. Frankly, its a miracle I ever got a girlfriend with that fashion sense, never mind one who would go round Europe with me.

Posted by Anthony

Rock 'n' Roll Part II

2008-10-04T20:21:00.002+02:00

Love Among The Ruins press shot taken near Marazion circa 83/84 apparently. Dave, Paul and Steve. Another great pic.
Posted by Anthony

Love Among The Ruins

2008-10-04T20:16:00.009+02:00

And after Flight 77 came....Love Among the Ruins, though I think that may have been a name change rather than anything else. Great photo, apparently taken at Roche (near the Eden Project) out in the wilds, somewhere circa 83/84. Bit outside the Droof Boys time period, but interesting to see the progression. Left to right, Steve Cox, Paul Eustice, Dave Sweet. Great expressions, lads! And the amiable Dave looking particularly mean!
Posted by Anthony

Yes, these promo photos were taken by a student from Filton College we got to know. We spent a couple of days in Cornwall roaming about finding locations to take them. That's Roche Rock with it's little hermit's chapel on top in the background. We also went to Tintagel and Carn Brea if I remember. Zero points for spotting the similarity to the U2 Joshua Tree period photos. Very eighties.
Posted by Steve

Flight 77

2008-10-04T20:08:00.006+02:00

And after Flexi Toys came....Flight 77! This very professional looking picture was apparently taken in front of Dave's garage by the West Briton Newspaper, Redruth's version of the NME (not really), perhaps in 82/83. At the back is the drummer whose name I can't remember and Steve Cox, who I am fairly certain was on bass then, and at the front Paul Eustice (guitar) on the left and an unusually moody looking Dave Sweet (vocals) on the right. Must have been the look in those days, as Dave normally looks very...sweet. They all had very nice hair...
Posted by Anthony

The drummer was called Mike Tremethick and he was a very good drummer. His Stuart Copeland style Rototom fills were pretty awesome. After a quick Google I found out he's still playing in a band called 'Area 51'. You can read about him here. Flexitoys and Flight 77 even get a mention.

I can't remember why the West Briton took our photo but we did get another entry in The Falmouth Packet after our first gig at the Penventon. See the post: 'Smashing Night'.
Posted by Steve

FlexiToys

2008-10-04T20:01:00.012+02:00

After The Imports, was...FlexiToys. Here they are at the Penventon Hotel, Apollo Nightclub sometime in 1981 (according to Paul Eustice) doing a sound check before the Art School Dance. Paul Eustice left, Steve Cox middle, both playing guitar, and I'm not sure who's playing bass on the right, though it looks a lot like Dave Sweet. My memory of those days is a bit rusty. No drummer?

Posted by Anthony

Yes indeed. This was a sound check before the first of several Art School Dances we performed at. I can tell you that we were actually playing a cover of 'Sultans of Swing' by Dire Straits as I was playing rhythm guitar to Paul E's lead. I can also confirm that it is Dave Sweet on bass and the drummer (out of shot) was Mike Tremethick as seen in the West Briton aand Falmouth Packet photos above. Little did we know that one of us was going to end up in hospital later on that night...

The photo was taken by a guy called Robin Burns who's mother used to live next door to Mike Applebee's mum in Tregajorran. Robin was also at the Art College with us and this was developed in the Art School photo labs. I also bought Robin's Honda CB 175 off him whilst at college and that served me well for several years.

Sadly Robin died in an accident several years later after he emigrated to the USA and joined the US Lifeguard.
Posted by Steve

The Imports

2008-09-11T08:31:00.021+02:00

At some point in 1978 when I was 16, I was approached by the laddish pair of Martin Laity and Gary Taberer in the school library. They were in the Upper 6th form (the year above me) and they had started up a punk band called 'The Imports'. They had heard that I played electric guitar and wondered if I fancied coming along to a practice at the drummer's house one night.

So, off I went to Mike Rolling's house at the top of Lanner with my Jedson Les Paul copy (which to me looked pretty close to Mick Ronson's guitar from the Ziggy days) and WEM 20watt practice amp. After running through a dozen or more songs of their own and a few Pistols and Clash covers I was pronounced 'in'.

Their only other guitarist at that point was Chris 'Telephone' Booth and I only recall that initial rehearsal with both of us present. The next time we rehearsed I found myself the only guitarist in the band. No questions asked...

The only 'musician' amongst us was Mike the drummer who could play the drums well, sing and play guitar. The rest of us managed to make a fairly decent sound on top and the Imports were born.

Martin Laity became 'Rat Poison' on lead vocals, Gary Taberer thumped along on bass as 'Charles Darwin', I became Captain Biffo on lead guitar and Mike 'Raphone' Rollings held it all tightly nailed down on drums. It was great fun...and dangerous! There will be blood as I was later to find out...

The Imports had many of their own songs but the only two titles I remember were "Dial-a-Dole Queue" and "Not To Be Taken Away". The latter was inspired by thieving a roll of stickers from the library which were meant to be applied to reference books that weren't allowed to be removed. Oh, the irony of it all. For the next few weeks, those with keen eyes could spot these stickers applied to any surface that came within reach...including the headmaster's car and a chimney stack outside the Redruth brewery. Genius.

Our first gig at the Tuckingmill Pavillions outside Camborne featured a small riot and Rat Poison was bottled on stage. I will never forget looking across at him to see a small trickle of blood rolling down his forehead as he shouted back at the audience..."WHOEVER THREW THAT I DON"T LIKE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!" before we hurtled into a cover version of 'God Save The Queen'. We made the papers that week and had a visit from the Police as some bright sparks had thought it a good idea to drag an iron park bench across the bowling green outside after the gig. Several hundred pounds worth of damage apparently. Nothing to do with us.

The following week The West Briton carried the front page headline: "PUNK ROCK GETS THE BOOT FROM REDRUTH'. Ours was not an isolated incident it seemed and the town council had seen fit to ban any punk band from playing there. "Why would they want to anyway?", I asked myself.

Our next gig at the Penzance Winter Gardens "Demelza's", did not go off without incident either. The Sex Pistols had played there the previous year and I remember Sid's graffiti in the dressing room which we got ready in. We supported another band I forget the name of and all I can remember is having to turn my back at one point on stage as I was being heavily 'gobbed' on. Yuk.

The Sex Pistols at Penzance Winter Gardens, September 1st 1977 - Photo by Anthony

Having finished our set I got a drink and sat at a table to watch the next band. The next thing I knew was Anthony leading me to the dressing room as my nose pumped out blood after getting twatted from behind by a skinhead. Whilst we were in there he decided to come back with his skinhead mates and kick open the door, stand there frothing at the mouth whilst looking as HARD as he could before marching off. What a twat.

Another visit from the Police after that one as some other geniuses had stolen the night club's generator after the gig. Nothing to do with us.

We also found out that very night that The Sex Pistol's had split up. History in the making.

The final gig of The Imports took place at Carharrack Village Hall in late 1978 and must surely go down in history as being one of the finest battles ever fought on Cornish soil.

The evening began well. We had three or four bands lined up. We were headlining with a band called "The Diseased". We had just done our first set and I was enjoying The Diseased give a sterling performance of one of their own top songs "Big Cream Doughnuts" when I became aware of the sound of car and motorcycle engines rumbling outside in the car park. Moments later the doors burst open and in streamed hordes of greasy bikers and local yobbos. After a split second thought of "oh, the place is starting to fill up nicely" I immediately realised that they were not here to listen to "Big Cream Doughnuts" but they were here to beat the living crap out of us.

"Oh shit!" I thought as I battled my way to the exit, receiving a well aimed kick up my arse on the way out (bastard). Out of the corner of my eye as I exited I caught a glimpse of our very own Rat Poison back on stage, whirling a weighted microphone stand around his head shouting "COME ON YOU FUCKERS!"...

Caharrack yobs on the Rampage

It was total carnage. Those lucky enough to fight their way out spent the next two hours playing hide and seek with the greasers in and around the gardens and back alleyways of Carharrack. All the while a couple of Policemen sat in a car up the road waiting for it to all die down before they came to investigate. The small group I was with were taken in by an elderly couple who gave us cups of tea and digestive biscuits whilst we listened to motorcycles circling around the village looking for us. It must have been a bizarre sight having half a dozen punks sat in this old couple's sitting room waiting for the coast to clear.

After an hour or so we felt brave enough to return to the village hall where I discovered Mike Raphone clinging to his most expensive Zildjian cymbal. "Next time I'm going to throw this and take their fucking heads off!" he mumbled through a rather red and swollen fat lip.

The main casualty of the night had been The Diseased's guitarist on stage at the time. He carried on playing until the last moment apparently, the fool, and was pulled off the stage, had his guitar stamped in half and his arm broken as he was still playing it. He was carted off by ambulance to Truro (don't know what happened to his guitar). The remaining casualty list was just cuts and bruises (and my sore arse) fortunately.

I think we may have done a couple of 'Jam nights' at The William IV in Truro after that (I met Be Bop Deluxe's drummer at one of those - he said we were the best band of the night. We played a song I had written so I was well-chuffed).

The Imports became no more and the rest as they say is history, which became myth and in turn became legend before being totally forgotten about by everyone except me which is why I'm writing this. The end.

Posted by Steve

Young People

2008-08-12T11:19:00.003+02:00

Top pic: Marc Simmons, Steve Cox, Jon Cox, Mike Applebee, 80sish?

Bottom pic: Jon Handley, Jon Smith, Mike Applebee, Marc Simmons, 80ish for a guess. Mike looking virtually unconscious, obviously overcome by Jon's rock n'roll charisma.

Confused identities

2008-08-12T11:14:00.005+02:00

Jon Cox and Angie Clay, probably around '79/80. Jon looking like a proper punk, Angie looking like the troubled Leonard Cohen fan that she was in those days. Jon now lives in Thailand, Angie is now a deputy head teacher in Bristol, two kids grown up and another young one with her puppeteer husband. I went out with Angie for a couple of lively years, part of which we were living in Clapham, with Jon Smith camping in the front room, Catherine Parker upstairs, and a load of Cornish squatters next door.

Posted by Anthony

More Perran Sands 1979

2008-08-12T11:08:00.004+02:00

A fairly typical night out in one of the many bars at Perran Sands, can't remember any of their names. Left to right are Denise, Ron, ?, Mick May, Yvonne, ?, Me (Anthony) - as stylishly dressed as I usually was, and various others, with Mike Parker and Jon Smith on the right, where Jon has been ever since!

Posted by Anthony

Old Skool

2008-08-12T10:11:00.003+02:00

Some photos that Phil took of the old Grammar School as it now is, having seen better days. To me there's something about corridors and stairwells that I associate with school, probably as we had more fun in them than in the actual classroooms.

Anthony

First Legal Drink

2008-07-03T11:43:00.003+02:00

Following on from Anthony's Perran Sands posts...here's one taken at one of the nightclubs on the camp. My 18th birthday, August 19th 1979. From left to right: Mike Parker, Mike Applebee, Jonathan Handley & Myself. I'm not sure what we were all looking so pensive about...probably just trying to look serious and grown-up...and failing. Posted by Steve

Flexitoys

2008-07-03T11:37:00.003+02:00

As previously mentioned by Anthony, females did feature on the scene when we weren't just doing the 'blokey' stuff. Here's a photo of myself and Kathryn Middleton taken at the very first gig I did with a band called The Flexitoys at the Tyringham Arms, Lelant in Cornwall. About 1980 I would imagine.
Posted by Steve

Oh what fun we had...

2008-07-03T11:27:00.006+02:00

As already discussed, we had a lot of fun at Perran Sands. The staff were treated like shit, but we didn't care. Free/cheap food from the catering staff, very cheap drinks from the bar staff. No wonder management hated us. Most nights we would end up in one of the pub/clubs partying away (at least I did anyway). There are a number of pics of these occasions (1979) taken by the official photographers, of various groups of pissed staff. This one is predominantly catering staff. Back row from right to left, the chef from St. Agnes (?), Jon Smith, Denise, Mike Parker, and Yvonne. On the left hand side in the white top is Chrissie, who I really fancied, but that's a long story...Second row from right; Ron the Welsh kitchen porter alcoholic who used to play House of the Rising Sun on guitar when pissed, Jon Handley, Debbie Strutt. Mick May in the middle of the front row with the Catering Manager on his lap. I had a very brief thing with the girl front right, Liz.

Posted by Anthony

Shirley

2008-07-03T11:17:00.004+02:00

In case you think it was all about the boys (and it mostly was), there were a number of girls as well. Mike Applebee went out with Catherine Parker, Steve went out with Kathryn Middleton, Mike Parker with Annie Harding amongst others, Jon Smith with Cathie Archer and Anthony Hewitt with Shirley Northey. Shirley was my first proper girlfriend, but being a callow and ignorant youth it was some years before I appreciated quite how lovely she was, and what a mug I was for dumping such a fine girl and going out with a succession of psychos instead. Luckily for Shirley, she now has a good bloke, sons, etc and has moved back to the Old Country.

Posted by Anthony

Fashionistas

2008-06-26T16:19:00.001+02:00

I would like to say that we led the way in fashion in Cornwall - if that isn't an oxymoron - but it wouldn't be true. We were certainly different though, as Mike Applebee demonstrates somewhere around 1980.

Posted by Anthony

Beam me up, Scotty!

2008-06-26T16:10:00.001+02:00

As Steve rightly said, Jon Smith was endlessly entertaining in those days, and still is. Here he is amusing himself in one of those photo booth things.

Posted by Anthony

Mmmm....what do I do now?

2008-06-26T15:59:00.005+02:00

A few of us at a party in Anthony's house in St.Agnes in 1979/80. This picture was taken in the kitchen. The whole house would probably be condemned nowadays. Left to right are Perry Watson, Marc Simmons (who moved to Australia soon after and has been there ever since), Jonathan Handley, Anthony Hewitt and the lovely Nikki Jones. As you can see she is very impressed by my "Drug Users Against Nazis" badge and my fine fashion sense. Chuffed as I patently am at having her head on my shoulder nothing did ever come of it, more's the pity.

Posted by Anthony

Video Snippet from 1980

2008-06-17T08:22:00.007+02:00

Terrible quality but can you recognise this? My bedroom with it's resplendent orange wallpaper and tacky posters everywhere. That was my drawing board area...oh and my bass and guitar there in the corner by the tv. Was it really that dark and dingy...I think it probably was! The times we had there listening to music, philosophising into the night. Most weekends the floor was covered with sleeping bags...where did it all go wrong?

Music: Quiet Life by Japan
Posted by Steve

Smokes

2008-06-16T19:45:00.007+02:00

Smoking kind of arrived on the scene in the mid 70's and it wasn't too long before most of us were puffing away like troopers on our favourite bit of 'shag' in the form of roll-ups. Smoking 'loose' tobacco was relatively cheap, had built in ritualistic rolling communal kudos and was also useful when rolling 'other things'. Most of us started off on 'Old Holborn', a rich blend of moist licquorice threads soaked in old men's sweat and diced with tramp's shoelaces. It wasn't long before most of us realised that we weren't going to see the age of twenty let alone old age if we didn't pack this in pronto. Most made a bee-line for the much more sophisticated and milder Golden Virginia. Others plumped for Drum, Dumas or the disgusting 'straw that has been wee'd on' flavoured Three Caftles which they couldn't even spell right on the packet.

The cigarette paper also provided room for customisation, Rizla courteously supplied papers in various thicknesses, lengths and also the licquorish flavoured ones (not illustrated) favoured by Jon Smith for a quarter of a century. 'Wheatstraws' were the vegetarian version if I remember correctly. My papers of choice were the 'Job' or 'Jobe'...or was it just J.B with a big fat diamond in the middle looking at the packet again? Job's were the biz, silky smooth, classy and came in twin packs so you'd never run out...well, not as often anyway. I felt like a god when I smoked them.

We must have puffed our way through tons of the stuff over the years but fortunately it's a thing of the past. I'm glad it's gone. I don't miss pockets full of tobacco crumbs, running out of fag papers when the shops are shut, not being able to smoke in some people's houses and other places, having orange fingers and coughing like a bastard in the mornings. However if I catch the occasional whiff of a roll-up it transports me back in time, I quite like that. Never, ever offer me one though...too damn dangerous.
Posted by Steve

Carn Brea

2008-06-16T14:51:00.014+02:00

Carn Brea was probably the epicentre of our escapades around Redruth and mid-Cornwall in the mid to late 70's. Almost a central island overlooking Redruth and Pool, with Camborne to the West, St. Agnes to the North and Lanner to the South. Often a rugged route home to Mike Applebee's in Tregajorran after a night out at the London Inn, Redruth to watch a band or just drink some beer.

One of the most atmospheric places you will find in the area day or night. The picture above is an image I created by drawing over a black & white un-fixed photo with waterproof ink and then washing the photo away. I did this during my foundation year at the art college in Pool which is right at the foot of Carn Brea.

The two photos below were taken by Phil G and show myself, Mike Applebee and Marc Simmons larking about on Midsummer's Eve 1980. The weather was cold and windy for a Summer's evening.

Photos by Phil Gilbert

I found this old pastel sketch in an old sketchbook dated November 15th 1978 which I think commemorates the fateful 'Gollum' night (see previous entry). We had just come back from The London Inn after watching the Braniac Five featuring Bert Biscoe. I think we took several hours getting home, taking a 'short' cut through the St. Euny churchyard, over Carn Brea and then down to Tregajorran. We were in our own world up on Carn Brea that night.

Posted by Steve

Middle Earth

2008-06-16T13:11:00.019+02:00

A very popular read amongst us in the mid seventies was you-know-what...yes, Lord of The Rings. Either Anthony or Mike introduced me to this and let's face it...for a short while it laid down a background fantasy contrasting with the dullness of living in the post industrial landscape of mid-Cornwall in the 1970's. In fact, although I'm no psychologist I think we pretty much superimposed part of Middle Earth over the area we used to roam in. Carn Brea became our Minas Tirith or Weathertop, Treslothan Woods was magically transformed into Lothlorien, The Brea Inn became the Prancing Pony at Bree. Redruth, Camborne and St.Agnes were obviously Mordor and after ascending Weathertop we used to survey it's demonic fires burning in the night below before descending in the dark back down the hill to Bag End (Tregajorran) and take refuge for the night, all the while keeping an ear out for Black Riders who might be lurking in the vicinity.

Overlooking Redruth and Camborne from Carn Brea in the 1970's. St.Agnes Beacon belches forth fire and smoke in the distance.

Some of us mysteriously began to take on Middle-Earthian personas. I was obviously Strider, only because I was the tallest and could lay claim to the title 'Longshanks'. Mike became a Hobbit and if you look carefully in some of the photos he is wearing a small leather boot...this had some significance but I can't remember what. Phil G became an Elven Prince and still likes to be called 'Prince Philbert' if you please. I'm not sure about the others but I remember one night when we scaled Weathertop...I mean Carn Brea, and one of our party, Simon Hart decided that he was in fact Gollum and disappeared into the gloom to periodically attack us as we made our way across the rocky summit towards Bag End, I mean Mike's place at Tregajorran.

Simon 'Gollum' Hart

Mike Applebee and myself were presented with a real chance to pass through a mystical portal (a window in a derelict mine building beneath Carn Brea) into Middle Earth once, from which we would not be able to return. Amazingly we chose to stay in Redruth and take the consequences. I'm still not sure if we made the right decision.

The Jimmy Cauty poster at the top of this post used to grace my bedroom wall for a couple of years. Amazing to think he drew that when only seventeen years of age apparently. It certainly inspired me in my future and current career as an illustrator.
Posted by Steve

Pratts...

2008-06-15T20:34:00.006+02:00

The casual observer will have noticed the dominance of army surplus clothing in many photos. Was this a fashion statement of choice or was it purely because we were pretty hard up and it was only Cornwall so who gave a toss what we looked like anyway? Or was it something completely different altogether, slightly sinister perhaps? We're not going to tell you because we can't remember. Combat jackets were brilliant for having zillions of pockets and secret compartments to stash your stuff and the RAF greatcoats were fantastically warm for stonking up Carn Brea in the middle of the night. All these garments were purchased from Pratt's of Hayle. I think there still might be a small army surplus store trading from the market there.
Posted by Steve

Tregajorran Boys

2008-06-15T18:04:00.004+02:00

A classic shot taken by Anthony capturing a moody moment in front of a caravan next to Mike's Mum's house in Tregajorran beneath Carn Brea. Combat jackets (apart from my Belstaff), roll-ups and a pose that suggests we should have been in a Clash-like punk band. I can't remember the occasion but Mike's place at Tregajorran was a regular on the circuit, particularly if we'd had a jaunt up to Carn Brea and back. Happy days.
Posted by Steve

Bohemian daze...

2008-06-15T16:35:00.008+02:00

I shared a chalet with Mike Parker and his very lovely girlfriend Annie Harding, until they split up and it was just Annie and I. I didn't half fancy her, but nothing ever came of it, perhaps because of my appalling fashion sense.

Posted by Anthony

Myself and Mike Parker were there the previous year, sharing a chalet in 1978. We had a great time that summer but it was much more fun when loads more of us worked there. I found myself 'shacked up' with Kathryn Middleton for six weeks...almost like being a grown-up.

Almost...

Fantastic summer and probably our last all together in the same place.
Posted by Steve

Mike and Jon Perran Sands

2008-06-15T16:27:00.005+02:00

Mike Applebee and Jon Smith on the roof of their chalet. For most of us the staff chalets at Perran Sands Holiday Camp were the first homes we could call our own. We had one hell of a lot of fun that year, summer 1979.

Posted by Anthony

Mr Non-Electric

2008-06-15T12:53:00.007+02:00

Jon Smith had us in stitches (again) the other night at a very enjoyable 'Cornish Boy's' get-to-gether 'round at Anthony's last week. He proudly claimed that he was the only one of us who could continue with his work 'without electricity'. One can only assume that his home also runs without this new-fangled technology and they are using telephones powered purely by vegetable oil. It's fairly unlikely that we will be seeing any postings from Jon personally for the time being as he won't share his email address with anyone in case somebody steals his identity. Would anybody actually want to steal it I'd like to know? Rumour has it that he is in possession of an elastic band-powered email address but at present it's top secret.

Back in the day Jon was a very talented performer and would entertain us for hours with incredible stories he'd made up or just sheer brilliant tomfoolery. Here we can see Jon entertaining with some false teeth purloined from his elder brother Brenton, who I believe was studying as a dental technician at the time.

To this day Jon maintains many fierce beliefs and wondrous philosophies that leave us reeling in his wake...
Posted By Steve

Classic Albums - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

2008-06-14T21:11:00.003+02:00

What can I say? Probably for me, Bowie's finest album which has stayed with me through the years and even now I can go back to it and get a massive buzz from it. I was a late developer when it came to Bowie being only 10 or 11 when this came out. Something I never forgave Bowie for as I always felt two years behind. It was Andrew Sykes who pointed me in the right direction and lent me this album, allowing me to hear it for the first time. I distinctly remember waiting outside in the cold for the school to open it's doors one cold morning. I had a copy of Diamond Dogs under my arm and Andy asked what I thought of it and brought in Ziggy Stardust the next day. I don't think any of the parties we went to over the next few years would have been complete without sticking on 'Moonage Daydream' and 'freaking out' with our air guitars. This was the album that got me into playing guitar after hearing Mick Ronson's stunning guitar sound. I could rant on...
Posted By Steve

Melrose House 1980?

2008-06-14T19:32:00.005+02:00

And a few years later, back in the kitchen at Melrose House and we all look so young, good-looking and dynamic! Least I do anyway. Back row, left to right: Jonathan Handley, Phil Gilbert, Mike Applebee, Jonathan Cox, Steve Cox; middle row, left to right: Michelle Rudd (went out with Chris Parker and then Jon Smith, they had a daughter, Kizzy Rudd), Catherine Parker, Anthony Hewitt, Matthew Watson; seated, Perry Watson left, Chris Parker right.
Posted by Anthony

Melrose House 197?

2008-06-14T19:21:00.003+02:00

In the kitchen at Melrose House in Lanner, the house of the Parker family. We seemed to end up in here a lot. Left to right: Mike Applebee, Mike Parker, Steve Cox, Catherine Parker behind and Jonathan Handley on the right. Catherine looks so young! I think this was before she was going out with Mike Applebee, and definitely before she married Steve Cox. That's the Cornish for you, why look further afield! Judging by the bleary eyes I think this was probably one of the numerous 'mornings after'. And that's why I can't remember much before I was 25.
Posted by Anthony

Classic Albums - In The Court of The Crimson King

2008-06-13T10:15:00.010+02:00

Mid to late seventies essential listening for most. This album was carted around from house to house until we all had a copy. I think it was Mike who introduced me to the mighty King Crimson. Five seconds into 20th Century Schizoid Man and I was hooked. Totally atmospheric album...as most of theirs' were. Stunning album cover as well. For me, Crimson was like a backing track to our jaunts up to the top of Carn Brea in the middle of the night and other adventures. A classic.
Posted by Steve

Hairy Bikers

2008-06-13T10:03:00.003+02:00

And here's an early one of Mike (taken by Jon Smith?) sat on his recently restored Triumph Tiger Cub. I can just see him know, hurtling down country lanes with his RAF greatcoat flapping away, roll-up in mouth no doubt. Mike was the first of us to get a proper motorbike. It was an inspiration to me and I got myself a BSA C15 250cc a year or so later. Jon had a Ducati but I don't think it ever got on the main road. Phil had a Kawasaki I think. Phil and I are still riding bikes but we have yet to meet up and go for a blast...it will happen this year I hope.
Posted by Steve

Perran Sands

2008-06-13T08:17:00.004+02:00

A classic photo, by Jon Smith I think. Left to right: Steve Cox, Mike Applebee, Mike Parker, Anthony Hewitt. We loved our greatcoats: portable larders, sleeping bags and babe magnets. We had all just been to Perran Sands Holiday Camp at Perranporth in Cornwall for interviews to get a job for Summer 1978, by the look of it after yet another weekend of roaming around the area looking for parties.
Posted by Anthony

Fashion, turn to the left...

2008-06-13T08:14:00.004+02:00

(A young looking) Jon Smith and Mike Applebee. We all spent a lot of time getting the trendiest haircuts and fashionable clothing in those days. 1978?
Posted by Anthony

More bikers

2008-06-13T08:10:00.002+02:00

Mike Applebee (with the fine haircut and small bicycle) and Steve Cox - Tregajorran. 1978?
Posted by Anthony

How to chat up girls...

2008-06-13T08:04:00.006+02:00

Matthew's 16th again (1977). Left to right: Steve Cox, Mike Applebee, Catherine Archer, Jon Smith. Cathy came as Mike's girlfriend and left as Jon's. She appears enthralled by his chat-up lines. Mike seems to be unconscious in all these pics!
Posted by Anthony

The Regal Cinema

2008-06-12T23:52:00.009+02:00

I used to walk past here on the way to school every day. We always knew exactly what was showing at any given time. I illegally sneaked into my first AA film at the age of 12 here (Westworld, starring Yul Brynner as a psycho robot cowboy), probably my first X-rated film too, although that might have been 'Goodbye Emmanuelle'(1977) at Kings Cinema in Camborne thinking about it. We saw bands here too. My first ever gig was the Glitterband (sans Gary) in 1974, I was 12. It was awesome...and very sexy being surrounded by loads of screaming girls. I went with a mate David Knowles. This was before I got into grown-up rock music obviously. I did see them twice though...and Showaddywaddy. A year or so later it was stuff like Greenslade and Camel but I never went to those...too proggy for me. I was into Bowie by then anyway.

From films such as 'That'll Be The Day' to 'Star Wars', 'Alien', 'Apocalypse Now', 'Straw Dogs', 'Monty Python's Holy Grail', the list is endless...all of them were seen here at Redruth's finest Flea Pit. Occasionally we would go over to The Cameo in Tuckingmill which had a reputation as a bit of a sleazy cinema showing films like 'Confessions of a Window Cleaner' and other such smut. The only thing I remember seeing there was 'Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii' on the insistence of Phil Gilbert. Was that a good film? I don't really remember much about it.

I do remember walking past The Regal in 1973 and seeing crowds queuing up to watch 'The Exorcist'. There were some (Christians) with placards trying to stop people going in to watch it. Apparently they were offering counselling afterwards for those who were freaked out by the film. Can't imagine that happening today...except in Redruth maybe.

Good old Regal...still going too. One of the few things in Redruth that is still functioning.
Posted by Steve

Drink it all!

2008-06-12T23:16:00.006+02:00

Matthew Watson's 16th birthday (July 19th 1977). We all drunk everything we could possibly find in the house. At this particular point Jon Smith has a bottle of some fizzy wine and is trying to open it indoors after shaking it up lots, and we are all trying to stop him. Matthew Watson is trying to wrest the bottle off him, Steve Cox in the open shirt and Jon Handley crushed beneath Steve. Mike Applebee has passed out (in the stripes) underneath everyone else. What fun we had!

Posted by Anthony

I remember the bottle finally being opened outside on the gravel drive...wasn't there a photo? - Steve

Geography Field 'Trip'

2008-06-12T21:53:00.006+02:00

Left to right: Anthony Hewitt, Mike Parker (hiding), Matthew Watson, Richard 'Wombie' Commons. A geography field trip and an excuse to shun school uniform and look stranger than normal. This pic was taken at the bottom end of the Tolgus playing fields.
Posted by Anthony

I think I was at college by this point so I'm guessing 1978. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't psilocybian substances play a part in this photo!? - Steve

Biker Steve

2008-06-12T21:48:00.005+02:00

He's got a much bigger one now!

This was taken at Mike Applebee's mum's place in Tregajorran, part of an amusing series of photos.
Posted by Anthony

A note to the wise: White plimsoles and motorcycling don't mix. - Steve

School Staircase

2008-06-12T16:54:00.011+02:00

Amazing what you find on the internet when you hunt around. No prizes for guessing where these were taken. The school has been converted into a series of artist's workshops apparently. Tell us about it Phil, you went there recently didn't you? Is that really the same red lino thousands upon thousands of Redruth Grammar boys have trodden upon over the decades? The bigger photo shows the foyer or whatever it was called. Remember the vending machine that would have been there against the wall on the right? Two pence for a cup of hot chocolate in a buff-coloured plastic cup if I remember correctly. What was behind that blue door in the background? I remember a list of 'War Dead' high up on the wall. There was also a wooden carving of a woman carrying a baby or something there on the window ledge in the smaller photo on the left. Vague memories of an ape or something as well...or maybe that was just one of the masters? Must have trudged up and down these stairs hundreds of times over the years. Not sure what Mr Davey would make of the furniture..."Ssssh babes". Posted by Steve
Photos were pilfered from here.

As Seen From Carn Brea

2008-06-12T16:14:00.007+02:00

To see this larger you'll have to go here and click on 'all sizes' above the photo. Many thanks to The Hidaway for permission to use his excellent photo on this blog. There's another really good one here as well. Posted by Steve

Redruth Grammar School 1976

2008-06-12T15:48:00.007+02:00

Click on the photo for a closer look.

I cheekily pinched this from The 'RCGS Reunion' website. I hope Bob doesn't mind. I have got a copy of these two panoramas in a box...somewhere, I think. Posted by Steve

Tolgus

2008-06-12T14:22:00.002+02:00

Sends a shiver down my spine...I don't know why...
Posted by Steve

The Old School

2008-06-12T12:33:00.000+02:00

Scoured the internet trying to find photos of the old place and found this. Before our time obviously. The small bushes at the front were trees when we were there. Note the absence of the buildings on the left and right. What was there on the right? Was it Woodwork and the Art room etc? I remember freezing our arses off sitting on those railings opposite the main entrance whilst waiting for 'them' to open the doors and let us in in the mornings. Posted by Steve

Redruth Grammar School 1973

2008-06-12T11:38:00.002+02:00

Click on the photo for a closer look.

Here we go chaps. This was us back in May 1973. Don't we look innocent? This must be shortly before our 1st year camp. Does anybody remember the name of that boy who appears twice on the back row at each end? I remember hearing his footsteps cantering across the hardcourt as the camera slowly panned across us. What a genius! Posted by Steve