Forgotten Pop Bands of Leeds

[Bruno]

If you remember Sneakers and would like to hear their music again, I can recommend contacting macattack and getting your hands on one of his Sneakers ‘packs’ – he advertised them several months ago in the post above, but I have to admit I didn’t immediately understand what he was saying.I’ve got one of the packs, and must say that macattack has really put some effort into putting it together. As well as containing copies of various reviews and other memorabilia such as photographs and facsimiles of the Sneakers ‘newsletters’, he’s included several CDs of music, including a dozen or so studio recordings and three (amateur) full-length live recordings of pub gigs in the late 70’s.Mac is asking for a donation of £20 towards the cost of assembling his pack, which may be a lot of money to some people, but if you’ve got that amount to spare I can tell you that you won’t feel like you’ve been cheated if you send off for one – if you could find a copy of Link Lady in a specialist record shop (which you can’t) there’s no doubt it would cost you more than £20, and you get more than one studio recording of that track included on one of the CDs here.You can contact macattack on email address [email protected] case anybody was wondering, I’m not on commission; I just don’t want any of you to miss out on the opportunity of hearing Sneakers again.     

[Bruno]

I'm just bumping this thread back to the active threads so that those SL members who look in during the week but not at weekends will have the opportunity to read my post (above).

[lorimer37]

The original lineup for Sneakers was Russ Elias (Lead guitar and vocals) Dave Parkinson (Keyboards, vocals and wrote ALL songs) Andy Rawson (Bass and vocals) and John Shepard (Drums). The band as many know struggled to get a record deal despite a huge live following in the North of England. When Punk happened in 1976, the band realized there was no future for their current style of songs, and in early 1977 they embarked upon a haitus for six months to write new material and re-invent themselves. Drummer John Shepard left the band, and the band hired drummer Andy Cave to replace John. Andy had had success with a couple of punk bands, and he joined the new style Sneakers in rehearsal and song writing. The band also added a second rhythm gutitarist in Rob Lowther from Newcastle.
The "New" Sneakers were unleashed on the Leeds public in late 1977, with songs such as; Sweet Jill, Teenagers In Love, Sweater Girls, Boffin in the Backroom, and reworks of the old classics, Prickly Heat and even the essential "Braddock" and "Vapor Trails".
The band continued on doing sold out shows at the Marquee club and other "Name" venues in London and scored a publishing deal. Phonogram had offered them a one single deal on "Teenagers in love", but again true to the Sneakers "Curse" it also fell through.
The band finally disbanded in 1978, and Dave Parkinson, Andy Cave and Andy Rawson started a new venture with GYGAFO guitar player Charlie Staniforth......While in rehearsals, Andy, Andy and Charlie auditioned for a London Singer/ Songwriter called Roy Sundholm who had a record deal with the Boomtown Rats label, were accepted and moved to London, where they recorded two albums with Roy, and toured extensively, opening up for Elvis Costello, the Pretenders and John Miles.
Eventually Charlie and Andy Rawson moved back to Leeds to pursue other ideas, and drummer Andy Cave stayed in London and had a fairly promising session career, Playing on several hit albums, before moving to the United States in 1982, where he still resides

[lorimer37]

Would absolutely LOVE to get my hands on one of macattack's "Sneakers" packs.....I'm the second drummer for the original band (Sweet Jill, Teenagers in Love etc etc) that joined after John Shepard left.....And have been living in the States since 1982.
What an honor it was to play with that band, and to be able to be a small part of Dave Parkinsons brilliant songs.....Also what a surprise to find that others still miss the songs as much as I do, even today....If anyone knows if macattack's email address of [email protected] is still good, or the packs are still available, I would be really grateful to know?
Thanks you guys,
Andy Cave

[lorimer37]

Bruno wrote: Well, I've spent a month now trying to remember a few specifics about the Sneakers, but it hasn't been easy. All I can remember really well is the fuzzy warm glow of total enjoyment that their music used to bring on. This may have been down to the under-age drinking......I note from my list of gigs that I first saw The Sneakers in April 1978 at Haddon Hall. This means that I was only 15 at the time and still in the 5th form at high school. Things have obviously changed a bit since then when it comes to selling alcohol, because I can't remember ever, in my entire life, being asked how old I was, or refused a drink, or being turned away from a pub on the door. I must have been plundering my Post Office account at the time for spending money, because I didn't get my first Saturday job until I was 16 (Sealand Foods, Row A, Kirkgate Market, since you ask, but I digress).Over the next year I saw the Sneakers another 7 times, at Haddon Hall, The Victoria (York Road), The Fforde Grene and Brannigans (bottom of Lower Briggate), before attending what I noted as their Farewell Gig in July 1979 at The Victoria (later to become The Trotters, now the pet shop) where they were supported by Agony Column.The lead singer was quite a character, I believe his real name was Russ but I think he liked to be known as Vince (more Rock 'n' Roll, eh?).Their music was a hybrid of pop, pub rock, rock n roll and R&B - much of it was, as Salt and Pepper mentioned in an earlier post, written by Dave Parkinson, but they also did quite a few cover versions. Songs I remember in particular were 'Boffin in the back room' with its catchy chorus of "Boff boff, boffin in the back room", also Link Lady which was their single, 'Valkyrie of Love' which Dave Parkinson wrote for his 'prodigy' band Cuba, and the absolutely storming rendition of '(All the way to) Memphis' which they used to play at the very end of every gig.You can hear Cuba's recording of Valkyrie of Love here, I have to say the Sneakers did it better in my view, they used to camp it up a bithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKV1OD15k7ASadly there are no Sneakers songs on Youtube that I can find.One other thing I remember was that you could usually tell if a pub was hosting the Sneakers because of the funeral car(s) parked outside.The Sneakers had a group of fans known as The Kippax Hearses who travelled to all the gigs in this particular type of vehicle. I've no idea why, but it was certainly an unusual sight to see a hearse parked up in a pub car park, I can't remember if they had a coffin in the back but maybe somebody else's memory will be jogged? I think Andy Rawson was in the sneakers, he went on to play later with Roy Sundholm

Youre absolutely correct with most of your recollections mate. Dave Parkinson was an absolute genius musically and a real life "Mad Scientist"....He had a doctorate at Leeds U, and was on a grant from the university to do medical research.....Russ Elias was the original frontman and guitarist, and in the post 1977 version of the band, liked to be known as "Vince"....Andy Rawson was the bass player and co-wrote some of the songs, and he did move to London in 1979 to Join Roy Sundholms band along with me and Charlie from GYGAFO. In 1977 the band also added a second guitar player called Rob Lowther from Newcastle. "All the way to Memphis" was a huge favorite for us in the band to play as an encore....."Boffin in the backroom" was a classic, and the lyrics still make me shake my head to this day, in amazement for Daves talent and wit....To give you an example of the bands "Humor", if you listen to "Sweet Jill"....The first chorus backing vocals sound as though the band is singing "Ana na na naah"....In reality, the backing vocals actually are "Haveabanana"...Have a banana.....Much laughter and preparation went into such a small but funny detail......As a rock drummer, that had had success in a couple punk bands, Russ used to introduce me at the Ffore Green and Haddon Hall, as "Big Mal", or "Big Mal Odorous".......Good times....what an honor to play for that band and the fans that still miss the music to this day (As do I)

[Bruno]

If anyone knows if macattack's email address of [email protected] is still good
Andy Cave

Hi mate
You can contact Macattack using a private message on this site. Go to the bottom of the index page (you have to be logged in) and click on the Members tab. Then click on M for the surnames and it comes up with user names in order of registering. If you then click on Username it puts them all into alphabetical order. Then click on Macattack and you'll be given the opportunity to send a private message.
Hope this helps.
Bruno.