Forgotten Pop Bands of Leeds
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jim
- Posts: 1898
- Joined: Sun 17 May, 2009 10:09 am
Anyone remember:-Preacher's DreamGold, Frankincense, and Disc DriveBrendan Croker and the Five O'Clock ShadowsZoot and the RootsThe Fandango BrothersThe Four HorsemenPrivate DicksFOS BrothersJulie StrotherSome of these may appear on other threads, but I can't face the research!Trying to think of the scores of others I have seen, but the forgettory is on overdrive again.
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Tush001
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed 25 Jul, 2012 9:22 am
salt 'n pepper wrote: Thanks for that Bruno.I did buy a copy of Link Lady/Vapour Trails back in the day and it may even be lying around my house somewhere now.I was sad to discover that the very gifted David Parkinson has passed away. My recollection is that he was rumoured to be an academic who wrote words and music because he could, and that the whole Sneakers thing was more of a hobby for him.There has been a beam of light since yesterday in that I seem to remember the Sneakers drummer's name being John Shepherd, but this does not tie up with the names on the blog in your post.The Sneakers drummer I am thinking of had blonde hair and wore fell boots and denim shorts on stage, even back in 1975. Or it may be that I have conjured the name up subconciously, but that is what I seem to remember. Hi guys...thanks for this superb info. Have been trying to locate info on Sneakers for some time. I only saw them once (mid-70's), but it was a unique gig for me. And here's why... they played at around 2pm on a Sunday afternoon as part of an 'all-dayer' at The Column in Nelson, Lancs. I think the headliners were Stray. But here's the deal...this is the only gig I have ever seen where there were more band members on stage than people in the audience (...myself & 3 mates!!!). Yet they went ahead & played a truly stunning set as is if they were playing to a full house in a big venue. Happy days!!. Does anybody know where I can buy the 45 or any of their recordings?. Thanks again for all your info... Tush (Nelson)
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Tmw
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu 16 Aug, 2012 6:13 pm
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
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book
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Fri 12 Aug, 2011 7:04 pm
I remember them Stree, I also know what GYGAFO stood for! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z_uWMGKNWBsWas this them? 1973 Legend of the Kingfisher album
Is it me or has Leeds gone mad
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Caron
- Posts: 798
- Joined: Wed 28 Mar, 2012 7:34 pm
Stree wrote: Anyone remember GYGAFO? saw them a few times in the 70s, Guildford on the Headrow had an excellent concert room upstairs, saw many a good band there. Inc Franc Blanc.Best band I saw there was Wally, but thats a Harrogate band so doesn`t count. Wey Hey...my brother in law was a singer/guitarist in Franc Blanc. Glad someone on SL remembers them
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gaz1966
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat 03 Nov, 2012 3:14 pm
roger_roger wrote: I'm interested in stories about any of the "forgotten" bands.The ones that don't make the "Wiki" list.One band I'm particularly keen to learn about were active in the late 80s-early 90s. They were from West Leeds/Bramley, named after the school/street/neighbourhood they hailed from, released a single then disappeared. Any ideas?Roger THE SNEAKERS russ elias lead singer got a mini cd 6 tracks oh buddy holly/ see you in miame
gaz1966