This is a site devoted to the history of Sheffield Rock & Pop music. We all know about the famous bands that come from the Steel City, but we want to devote some space to the bands that nearly made it as well.
Contributions of any kind welcomed – photos, reviews, memories, tickets, flyers, all welcomed. We know most readers will have some memorabilia tucked away in a dusty drawer 😉
Ken Patten ran a small studio in his home in Handsworth and had a regular stream of local bands working there. It was almost a John Shuttleworth scenario sometimes, with Ken’s wife calling a halt at 6pm when his tea Was ready. Here’s Vice Versa, with Stephen Singleton, who writes; “the photograph was taken in April 1979. We discovered Ken from an advert in the Sheffield Star. We were in the process of recording a self-financed EP. In 1980 we changed our name to ABC.”
The rest was history 😉
Thanks to Peter Parker!
Released on Native Records (NTV 2) in 12″ format, Feb 1986
Mark Estdale writes: it was Pete and my thing. I was engineering at Vibrasound and at The Music Factory and recording and live mixing for The Box, Hula and In The Nursery as well as doing stuff for the Leadmill and The Limit. I was involved in the Sheffield scene 1979 to 1986. I also ran the PA company Concert Systems for a few years and messed with lights with Hugh Crowther. Chain came out of experimenting with tech and friends at Vibrasound. Native Records were based at The Music Factory and I helped Kevin O’Donoghue with Treebound Story, his first signing.
He heard the Vibrasound tapes and offered us a single deal and I got locqal musos to add bits. We then got offered an album deal but I declined it as it turned what was passion and pleasure into work and I didn’t want to spoil the fun of messing and I hated the Music Factory and record bus bollocks. However Pete and I are planning another outing if I can get into the studio to play.
Peter Hope – vocals
Mark Estdale – drums and cutting up stuff
Mark Brydon – Bass
Elaine McLeod – backing vocals
Robin Markin – piano
Alan Russell – Guitar
Nort – percussion
Possibly due to the rigours of time, neither Elaine nor Alan remember anything about the project 😉
https://www.discogs.com/Chain-Banging-On-The-House-Chains/release/110403
https://peter-hopes-explodingmind.bandcamp.com/album/hoodoo-dance
Spotted in a local charity shop, this 12″ EP dates from 1986 and the tracks are
A1 Believe 4:05
A2 You’re the One 2:50
B1 She’s a Rocker 3:05
B2 Run 2:50
Black Mariah were a well known band on the local rock scene. Played mainly local venues and a short stint on the University circuit. They recorded 6 tracks in a Sheffield studio and they sold these on ‘cassette’ at gigs along with t-shirts.
from the Sheffield Star
More from Russell Fearn