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The Gutter Band was the brainchild of Martin Ball. He saw Gary Glitter's Show in Nottingham in December `85, and knew it was time for a Glam tribute. Jon Short (bass) suggested the name "Gutter Band" but as a 3 piece ( fronted by Vocalist Paul Miro) managed only 7 Gigs throughout the Summer of `86! Miro left in August and has since achieved semi cult status with projects such as Apes, Pigs and Spacemen. MB and JS targeted Neil Tomlinson as replacement. NT had previously fronted a successful Act called "The Internationals" which he had left in March `86 . His most THE GUTTERBAND - Acknowledged by many as the foremost 70's tribute band. Roy Wouldn't, Aladdin Pain, Norman, Joe Waddywaddy, Malice Pooper & band leader Alvin Tardis provide total entertainment from the opening strains of their introduction to the pyrotechnic conclusion, this show not only creates the original Glam Rock sound with 2 drummers, but also comes complete with a large array of stage props, including the back of a Reliant Robin, an exploding coffin, a Raleigh Chopper & the Rotating Man. Dressed in authentic costume, wearing grease paint & platform boots this is the only show in Europe to feature hydraulic effects, namely the GlamRamp & the Incredible Spinning Man. In addition the band have their own light show. The Gutterband have worked tirelessly for almost 15 years to attain their spendid reputation, appearing at The Hippodrome, Sheffield Arena & Don Valley Stadium - they were also specifically requested to perform at the Sony Music Awards & have appeared at many top holiday resorts, as well as European & University tours plus appearances on the James Whale TV Show & 'Pyjama Party'. Musically the band will take you back to the 70's with a selection of classic numbers that will bring memories flooding back for those old enough to remember that glittering era, whilst there is opportunity for a younger generation to
Jon Short (Bass: Ex March the 3rd) & Vocalist Paul Miro (who goes onto achieve considerable success with Apes, Pigs & Spacemen).
Band adds Guitarist Pete Morton ( Ex March the 3rd) The band in the early days are nothing short of being a Rock band Gudbye T Jane, Cum on Feel the Noize, Metal Guru, no ballads, no finesse - an out and out ear bleeding juggernaut
Short ( As Klit Helicopter ), Neil Tomlinson, Pete Morton ( As Twatty Cudgel ) & ( floor ) Martin Ball ( As Smak Foreskin ).
namely ( pic below ) L- R: Malice Pooper, Gary Gutter, Splodgy Bolder & Aladdin Pain !
the Reliant Robin Car Boot, An Ossa Trials Bike, The "Incredible Spinning Man", The Glam Ramp, The Blackpool Illuminations Cape & the band expand to a 6 piece feat. Ken Furness as "stooge" Gandhi & John McFaul as Lew Cypher (male fire eater.) The band also decide to expand the repertoire and experiment more with orchestration, especially on "Life On Mars" & "Everyday". The Splodgy Bolder character is dropped by Pete and re-brands himself as Roy Wouldn't!
NT also makes a guest appearance in 1990 on "Katie Puckrick's Pyjama Party") Band apply for Opportunity Knocks & New Faces and are turned down flat for both!
Dave Hayes (ex Sound FX) guised as "Doreen Pooper" (Malice's wife / alter ego dressed identically but in white!!) & the Dwarf Julian Skelton joined as Little Jimmy Ossmuck: singing one of 2 tracks: "Short Arsed F***er From Liverpool" OR "If I Had A Hammer (I'd Smash Your F***in Face In!").
from their Tuesday night residency at the Star Hotel in Blackpool. Off the road for 3 months.Stage favourite Gandhi (who had suffered crushed vertebrae in the crash ) managed to return briefly but Lew Cypher, Jon Short and Pete Morton left within days of the prognosis that the Band would be out of action for months !
Gary Gutter, Alvin Ballrust, & Aladdin Pain
In and Out went Alan Guest as Alvin Ballrust (Mimed Bass) & Paul MacDonald (ex Impossible Dream) as Roy Wouldn't (Guitar ), both leaving in December 1989 and LJO (who left in February 1990 & sadly passed away in 1996.) Dave dropped the Doreen Pooper character he had played for a mere 7 Gigs and took the vacated role of Aladdin Pain! As Gandhi left the band his role as "stooge" would be shared amongst various members of the soon to be appointed roadcrew: so at any particular time it could be either Ziggy, Blackpool Benny, Reg or Dukey!!
album with new members Chris Cuttriss (ex Playback Trio / Flying Pit Props - Guitar & Road Manager) as Roy Wouldn't, Glen Broadhurst (Ex Spasms / Actors- Bass) as Joe Waddywaddy & Brian Ashley as Brian the Singing Miner! The few who have heard the Gutterband cassette single "These Boots were made for Stomping" and witnessed Brian's "Womping (Gargle Mix)" on the B.Side witnessed something quite unique. The Single (Only 100 cassette copies ever printed ) was premiered at their third appearance on The James Whale Show along with Brian's version of "Sailing!" The band recorded 1 studio cassette that year called "The Gutterbands Worst Hits " & followed it throughout that season with 2 live cassette albums called "Chocolate Time" and "Full 70's show with a Bit of Glitz". Brian remained with the band until he retired 1993 and was last seen in a retirement home in Clowne, Derbyshire (pic below).
to control lighting / hydraulics & be the band "stooge". Chris left the band in early 1993 after a fallout, & John Grainger (ex chicken ass Blue Band) takes the role apart from Steve Lewis (ex USA) deputising for 1 gig at the Hollies Club in Wath On Dearne. John's back cracked & popped out at Haggeston Catle in Berwick On Tweed & was just about well enough to perform one of his final gigs with the band at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. Paul "Macker" MacDonald accepts the opportunity to return for what became a short second spell as Roy W. Band)
L-R Top: Chris Cuttriss as Roy W, Dave Hayes as Aladdin Pain, Martin Ball as Malice Pooper and Glen Broadhurst as Joe Waddywaddy Bottom: Brian the Singing Miner, Neil T as Gary Gutter & Pete Dawson as Gilbert O' Sillyget
on stooge duties to replace Pete Dawson & Steve Allan (ex Complete Madness) joined as Roy Wouldn't to replace the injured John Grainger.n guitar
Jason Whittle (ex Pure Fantasy) becomes Aladdin Pain on the kit . The band commence their first UK National Tour for Yates's Wine Lodges. These tours continue for the next 3 years & include a short 12 night University Tour.
on stage at the Mayfair Suite in Seaton Carew. He falls from the stage bashes his head and swallows his tongue. Luckily a nurse in the crowd revives him! (Classic quote of the night, as NT falls and bangs his head his wig falls off and someone in the crowd is heard to shout: "***ing hell his hairs dropped out!") Strife strikes again in September when NT gets a career threatening vocal strain called Reinkes Oedema which forces NT to undergo strenuous vocal coaching, speech therapy and solid practice of up to 1 & a half hours daily! Strife strikes again in September `97 when NT discovere
NT as Alvin Tardis, Paul Hudson as Norman Postlethwaite, Jason Whittle as Aladdin Pain. Bottom: Glen Broadhurst as Joe Waddywaddy and Steve Allen as Roy Wouldn't NEWS CLIP NT
As the show had been heavily reliant on the Glitter tracks and persona, the future of the band was once more in jeopardy: Who would buy a band associated so heavily with Glitter Tracks? The band reinvent the show with new intro, 7 new tracks, new costumes and went on to what in NT's opinion was the best period for the band, widening the scope of the material with NT adopting the persona of Alvin Tardis! NT promptly dropped a stone in weight in 2 weeks! The set list read more varied than ever before taking on tracks such as "Heroes", "Sweet Caroline" and even "In the Summertime"......... ......all tracks that 12 years earlier the original Gutters would have avoided like the plague!! The Malice Pooper role then became something of a problem post as in October 98, Dave left to be replaced by Russell Francis. He was also replaced by Haydn Walden in February 2000. HW left in July 2002 to tour with the Rocky Horror Show and was replaced by Bob Wynne. Likewise BW left in Feb 04 to be replaced by James Morley until October 2004. For the few remaining dates that year young Lee McKie took the role!
The band decide to take a sabbatical with the intentions of re-launching after a breather ! The lads Employ Neil Hart as their new frontman and launch a sister show called Beetlejoos .
Steve Allen and David Hayes, & introduce frontman Neil Hart as Alvin Tardis offering over 50 years Gutterbanding experience between the 5 of them !!
Nutty Neil As Neil Tomlinson God Help Us xxx PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE BEFORE YOU PULL ME DOWN THANKS ! |
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