The South Parade (1983-85)

South parade came together as a four-man act in April 1983, originally under the name of The Rich Get Richer. The line-up consisted of Ian Copestake (vocals, guitars, later shortly with the Lilac Trumpets), Ian Wadkins (bass), John Hamlin (keyboards) and Phil Culshaw (drums). For their live appearance in 1984-85 two other people helped out, namely Andy Maher (vocals, guitars) and Delia Winstanley (sax, clarinet).

Although none of their recorded material was ever released, the band recording history is quite long. In March 1983 South Parade recorded their first two-track demo at Pink Studio (When It Rains / Breakdown), followed by other two in 1984, recorded respectively at Cornden House Studio (featuring Out of My Mind / From a Window / Too Much Time / It Must be Understood / I See No Ships) and at Amazon Studio (Sad To Go / I See no Ships).
This was most probably the highlight of the band’s career. As a matter of fact, after an airplay on Radio Merseyside’s program Streetlife, the track I See no Ships was voted by the listeners as their favourite song of 1984, and a few months later, in February 1985, the number Sad to Go appeared on the cassette compilation Two Points to Tonka. At this point South Parade were getting ready for a single released. A couple of demos were produced (in April 1985 – featuring All I Want (a.k.a. All) / Nessie – and in May 1985 – featuring All I Want (a.k.a. All) / Smiffs (a.k.a. Smihts) / When It Rains), but the band split up and nothing came out of these sessions.

Ian Copestake continued recording demos as South Parade throughout 1986 with various musicians (Ian Wadkins, Andy Maher, Delia Winstanley) and, after a short period with the Lilac Trumpets, in 1987 established the band as a duo (with D. Brownlee on vocals and guitars). But also this line-up eventually split. The South Parade finally resurrected in 1991, featuring Copastake, Maher, Terry Jones (bass, former Blue Forest, Third Man) and Justine Welch (drums, later Spitfire, Elastica), but after several live shows, they decided to call it a day in October of the same year.

Some of the 1983-85 line-up’s material can be found here .

The Whiskey Priests - 1985-86

Four piece punk band formed in 1985 by Peter Hurst (guitars, former Marshmallow Overcoat), Paul Scott (bass, former Marshmallow Overcoat, Western Diplomats), Pete Pulford (bass, vocals and tapes), Jon Sharples (drums). They released a self-named 6 track demo in 1985. They played in the Liverpool area (about ten gigs, supporting such acts like Crikey it’s the Cromptons and Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus). After a gig Faith in Pleasure Magazine (1985) commented: ‘There is the singer Pete, the guitarist Pete, a bass player playing his bass with his back to the audience and a drummer who kicks fuck out of his drums. […] the radhet is harsh & aungry & kicks you on the knees. William Burroughs provides a running commentary cut up throughout. […] The racket though is very, very good. […] They did seem very self destructive.’
Before splitting in Summer 1986 they offered the track Forget It All (a cover of a Hoi Polloi song) for the compilation Bugs On The Wire (1987, see picture).

whiskey priests

Wake up Afrika! - The Breadvan

The band from Widnes (Dave ‘Pichilingi’ Fenlon, Duncan Lomax, Ian Donohue, Stephen Hollan, Andy Hignett and John Lyons) - besides contributing the song Love Died on the Road on the compilation Elegance, Charm & Deadly Dangers (1985) and playing extensively in the Liverpool area in support of such acts as China Crisis and The Farm - recorded a demo featuring two songs (Mr. Christie / The Breadvan), before releasing their first official single in 1989 (Simple Words, see relevant post). One of the demo tracks would be later released on a compilation:

breadvan

(see also: http://link2wales.co.uk/liverpool-n-z/liverpool-w/ )

The Bingo Brothers (1983-87)

Pop rock trio from the Wirral, formed in 1983 and featuring A. Roberts (later Jack Roberts), J. Roberts and J. Hewson. Ged Ryan (former Hambi & the Dance, Herbie Pops Out, later Empire, Amsterdam, Gary Murphy Band) played drums. They started by playing extensively the pubs around the Dock Road and eventually got to perform at the Rock for Your Rights Festival (November 1985) to support Liverpool City Council. They released a demo (Caught in the Act) and one single in 1986 (Russians Are Coming). Before the single release the band had one song on the compilation Sons of Jobs for the Boys:

Don't Tell Rita