The Cherry Boys - Some recordings (1981-83)

Wirral mod band (1979-83) formed by young singer and guitarist John Byrne who, as a recognizable leader of the group, renamed himself John Cherry. The band also featured former City Lights (and future Exhibit B) member James Hughes (on keyboards), Chris Sharrock (on drums, formerly with Young World, later with Icicle Works, La’s, Lightning Seeds) and Keith Gunson (on bass). By 1981 Sharrock quit and was replaced by Howie Minns (a.k.a. Howie De Minzo, also a former member of City Light with Hughes, and later with Exibit B – also with Hughes -- and Bamboo Fringe).

About the early line-up of the band Ian McNabb (Young World, City Lights, Icicle Works) remembers:

‘ Chris Sharrock had left Young World and had joined a group that eschewed the cabaret circuit. Featuring a fine guitarist/writer by the name of John Byrne and singer/bassist Keith Gunson, they called themselves the Cherry Boys. They played original material only, and had recently recorded a demo tape at Open Eye studio in town, produced by a guy called Noddy Knowler. I went to see them play at Lincoln’s Inn, a hip new venue just off Mathew Street, and was transfixed. […] Also, good and fresh as they were, they were definitely retro. Aping the Jam on many levels, who were aping sixties bands themselves.’ (Ian McNabb. Mersey Beast. 57; 60)

Sharrock would later leave the Cherry Boys to join McNabb’s Icicle Works, and was replaced by former McNabb’s bandmate Howie Minns in the City Lights. This caused quite a few awkward moments. McNabb recalls:

‘We [Icicle Works] played at Brady’s again in the summer where local promoter Dave C saw fit to put us on a bill with the Cherry Boys, the band that Chris Sharrock had just left. In a development typical of the Liverpool scene, Howie Minns from City Lights was now the drummer with the Cherries. This of course caused much tension backstage. There was a lot a bad blood between us as I had nicked Chris Sharrock from them, and the Cherries sought to throw us off our guard and ruin our night by stealing my precious Korg synthesizer when we went for something to eat after soundcheck. They protested their innocence but I knew They’d done it. It was my word against theirs so I was fucked. We went next door where Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark had a studio and they took pity on us and lent us a synth to get us through the gig.’ (ibid. 74)

Among the first songs written (in 1979) and demoed (in 1981) was Kardomah Café, in honour of one of Liverpool historical parlours, close to the Cavern Club. But the chronology of the group vinyl releases did not follow that of the songs’ coming into being. The first single of the band, released in January 1981 was:

Man to Man (1981)
a. Man to Man
b. Too Much Confusion
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In 1982 another single came out (Only Fools Die b/w Come The Day ) and between March and September the Cherry Boys recorded two Peel Sessions mostly playing new material. In June 1983, the band released their third single:


Kardomah Café (1983)
a. Kardomah Cafe
b. Airs & Graces

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This proved to be a major success, especially in Spain (where it reached number 6 -- a position above Michael Jackson’s major hit Thriller). In August of the fourth single of the Cherry Boys came out, the (sadly Wham-flavoured):


Shoot the Big Shot (1983)
a. Shoot the Big Shot
b. Falling

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Roumors had it that the band demoed and released a tape with 6 tracks titled Give it Rise including Kardoma Cafe, Come The Day, Why Don't You Write, She's So Young, Phone Call, Don't Leave Me That Way, possibly in preparation for an album that was never-to-be. It was during their time with the band that Hughes and Minns began writing songs together which didn’t quite fit into what The Cherry Boys were about and so a decision was made to strike out on their own and form Exhibit B. The Cherry Boys disbanded in 1984.

Cherry Boys (some singles)

(Thanks to our friend Guitarboy for filling in the missing bits of information)