domingo, 20 de fevereiro de 2022

Paul Armfield (Renegade, Red, White Heat, Déjà Vu)

 Paul Armfield

Paul Armfield was the lead singer for many bands during the 80's. Renegade, Red, Ryder, White Heat and Déjà Vu, with whom record some demo tapes that were compiled by High Roller Records in recent years.

Q. - Hello Paul, tell us a little bit about your beginnings in the rock'n'roll world, who were your main influences, what lead you to be a rock singer?

Paul - In 1969, I was listening to Deep Purple. And I like Ian Gillan as singer.

So, I started to sing and play guitar 🎸. I was 14 years old. In one year, I joined a band called Liquid Gas and we play some big gigs. In 1970 l joined a band called Vena Cava and we also have some great gigs too.



Q. - Tell us a bit about the origins of Renegade, how did it all start?

Paul - In 1975 I joined a band called Cive and we were active for a long while, then in 1979 I joined a new band called Renegade. They were looking for a singer, I answered to the ad and I was chosen to sing in the band. We write all our own song's, Lonely Road, Last Thought, Lock The Door and The Last Warrior.

Q. - The single "Lonely Road / Last Thought" came out in 1980, how did that happen?

Paul - We write the songs altogether. We had a record company called White Witch Records. We recorded on records. No CDs at the time.

Q. - Later on you got some real trouble with your manager that lead to the break of Renegade, can you tell us happen?

Paul - The manager of the record company went off with our money, he's name was Gary Abbott. He went off with some other bands money too, he went off to Belgium with all the money.


Q. - Did you get support from the media back then? Radio, magazines, fanzines?

Paul - Yes Renegade was on the radio station and in the newspapers. And after that we broke up, Renegade was active from 1979 to 1981.

Q. - For a brief period, you were in Ryder, what can you tell us about this unknown band? Did you record any demos with Ryder?

Paul - In 1981 I joined the rock band called Ryder. We played some big gigs and done one demo tape.

Q. - When did you join Red? Were you a founding member?

Paul - In 1982, I was asked to sing 3 songs with a rock band called Red. Fathers Son, Time To Go and Red. Very good songs. They asked me to join the band but I said no because I was going to join another rock band called White Heat.

Q. - There was a demo tape recorded in 1982, what memories do you keep from this band?

Paul - The guitar player in Red was called Raul Grenas. A great guitar player, he is now in a band called Luzbul, in Mexico, and they are doing really good there. Red done a demo with 3 songs and after became ME262.


Q. - Next step you joined White Heat, how did that happen?

Paul - I was in White Heat and recorded 2 songs with them, on a demo tape in 1983, Hide to hell and Missing You.

We played lots of big gigs in Holland, one of them with Uriah Heep. Played the Brixton Academy, good days. White Heat was looking for a singer so I got the job. I was in White Heat from 1983 to 1987.

Q. - Deja Vu was formed in 1987, tell us a bit about it please.

Paul - I joined Deja Vu in 1987 and stayed until 1991. We played lots of big gigs in London and was good band. l left the band because I have to look after my two children and take care of them. The band finished when I left.

Q. – How did the idea to compile Renegade and Red came up?

Paul - The idea came up because 2019 High Roller records run me and said they were interested in both bands and do a compilation and I said yeah that’s fine and they did the cd. John Tucker wrote the liner notes.


Q. - Do you keep in touch with the other former members of Renegade, Ryder, Red, White Heat or "Déjà Vu"?

Paul - The only members of Renegade that I keep in touch is the guitar player, the other ones I don’t know what happened to them, I keep in touch with the guitarist Steve Welsh. Red, I still speak with Raul he is a guitar player in Mexico and I speak with him in Facebook, all the other ones disappeared I don’t know where they gone. White Heat, High Roller Records did a compilation of the band, but I don’t keep in touch with the former members of the band, I don’t know where they are now. Deja Vu, I keep in touch with the guitarist, he lives in Berlin, the other ones I don’t keep in touch.

Q.- What was it like to start a metal band in the late 70s? Did you realize, that something as big as the NWOBHM was going on around the UK?

Paul - I didn’t knew about the NWOBHM at that time, the first time I’ve heard about it I had no idea of it and I was surprised. I start reading about it and I understood that I was part of the History, so that’s good for me.

Q. - Are you still active in rock music these days? Do you still have any band?

Paul - I would like to bring back the band Déjà Vu, that's what I'll try to do in the future and record the songs we wrote.


Q. - Do you keep an eye to hard rock and heavy metal music nowadays?

Paul - I still listen to Deep Purple, it’s one of my all-time favorite bands. I listen mostly to older bands, I don’t like new bands. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Scorpions, I think there were better musicians back in the day than actually.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Paul – Nice to talk to you, cheers.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

 


sábado, 5 de fevereiro de 2022

Mike Howard (Skitzofrenik)

 


Here's an interview with Mike Howard, bass player from the band Skitzofrenik, they were active between 1979 and 1983, and recorded the single U.S.A in 1981. Apart this single, two more tracks made it to the compilation “Roxcalibur” (LP, Guardian Records N’ Tapes, 1982): ‘Exodus’ and ‘Keep Right On’.

Q. - Hello Mike, tell us a bit about the origins of Skitzofrenik, how and when did it all start? Who were the first members of the band?

Mike - Brian Wikson Rhythm Guitar (Skippy). Chris Branley Bass (Snuff). Mike Muskett (Muski). Lead Guit, and Ian Fleetham (Feef) Drums.

Q. - Who would you cite as your major influences at that time?

Mike - Collectively at that time It was Deep Purple/ Black Sabbath/ Rainbow/ Judas Priest etc.



Q. - Where did you record the 81 single "USA"? Was it a self-produced or did you work with a professional producer? Were these songs recorded in order to record an LP?

Mike - Single recorded at Guardian Studios Durham and was on their label only 500 were pressed Produced by the band engineered by Terry Gavaghan. It was a one-off project at that time.

Q. - How was the single "USA" received by the fans? Did it have airplay on radio stations? Did Skitzofrenik got support in the media from the legendary BBC Dj Tommy Vance?

Mike - The single was received well enough to almost sell out It got local airplay- This was before Tommy Vance's rock show- It did go to several record companies who were interested in our demos that we had previously sent out.

Q. - How about shows? Did you play regularly in the UK back then? Did you share stage with other well-known bands?

Mike - We only played in the north of England We did share a stage with AXIS one time, whose lead guitarist Mick Tucker went on to Join TANK.



Q. - In 1982 comes the compilation "Roxcalibur", with the songs "Exodus" and "Keep Right On", how did that happen?

Mike - We recorded the Roxcalibur stuff in late '81 as we were regulars at Guardian then, along with the other bands I presume.

Q. - Was there any promotional tour after the release of this compilation? Are there any other Skitzofrenik recordings besides the Roxcalibur and the 81 Single ones?

Mike - We were asked on to the local radio stations rock show 'Street Level' Hosted by Roger Lewis along with most of the other bands as a 'Roxcalibur special'... we also promoted a launch gig for us and Black Rose at Middlesbrough Town Hall... There are many SKITZOFRENIK demos all featuring in the new album...

https://www.sonicagerecords.com/_shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71235



Q. - When did "Skitzofrenik" split up? What happened that lead to the split?

Mike - The band split up for the want of a good singer. Charlie Gannon left the band in '81 to be replaced with Billy Westmoreland who sang on the single and Roxcalibur sessions, the band sacked him but kept on writing a whole albums worth of new material (with a view to record an album) with replacement singer Steve Ayre but after a while it wasn't working.

Q. - What do you think that lacked to "Skitzofrenik" to have a successful career?

Mike - We should have sought some sort of management, but thought we could do it ourselves.

Q. - Did you stay in touch with the other former members after the break?

Mike - I stay in touch with Ian who I see regularly, but since the album project this last year, 6 of the 9 surviving members are all now in touch including our 2 roadies Alex and Geordie so that’s been great after all this time.



Q. - What other bands did you play after "Skitzofrenik"? Tell us a bit about it please.

Mike - Myself (Bass) and Ian have worked together on and off since the break-up of the band doing different styles of music, some original music and covers. We are currently in the rock covers band ToldYaOnce.  https://www.facebook.com/ToldYaOnce5

Q. - Have you ever thought about doing a compilation on cd with all the songs recorded by "Skitzofrenik"?

Mike - See link to the anthology album.      

https://www.sonicagerecords.com/_shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71235

Q. - In the late 70s did you feel that the NWOBHM was reaching to a higher point, in the whole UK?

Mike - Yes, we did.... we were at the later stage moving towards Prog a bit.



Q. - Do you keep an eye to hard rock and heavy metal music nowadays?

Mike - Not so much, there’s not enough original stuff around that I like just have way too many tastes but Rocks number one!!

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Mike - We are all very proud of the Anthology album and it’s getting some great reviews!! I’d like to thank you for your Interest.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Simon Adams A.K.A. Bandwagon Sid

  Simon Adams A.K.A. Bandwagon Sid, was a regular at the Bandwagon (Soundhouse), in the early days of the NWOBHM movement, even winning the ...