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* * * * * * * How do you manage to cram 30 years into one page* * * * * * * * HARD!!!!

Try not to fall asleep…….

Where do we start - our ‘history’ begins back sometime in 1978.

The band was call Hocus Pocus - as in Focus Hocus Pocus - band members were :

Paul Barnes - Guitarist
Ian Rowell - Bass-Singer
Yoghurt - Guitarist
Mowin' - Drums

Practiced at Barneys’ house (Barneys’ dad - and his mum must have had the patience of a saint) and at the ripe old age of 15 years auditioned for the resident bands position at St Bees Caravan Club and were jammy enough to get it.  Two nights a week at £30 a pop it bought us our first PA……… and things could only get better.  Got the whole summer season out of that ….. then supported Voyer (Des Rogan, Father Fearon and the boys) …. at the Civic Hall, Whitehaven where Yoghurt ended up slightly mad, Mowin' met a beautiful woman, Fiona and fifteen years later married her - sweet.

Meet Mowyn
Barney practising on his hand-made guitar
Barney and his 'stack' - and nothing much changes???
Rowell - having a practise too....
Rowell and his Guitar that he misses dearly..... with 'Fish' a good friend pretending how to fix it

We carried on as a three piece for four years or so, practising in Quay Street Church, Whitehaven, courtesy of Father Thomas.  Played loads of gigs under different Pseudonyms, more often than not, every time.  While we practised there was some young lad jumping up and down outside the window trying to get a look in. What a gifted young man he turned out to be……… couldn’t play a note, but within six months learned how to play the guitar and joined a band called FX…… Aiden Curwen.

We set up a band called ‘Loop the Loop’ - Mowin' was replaced by Steve Moore. This was a cracking little band - playing stuff like Ronny James Dio, Scorpions, Free, Rory Gallagher and the likes….. Then Steve left, moved over the North East somewhere and joined a band called the ‘Tigers of Pantang’. 

After Steve left it was an excuse for our great escape to London............ in Barney's car............ that you couldn't over rev!!!!

Ended up in a place called the Warehouse in Preston....... (that's as far as we got), but Fish had a sister that lived in Preston, so we did have somewhere to squat.......... next day ended up in Blackpool and spent all our money and ended up back home again!!

In about 1985/86 we joined the legendry Frank Hall in a band called Plateau - jazz - rock - fusion, whatever you want to call it - what a mentor!!  This band consisted of Frank on drums, Steve Altrincham, keyboards, Brian Hodgson, guitarist (brilliant man in his own right) the guitarist off Hammerhead, who we were in awe of. What a jammy pair of bas*****. This was quite an intense learning curve, writing such songs as listed below, you can link to by clicking on the titles. 

These tracks are part of a CD (Plateau - Penthouse Tapes & Beyond) that has been released in Germany. 
Further details of this can be obtained from buzz@elliott862.fsnet.co.uk

Elephants in my Hair - Live at Start & Strips - '85

Seven four Time - Live at the Imperial - Xmas '85

The Katch - Rehearsal - '86

Stitched Up - Rehearsal - '86

Death Lessons - Remix - Studio '86

Five Miles Wide = Remix - Studio '86

We could go on forever………. but, 'good luck' to Hammerhead who are now covering some of these numbers - 23 years or so down the line….. the songs must speak for themselves……..

After Plateau - through differences of opinion, all members went their own way…… Barney joined a couple of different bands, and played with class bass players - Howard Bell and Mike Bird ……… joined Bellfagan……… Solway Delta Blues and maybe even more and for a while Barney took some time out and wrote some class songs - have a listen - just click on link, you might even hear him singing : www.soundclick.com/barny

Then there was ‘Teacher’ - Kazzie (Karen) Black, vocals - Alan Rogers, drums - Rowell, bass - Aiden Curwen and Barney on guitar (but Barney left).  The band carried on playing the likes of the Sugar House on the University circuit. This band played all over……… when this band split up …..

Rowell moved to ’Brum…….. working in studio’s like the Rich Bitch and the Pits……. and working for Edwards Number 8, setting up PA’s for visiting bands.  Played in a band called Jeckle with Steve Makin, but after a few years missed the Northern roots and headed back home.  Needed to get back home, because the whole time he was in ‘Brum is just a blur????

Wasn't home long before he headed for London and recorded an album with F16 with Aiden Curwen on guitar, Johnno on drums, all rehearsed at a John Henry's rehearsal studio, London.  The album was called 'Total Control', which was released in Germany, did well, but got pis**** off - and came back home - still love you Johnno.

After a few phone calls and a few beers Barney and Rowell set up another band - ‘Hang Fire’ was born - featuring Off the Hooks present drummers’ brother - Danny - how ironic is that!!!! Playing the likes of Yingervie Môn stein, Rush, Frank Gambali and the likes of - a class act…… didn’t last long though….But Barney and Rowell stayed together - firstly trying to play some jazz (can’t remember what that band was called), and did one gig!!! in the Three Tunns, Whitehaven for Jack Carr (God rest his soul), but it got us back into the swing of things. A fundraiser was organised with practically every local musician turning for a play outside the back of the Punchbowl in Whitehaven and a bungee jump set up on the then, Kwiksave car park opposite,

Take a look at some of these photo's........... Skunk in the 'old' days.......... Charlie (who supplied the PA for the day)....... and a great picture of an old friend 'Chocco' (God rest his soul) who was in charge of the 'can' bar for the day

 …….. from this... ‘Banned’ was formed and just grew and grew….. it started off with :

Barney on guitar
Rowell on bass - and vocals
Bryan (Bryan Sowerby) on drums
Jimmy (Jim Mullen) on percussion
Then Aiden joined as a second guitarist
Peter Burns (Wolf) joined to do the majority of the vocals

And later Sparky joined on keyboards - young - peroxide blonde hair - four stone in weight - ate us out of house and home and drunk like a fish!!!

Curwen Graham (guitarist in his own right) used to step in and play harmonica - good laugh….

But now it was time to make some money……… nothing but duo’s about…….. no-one wanted bands only Karaoke and duo’s

Jumped on the band wagon - Helter Skelter was formed……… and why not!!!

Barney on guitar

Rowell on bass and vocals

And the trusty backing band a Maranzt Tape Recorder.  Had a good run at this for a couple of years……… playing most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Bank Holiday week-ends were Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, Sunday afternoon and night, and then even the Monday afternoon. Good fun,

Helter Skelter at a Jane's 21st

and Two drunken hippies at Lapwebs 40th

but what a ball ache it turned out…….. both of us missing the sound of a ‘real’ band……… we split up…….

Rowell didn’t do anything then for a couple of years and ended up as trailer trash in his 45ft static caravan in the middle of nowhere………

Barney joined a band called ‘Off the Hook’………… after a few months their bass player moved on to do different things (Griff)……… and Rowell got a phone call………. the rest is history…….. but here are a couple of photo's from the very early days, probably back in 2002

* * * * * * * So you‘ve got this far * * * * * * * *

apologies to anyone we’ve missed out….