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THE HISTORY PAGE.
Max's Story.
I decided to start a band in 1977, don't know why but it just seemed a good idea at the time. We had 9 wannabe guitarists, 3 drummers, 2 vocalists and no bass player, so with my future guaranteed I bought my first bass. Demonaxe went on for 10 years, the line ups over this period would take a separate site to name all! But it was during this band I first met up with Kez, Spen, Bry and Deano. Demonaxe merged into Trappazat [see Deano for the meaning!!] and later into Warning. During the Demonaxe era I had a brief spell with a band called Warrior and we only did a couple of gigs.
Out of all the bands I've played in, I guess Warning were the most successful. We gigged with Wolfsbane, who had just come off tour with Iron Maiden, signed a record deal and finally released our album "Take No Prisoners". We toured the Eastern block a couple of times, playing to some really big audiences. I think this was my 15 minutes of fame. Oh yeah, we were also runners up on Radio 1's Rock Wars 1991, hosted by Tommy Vance no less!
The Whitchurch Bastard Squad came next, the most appalling band you've ever heard!! honestly. Ted was the singer who couldn't sing, but had wanted to do it all his life, so who was I to argue. Nothing to do with the fact I never had to buy a beer for 12 months!!!!
I don't know what happened between 1993 - 1996 , possible alien abduction, who knows, who cares?
Next up was Screemer which was the most prolific gigging band I've been in clocking up over 350 gigs in a little over 3 years! We even managed to do an album and a couple of E/P's. Total overkill but a blast at the time. It was during this period we played the most embarrassing gig of my life, supporting Guys and Dolls in Manchester! I've had treatment to help me forget but it did happen, please forgive me. However I did save face that night, the compare called us back to take a bow, so I turned round, dropped my shorts and mooned at the Mayor of Manchester. You've never seen so many camera flashes in your life!!!
Warning briefly reformed in 2000, did 6 gigs and then disbanded! shame that, but to be honest it didn't feel like Warning without Spen (who had decided the timing wasn't right, looking back he was probably right.)
No Relish came next, and this was a first for me having a female vocalist in the band. This is where Al and I teamed up if anyone is still reading. Relish split in April 2002 which paved the way for The Killa's. This is by far the best covers band I've been in, there's no ego's, no one takes themselves seriously and it's wicked fun! Finally me and Jules are in a band together! It's only taken us 20 odd years!!!!
Demonaxe: 1977 - 1987
Warrior: 1981
Trappazat: 1987 - 1989,
Warning: 1989 - 1992
Whitchurch Bastard Squad: 1992 - 1993
Screemer: 1996 - 2000
Warning: 1999 - 2000
No Relish: 2000 - 2002
Killa Kangorrillaz: 2002 -2005
Hare Razor: 2005-2006
Killa Kangorrillaz: 2006-
Joules's story;
I've been playing guitar for about 20 odd years. I've played in only a few
bands opting to play session work and teaching rather than gigging. I
started with Kez Taylor, Bry Meacham and John Beddall in a school band, this
later carried on with Deano in a band called Pharaoh. Anyone remembering
those days should be in a straight jacket, dribbling into their tea! When I
left, Demonaxe were re-forming with all the aforementioned except John and
myself. We left and went our separate ways. I still see John now and again.
The next band I was in was called Remain. This was a college band which played
just about everything! There was myself on vocals/lead guitar, Andy Bulmer
on bass, Paul Rigby on rhythm and Dean Concannon on drums who made more
college girlies swoon with his smile than anyone I know. aah, those salad
days. Whilst all this was going on I was approached by the main local
Newport rock band, Warrior and auditioned for them, but after only one
rehearsal I felt I had to stay with Remain, so I was sacked for not turning
up for rehearsals, which I suppose was poetic justice. Remain folded after 2
great years which included a small change with Andy Farrant and Paul
Grainger coming in to take my place as the guitarist and Paul Rigby who had
left earlier. So, from being a drummer in one band, I was now the main
vocalist in the other! I suppose that it gets boring now, so I'll move
along;
In the spring of 1984 I
teamed up with Andy Basset, Roy, Stewart and Kez to form a band called Lynchpin.
A new role for me as a bass player. Kez tells the story a little so I won't go
any further. Needless to say, it was one of those eighties things . . .
including the way I dressed. Something I'm not prepared to discuss. Thank God
the eighties fashion trends died with that decade, that's all I can say!!
I became rhythm guitar
and backing vocalist for Spectrum, lead guitarist for Raw (funk bands both
of them, vertical learning curve and all that), bass player in Christina and
the Katchina band (Country band, that one. Loadsa laughs and sound people.
Sorry I kept breaking wind in the van, Chris). Then I did a bit of
engineering with Warning and Nexus VI. I decided then to do session work and
recorded albums with quite a few famous wallas. I've got my own
recording studio now (whoopee do), but I don't use it very often. My big
mate Kev does...its in his front room!!! Kev is also a keen photographer as
well as a talented bass guitarist.
It was Max who rescued me from total obscurity and asked me to help him form a
rock covers band. I thought at the time he was joking, as I hadn't played rock
for such a long time but he was serious (if Max could ever be serious), and
Killa Kangorrillaz is the end result. I feel with hindsight I've come full
circle with the music, and the band is going back to my true roots as a rock
guitarist ("it is inevitable, my young apprentice" springs to mind). If you've
managed to read all the way down to here then you'll realize that here are five
guys just having a real good time, taking the mick and not needing to prove
anything. We have done the serious stuff in the past and now it's time for fun.
We all have easy confidence in our ability as musos and we're all in it for the
crack. Like Max says, it only took 20 odd years for us to play in the same band
together! So
please, come and see us, and you'll realize what this band is about. Also thank
you for your support at our gigs. The list is long, but distinguished!
Sattelite "X" :
1976 to 1977.
Cobra: 1979 to
1982.
Remain:
1981 to 1983.
Spectrum: 1983 to 1985.
Raw:
1987 to 1988.
1988 to 1991 Session guitarist and bassist in Christina and the Katchina band in
1989.
That's That: 1991 to 1996.
2000 for one gig, guitarist for Nexus Vl at the fusion festival, madely.
Killa Kangorrillaz!:
2002- present.
Kez's
Story.
Erm, I've had a bit too much to drink, but I'll give it a go;
I started playing the guitar a couple of years before Joules did, and yes, I'm
the mug who taught him!! We started a band together and practiced at my house as
the only instruments we had was my Carlsbough Amp and a Hondo electric guitar.
The music we did then was probably sixties stuff, but not even Jules has any
recollection of that period, so don't ask me, I've got no idea!!
Through school Joules and I started this band with Wayne Smith (hi, mate) and mr.
Tipper who lent us the schools P.A. it was never the same after we left, but
neither was the drum kit we had on loan from the music dept!!
Brian Meacham and John Beddall joined sometime later and Pharaoh was formed. I
must add though, what was that bloody song we played in Joules' garage? A cover
of
Next was F1-11 which was really influenced by AC/DC with Brian, Sid, Steve &
someone on Bass (can't remember who (sorry))IT WAS STITCH A.K.A SIMON POWELL (joules). I left these when I was about 17
so that was about 1993/4. Ha!
Demon axe was the next band up for me and I did vocals for them Trappazatt,
which all merged in with a bit of a blur to Warning. The history of Warning and
Demon Axe is the same for me and Max except for the addition of a couple of
other vocalists (Or so they convinced the band), so I won't bore you with the
details. I did team up with Joules in Lynchpin but that was some where in the
middle of the previous line
which can be found on the Big Chill website. We only did a couple of
gigs.
Next was Mr Rainmaker Along with Steve, Lee Massey and various Drummers. We did
stuff like Tyketto and other pop rocky stuff, that was fun and did a few gigs
supporting the likes of Saxon & Thunder.
Whilst with Mr Rainmaker I helped out a band called Tantrum replacing the
much loved and missed Snowy. REST IN PEACE, mate . Tantrum was a hard working
band often travelling 500 miles in a weekend to do a couple of gigs. With Ian
White & Spud on Guitars, Luke on Bass and Barry on Drums. Unfortunately the
circuit we played was slowly dying and Tantrum died along with it . But I learnt
one thing. . . how to drink! Thanks lads. Just because you didn’t, Luke
(spinning man) and myself had to drink all the riders, and that showed with some
mad antics with Baz and myself being locked out of our hotel room at 4am
with nothing no but a pair of socks between us. You can guess the rest.
Pigeon -on-a-mission. Saw Bry and myself team up again along with Ross and Ben.
This was well weird stuff, full bore guitar riffs, funky bass,
pounding drums and traditional metal Vocals . The lyrics were so weird, little
stories of shit sex and getting pissed. Shame I could never remember
them (Too Pissed).
I joined other bands as a front man for Once Bitten. Cheers John, Mark, Tony
Rich & Joe I had a great time with these lads but left not long after my
daughter was born. They are still going strong now with John Singing (what a
voice!) and also did a spot for Warning when we reformed for a few gigs a couple
of years ago.
Then a well deserved rest before Max pulled me dragging and screaming out
of retirement and Killakangorrillaz was born.