In 1994 Nic had just arrived in Cardiff from North Wales where he'd been living in a horse-drawn Gypsy wagon and earned his living decorating narrowboats (No tat, mind) on the English canal system. After a playing career that began in Scandinavia in 1977, a brief collaboration with the ex-guitarist of a very famous band of the 70's left Nic deciding never, ever, EVER again to get involved with any kind of musical combo. But things happen and Nic was introduced to Liz and Em a few weeks after arriving in Cardiff to start his degree in ceramics. Recognising the potential for the fulfilment of his long held ambition of putting together a band with a similar flavour to the Oysterband who he first saw in their early Canterbury days (Nic’s home town) , prior resolve was cast aside and that was the start of all this!
After a bit of a false start with a guitarist known as Ploppy, and a good pal of Em's, Gary Owen on bass, they started doing a few gigs. Despite getting an extraordinary audience response right away, it didn't take long for the 'polities' to kick in and Gary left. They soon found a replacement, Cardiff based Paul Rogers, who'd played in various 'rootsy' bands over the years and more gigs were played. By this time they were realising a few home-truths like :- - The Folkies were not going to immediately take them into their bosom and
- Some singing was needed to break up the currently instrumental set.
Liz and Nic were by now spending much time in each others company (nudge, nudge) and were busy plotting their vision of a cross between Led Zeppelin and Blowzabella with Liz taking care of the vocal department. (This was a year or two before Page and Plants 'No Quarter' which was kind of a cross between Led Zeppelin and er... Blowzabella! -Even had their Hurdy Gurdy man in it). So not realising they would be later usurped in their venture by Jim and Percy, they started writing new material ('Helen' being the first) enrolling multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Shorland to blow his eclectic range of twigs, tubes and bits of goat and new second fiddler, Namaste Lochrie.
Karl Craddock, a founder member of Cardiff's superb and sadly missed 'Howling Sleepers' was brought in to play various guitars and banjo (Karl came back to add banjo to the Dragons Milk and Coal sessions). Six months on, Namaste 'remembered' that she had to go abroad for a year - something she had apparently forgotten about when applying for the job. (These girls will say anything to get in the band). Hearing we'd be looking for a new fiddler, Em got in touch and after a short meeting involving lots of tea and girly squealing, was back in the fold.
It was at this point that the band got theatrical... At least some of them did! Jonathan’s first meeting with Liz and Nic found him in brogues and chinos. By the time the new line-up had a few shows under its belt, he was ahead of the pack in a natty ensemble put together from a mixture of fencing (that’s swords, not chicken wire) and bondage gear. Stripey hair soon followed along with a delight in creating instruments from assorted found objects (sheep's skulls, rubber gloves) and plumbing supplies (overflow pipe, blowtorch). Not to be outdone, Nic and Liz set to, making a range of backdrops, 'post-apocalyptical-Mediaeval' banners and chains of bells and gongs, used to 'enhance' Nic's drums. Liz and Em manufactured and decorated their stage outfits with diamante and fishnet and Nic's leather waistcoat carried so many brass studs that Liz couldn't stand up in it. All of this went down well with the, no doubt slightly bemused, audiences, but then as photos started filtering through from the gigs, a problem was spotted.
Over on stage left, Karl and Paul were looking uncomfortable. In fact, in their baggy jeans and checked shirts, they didn't look as if they were in the same band: Jonathan christened them 'The Chip Shop Boys' and soon after they came to realise that maybe this arty and possibly a little eccentric environment wasn't quite their cup of tea.
Chapter2 can be read here
