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Line ups of the band were:
Jan-88 to July 88 (rough dates)
Dung – guitar and vocals
Smoo – Guitar
Will Greenwood – Bass
Matt -Drums
July 88 – Jan 89
Dung – guitar and vocals
Will Greenwood – Bass
Matt -Drums
Jan 89 – Dec 89
Dung – lead guitar and vocals
Muppet – Bass
Will Greenwood – rhythm guitar
Matt -Drums
This transcript by Matt is a follow on from the previous blog…
Matt….”Couple of posters. Not sure if we played this Hunt Sab social but it’s mentioned in the interview. The Lancaster poster was the last gig in Dec89. Sarah provided these plus the Crack n Deek interview (see previous blog).
We’ve also enclosed the recordings mentioned in the interview and a bit of artwork. Andrea was responsible for the tape cover for a ‘New Era for New Errors’ a pastiche of a Hare Krishna book cover handed out on the streets of Carlisle.
The 3 songs, ‘To the Core, Ain’t Humanity Cute and ‘Rubber Necklace’ were recorded at Cottage Pie in early 88.
The following 2 recordings ‘Promised Heaven’ and ‘Still Twitching’ (early 89) were recorded at a Riverhead studio run by Omega sounds, Brampton. I believe Alex was the engineer. Nice and very patient chap was my memory. The indoor photos in the interview were taken during this recording.
The Damned gig was the biggest we did. We got paid about 60 quid which was split 4 ways and mostly got eaten up by musician union fees, which we had to join. The band that night was myself on drums, Will on bass, Smoo on guitar, Dung on vocals. The Live recordings of this gig are quite rough with lots of echo. A few mistakes too but we’d only been together for a few months.
After Smoo left we did continue as a 3 piece until Muppet joined us on bass in early 89. We had a few gigs around this time, with the final one in Lancaster in Dec 89 (see poster).
A couple of memorable gigs were a mid-week one in Cockermouth arrange by a friend. We were the only band on the night and after doing the sound check waited for people to arrive. My friend arrived, the owner behind the bar was there and so was his cat. We played the tightest set ever to the crowd of 3. Midway through the set the cat departed!
Another unusual gig was at Annan Chapel Cross community hall. This could have been in 88 as I think Smoo was still in the band. A few people did arrive at this gig which was a surprise considering the location (and potential radiation) One member of the audience (Trotsky) joined us on stage for our last 2 songs (Who Needs More and Ugly – Int. dole cheques covers) I’d always thought Trotsky was fairly mild mannered but he turned into a man possessed on backing vocals. The sound man was impressed and suggested we do more like that, rather than the rest of the set! (Trotsky “I remember the gig”)
I haven’t seen Dung for over 15 years but would be keen to make contact if anyone knows his whereabouts? When I last saw him he was living in Morton west, writing for Amnesty International, as well as composing music on the piano”.
Trotsky “Thanks to Matt and Sarah for all the info about Every Smile´s a Lie, There has been a few bands that have been recorded at “Cottage Pie Studios” in Carlisle during the 1980s, it would be interesting to get more information about the studio and the bands that recorded there.
Matt, mentioned having to join the Musician´s Union to be able to perform at The Damned gig, we also had to join to perform on Border TV as The Red Aligatorz, it also seemed a waist of money at the time, especially when you are earning very little. But a band like Every Smile´s a Lie who was anti establishment playing money to the establishment is a kick in the teeth and a band taste in the mouth.
Matt now lives in New Zealand, Dung lives in Carlisle.
