Der Bomber formed in Feb 2005 and shone brightly for a couple of years on the North Wales scene, as much for their controversial approach as their music. Using the internet medium to it’s full potential that band ‘bigged’ themselves up and got up enough noses to ensure their debut gig at Bar Blu in Rhyl (May 2005) was well attended, and like a whirlwind, their set was over within 25 minutes.

Their only downfall was Arctic Monkeys had copied them musically down to a tee at exactly the same time; or was it the other way round? Despite these comparisons they announced to the world that they ‘were five lads who are here to show these bands who think its cool to write and play half-arsed songs how to do it properly.’

I found them a great band to photograph, front man Remo had the looks and the energy while the band stood rigid with their guitars straps unnaturally short for the era (a la Beatles). Their drumming department was always a problem; Mike quit after 5 gigs and Jamie Cardno stepped in despite not really being a drummer. This subsequently led to a bit of a dodgy session for Adam Walton’s BBC Radio Wales Show a mere month and 5 gigs on from that debut show.
By the time they played Hendre Hall in Bangor in July 2005 and heckled the other bands on the bill they had also upset enough people and caused enough trouble at venues to get the panic buttons flashing. Bar Blu banned them, even The Dudley Arms in Rhyl banned them (now that takes some doing!) and perhaps most famously of all they were dropped from the Pigstock Festival. And yet still they played anywhere and everywhere (have band, will travel) with a true self belief that they were the best thing to happen to music… ever! Even to the point of throwing their own CDs across the crowd at an Oasis gig.

’This is for all music fans: u wanna hear the best up & coming band in europe perform live then pop down 2 blu this wednesday and be blown away by DER BOMBER!!! With lyrics that challenge that of John Lennon and Paul McCartney you will be amazed. Its a new era…..the era of DER BOMBER!’

By the spring of 2007 after a very quiet 2006, Jamie Cardno had been replaced by Dave Cox whose punk drumming upped the stakes and performances. Now we had a band whose music backed the explosive performances, and those gigs were some of the best witnessed on the coast. It’s a pity the Bar Blu / Billys venue war had broken out and as a result broke up the scene.

By the end of the year they had slogged around the toilets of the country and announced they were moving to Manchester. I never saw them live again and after some more promising demos they fizzled out… But it was great fun while it lasted.

05.02.2011 – Battle of Bands Final at Venue Cymru, Llandudno won by Bad Dog
05.02.2010 – Y Niwl, Alun Tan Lan play Speakers Corner, Colwyn Bay
05.02.2010 – Stinky Limpet play Venue4Events, Rhyl
05.02.2009 – Thyrd Eye, Syrs, Calling Shotgun play Macleans, Queensferry
05.02.2005 – The Kirks, Seize The Day, Avarice, 3CR play Dudley Arms, Rhyl
05.02.2005 – Giant play Masons, Denbigh
05.02.1988 – UK Subs, 4Q play Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre
05.02.1978 – Motorhead play Deeside Leisure Centre

A free showing of the film Pigstock the Movie at Theatre Twm o`r Nant, Denbigh, North Wales. The film is a look back over the years from the festivals early beginnings through to the 2002 event – but hurry there’s only a limited number of seats remaining (clcik pic to book)

click here for a couple of archive Pigstock Festival reviews

04.02.2010 – Leucine session broadcast on Bethan Elfyn’s Radio One Show
04.02.2009 – Thyrd Eye, Dirty Static, I Am Austin play opening night at Deva Mail Club, Chester
04.02.2006 – Racketears, Dressed Naked play Schooner, Rhyl
04.02.2004 – Shatterhand + The Cox + Xms3 play Bar Blu, Rhyl
04.02.2004 – The Alarm play Caerphilly Castle
04.02.2002 – Pocket Venus debut EP ‘Through Your Day’ rel on Secrets of Sound
04.02.1997 – Mike Peters plays Berlin, Germany
04.02.1994 – Mike Peters plays The Mill, Preston
04.02.1993 – Nova Mob, Zuzu’s Petals, Wordbug play TJ’s, Newport
04.02.1990 – Carnage start rec Sadistic Molester demo at Dead Sound in Chester
04.02.1990 – The Alarm play St Davids Hall, Cardiff
04.02.1989 – 4Q play British Legion in Llanrwst as ‘The Four Quavers’
04.02.1988 – Walking Seeds, Lungs, Dinistrio’r Diniwed play Jazz Bar, Bangor
04.02.1987 – Heroes On A Beach play Metropole, Colwyn Bay
04.02.1986 – The Alarm play in Lyon, France
04.02.1984 – The Alarm play York Uni
04.02.1974 – Birthday of Jack Sharp

Sons of Selina

03.02.2009 – The Scene played Chicago Rock, Wrexham
03.02.2007 – Kid Von Pervert, Liarbilitys, Give Him To Mongo, Dogflesh play The Dudley, Rhyl
03.02.2002 – Pocket Venus session repeated on Adam Walton Radio Wales show
03.02.2002 – The Alarm play Padova, Italy
03.02.2001 – Fudged, Carbon-Atom & Carbonari play the very 1st Breeding Ground in Rhyl
03.02.1998 – Mike Peters play The Lomax, Liverpool
03.02.1997 – Mike Peters plays in Amsterdam, Holland
03.02.1995 – Sons of Selina & Skinflick agree in principal to release a split CD single
03.02.1994 – Uncle Fester play Tiv, Buckley
03.02.1994 – Mike Peters plays King Tuts, Glasgow
03.02.1990 – The Alarm play Newport Leisure Centre
03.02.1989 – 4Q play Cornhill Vaults, Lincoln
03.02.1988 – The Alarm play St Georges Hall, Bradford
03.02.1969 – Birthday of Roger Subway
03.02.1967 – band manager Joe Meek committed suicide in Bangor

02.02.2008 – 127th Crud Cast is broadcast
02.02.2005 – Kobe + John Morris + Modern Tradition play Bar Blu, Rhyl
02.02.2003 – The Alarm play Leadmill, Sheffield
02.02.2002 – Dive play Dudley in Rhyl.
02.02.2002 – Sunspy play New Inn, Rhyl
02.02.2002 – The Alarm play Mezzago, Italy
02.02.2002 – Melys release LP ‘Suikerspin’
02.02.1997 – Mike Peters plays Frankfurt, Germany
02.02.1996 – Dharmas play The Bistro
02.02.1995 – GMX Stuns play Bensons, Llangollen
02.02.1994 – Mike Peters plays Blue Lamp, Hull
02.02.1992 – Anhrefn, Anweledig play (where?)
02.02.1990 – The Alarm play on James Whale’s BBC TV Show
02.02.1988 – The Alarm play Manchester Apollo
02.02.1986 – The Alarm play in Milan, Italy
02.02.1985 – Birthday of Dave Gintis
02.02.1984 – The Alarm play Tiffanys, Newcastle

Franks Dad

01.02.2009 – Red Stripe in session on Adam Walton’s BBC Radio Wales Show
01.02.2006 – Dressed Naked + Not Shibby + The Disappointments play Bar Blu, Rhyl
01.02.2004 – The Alarm play Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
01.02.2003 – Hektor, Six Year Hangover, Die Kast Messiah, The Cox play Dudley, Rhyl
01.02.2003 – Jives Room, Fudged, Polythene play Ty Caradog, Prestatyn
01.02.2003 – The Alarm play The Garage, Glasgow
01.02.2003 – Wendykurk, Nameless play Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
01.02.2002 – Snowblind play Community Centre, Colwyn Bay
01.02.2002 – The Alarm play in Rome
01.02.2002 – Alien Matter, Dive play the Madocs, Colwyn Bay
01.02.1998 – Mike Peters plays Fibbers, York
01.02.1997 – Mike Peters plays in Cologne, Germany
01.02.1994 – Weekly News review new Secrets of Sound Recs EP feat; Sons of Selina, Franks Dad, Original Mind Band, MMATT
01.02.1990 – 4Q, Y Cyrff play The Bistro
01.02.1990 – The Alarm play De Montford Hall, Leicester
01.02.1988 – The Alarm play Royal Court, Liverpool
01.02.1986 – The Fall play Bangor Uni
01.02.1986 – The Alarm play in Rome
01.02.1984 – The Alarm play The Penthouse, Glasgow

31.01.2009 – Danblagroyd play Le Pub, Newport
31.01.2004 – Crave + Ethergy play Dudley Arms, Rhyl
13.01.1998 – Mike Peters plays Rock City, Nottingham
31.01.1997 – Mike Peters plays in Munich
31.01.1991 – Atom Seed play Tivoli, Buckley
31.01.1991 – You Slosh play Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
31.01.1990 – The Alarm play Aston Villa Leisure Centre
31.01.1988 – The Alarm play UEA, Norwich
31.01.1986 – The Alarm play in Bologna, Italy
31.01.1984 – The Alarm play Fusion Club, Aberdeen

Indie/Madchester band (c1989); feat; Nick Holden (voc), Lloeb (gtr), Bugsy (bass), Michael Davies (drms), (+ one other) based in Wrexham.
They released a 12″ Ov / Blue including ‘Pineappleupsidedowncake’ mix on Different Class in 1991.

(excerpt from the book, This Patch of Land)
Goodnight Said Florence were famous for their Submarine t-shirts, armed with a strong demo called ‘Acid’ under their belts. They were a band that almost made it; they had it all, the music, and the publicity, the following, and even had their CD featured on TVs Tomorrow’s World. The marketing ploy was simple; the Submarine symbol was used more than their GNSF name, to the extent that people thought that Submarine was their name rather than a song title. Goodnight Said Florence signed to Different Class records, changed the line-up, and disappeared without a trace.

The majority of people at the time shared the same opinion of GNSF, as Paul Hammond of Psycho Sexual Sex Terrestrials explains, ‘It was them and 4Q who inspired PSST. I liked Goodnight Said Florence because of the energy in their live show; they looked good and were good to watch. I liked that more so than the music. As people? I only ever spoke to two of them, the singer Nick and the drummer; I can’t remember his name. They seemed completely up their own arses at the time. They were friendly in a standoffish way, which was a bit ungrateful really given the support they got in Rhyl and the amount of shirts we flogged for them. We got no thanks for it. I don’t suppose they enjoyed getting blown off stage either at the Bistro gig!’
When this question was put to singer Nick some 20 years later, he replied, ‘Yes, too right we were fucking well egotistical. We were young, and suddenly we were in a cool band. Girls especially liked us. I had had a really shit teenage, and suddenly I meant something to people. It totally went to our heads. I don’t think we were complete arseholes, but for sure we were pretty full of ourselves, and we didn’t care if it irritated people. In fact to be honest, we liked that it irritated people cos even that was a reaction, which only reinforced our sense of self-importance. For a 21 year old wanna-be indie rock-star, that was a win-win situation.’

Nick continues, ‘Don’t get me wrong, we really meant what we did – we loved the music, we loved to play, we cared about entertaining people and were up for having a laugh with anyone who wanted to get on board the ride, as it were, but yeah totally egotistical. I’d challenge anyone at that age to have the kind of time we were having, and not become egotistical. I was really quite emotionally immature, and went in the space of a year from being the weird uncool kid in school, to the singer of a really popular signed band. I think probably anyone in my position would’ve got a bit carried away with themselves. I have grown up a bit since then!’

BBC Radio Wales DJ, Adam Walton was in The Immediate at the time of GNSF, and he hated them. ‘They were a right bunch of twats,’ he said in 2008. ‘They were popular,  this was enough to rile everybody involved in the burgeoning Mold-scene of the early 90′s to levels of psychopathic hatred. On one infamous occasion, Goodnight played Sureways in Mold. This was *our* venue. They were booed and derided to the point that their singer, Nick, made the fatal mistake of saying, “if you think you can do any better, you get up”. Of course, a dozen musicians got up and tried to seize their instruments. There was a bit of a rumpus that ended with GSF’s van being chased up the road in a scene reminiscent of a baggy Blues Brothers.’

Adam’s dislike of the band was of course due the green green of envy, ‘They were fucking hippies. They had long hair and a predilection for tie-dye and smelling like wet dogs infused with patchouli oil and dope smoke …but they were good.’ He continues, ‘The older and allegedly wiser I get, the more I come to recognise and appreciate the influences in their music. Whereas 18 year old me thought that James were a bit outré, Goodnight Said Florence’s more mature members [LLoeb, LLoyb? He had a beard and 18 kids] clearly had an appreciation for early Floyd and Krautrock. How cool is that? Knocks my passion for baggy Soup Dragons into a hat full of cocks, doesn’t it?  So, the first piece of unsigned Welsh music that changed the way I thought was ‘Blue’ by Goodnight Said Florence. Now, technically, they were signed to Different Class records, but I heard Blue on a cassette demo before all of that happened and filled me full of rabid jealousy.  It’s just a groove, really, but that is the beauty of it. Simple bass line, very simple keyboard line, but metronomic, assured and irresistible. I even like the lyrics. Goes on a bit, though.’

The main track on their single Ov was perhaps not their strongest, and Nick agrees, ‘We released a single with a Scottish label called Different Class, who had distribution through BMG. It was fun, though didn’t sell much, largely due to the lead track being pants. Unfortunately we didn’t get to choose it, the label did. Nonetheless, the other two tracks were pretty cool, and John Peel gave us a lot of airtime.  We had an amazing few years gigging all over the UK, alongside most of the bands who rode that particular wave, but ultimately the band split. Three of the five of us got a management deal with the ex-head of Atlantic records, which looked very optimistic. However in the process, we sacked the other two, which arguably killed the spirit of the band and led to all of us falling out before we ever managed to sign the contract! Ouch! At the time it all seemed like a kind of condensed mini rock ‘n roll story. Years later I have incredible memories of it, and think of my fellow bandmembers with nothing but fondness.’

There was a misconception that the band had changed their name to Said Florence, but Nick clears things up, ‘Said Florence were another band (Scottish) who materialised around the same time. There were confusions over gig bookings and they actually attempted to hijack some of our publicity on a couple of occasions! We never met them, but we heard they had used the submarine logo (unconfirmed), and I think also there was some instance of them taking a gig that was supposed to be ours, as the promoter wound up at their door instead of ours by accident. Or somesuch. Given the name similarity, none of it is surprising. I have no idea whether they actually initially copied our name. I doubt it, I think it was just unhappy coincidence. Lots of people think that GSF changed into SF, but no, they were two totally different bands. During the process of negotiating the deal that ultimately polarised our internal relationships and finished the band, we actually auditioned a bass player called Paul Knipe, who moved down from Cumbria to join the band. This new incarnation of GSF was actually technically very tight and really rocked, though realistically we should probably have given it a re-branding, as it wasn’t really the same band. I think the management actually wanted to re-name it as well. That second line-up played a couple of times. Once at some quite big venue in Liverpool – can’t remember the name. It’s a shame it never made it past our personal differences, as it was musically a very decent combo.’

In more recent years Nick has collaborated with artists such as Dreadzone, Solarquest, Ott, Friends Lovers and Family and Matt Black from Coldcut with whom he sang in psychedelic-funk act ‘Rood Chakra’ alongside Holly Chand. Rood Chakra were featured by Ibiza’s ‘Afterlife’ on his album, and were also a part of the 2001 ‘Pirate TV’ tour of former-Yugoslavia (www.piratetv.net).  Over the last few years he has become a regular in the psychedelic scene, both in the UK and internationally, most recently at the Origin festival in South Africa and Sonica in Italy. He is a resident of ID Spiral/Synergy Project and enjoys close links with Tribe of Frog.

Second single taken off the forthcoming album ‘Peruvian Mistake’ – click pic