The Bears

Discography |Sounds Interview 1978

If you think all Watford has for it is Elton john and the Gap and of course Wire then think again. Formed by ex Wire guitarist George Gill The Bears were one of the first bands on the emerging Watford punk scene in the Christmas of 1976. Originally a wacky punk band called Smarter & The Average Bears they sang about dodgems and other zany things.

The rest of the band comprised Kris Kershaw (again ex Wire), Ron West - Bass guitar, Cally Cameron - Drums and Mick North on Vocals.

	They were that little bit different. Like Wire they went in for minimalist song riffs but unlike Wire clearly had a sense of humour and the absurd. Take a look at Fun, Fun Fun their contribution to Farewell To The Roxy about dropping bags of flour off tower blocks on peoples heads and compare it to the other songs about snipers, getting yourself killed, living in a car and so on.

While building up a following disaster struck in September 1977 when vocalist Mick North and friend Pete Perspex (Pete Dallimore of the band Paper Doilies) were killed on his motorbike. As if that wasn't enough it was reported in Sounds in January 1978 that George Gill and girlfriend was beaten up by hooligans because they were punks. (14.01.1978)

Continuing as a four piece playing places like the Roxy they finally recruited a new singer in the shape of John Entrails (again ex of Paper Doilies) in mid 1978 and released their debut single gaining a record of the week in Sounds.

And then within three months the band nearly split up. In Sounds 19.8.78 The Bears were reported as splitting with Cally And Ron leaving to form The Screaming Ab Dabs and George reportedly as having "no plans for the future, but he is unlikely to continue playing music." Cally and Ron in fact formed The Tea Set releasing the Cups And Saucers Ep.

The next week in Sounds it was revealed The Bears were carrying on. George and John remained but were joined by Ritchie on Drums, Sissy on Sax, John on Harmonica and Mystery Man on Bass.

In November 1978 they released arguably their best single Insane on Good Vibrations records and that was it.

The Bears suffered from infrequent recordings, line up changes and personal disasters which is a shame because they were a bit special and should have had more success. Punk wasn't all about anger and shouting and The Bears showed some real individuality.