|
Punk
Pop legends the Boys first emerged as the result of a failed attempt
to reform glam punk trail-blazers the Hollywood Brats, after future
Boys Matt Dangerfield and Casino Steel had been involved in the
embryonic London SS with Mick Jones and Tony James.
Matt Dangerfield from Leeds had moved down to London in the early 70s
and set up a 4 track recording studio and rehearsal room at 47A
Warrington Crescent with Barry Jones (later of the London Cowboys).
Needing a drummer he came into contact with Geir Wade and through him
he met Mick Jones and became part of London SS at the time when they
first used that name. Though Mick and Tony James were waiting for
Brian James to return after tying up loose ends with his band Bastard,
towards the end of 1975 they were enticed by the offer of management
from Bernie Rhodes (then working in partnership with Malcolm McLaren
with the Pistols), which prompted the twosome of Mick and Tony to
throw together a line up featuring themselves, Matt and Geir. |
Dangerfield
& Steel
|
|
|
 |
At the same time they also found out through Geir (who played in a
band called Jane with Casino in 1966!) that ex-Hollywood Brats singer
Andrew Matheson and pianist Casino Steel were living in London and
Mick and Tony, looking to flesh out their line up with a vocalist and
keyboards, visited them and during the conversation managed to
persuade them to join their band. However, one visit to the Pistols
Denmark Street HQ and a 15 minutes London SS rehearsal later, Andrew
and Casino called Matt and Geir suggesting that they wanted a band
with them, but not Mick and Tony.
Matt jumped at the chance and rather than relaunch the band as the
Brats they opted for the name the Choirboys. Both Geir and Andrew (who
went to Canada and played professional football) didn’t last long and
Matt bought in his friend and flatmate Honest John Plain on guitar who
in turn got his factory workmates Duncan “Kid” Reid and Jack “Black”
Lempicki on bass and vocals and drums respectively. As the band was
now complete, the name was then subsequently trimmed down to just the
Boys. |
|
|
(During this time it’s also possibly that Matt was involved with Mick
Jones other previous band Violent Luck. There is a July 1976 picture
of him as part of the line up in Marcus Gray’s “Last Gang In Town”,
though it lists him as “making up the numbers”.)
This line up made it’s first appearance at the Hope and Anchor is
Islington in September 1976 and were mentioned in the October 76
fourth issue of “Sniffin Glue” and also later in issue 8 with a review
of their debut single “I Don’t Care” and a picture of Kid Reid which
shows that their trademark black tie and shirt image was already in
place. Also they had missed out on playing any of the “inner circle”
punk events of 76 like the 100 Club Festival and this would mean that
they were perused from a “down the nose” angle by the fashionistas of
the scene and their credibility would suffer as a result. |
 |
|
|
 |
Matt Dangerfield: It was probably only our 5th gig that we played Dingwalls as support for
Babe Ruth.. we were in the pub and were well oiled and we played with a
couldn’t care less attitude brought on by the alcohol. We were pretty
sloppy. We didn’t know it, but some people from NEMS were there. They said
we want to sign you for an album deal. In fact 3 albums.
They signed for a
grand desperate to keep the band afloat and get some new equipment.
It was either that or the band split.
|
Back
To Top
|