From
an email from Paul O'Connell 17.07.2003
Tony was in Demon Preacher with Nik (Nick) Fiend (Wade).Tony,
Gerry and Jim got Fenzyx together in 1979 and initially Gel Healy filled
in on Drums. I was introduced to the band via a mate and joined in late
'79. We rehearsed at Halligans Rehearsal Rooms on (I think) the Holloway
Road in North London Around that time Halligans was also used by the then
unknown Spandau Ballet and Tenpole Tudor.
The single
Soldiers / Angels of Mercy
was recorded in 1980 in a basement studio called IPS in Shepherds Bush and
was released in 1981 (and reputedly got airplay by John Peel). We weren't
out and out punk, but we asked Nik to produce it and he gave us that punky
sound for the single. The other A side
Angels of Mercy,
was a tongue in cheek side swipe at Demon Preacher's
Royal Northern,
(the closing bars of Angels are the opening bars of Royal Northern) and it
was written in protest at the decision to close the hospital The
artwork on the pic sleeve was done by local music journalist for the
Islington Gazette, Ray Mathews (aka Ray Zell of the glam band The
Marionettes)
We gigged on the North London circuit and played a local street festival,
but then things started to go wrong in the relationship with Gerry Lyons
and he exited. By this time, which was I guess late 1981/ early 1982, we
felt that Punk had moved on, so after some discussion, we changed
direction and became more R'n'B / New Wave.
However, in early 1984 Jim Rutter got fed up I think with the constant
changes and called it a day, followed closely by me, and then the rest of
the band. We never fell out as friends though but just lost touch with
each other.
The funniest moment though was the decision to use talcum powder as a
cheap "dry ice" effect so that when I hit the cymbals on the opening chord
of "Baby You're Wrong" (Count Bishops), the band and all the audience were
completely covered in it, and spent the night slipping all over the place!
Never used that one again!!! |
Gerry Lyons - Vocals
Tony Gialanze - Guitar
Jim Rutter - Bass
Paul O'Connell - Drums
 |