Here’s an extract from an email sent by Pete Austin:

“The Vetos were fabulous, I used to drag along everybody to the gigs, they used to play "The Pennyfarthing" in Oxford every few weeks for about 9 months, most people who saw them returned to see them again (this time without me twisting their arms). As you know they released 2 singles which were both Andy Peebles' records of the week. Andy was a big fan and had the boys on his show and promised a studio session (which never happened). There was a third single planned, the very esoteric "Sardine Island" which I was convinced was the track that would see them catapulted to stardom - Alas this was never released, Oh to hear that track just one more time.....

Their set included a few NNB tracks, Video, Tuesday Morning, Going Nowhere, Leave Me Alone, etc.

Dane and Paul were supplemented by a drum machine called Treacle.

They always ended their set with the most incredible rendition of Johnny B Goode, guaranteed to have people dancing on the tables.”

Now, Pete thought the Andy Peebles studio session didn’t happen, but... he was wrong.  

After nearly 25 years, the session has emerged (thanks Edward).  It contains the following songs:

Not Tonight (incomplete)
Only Now
Imagination
Sardine Island
Twenty Below

Pete was absolutely right about Sardine Island - it’s a great song.

The Vetos’ two singles were released by RCA.  It’s Only Now / Guardians saw light of day in 1982 and Not Tonight / Twenty Below hit the record shops in 1983.  In both cases, the B side is considerably better that the A side.  The singles fetch around a fiver on the collectors’ market.
































Thanks to Dave Awcock for the scans.


Phil
22 September 2006