Hi Phil,

Just found your website again.  I first came across it a few years ago when I was new to the internet and got to thinking about the band and that maybe they had released some singles I could get hold of.  But you were just starting to gather information and I thought that The Never Never Band would just remain a great memory.  But the website is really coming on!

I was fascinated to read Terry Hughes' memories as we were about the same age and similar background.  Although Terry had obviously joined up and working at RAF Brize Norton, I was living with my parents and working in Carterton and my Dad, Bill, was a Warrant Officer at Brize (surely not Terry's boss?).

 

Anyway, last week I was clearing out some old stuff of mine and found an old tape of an illicit recording I had made of The Never Never Band at the Corn Dolly in the spring of 1980...sadly, it's not the original I made and has only 2 full songs and 2 part songs (the original must be somewhere - I'll keep looking).  It's not a great recording but does capture the energy of the band and the atmosphere of the venue.  From your website info it is part of 'Video', then 'Never told me' as a finale; and then for the encore, 'Painters Cloud' and the tape ends part way through 'Hollywood'.  I've no idea why I made this seperate selection as I am pretty sure the original had more.  Interestingly in the finale the band announce they will be 'playing here again on Tuesday'.  I don't suppose the final songs and that comment helps identify the occasion??

I would be really keen to hear more of their stuff again if it's available.  I could also copy the recording I did and forward to you.

I basically saw the band through part of 1980 during my gap year before heading off to Newcastle University in the autumn.  I was never 'into music'* but was taken by a mate I was working with called Ian (can't recall his surname, it was something like Small, or Stone).  He was a real long-haired headbanger, thought he was actually Ian Gillan and was always screaming Deep Purple and Led Zepplin lyrics at work.  But he also raved about The Never Never Band.  I agreed to go to a gig but wasn't expecting too much and was ab-so-lute-ly blown away by the performance.  The next time I went I took my Mr Spock style tape recorder 'hidden' in my coat and did my best to record the set.  I listened to that tape over and over again at Uni and was devestated to hear the band had split when I came back home.  I had been so looking forward to seeing them again.  

 

The last time I had seen the band was over the summer in a huge marque at some fete or other outside Oxford.  Anyone else mention it?  Obviously the new Bass player was in the line up and gave a subdued perfromance (compared to you-know-who's).  They didn't do all the regular numbers - I think I recall at the time the excuse was he hadn't learnt them all but I guess it may have been Neil's songs that were missing.  But it was still a good set.  Some other memories of that day...the guy in the crowd in front of me turning round and dropping his false eye into the plam of his hand; and the journey there and back, pillion on Ian's motorbike - scary (and also about the first and last time on a bike!)*  Well, over the next few years I did watch a variety of live bands (from OMD and Depeche Mode before they were famous, to Ian Gillan and the Rolling Stones first 'farewell tour' in 1982) but nothing captured the like of those Corn Dolly events!  

 

Thinking about it, overall, I must have seen them only a handful of times but what a fantastic live band which I have never never forgotten.  If it hadn't been for the fact I had no money, no car and no Driving License I would definitely have been to more events.

Thanks for putting this great website together!

Regards,

 

 

Rob Swinney

Rob Swinney remembers.....