Random Hold
Random Hold: fr left
Me, Pete Phipps, David Ferguson,
Andy Prince,
front - Susan Raven
In 1980 "Random Hold" having put out an album and singles on Polydor and touring the UK and USA with "Peter Gabriel" had disintegrated. Guitarist and vocalist David Rhodes had joined Gabriels band and bassist Bill MacCormick formerly of Robert Wyatts "Matching Mole" and "Quiet Sun" had been ousted just prior to Davids departure. An add for a new bass player had been put in the music press to which Andy Prince replied.
Discovering the band had collapsed due to the departure of guitarist Rhodes he talked keyboardist David Ferguson into a meeting, to which he also invited me. With drummer Pete Phipps rehearsals began but David felt uncomfortable with Andy so bass players along with singers were auditioned. An agreeable lineup was eventually completed with the addition of Martyn Swain a later "Waterboys" "Worldparty" "Julian Lennon Band" member on bass and subsequently vocalist Susan Raven. An album 'Burn the Buildings' was recorded for RCA with Rikki Sylan drafted in to help out on production, and a couple of tours, one with "Orchestral Manouvres" who were riding on the crest of a wave in the UK at that time were undertaken.
After the album was released we added another keyboard player Vic Martin to more faithfully reproduce the sound of the album onstage. David was however still unhappy, alarmed the increased musical competance indicated an impending slide into rock cliche.
We recorded one more single, a cover of "Dancing in the streets"
at the record companies suggestion. This time without Pete but with a
friend of Martyns on drums and the excellent Charlie Hayward from "This
Heat" on percussion. It was however the end of the line. David put out
one further album as " Nine Ways to Win" with another vocalist before
immersing himself in tv and soundtrack composition.
Pete along with Vic
Martin went off on tour with "The Eurythmics" before joining "XTC".
14/11/81 Ipswich Gaumont.
4/12/81 Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
June 82 Charlie Hayward
during "Dancing in the Streets" sessions.
