A LA TIENNE
Formed in September 1983, the original line up included members from Uckfield,
Heathfield and Rushlake Green: Richard Constable (drums), Brian "Jock"
Jarvis (bass), Tim Golding (guitar), Tim Heale (keyboards) and James Morris
(lead vocals). For the recording of their first demo later that month they
were joined by the 5th member of the band - percussionist Andy MacIntosh.
The name of the band was suggested by the singer's girlfriend and after
4 weeks practice they played their first gig at The Foresters Arms in East
Hoathly on October 30th 1983. The band played a number of other local venues
in Uckfield, Brighton and Eastbourne until the Spring of 1984 when the
drummer Richard Constable was cruelly dumped at a band meeting in The Horse
and Groom in Rushlake Green and replaced on drums by erstwhile percussionist
Andy Mac. The band continued in this format until early 1985 when Andy
Mac moved to London. During this time the band played about 50 gigs and
became quite a favourite in Eastbourne with many press articles and some
memorable performances. After about February 1985 the band stalled, only
playing a handful of gigs using both guest drummers and a drum machine.
Finally the live dates came to an end at The Shelley Arms in Nutley in
1986 when, once again joined by Andy on drums, the band performed a terrible
under-rehearsed set and prompted the landlord of the pub to comment "that
was the worst band I have ever heard". During this inglorious end the keyboard
player leapt from his keyboard to start a fight with a member of the audience
and the singer had to hit someone else with the mike stand who persisted
in gobbing at the band. A brief recording reunion of the band in 1986 (minus
the drummer) saw the release of a 12" single "Kissing Me With Your Mind"
distributed by Rough Trade. This was the swan song of a band that had started
brightly on the Eastbourne scene heralded by some as the best band in the
town in 1983/84. After 3 years it was all over and they all went their
separate ways: Tim Heale moved to Scotland where he lost one of his fingers
in a building accident, bass player Brian got married and moved to Saudi
Arabia, Andy Mac moved to London and got a real job, and original drummer
Richard Constable got involved in other musical activities before moving
away.
After a hiatus of 11 years both, singer James and guitarist Tim Golding
eventually got back together with another guitarist and drummer to form
a new band playing lively rock 'n' roll covers. The band, "Mojo Filter"
continues to this day and can be found at
www.mojofilter.net
Thanks to James Morris for this contribution
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