26-04-04 12:29 SMALL FACES LAZY SUNDAY (LIVE 1968) By MIKE The Small Faces story starts in the late fifties when the very young Steve Marriott was sent off to audition for the role of the Artful Dodger in the London stage version of "Oliver". Apparently, when Steve did the audition in front of the show's director, Lionel Hart (playing a skiffle rendition of Buddy Holly's "Oh Boy"), Hart remembered him as the little Cockney urchin who used to busk around bus queues down the East End, strumming a ukulele which his dad bought for him when we was just eight years old. Steve fitted the Artful Dodger person perfectly. It was him down to a tee. In fact the only reason his Mum sent him to the Italia Conti Drama School in Islington, North London was for the simple fact that Steve burnt down his old school. (The Stratford Express carried the headline "Little Chicago Burns" alongside a photo of Steve in his Artful Dodger outfit) and so his Mum sent him to drama School to keep him out of trouble; though while there, Steve and several other aspiring young Cockney actors would set upon the posh kids and nick their sweets and their money! It was while performing with "Oliver" that Steve made his vinyl debut, appearing on the stage cast, recording alongside such hammy old British actors, Ian Carmichael (who played Fagin) and Joyce Blair. Steve's voice hadn't quite broken and his vocals are pretty much unrecognisable. (Maybe the Small Faces should've done a psychedelic concept version of "Oliver") After "Oliver" Steve joined his first band, The Moonlights, who were Shadows copyists, right down to performing the Shadows’ steps. After the Moonlights disbanded, Steve was signed to Decca Records for his first single release. Give Her My Regards appeared in the early part of 1963 and Steve hiccups his way through the song like a teenage Buddy Holly! The single flopped but Steve had plenty of work to get on with. He appeared in two films in 1963, the first being "Heavens Above" (Rank) where he played a small part as Jack, the eldest of a bunch of kids whose family get evicted and are put up by the vicar (played by Peter Sellers) and eventually leave the church where they were staying, nicking the lead of the roof. The film itself has been dubbed a minor classic (full of moral and satirical implications on modern society). The rest of tile cast included Eric Sykes, Irene Handl and Roy Kinnear. Steve's second film of 1959 was one of those corny beat music movies, which were so popular during the early sixties. "Live it up" (Rank) features David Hemmings and Heinz Burt (who, as just plain Heinz scored a big hit in 1959 with his tribute to Eddie Cochrane Just Like Eddie, and also played on the Tornadoes chart-topper Telstar in 1962); who along with Steve work as messenger hoys for the Post Office. They decide to form a band and record a demo called Live it up. The film revolves around the tape being lost and, after a series of madcap adventures, the tape is found again. Steve is featured quite heavily as the band's drummer, Ricky! Maybe this was the film that inspired Paul McCartney's 1984 movie Give my regards to Broad Street, which had a similar storyline plot. Live it up also featured Peter Glaze (later to appear in the kids' programme Crackerjack} and Ed Devereaux (Aussie actor who starred in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo) and the music was provided by rocker Gene Vincent, Kenny Ball's Jazzmen, The Saints, The Outlaws and Sounds Incorporated (later to play on the Beatles Sergeant Pepper Album). The film was produced and directed by Lance Comfort and the script by Lyn Fairhurst. The music was produced by the legendary Joe Meek. Steve's next film "Be My Guest" (Rank 1964) was the sequel to "Live it up." The plot follows the same lines as the first film. but this time the demo they record, Be my guest is stolen. The band then enters a talent contest, which they find out is to be rigged and David Hemmings confronts the promoter with the evidence, after which the band win. The music was this time produced by Shel Talmy, who went on to produce the Who and the Yardbirds, The bands featured in the film include Jerry Lee Lewis, the Plebs, Nashville Teens, The Zephyrs, The Niteshades and Kenny and the Wranglers. It was around this time, that Steve began to get fed up with acting. He'd had enough of standing around the sets for hours on end and decided to concentrate on his first love music. Steve got the job as harmonica player in the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. (Oldham at the time managed the Rolling Stones) and then formed his own band the Frantics (or Frantic Ones, as they were sometimes known). It was with the Frantics, that Steve started to sing the songs of his blues/soul idols. The Frantics mutated into the Moments and, towards the end of 1964, the band recorded Ray Davies’ You really got me. The record only got an American release, which was obviously an attempt to beat the Kinks to the States. Again, the single went nowhere fast and the Moments eventually split. Steve had one more stab at recording a solo single, releasing the Andrew Oldham produced Tell Me. After this effort bombed, Steve had pretty much resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to make it to being a Pop Star (but we know different!) What with film work low on the ground, and his recording career grinding to a halt. Steve needed to get a job and this he did early in 1965. Steve began working Saturdays in the J60 Music Bar, an instrument shop at 445 High Street, Manor Park, London E12. The shop was staffed by musicians, so attracted musicians from all over London looking to find an instrument shop with the staff on the same musical wavelength. It was while working at the J60 Music Bar that fate, or call it what you will, took a turn for the better and led to the formation of one of the greatest groups of the sixties, the Small Faces. Links Related News   Die Commandantes Bandiera Rossa - Thursday 13. of May RESOLUTION OF THE COMMANDANTES Raise up proletarians and partisans! Raise for fighting! We have to conquer a whole world! We have to fight with all our power against capitalism. Much too long the criminal activities of the so called democratic leaders are bringing suffering and misery to the people ... [more] By Mike, 13-05-04 16:51 Category: NEWEST VIDEO BLACK FLAG RISE ABOVE (live) - Monday 10. of May Shining beacon of teenage angst, Black Flag remains one of the finest examples of pure punk rock. Thudding heavy metal riffs, rapid fire percussion and urban assault lyrics served up by the honorable Henry Rollins, created the vehicle for aggression. Say what you want about them, there's no way you ... [more] By Mike, 10-05-04 14:17 Category: NEWEST VIDEO Bob Marley No Women No Cry - Saturday 8. of May Bob Marley was born on 6 February 1945 in a small village in Jamaica . His father Norval Marley was a white British Naval Officier . Despite his marriage, he was an occasional visitor. He didn’t live to see the success of his son Bob. The original Wailers were formed by Bob Marley , Bunny ... [more] By Mike, 8-05-04 08:24 Category: NEWEST VIDEO THE CREETINS ONE LAST FIX - Tuesday 4. of May Back in 1996: Frederick (voc, git) meets his all-time faves AC/DC and decides to start a band with his brother Matthias (drums). Together with Hendrik (bass) The Creetins play honest and straight-to-the-point punkrock with catchy melodies and harmonies that get stuck in your ears! You can easily re... [more] By Mike, 4-05-04 17:59 Category: NEWEST VIDEO THE TEMPTATIONS MY GIRL - Sunday 2. of May THE TEMPTATIONS This Motown quintet began with a merging of two groups, the Primes and Otis Williams and the Distants. Before reaching stardom on their own, they sang behind Mary Wells. The original five Temps were Elbridge Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Paul William... [more] By MIKE, 2-05-04 22:30 Category: NEWEST VIDEO BUZZCOCKS EVER FALLEN IN LOVE (live 1978) - Thursday 29. of April If impact and influence are true measures of a band's lasting greatness, Manchester's legendary Buzzcocks should already be in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Three bands from the now mythical 1976/77 British punk explosion set the benchmarks for everything that was to follow - Sex Pistols, the C... [more] By Mike, 29-04-04 08:21 Category: NEWEST VIDEO SMALL FACES LAZY SUNDAY (LIVE 1968) - Monday 26. of April The Small Faces story starts in the late fifties when the very young Steve Marriott was sent off to audition for the role of the Artful Dodger in the London stage version of "Oliver". Apparently, when Steve did the audition in front of the show's director, Lionel Hart (playing a skiffle rendition of... [more] By Mike, 26-04-04 12:29 Category: NEWEST VIDEO THE CLASH LONDON CALLING - Friday 23. of April The Clash Biography The Clash have changed the lives of so many music fans around the world. A band who embodied passion, idealism and political social zeal. Blending rock and reggae, hip-hop and funk; they were the cutting edge of the punk scene, spawning a generation of fans. Formed in the sum... [more] By Mike, 23-04-04 09:53 Category: NEWEST VIDEO BLACK FLAG THIRSTY & MISERABLE - Thursday 22. of April Shining beacon of teenage angst, Black Flag remains one of the finest examples of pure punk rock. Thudding heavy metal riffs, rapid fire percussion and urban assault lyrics served up by the honorable Henry Rollins, created the vehicle for aggression. Say what you want about them, there's no way you ... [more] By Mike, 22-04-04 22:30 Category: NEWEST VIDEO DEAD KENNEDYS NAZI PUNKS FUCK OFF (live) - Wednesday 21. of April A concise History For Consumers Everywhere (by Gregg Turkington) Dead Kennedys were one of the most popular and important American hardcore punk bands of the 1980's, and in their nine year history stirred up a good deal of controversy through their overtly political songs and actions. The 1986-8... [more] By Mike, 21-04-04 19:06 Category: NEWEST VIDEO Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next