THE CARPETTES Punk / New Wave 1977

THE CARPETTES Punk / New Wave 1977 - 1999 THE CARPETTES

The Carpettes were originally formed in County Durham in April 1977 by vocalist / guitarist Neil Thompson, vocalist / bassist George Maddison and drummer Kevin Heard, all three having played together in their school band Brown Sugar. After lust two local gigs they replied to an ad in 'Sounds' placed by Small Wonder Records and sent in a five track demo which earnt them a deal with the Walthamstow based label / record shop. In December of the same year their debut single, the four track "How About You And Me" EP, was released to favourable reviews in both the national music press and the 'underground' Punk fanzines, the single being a re-recording of tour tracks on their original demo tape (the fifth track "It's All Put On" still remains unreleased). The early part of 1978 was spent gigging in their native North East supporting the likes of Penetration, The Vibrators and Cyanide, having The Angelic Upstarts and Punishment Of Luxury support them and being interviewed for Radio Newcastle (who played three tracks "Small Wonde~', "TV Lady" and "2NE1" from their second demo) whilst their first London gig came courtesy of a support slot to labelmates The Leyton Buzzards in the March. In an eftort to promote their second 45 "Small Wonder', The Carpettes recorded a summer session for John Peel (performing "Reach The Bottom", "I Don't Mean It", "Away From It All" and 'Indo China"). However, when Thompson and Maddison decided to relocate to London to improve the band's chances of success, Heard decided to stay in the North East and so the duo recruited ex-Young Bucks member Tim Wilder as their new drummer and his first task with the band was to record a second session for John Peel which was broadcast in December '78, the band playing "Cruel Honesty", "What Can I Do", "It Don't Make Sense", "Double Platinum" and "Routine". Leading independent label Beggars Banquet (home of The Lurkers, The Doll and Tubeway Army) had long expressed a keen interest in signing The Carpettes though at the time, didn't have the finances to fund any new artists. However, when Gary Numan hit the big time with "Are Friends Electric?" Beggars made The Carpettes an ofter and in April '79 the band signed to the label. Their first release for Beggars was the October '79 LP "Frustration Paradise" which was swiftly followed by the 45 "I Don't Mean It", both releases being promoted by way of support slots to The Lurkers, at their residency at London's Marquee Club, and even via some daytime airplay on Radio 1! A second 45 from the LP, "Johnny Won't Hurt You", came out in December of the same year and initial copies came with a tree live 45 "Total lnsecurity" / "Keys To Your Heart". Both cuts were recorded at the University of London though they were originally supposed to have been recorded at pub venue The Windsor Castle though when the band arrived to set up their gear the landlord refused them admission! Another odd event surrounding the single's release was that Beggars turned down a support tour with Stiff Little Fingers and tried to get the band to support Wishbone Ash! They eventually undertook an 11 date UK tour with The Inmates which led to a slot on "The Old Grey Whistle Test" TV show pertorming the single and "I ndo China" though it wasn't an experience the band remember with much enthusiasm. Their first European dates came in early 1980 when they toured Italy with The Merton Parkas and The Tigers, as well as playing a show with Tom Robinson's Sector 27 and they returned to the vinyl arena with the release of "Nothing Ever Changes" 45. A two week tour of Italy, which included a TV show with Robert Palmer, plus a festival in Holland (where they were supported by Metal giants Accept!) preceded the October release of the "Fight Amongst Yourselves" LP and the "Last Lone Ranger' single though following their releases Wilder decided to leave. To fulfil gig obligations Maddison and Thompson recruited ex-Merton Parkas sticksman Simon Smith (who also appeared on the band's last ever demo, a four track affair that has never seen the light of day) though when he moved on to Mood Six,Wilder agreed to return for the last batch of gigs and on June 4th 1981 The Carpettes played their last ever gig, at Hammersmith's Clarendon Hotel. "No pose, no image, just honest exciting music which must come under the all enveloping title of 'New Wave Rock'. ..going to a Carpettes' gig is always a guaranteed high, whereas at other gigs the hope in your heart is rarely fulfilled...they give 100%" (Zig Zag, July 1980.) Nuff Said. Mark Brennan

George Maddison

gmaddison@gmaddison.screaming.net

United Kingdom

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook