HISTORY
OF presuming ED (Easter 1997 - 2001)
Easter 1997
In
the Easter holidays of 1997, in a bedroom, in Norbreck, Lancashire, 2 people
set out to create a legacy that would one day become presuming ED. They didnt
know it back then, but the 2 people involved, Oli Jefferson (drums) and Ben
Jones (guitar) would become legendary in the history of the band. Of course,
like most things, it originally started out as something to pass the time. After
various afternoons spent practising songs it was decided it would be a good
idea to try and form a proper band. Paul Bramhall joined on vocals and then
within a couple of weeks Pete Jackson joined as the first in a very long line
of bass players. Practises became more frequent as the summer holidays of 1997
approached. Just before the holidays arrived though, a new member would join.
Kevin Logue was recruited as a 2nd guitarist, and the band currently called
Drift was complete.
Winter 1997
As the summer
passed, many practises were held, and many early tapes were made. Amongst these
tapes was mini-albums that were passed on to friends. These tapes included "Who's
staying for tea", and "Drift Vol 2". But with the nights drawing
in, the first casualty of Drift struck. Pete was replaced on Bass by Chris Cowell,
and the practises moved out of Norbreck.
The Garage
Sessions 1998
Soon, Drift
were practising almost every other day in Bens garage in Poulton. It wouldnt
be long now until Drift were to be unleased on the public. Soon the date was
set, March 18th 1998 would go down in history as Drifts very first gig. Playing
mainly covers, only 2 songs from that set are still played today, both are which
renowned as "classics" in the way they have beaten the test of time.
These songs were "Mr Prozac" and "Television Meltdown".
Television Meltdown would later become "This Is Not An Exit". After
the success of their very first gig, Drift wanted more, and it wasnt long before
they returned to Copper Face Jacks, scene of their first gig, to play yet again
a set mainly consisting of covers. A website was set up that still exists to
this day at http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7263/. Drift were now
on a high, they knew that people were liking there songs, and they wanted to
carry on gigging, and soon they were booked to play on Oli's 18th birthday at
the Rossall Social Club. A video of this song still exists somewhere today.
As the summer was drawing to an end, so was the line-up. University loomed for
both Chris and Ben.
M.O.K.A
With Ben
at university practises dried up. Paul also left to finish his final year at
Uni, so the only two Drift members left in the area were Kev and Oli. After
a discussion one night, it was decided by these 2 members to try to create a
new band altogether with a completly new sound. First to join was Mal on Bass.
Looking uncannily like Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics, Mal brought with
him some new ideas for songs, which were then turned into full songs by Kev
and Oli. These songs included "Its The Kids", a bizzarre fuzion of
drum and bass, mixed with wah pedal and some of the most crazy lyrics ever to
be heard. But one thing was still missing, a vocalist. Soon Amy joined, and
the name M.O.K.A was decided upon. Again a tape was produced, but only 2 copies
exist, and where they are nobody really knows. But this wasnt to last, as practises
went on, the idea of having to gig soon became too much and Amy left giving
reasons that she had no confidence to get on stage. Then, without warning Ben
dropped out of Uni and returned to find a new bass player. Again though, we
were back to the original problem of having no singer. Glenn was brought in.
With Glenn came a new stlye to Drift, a more rockier edge had been installed.
But this wasnt to last, soon Glenn departed, and with him did the year 1998.
Back In The
Garage
To add confusion,
another lad called Oli (Clewwit) joined, and with him came his mate Chris. This
only lasted for a few practises tho, as having 3 guitarists in the band was
just not working. So again, not for the first time Drift would be a 3 piece.
By this time (mid 1999) practises started drying up again. Uni was again looming
for Ben and for the first time, Oli. Kev would be left to carry the flag of
drift. But with no members left, it wouldnt be until the beggining of 2000 until
Kev and Ben set about writing new material. The new material, most of which
is still played today was written at this time. Also, ideas for a new name were
thought of. Eventually presuming ED was decided upon, and a new era of the band
was very close. Oli returned from uni in the Easter, and practises with the
new songs were held. In June 2000 the latest bass player would join, Adrian
Howe. Until his arrival bass lines were written by either Kev or Ben. Not completly
sure of the legacy he was stepping into, Ade would bring with him ideas of new
bass lines, and suddenly a "heavier" sound was installed. Around this time we also started practising with a female singer called Kirsty, but after just one gig Kirsty left, but it wouldnt be long before she was replaced....
presuming ED
There was
still one vital ingredient missing. A vocalist. After hearing his old band "Coastal"
had broken up, Jamie Cook was asked to join. Jamie was instantly thrown in at
the deep end. Within 2 weeks of joining, presuming ED would play there first
proper gig with this new line up. This gig would be held at "The Tache"
as support for "Whitegate Drive". The gig was memorable for Ben's
effects pedal blowing up, and leaving Kev with the duties of trying to play
both guitar parts. Soon after another gig was lined up, returning to the scene
of our very first gig 2 years previous presuming ED would play at "Copper
Face Jacks" kicking off a month of wednesday night indie/rock nights. The
night before the Leeds/Reading festival presuming ED would play again at "Jenx"
nightclub. The gig went well, but would be remembered as Oli and Ben's very
last gig with presuming ED. The two people who had started the whole legacy
of drift/moka/presuming ED 3 years earlier were no more. But the band had to
go on. Alex Williams was brought in on drums. His stlye altered the entire sound.
For the first time in 3 years there was someone else on drums. Alex's style
was certainly to play as fast and hard as he could, and with Kev writing Heavier
songs it was apparent that presuming ED's musically direction had again changed.
Alex's first job as drummer was a gig as support for "Kippertwang"
at The Tache. This gig was possibly the worst in the history of the band, the
problem being mainly laid at the terrible sound engineer, who didnt differentiate
any instrument, so the crowd was basically hit with a wall of unclear sound.
But morale was soon boosted with a support slot for newly crowned RockQuest
winners "Whitegate Drive" at the Merrie England Bar on the North Pier
in Blackpool. presuming ED reviled in the atmosphere, and with the assitance
of a proper sound engineer (Mr Paul Cartridge), presuming ED played a storming
set.
March 2001
After the
support slot for "Whitegate Drive" on December 23rd 2000, presuming
ED decided to take time off in Jan. Picking up again in Feb, Jamie invited a second guitarist down to a practise, yet another lad called Ben, however this did not work out, and apparently Ben will now be singing in Andy Hillcoats new band. Presuming ED also decided
to record a CD. The as yet untitled CD will be recorded in April at Berlin Recording
Studio's in Norbreck.
Summer 2001
The summer saw presuming ED record and release their 1st CD, entitled "Taking It To The People", it contained 3 tracks and was recorded in 1 day at Berlin Studio's. We then played a couple of gigs at West Coast Rock Cafe, supporting IOTA and Desormais. We managed to sell all the copies of our CD at these 2 gigs, all money going towards the band kitty. The second gig at West Coast would however become Jamies last as singer. A mutual agreement was made, but presuming ED decided not to split up, but to take some time out to work on new material.
Winter 2001
Going into November presuming ED finally became a 4 piece again. The arrival of Mr Ben Jones re-joining gave us the desire to play again. With a new sound, presuming ED took their new set to the ROCKQUEST 2001 heats, where they were unfortunatly beaten by Uncle Fester. The feedback from the gig was amazing, and presuming ED are now looking at recording our 2nd CD, although it is currently unknown as to what songs will be on it.
presuming ED would like to thank everyone involved in the history
of this band, and that anyone missed out we apologise for. We would also like to thank all our mates who have at some time come to watch us, or are planning on coming to our next gig.
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