Sister Ray singer using Craig of Fast Cars guitar when the bands played together at Bowdon Vale.
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“Great photo ! Thats the late Clive Robinson who was singer with Sister Ray. We played at Bowden Vale Youth Club with Fast Cars also on the bill that night. Martin O' Neil took photos of the gig.”
The band was formed in 1978 by myself ( Alf Henshall ) and vocalist Clive Robinson. Also in the band was Alan Gooch, Bass, and Bill Anstee on drums. We played at all the new wave/punk venues and supported acts such as Adam and the Ants, U.K Subs etc. we appear on the L.P Identity Parade and White Dopes on Punk with the track 'Suicide'. I left the band in 1979, Johnny Marr who was 17 at the time was my replacement. I shown Johnny the chords and rehearsed with him and the band until he knew the set list. Clive sadly died about 10yrs ago and Alan Gooch died 3yrs ago. I have played in various bands since then, mostly blues bands, i formed my own blues band in late 80's called 'Third Degree' which ran for 2yrs. I still play guitar and own about 10, some strats, a Les Paul a S.G and various accoustics. I live in stockport and enjoy cycling and walks in the peak district.”
“Hi WendyWoo71 . Glad you found the Sister Ray site on the music archive. I knew your uncle Clive very well , we both were music mad and played our guitars everyday writing songs together . I used to go round to his flat he shared with his girlfriend Wanda and daughter in Northen Moor and they would come round to my flat in Peel Hall , Wythenshawe . Clive always had a guitar with him - he seem to carry it everywhere he went ! I was very sad wen i heard he had passed away - i would have liked to have gone to his funeral but heard the news too late. I believe his funeral was at Mill Lane cemetary , Cheadle , i have tried to visit his grave but have not found it . If i can be of any help regarding Clive - he didn't like his name so he called himself Ray ! Please let me know. Regards Alfie.”
“Hi ???????? Alf thanks for your speedy reply we have visited his grave he has a headstone in the shape of a guitar ???? I will find out from my mum exactly where it is as I can’t remember it’s a while since we’ve been we live in Oldham we lived in wythenshawe when I was small my mum Margaret is his sister loved ???? seeing all these pics my uncle Clive used to just pop up out of the blue every now and then always had a four pack of special brew I remember him staying at ours as a child with Wanda so sad he died so young ???????????? was great to see all these old pics of him was showing my mum she got quite emotional ???? x x”
“Hi. Thanks for the info. Regarding Clives grave- i will have another look , i don't live too far from the cemetary. Yes Clive liked a drink or two - maybe a bit too much at times shall we say ! Wanda was our manager for a while and got the band gigs. I eventualy wanted to move on and play blues - which was my main interest. Johnny Marr was my replacement - he was just a young lad at that time. If ever i go past Whalley Range area i always think of the cellar where we practiced in Bill Anstee's -(drummer) flat. Happy days , we were all very fired up and loved playing. Have you heard the track 'Suicide' on utube ? It was taken from a album we were featured on called 'Identity Parade' . You get an idea of how Clive used to sing !”
“No I haven’t I will most definitely have a look though I have fond memories of my uncle Clive he was a rum bugger that’s for sure I will message u on here when I have details of how u can find his resting place I’ve just got in touch with his daughter Sarah Wanda’s daughter sadly she tells me she doesn’t talk to her mum she lives in the Netherlands she is in touch with Kate his other daughter and his two sons who live in France sadly they have looked for clives other son Daniel but haven’t been able to make contact with him so far x x”
“Thanks Wendy. I remember Sarah , she was only a toddler at that time. I didn't know Wanda moved to Netherlands - she split from Clive and went out with the Drummers brother as i remember. Clive was seeing another girl too but i can't remember her name - i couldn't keep up with who was seeing who ! I didn't know Clive had another Daughter Kate or two sons either ! Must have all happened after i left the band. Alfie.”
“No his daughter lives in the Netherlands not Wanda she is still in uk I think but Sarah doesn’t speak to her he had a daughter Kate to a girl named Sharon the he had two sons to a girl named Helen then not long before he died he had a son to a woman named Joan my mum is here now she said clive’s middle name was Raymond she said when she couldn’t find his resting place she went the office as u go into the cemetery she said he died June 1999 his birthday was July 30th his grave stone is definitely a guitar ???? shape I hope u manage to find it x x”
“Thanks Wendy. I will go soon and have a look, i can cycle from my flat to Mill lane , Cheadle as i live about 4 mile away. Its good to reminece about Clive and the band - the bass player also passed away a few years ago too. There's just me and the drummer Bill -( who i believe lives Hebden Bridge) living now. Alfie.”
“Here's a memory from when we played at College Of Building , Hardman st. Manchester. One of the songs in our set was called 'Mental' -( about a dearanged man who murders people- i don't think you'd get away with it these days being all about mental health etc.. Well as we started playing the 'eerie' guitar intro. Clive came on stage wearing a white doctors type coat and a carrier bag . The song speeds up towards the end and Clive goes into a manic act and pulls out a pigs head ! He then stabs the head repeatedly as he cries " I'm mental , I'm mental" ! He left a bit of a gory mess on stage and when me and Bill went to pick up our gig money the next day the college were none to pleased to say the least !”
“Ha ha just read this to my mum and my daughter we are all laughing thanks for the memories very much I hope u find his resting place we are going to go very soon ourselves x”
“No probs . Everytime i hear Lou Reed singing a song like 'Waiting For The Man ' or anything by Velvet Underground , it always reminds me of Clive - he was a big Lou Reed fan . He also admired Mick Jagger - Clive could do the 'showman' bit as good as them ! Here's my email address for future ref. Henshallalfie@gmail.com. Alfie.”
“Aww thank you ???? speak to u in the future I will let u know how to find his resting place when we locate it again if you don’t already find it my email is wendy-woods@hotmail.co.uk thanks for all the info x”
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