ghetto88

“...note another one of Sarah's bands with us this time Laudanum Split...eventually she became the Electric Brains with another Wild Panzy Mike on drums...Edward Barton also playing at this gig!”

“Yeah the Panzis had a standard of their own! but we all loved his stuff.”

“A DIY poster as mostly they were for us, I met a guy in there who said he came down because Captain Beefheart was on the poster..great!”

“Ragtatters featuring the fabulous Bolt Brothers, Rainer and Gilly.”

“This video clip around the same time was at Isadoras under the old Corn Exchange...2nd gig, Archies was their 3rd and last!”

“Hi Arnie cheers for getting back, I've been meaning to post that cab picture for ages. I used to live at the Newsagents on Broadoak Road where Dave Smith used to talk to me mum Pat Bolt. When me and my brother first started playing and getting into guitars F104 were one of the more established local hero type bands I'd hear about, my brother who's a couple of years older remembers you playing, probably at the Spread. In about 1985/86 I moved to Manchester and have been playing in various bands around town ever since. Yes that cab's had a bit of a life! lushing it up at the Boardwalk, Roadhouse, Band on the Wall (on video..I might post!!) and various other sheds around town. It's also fallen down stairs, been chucked around in vans, and painted a few times(F104 stencil will not cover up!!...you did a good job!) but at present resides in a church hall where we practice in Chorlton. Wow!! I wonder whether Harold Pass has got any of those nasty distortion pedals stashed away!? Cheers Martin”

“Hi F104, I've got an old 2x12 speaker cab of yours! we've had it for years bought from one of the second hand shops at the bottom end of Ashton passed where the Spread was. I've put a new front and grills on it, new speakers too but there's still the stencilled F104 on it which I must say I tried to cover over, but has come back....some kind of satanic brand no doubt!! My brother originally bought the cab and played a bass thru it but I've recently used it for a guitar extension speaker, Hiwatt abuse and PA monitor work. I'll post a picture which you can link to and see if it triggers your memory! We knew Dave Smith's brothers Gary and Paul who lived on Smallshaw Lane so I am a good generation after you. Do you remember those £15 wedge shaped distortion pedals Pass sold they were probably worth no more than a fiver! wish I still had one so I could hear how bad they were...or probably good they sound 30 years down the line. One last thing, my first ever performance was at the folk club Dave Smith had going at Hurst Community centre after F104. I wanted to leave this comment next to the Harold Pass plectrum..anyway... we bought a lot of dodgy cheap leads from him, the curly ones, great for picking up all sorts of interference, it was a learning experience, I got a really good Roland Cube 40 from Ashton Audio!!in about 1985/86 it was stuck between a load of hi fi stuff, great little amp. The F104 cab is on here, click on ghetto88.
Cheers Martin.”

“Was that the volume or the fact it was a sunday night spot at the Boardwalk?”

“Not sure of Simon's second name but most probably the one you know. Simon stood in for our drummer maybe twice but we played with the Frenzies around that time usually at the Swinging Sporran and practiced next door to them at the Beehive. Ash was our bass player another Frenzy!”

“Yes it was in the cellar and the smell was as you say.....mostly albums though, the Paperchase just off St Ann's Square was another good record shop, once again down some stairs! Good times when you're in your early teens and finding out there's this alternative world called music.”