After Dark

After Dark were an early - mid 80s post punk band, formed from the ashes of punk band KK Dive. After Dark consisted of Pete Hammond - guitar, Lee Hunter - Bass, Chris (Cod) Wright - drums/occasional synth, and Gaz Allison - Vocals. Based in Sale, rehearsing in the old Sale Annexe, After Dark played gigs all round Manchester, supporting name acts and developing a decent following. After recording demos in Twilight studios, they were asked to contribute their song - New Winter - to a post punk album, 'Who What Why When Where'. This album exceeded all expectations, went to number one on the indie charts, and is regarded as a classic of its time. The album can still be purchased today from Amazon! Unfortunately, as there was another 'After Dark' (this band based in London) the band had to change their name for the album, so for that record only, they were known as 'Know The Drill'. (A slogan lifted in haste from a studio wall). Despite the high sales of the album, the writers received just a couple of hundred quid up-front and not a single penny in future monies. Crap deals eh? Let that be a lesson to you all! As for the whereabouts of the band now: - Pete Hammond, who had a reputation as a superb alt rock guitarist - went on to do studio session work before disappearing off the scene. Sad rumours abound about Pete, but are yet to be confirmed. Chris Wright, went on to form synth pop band White Dial, before turning to software music composition and then the cabaret circuit. Chris is still doing stuff today, and can be heard at http://chrisamusic.bandcamp.com/ Lee Hunter got married, and was never heard of again, and no-one seems to know what happened to Gaz Allison either. (Or his younger brother who drummed in KK Dive). Answers please, on a postcard.