Gizmo

It was 1975 and prog-rock was all the rage. David Radford, a young singer-songwriter from Canterbury had just secured a recording contract with President Records. The label, run by father and son team Ed* and David Kassner, were impressed by Radford's writing talent after hearing a demo-tape recorded at the original Oakwood Studios in 1974. President wanted a single released as quickly as possible and invited Radford's band Gizmo up to Regent Sound Studio in London's Tin Pan Alley (Denmark Street) to record seven of his songs. The band that recorded that first single and other unreleased tracks comprised:
David Radford - 12 string guitar and vocals
Graeme Quinton-Jones - Keyboards and guitar
Mick Curd - Guitar
David Jones - Keyboards
Martin Judd - Bass guitar
David Smith - Drums
And so it was that President Records released the first ever Gizmo single: 'Just Like Velvet' in late 1975 (Hear it on YouTube).
Although the single was well received by both The NME and Melody Maker, it failed to get prime-time air-play and so went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media.
Radford, unhappy with the situation and a band that couldn't commit to live performances decided a new line-up was needed. He auditioned pretty much every musician in Kent and over a five month period from January 1976 to June '76, slowly assembled a band of first-rate performers that would do his music justice. This new line-up was to record the first two Gizmo albums, 'Just Like Master Bates' and 'Victims', the band also played a string of gigs across London and the Southeast.
The new Gizmo band members were:
Dave Radford - 12 String Guitar and Vocals
Maurice Memmott - Piano and Violin
Brian Gould - Synthesizers and Organ
Steve Wyse - Drums and Percussion
Steve Wyse. Maurice Memmott. Dave Radford. Brian Gould
First to join was Maurice Memmott, who was introduced to Dave Radford by local saxophonist Colin Crow. Classically trained, Maurice came to the band after working as a violinist with The London Symphony Orchestra.
Colin also sought the involvement of ex-Judge Dread drummer Steve Wyse, then working as a full-time gigging/session musician who had played on football anthems, 'skinhead reggae' singles, heavy rock and even supermarket / elevator tracks. Steve in-turn brought onboard Brian Gould. Brian had recently returned from a worldwide tour with synth prog-rockers Seventh Wave. The tour, to promote Seventh Wave's second album 'Psi-Fi' ended in LA with band leader Ken Eliot calling it a day... Ken, exhausted, both physically and mentally had little appetite for further live performance. Ken, who was (is?) a gifted singer / keyboard player / songwriter / musical arranger - has not been heard of since.
Mention must be made of talented bassist Trevor Rogansky, who joined in 1977 and appeared at many early Gizmo live performances. Following family problems Trevor was forced to return to his native Liverpool after just 9 months with the band.
Audiences who witnessed the early 1977-79 stage shows are unlikely to ever forget seeing a Gizmo gig. It was not just the quality of the music, the band sounded breathtaking, in part due to the efforts of sound engineers Andy Bell and Jeremy Darby, both of whom went on to secure top jobs in broadcasting both here in the UK and the USA. Andy, to this day, is a freelance sound engineer working regularly with both the BBC and Independent broadcasting organisations... Jeremy was to tour the world as sound engineer for Lou Reed, Bowie, U2 and Prince, to name but a few. He settled in New York in the early 80's before moving to Toronto in 2000 where he now resides and works.
Visually the early live shows we're some of the most exciting performances by any band anywhere in the UK. The whole stage would erupt in fire - Gould's circus-like fire-blowing routine was accompanied by Wyse playing his drum set with flaming drumsticks, and if that wasn't enough, flames and fireballs were ignited both on stands at the side of the stage and in steel trays right in front of the audience.
Dave Radford recalls... "Inevitably things went wrong - God knows how nothing major ever happened or anyone was seriously injured. Brian once coughed when blowing a fireball vertically and a massive flame engulfed him for what seemed like an enternity. A quick-thinking member of the road crew threw a pint of beer over him. Amazingly he just got up and continued playing as if nothing had happened! Another time, the end of one of Steve's blazing drumsticks began to unravel leaving a four foot trail of fire dancing across the drums - How he got away with just minor burns I'll never know. There was one funny moment... Maurice (Memmott) used to wear a pirate coat on stage. One night, getting hot, he took it off and threw it across the stage, it wasn't until the first flares went off that we realised he'd chucked it over one of the flash trays... The coat was made of nylon... Have you ever smelt burning nylon? Cor - It don't 'alf make your eyes water!"
In 1977, recognising the popularity of the band, Kent music promoter Andy Macpherson of 'Sleep-n-Eat' booked Gizmo for several support slots opening for some big-name prog rock bands. As far as most of the audience were concerned, the evening finished when Gizmo's set ended. One summer's evening at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall was particularly memorable when orchestral rock band The Enid had to take the stage following a spectacular Gizmo set. The Enid had to endure calls throughout their performance for the return of the support band! The same thing happened three months later when renowned blues singer Carol Grimes appeared at the same venue with Gizmo supporting. Word soon spread around booking agents, and many major acts would refuse to play a venue promoted by Sleep-n-Eat if Gizmo were booked as support.
Eventually Sleep-n-Eat gave Gizmo their own headline slot - It proved a good decision as ticket sales proved greater than for many of the 'top artists' they'd been showcasing.
Recordings
Initial demo tracks were recorded at sound engineer Andy Bell's home studio, located above Neville's Coffee Bar in Ramsgate's High Street. These early demos being recorded on two stereo Revox tape machines and a 10 channel 'Malcolm Hill' desk, with overdubs achieved by continually mixing down. Soon after, Brian Gould set up a similar system in his front room. As far as is known, none of these early recordings still exist.
It was decided to do things properly and record tracks for a possible LP. The sessions for 'Just Like Master Bates' and 'Victims' were recorded throughout 1979 at Oakwood Studios in Herne Bay. As with Andy Bell's studio, Oakwood was similarly located above a coffee bar, meaning that five flights of stairs had to be negotiated in order to reach the studio and control rooms on the top floor! Oakwood was never equiped to a professional standard, whilst all the big studios of the time were using 24 track machines with state-of-the-art effects and a sound board that would stretch over 10 feet, Oakwood was restricted to just an 8 track tape deck and little in the way of echo and reverb effects. With few production options available, Gizmo simply played their music 'live' in the studio - sound engineer Graeme Quinton-Jones doing a remarkable job with the limited technology at his disposal. The first album was released on ACE thanks to the assistance of studio owner and music producer Graeme Quinton-Jones, the second album by 'Sleep-n-Eat' - the live music promoters at Folkestone's top venue The Leas Cliff Hall.
Air-Play
Gizmo will always owe a debt of gratitude to Radio Caroline who devoted a considerable amount of air-time to 'Just Like Master Bates', not only that, but Gizmo were invited to play at many of the popular Caroline Road-Show gigs that the radio station promoted in and around London, Kent and Essex. It was also thanks to Caroline that Pinnacle, a major record distribution company based in Orpington, placed the album in shops around the Southeast - Radio Caroline's main reception area.
Radio Caroline's mastIt was with great regret that Caroline ceased broadcasting in early 1980 when their ship 'Mi Amigo' sunk - taking 'Master Bates' and the entire Caroline record collection to the ocean floor.
This left Radio 1 as the only station then broadcasting pop/rock, and with punk-rock, new wave and ska making all the headlines, getting the radio station to play anything other than this was nigh-on impossible. However, one Radio 1 DJ 'Emperor Rosko', somehow found a copy of 'Victims'. Rosko had a regular Saturday morning show and for some eight weeks played 'Marie Celeste', one of the longer tracks on the 'Victims album'. With air-play vital to record sales, without these radio plays, both albums would probably have gone the same way as The Mi Amigo...
Loving Awareness RiP!
Gizmo Reform (1984 to 1988)
In 1984 Gizmo reformed; this time with Martin Reed on guitar. Martin came into the frame after a drunken night at a gig where Maurice Memmott was playing with Whitstable folk band 'Smack Alley'. The support artist failed to arrive and when the crowd was asked if anyone present could play a guitar and entertain, Martin volunteered. He made quite an impression; so-much-so that when the idea to reform Gizmo came about, Maurice invited Martin to join the band. A drummer was needed. In 1983 Dave Radford had been working with heavy rock band 'Atlantis Rising'. Atlantis Rising disbanded soon after recording their only, and now highly collectable single, 'Tightrope'. Nick Milton was the band's drummer and so was asked if he'd like to be part of the new Gizmo.
This line-up's first gig was at Dover Town Hall in front of the impressive back drop of massive church organ pipes.
This led to several years of gigging. The band became regulars at the psychedelic concerts held at The Crypt in South London, performing alongside prog-rock bands such as 'Ozric Tentacles', who borrowed Nick one night when their drummer was unavailable. A cassette (Remember cassettes?) EP was recorded of 'Mars' from the 'Planet Suite' by Holst, and 'Hey You'. Both tracks became popular set-pieces live.
1986 saw a limited release of a bootleg cassette. Tracks were live versions of 'Mars', 'Small Garden', and 'On To The Sun' - this showcased the power of the band with Nick on drums.
In 1987 Nick Milton departed, to be replaced by Steve Wyse who briefly returned to the fold. Also to leave was Amalia Memmott whose position was filled by Anita Salt playing violin and synthesizers. A double 'A' side, seven inch single was released - 'Psychedelic Rock 'n' Roll' (penned by Steve), with a song written by Dave Radford in 1975 'Martyr for a Kingdom'. The band once again split in 1988 with Brian Gould, Maurice Memmott, Steve Wyse and Anita Salt leaving to form orchestral rock outfit 'HPC'. HPC recorded one album in 1990 entitled 'Camera Obscura', they then toured the length and breadth of the UK throughout 1991. The band retired exhausted at the beginning of 1992.
In 1991, the desire to do it all again was sparked off by a collaboration between Martin Reed and Nick Milton. Grant Matcham, ex 'Atlantis Rising', a formidable keyboard player of great skill and sensitivity, was invited to join the band. Stuart Monteith joined on bass guitar, soon to be replaced by Chris Dempsey on vocals, bass and Moog (Chris has more recently been with Canterbury rock band 'Moscow Riley'). Gizmo also recruited Tony Rico, an exceptional 18 year old saxophonist - His playing fitted perfectly with the band's prog-rock style. Last, but not least, Dave Radford - Gizmo's founder member, was on back on vocals / guitar, continuing to be the band's main songwriter.
It was during this collaboration in 1992, that the third Gizmo album 'They're Peeling Onions In the Cellar' was released, comprising of a track written by fellow Canterbury prog rock band Caravan, entitled 'Mr Policeman'. There were new versions classic Gizmo tracks 'Storyteller', 'Hey You', and 'Gravity', plus some new material. Just prior to the release of this album, Gizmo performed at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone - footage of which can be viewed here »» Please excuse the quality, it was 1992 and home video recorders were pretty basic affairs back then.
Leas Cliff Hall 1992
More gigs followed the album and the band found themselves in London again playing alongside 'Gong'.
All was quiet until 1995, when Dave Radford was contacted by an Italian record company, who asked if Gizmo would like to be British representatives on a tribute album to seventies prog band 'Van Der Graaf Generator', which would include Van Der Graaf Generator tracks performed by bands from all over the world. One problem - There was no band! Excited by this opportunity, Dave went through his list of musical contacts and a new Gizmo was rapidly assembled.
This time, in the band were:
Dave Radford - Vocals/Guitar
Martin Reed - Guitar
Hugh Hopper - Bass
Grant Matcham - Keyboards
Tony Rico - Saxophone
Nick Milton - Drums
Hugh Hopper was a long-time friend of Dave's and was happy to oblige. Hugh brought a serenity to the line-up and a great sense of melody. The track chosen for the album was 'A House With No Door' - which is now included as a bonus track on the new Gizmo CD called 'Gizmo' (this track is not available on the vinyl version of 'Gizmo').
Martin Reed savours the memory of the first rehearsal with Hugh - "After my acoustic guitar intro, the next person to play was Hugh - He played one high note so gently and with such sensitivity, it gave us all goosebumps!"
In this reincarnation, they played only a few gigs, including a memorable prog-rock double-billing with 'The Ozric Tentacles' at Folkestone's Leas Cliff Hall, Kent, on 12th September 1996. The final gig was at Pullman Wine Bar, also in Folkestone, on 29th September 1996, the place was packed and the evening was captured on video by a member of the audience. We've tracked down a copy which can be seen here »» - Apologies for the picture quality. None-the-less, it's a charming record of the event.
Hugh Hopper was tucked away behind Martin - It was a cramped performance area - Hugh is visible sometimes!
Hugh left quite an impact on the rest of the band who feel privileged to have shared laughs, stories as well as a stage with him. He died in June 2009. His work with 'Soft Machine', Allan Holdsworth, Steve Hillage, 'Gong', Robert Wyatt and many other prog-rock greats, is there for all to hear and enjoy. It's nice to know that Gizmo played a part in Hugh's long and varied musical career.
Gizmo Reform Yet Again in 2011
In 2011, Martin Reed was contacted by Nick Milton, and this ignited the enthusiasm for a reunion of the band. He contacted Dave Radford, and lured him out of his retirement from performing. Dave had not picked up his guitar or sung for 15 years, so initially he was quite reluctant. However, the willingness and enthusiasm of Grant Matcham, Nick Milton, and Martin, was too enticing to be ignored by Dave, and he agreed to return as the stalwart in the band. They were fortunate enough to also find the perfect bassist - a man with a melodic flair who is a master of the bass guitar - Alex Powley, who was introduced to other band members by Martin.
During the Spring and Summer of 2011 they rehearsed, perfecting the old songs, whilst writing new ones too. Then on 12th August 2011 the band performed their first gig in 15 years, at 'The First & Last' in Herne. It was a fantastic gig, packed with Gizmo fans, many of whom had travelled from afar to be there. This was followed two days later on 14th with a gig at The Farmhouse, in Canterbury, which was being billed as their 'first official gig'. They were on-a-roll and played a third gig at Gees, Sandgate on 19th August 2011. All three performances went down a storm which, in-part, inspired the band to record a new album.
After the gigs, they focused on writing new material for a fourth Gizmo album. They did do one final live performance that year on 23rd December. Again, it was at The First & Last, and was yet another huge success.
Sadly, 2012 has been a year beset with problems for the band, through which they have remained determined to complete their fourth album 'Gizmo'. There was a change of drummer - Nick Milton was replaced on the sessions by Ian Harris (ex Karnataka). Grant Matcham on keyboards, due to circumstances beyond his control, had to leave the band, and during the recording of the album, Dave Radford fell ill, undergoing surgery in London. Dave made a full recovery and now feels better than he has ever done.
Martin Reed also became unwell during the latter weeks of recording, but managed to complete all the tracks. He was diagnosed as having a brain tumour and was referred to the same London hospital as Dave just weeks after he had left there! Martin underwent surgery to remove the tumour on 31st July.
It is amazing how both Dave and Martin were able to write and record the songs for this album, when they both had such life threatening conditions. Despite what they were both went through, it did not affect the quality or standard of Gizmo's material, and there are indeed many new masterpieces on this release to which they rightfully felt proud to have produced.
With regret we have to report that Martin Reid died 12th July 2013 less than two weeks after his final performance with Gizmo.
http://www.gizmo.uk.com/