Music Spotlight: Crewe band The Colours to feature in book detailing town’s greatest bands from the past

Jan 26 2011 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

A new book setting the record straight about Crewe’s greatest bands is currently being keyed.

As yet untitled, the work is to reveal some fascinating exploits of the area’s true legends, such as The Train Set, Tower Struck Down and Angels With Dirty Faces.

Among that elite with 80s outfit The Colours Out Of Time, bassist Andy Pennance believes his project is a must to celebrate those achievements.

And he’s hoping to hear from people with more stories about alternative musical heroes, from the early 60s to the turn of the century.

“It’s a labour of love, I’d say,” he said. “To be recognised for being a legendary Crewe band you’ve got to have written your own stuff and released singles, really.

“We were in NME and Melody Maker, as were The Train Set, and if you’re recognised nationally I think you’ve made it to some extent.

“There are many stories to be told, I guess we’ve had Dario G and Discharge, who both had a Crewe connection, as well as Vermillion Hair and even The Scorpions from the 60s.

“I’ve already done quite a bit with Booty (Train Set) but I’m hoping to make contact with as many people as I can.

“It starts at the birth of rock ’n’ roll in 1955 and I’ve looked back at the Chronicle in those days when teddy boys were fighting outside the Civic Hall.

“I’ve had the book in mind for a couple of years because I believe it’s nice to have all these things recorded and I’m sure local musicians have a few stories to tell.”

Despite their later success, Andy admits there wasn’t always a warm welcome back home. Particularly when they started out in 1977 as a punk/ new wave band called TV Eye.

“There was nowhere for us to play really apart from The Dirty Duck and I think we got bottled off at one point,” he added. “We did get to support Wild Horses at Dane Bank College (77) because they used to have some really big gigs there at the time.

“But Crewe was only really either heavy rock or soul in the late 70s; no-one wanted to watch punk because of the bad reputation and it was difficult to get gigs locally.

“There seemed to be more of a scene in Stoke.

“There was a folk scene at the Royal Hotel, there was a club called Buskers which Elvis Costello used to play before he made it.

“Clive Gregson was the guy that ran it and his band Any Trouble went on to sign for Stiff Records, tour the States and feature on the front of Melody Maker.

“Nigel Stonier (songwriter and renowned producer) also used to compere a folk club at The Brunswick but that was it at the time.”

Eventually in 1980 they evolved into The Colours Out Of Time, a neo-psychedelic rock band – predating REM and The Smiths – and people took notice.

Two sell-out singles followed, including one that would later become single of the week in Sounds along with a John Peel session broadcast twice on Radio One in May 1981.

Spots supporting The Teardrop Explodes, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Passions resulted with interest building up among labels.

“We split up in 1982 because it was either go get a job or keep pushing,” added Andy.

Along with the book, Andy is hoping to follow up with a possible compilation album.

And he still keeps an eye on the current scene.

“Hopefully we can put an album together at the end of it,” he said.

To get in touch with Andy, call him on 07403 283725 or email apennance@gmail.com. For more information on Volume’s events, promotions and PR services, contact its Nantwich offices on 01270 625384 or visit www.volumepr.co.uk.