Now n' then (1983-87)

For the new band I had a three-piece line-up in mind with myself playing guitar again so I was wondering who to get on bass. I knew Ray Summers wouldn't be interested as he was doing well with his country band and solo work.When I mentioned to the others that I intended to form a band, to my suprise, Mick was interested. As Mick also played the guitar he agreed to practice bass so that we could both change from bass to guitar throughout the set. Next, we would need a place to rehearse, Pat Solly was manager at a warehouse and kindly offered to let us use it in the evening. It was ideal. He also said that he would like to be involved with the new project doing the sound and lighting and would go out and get us some pub gigs. By now I had a beautiful Black Fender precision bass so he bought Fred's old Aria semi acoustic bass that I used to play and we started to rehearse. We decided on stage names, Mick was known as Mick Gould when he had toured with The Honeycombs, he later changed it to Mick Gold. My name was decided because a little while ago as I mentioned before, I had played a 'one off' new years eve gig with Ray Summers. We had called ourselves 'Summers and Winters' so I chose the stage name 'Bruce Winters' ...We took our first gig as NOW N' THEN in late '82 at a Pub called' The Five Bells' at Wingham Well, near Canterbury.

The original line-up; Bruce Winters, Buster Osmond on drums and Mick Gould....

...Moody.... Our first 'Now n' Then' publicity pic. 1982 with Buster.

There we were in two bands, playing totally different kinds of music. To say NOW N THEN went down well would be an understatement, the gigs came in and to our suprise we found ourselves playing at the same type of venues as Cascade! Like functions and working men’s clubs. The trouble was, Pat had to turn down a lot of good Saturday work, something I never dreamed would happen. Buster seemed happier with Cascade type work and there seemed to be a lot of animosity between himself and Pat.

I remember a row between them starting over Pat getting us a gig somewhere that possibly may have affected CASCADE. Unfortunately this bad feeling grew between them to the point that on one occasion Buster nearly refused to play, he really had lost his temper and I had to negotiate with him to play. It was a stressful time for me, trying to keep the peace and trying not to interfere with Cascade. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep both bands smooth, due to the increasing popularity of NOW N' THEN. Buster, one of my best friends was not happy with the situation and so to ease matters it was decided even though I knew there would be tension between us, to get someone else in on drums for the NOW N THEN bookings.

His natural replacement of course was Cliff Edwards (APLEY RISE). His stage name was now Cliff Langtree...This I think caused even more tension between the two bands and had the opposite effect to which I had intended. We had been using a shared mixing desk for both bands and now this caused rows about its use in both bands. I had opened a can of worms that I had no control over. Pat wanted to take Saturdays for NOW N THEN and to top this, Kim wanted to leave CASCADE. It all came to an unfortunate head one night on Kim’s last gig. Cascade played at a PTA School dance in Canterbury. We said our farewells to Kim on stage at the end of the evening and after packing up the equipment Jeff and I had this almighty row over shared equipment. Buster joined in and Mick started at Buster! It was obvious that it was the end of Cascade as far as Mick and I were concerned. Looking back it was a great shame to end like that and I nearly lost the friendship of two great guys, I must add that in recent years we are again the best of mates. Mick was angry at the way Jeff had spoken to me and his reaction had been to side with me. That was the end of our Cascade period.

Cliff was now the drummer of NOW N THEN and of course we were free to accept gigs on any night we wanted. We did! and the diary was very full. The band was to become the most popular thing since The Variations. We were on a high.... My old mate Ray Summers even phoned me up to congratulate me on the success of the new band...

With Cliff on drums, 1983.

The line-up in 1983 was Me: guitar/bass/vocals, Mick: guitar/bass/vocals, Cliff: drums, Pat: sound and lights. We played pubs, clubs, functions and whatever, we had a ball. One of our best pubs was at Brabourne, 'The five bells'. Best club: Ramsgate, The Greyhound track bar, Dumpton Park. Mick eventually bought a Fender Jazz Bass and soon after, we went over to WOOLEY STUDIOS at Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, to make a single. 'Its so easy' and 'The night has a thousand eyes'. Peter Houston, the lead singer with Maidstone 60’s band CHICORY TIP, produced it for us. The 45 sold well at gigs, we used to sit at a table at the clubs and people would queue up for an autographed copy! Great times it became even more exciting after our interview on local radio on the DAVE BROWN show. He liked the single and it was put on the radio's play list. (Something that could'nt happen these days.)

For the next few weeks 'It's so easy' was on local radio during the day and evening at various times. It was a good feeling to be going to work in the morning, switch on the radio and hear yourself !

Our First 'Now N Then' Transit Van....

We had just bought our first Transit van (first of many) an old diesel wreck bought on the advise of Fred Belfield, it took some doing up but Fred did a good job doing it up for us, but the thing was never very reliable due to the poor design of the diesel engine. It leaked fuel constantly and was difficult to start however as the picture shows it looked great and we loved it. Our venue list was big, this was the most successful band I had been in! - Pubs, Working men’s clubs, we were working them all.

One hot night...Dumpton park greyhound club, Ramsgate, 1983.

A caravan park over near Minster Thanet was where Pat nearly had a fight with the owner. After we had finished our set and were packing away the equipment, he came over and accused Pat of taking some of his spotlights! It became quite a heated row and eventually the owner said he wouldn't pay us. I looked at the lamps that were at the centre of discussion and pointed out to the guy that his stage lights had different fittings.B.C. Not ES...so what use were the bulbs to Pat? He realised he was wrong and after a mutter or two we did eventually get paid!

NOW N' THEN.1984.Mick Gould, Cliff Langtree and Bruce Winters.

(One of the most popular bands I've been in....)

The band stayed at it was for about two years. As always things did change and eventually in early 1985 we needed to vary our music. We thought it would be good to include a keyboard player into our line-up. An old friend of Mick by the name of Alan Hoar, (who used to play in SUSPICION and THE HONEYCOMBS with Mick) was at a loose end and it was suggested that maybe he would join. After a rehearsal or two he was included in the line up. The inclusion of keyboards gave us a wider musical ability. New publicity photos were taken and someone jokingly remarked that we looked like the choirmaster and his boys!

Bigger line-up for Now n' Then with keyboard player Alan.

The summer of that year brought us LIVE AID. This inspired local musician GARY DEAN from Folkestone to organise with some other musicians the local charity 'Kent for Africa' It involved an all day event at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone in which 25 local bands would play for free for Bob Geldofs’ Africa relief fund. I was invited to sing a verse on a 45 single by 'The Rocking Horse Club' with many other local musicians in aid of the charity. On Sunday 15th September 1985 NOW N THEN played at The Leas Cliff hall in the afternoon in front of 1200 people. Unfortunately Mick missed the gig due to the illness of his father, but. Steve from 'STEVIE DAN' (another band playing) kindly helped us out on bass. It was a very memorable day and Gary Dean raised over £5.000 towards Bob Geldof's Charity. Not bad for back then.

'Kent for Africa.' Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. 1985.

Alan, Steve, me, Cliff -behind the drums. (No Mick)

There were to be two more 'Kent for Africa ' events. The next two years saw them held at Folkestone football ground. (Mick appeared at both these events). CHAS. AND DAVE appeared in 1987 and went down well, my old mate comedian Dave Lee made an appearance on that show, he was on tour with Chas and Dave at the time. Although the two shows were well presented and the artists put on a fantastic performance, the events weren't so successful and the crowds did not compare with 1985.

We played many great gigs for the next few years keeping the same line-up. We played locally as well as travelling to clubs in Surrey, Sussex and Essex. We supported Brian Poole and Vanity Fare at a corporate function at Phizers in Sandwich. A great night.

Pat left eventually because of work pressures and Fred Belfield took over the sound, supplying us with BOSE speakers and good advise. Fred stayed a while and after that we mixed our own sound from on stage. Mick and I shared bass playing up until late 1987 when Network was formed...

1987. Playing bass.

Network (1988-92)

Early 1988 brought about a re-shuffle. Alan wanted to leave and form a soul/funk band. A friend of ours by the name of Bob Balmer, stage name Bob Lee, (another ex 'Honeycomb) had just moved back to Canterbury and was looking to join a band. Bob plays bass and was yet another ex member from back in the 'Suspicion' days.

Early Network, with Cliff on drums. 1988.

Mick Gold, Cliff Langtree, Bob Lee and Bruce Winters....

I was feeling like a bit of a break from bands at that time, and was thinking maybe to leave, but was talked round into forming a band that would include Bob on bass. Thus Network was formed in spring 1988.

I wanted to try and play some of the new heavy rock that was proving so popular, (i.e.; (Poison/Bon Jovi/Europe/Bryan Adams/Saxon etc.) mixing it in with our quiet extensive reputuare.

We really thought at the time that we would change our style completely over to rock. But the demand for more sixties and rock n roll still haunted us! We couldn't get away from it.

Cliff was away a lot at long distance lorry driving and sometimes through no fault of his own ,used to turn up late at gigs. We were worried and a bit fed up with the situation.On occasions Cliff would phone to say sorry he couldn't get back at all and so we had to bring in a friend of ours, Dave Smith on drums to help out. Dave played in many local bands and was a very good drummer. We were in doubt now about Cliff’s priority regarding his loyalty towards the band. Somehow Network just wasn't working with stand in drummers....

After much discussion it was decided to dis-band and discuss where we were going musically. We still thought the '60's' scene was fading (mistake!) and maybe a heavier band would work.(wrong!). A couple of weeks off the road and we decided to reform this time with a heavier rock drummer. The choice was a guy who had been in a band with Bob in THE GARY DEAN BAND. His name was John Regan ('Ace' to his friends) . John would maybe fit in with the changing music. He was a really nice bloke also he was into the same music as me. So a play set was formed rehearsing in Bobs warehouse office three evenings a week. After a lot of hard work, our play set was complete. We were on the road again. The gigs were O.K. but the clubs still wanted the 'old' stuff and we were swinging back to what we had played before...(Johns style didn't suit the 60's music as well as Cliff...)had we gone wrong somewhere? Somehow we never seemed to get the buzz we used to get with Now n' then.

The clubs and venues we were working at wanted us for the older type of music and so eventually we decided to go back to playing more 60's and light rock. Pat sought us bookings at various working men’s clubs and contacted several agents. We worked Guildford, Aldershot and down to Littlehampton. We recorded an Album in Bob's studio to sell at gigs. Things were far better on this new circuit and at last NETWORK was heading in the right direction and during the early 90's we put on good shows. Pats lighting was excellent and the music really went down well, Camberley in Surrey and a place near Guildford called Merrow were really good. The Entertainment’s sec. Gerry, even compared us to THE SEARCHERS, who they booked regularly,- what a compliment!. Yes, at last Network was working out !...........

The Honeycombs connection...(1989)

An agent called Doug Argent had been approached some time back by our old drummer Cliff, who had told him about the time Mick, Bob and he had been touring with THE HONEYCOMBS. So of course everything took off and brought about several 60's tours, and a bit of fame. A lot of miles and not one of my best memories, a lot of hard work... Its amazing what a famous name can do! Free food and drink at the clubs, queues waiting to come in a see you, old albums to sign. When I sang 'Have I the right' people thought I was the original singer. Looking back it was all good fun, although the long journeys in the van were tiring. I was glad when the touring came to an end....But 'Network' carried on..

In 1992 John our drummer had a 'head banging' accident. One evening when he went to our dressing room at a club, John jumped down some stairs and smashed his head on the top doorframe at the bottom of the staircase. It knocked him out for a few minutes scared the hell out of us - but he recovered smiling, he went on stage refusing to go to hospital for a check-up. Mick and I would joke after this that he wasn't the same on the drums anymore. He always seemed a bit dreamy and vacant. Nice guy though... For a year or so afterwards whenever we returned to that club you could still see some of Johns Regan's hair stuck to the top doorframe!

About this time I did a 'one off ' reunion with my old band 'THE VARIATIONS’. They were thinking of reforming to play occasionally, one of the first times was when they played at John Copeland’s (Satans/Variations) wife’s birthday party, I sat in and we had a great night. It was good fun and was filled with nostalgia. I was unable to continue with them after this gig due to my commitment with Network, however they still play gigs. John handles lead guitar and vocals and they now go out under the name of 'Tried and Tested'.

...Barry, John, Jim, Buster and me.........................................Back with the original 'Variations' for a birthday party ''reunion". Hersdon, 1990.

Network were all good friends and we continued to gig through the early nineties. Sometimes we all went up to London for the day to look round the music stores, go to Carnaby Street, buy some clothes and just have a good fun day out.

Outside The Marquee Club, Charing Cross Road. London. Summer, 1991.

In 1991 Dave Lee the local comedian was putting on a charity gala show at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. Topping the bill was Petula Clarke and as we had played one or two clubs with Dave he asked us if we would like to do a ten-minute spot at the end of the first half. He said he would come on at the end of our set, sing a rock'n roll medley with us and then take over with his act to finish up to the interval. This day must surely go down as one of my most memorable.

A page from 'The Gala' program.

We rehearsed in the afternoon and felt like stars! The sound man and stage manager Steve assured us that he would give us a good mix and

the stage box plug-in for my Ovation guitar would be there on stage..(yeah?) when we came on. . I hope...

.........

Marlowe Theatre...Afternoon rehearsals and sound check... Discussing finer points with Sean....'Stage assistant'

................

Pat Solly and Bob Lee.................................................. Dave Lee, Mick, Me, Bob and John.

. After sound check and a promotional photo shoot for the Marlowe’s 'Hall of fame', (This pic hung in The Marlowe Theatrebar 'hall of fame' for many years.)

we retired anxiously to our dressing room for beer and sandwiches..... As the evening came around, we had one final run through in our dressing room....

Last minute 'run through..'

Time to go on...we made our way to the stage, BARBARA STURGEN from local radio introduced us as we walked on behind the curtain. My heart sank.to my dismay Steve the soundman had not set up the stage as we had rehearsed, our 'fold-back' monitors were wrong. There should have been four, one each so that we could hear our vocals, there was only two, Micks monitor was missing...I quickly moved one over to him, Bob and I would have to share the other one...Poor John on the drums would have to guess! But even worse than that....there was nowhere for me to plug in my Ovation electro acoustic guitar (no stage box, as was supposed to be placed there for me by the stage manager Steve) PANIC! (Thanks Steve!!) Barbara started to announce us...

"And now ladies and gentlemen.."

"I can't use this guitar ! I can't it plug in...there's no stage box!", I whispered to Mick,

He whispered back to me to change guitars, (My electric guitar was ready and plugged into my amp at the back) ...

"Next is a local band from Canterbury......."

I was rushing! I took off my Ovation... I grabbed my Peavey electric guitar stumbling slightly as I reached over...I managed to save myself from falling by grabbing against my guitar amplifier and it swayed slightly....Now, there is a spring inside connected to a pick-up to give the guitar sound an effect called 'reverberation'...unfortunately it's 'microphonic' and it gave out a thunderous roar..The amp was 'miked up' , and so it came through the front of house P.A. really loud!! like a roar of thunder...

"...My goodness.." we heard Barbara say."'What an introduction!"

We heard the audience laugh- by now I was so annoyed that all my nervousness had gone and all I wanted to do was to strangle Steve! I slung on my electric guitar...

"Ladies and gentlemen please make welcome- ....Network......" We thundered into The Hollies classic 'Just one Look'.

The Marlowe Theatre, 1991 (photos by P.Solly.)

We played a perfect set! And what a reception! The sound out front was perfect. The only mistake that was obvious was when our drummer stopped too soon at the end of 'Oh Pretty Woman’; this was due to the fact that John couldn't really hear us very well because he had no fold-back monitor. (Thanks Steve) I think John played really well considering the circumstances. Still, I don't think anyone noticed and we couldn't have gone down any better. I think we were all very proud. To play your local theatre in front of so many people you know is really something special. Dave came on near the end of our set and rocked into his medley. We received a standing ovation, which is pretty good for a local band on the first half of a show.

Finishing off the set with Dave Lee...

We met Petula Clarke, what a lovely lady! The after show party was brilliant and I will never forget that evening. Steve..you're a tosser!...but we still luv ya!!.. (OK, he had a lot to do single handed that night...)

1992 was also a good year for NETWORK. We not only did an open air summer concert spot in Croydon with many well known acts, we also supported three named bands from the 60's at The Burstin Hotel in Folkestone. The first was FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS, then a few weeks later we opened for THE SEARCHERS. The season ended up with a 60's night with MARMALADE. We enjoyed FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS, Freddie had just reformed a new DREAMERS and it was their first gig in public. He was very nice and completely natural, a really friendly guy. THE SEARCHERS were the MIKE PENDER version, very authentic I thought and close to the original 60's sound. MARMALADE were good but only a few of the original members remain, 'Changes' is one of my favourite songs of theirs and they performed it well.

NETWORK carried on through 1993. My hair grew longer! We were playing venues from Hampshire, Surrey down to Folkestone. One venue that was really good at this time was a pub in Cheriton near Folkestone.We always had a good night there and we were reviewed in the local rock paper 'THE BIZ'. We played a few more '60's' theme dances at The Burstin and had a good summer.

We had our Transit van stolen one new years eve, in the morning before we were due to play at a club in Surrey. It had nearly all the gear in it including Johns brand new £4000 red drum kit! I phoned Doug Argent the agent and told him we couldn't make the club. Later that day the police found the van in some woods near Ashford. . It was completely full-! Nothing except a small box of tools and a wheel brace were missing!- Unbelievable! John’s new kit and everything was there. The van was a write-off, completely un-drivable. So we went over and unloaded everything into Bobs work van and phoned Doug the agent to say we could do the gig after all, but he had already arranged another band so that was it- no gig. What a miserable new years eve that was! However, we played the club at Camberley the next year and it was one of the best new years eves I have ever had up until that time.

Camberley WMC. New Years Eve, 1993

Bob Lee, Bruce Winters, Mick Gold and drummer John 'ace' Regan...

Pat had a lot of lighting and sound gear to contend with and so I suggested that he have someone to assist him. His name is John Baldwin, a really nice guy who learned very quickly and not only helped Pat assemble the lighting rig, but also learned how to operate the sound.

September 1993 was when I was made redundant from my job as an electrician with Canterbury Street lighting contractors. I was worried about what the future would hold. Bob was in a similar situation with his business, a franchise wood-stripping venture that he had just sold off. He told me about a new computer technology called 'Midi'. A system by which you can program instrument sounds together on a computer to form a backing track. This plays back through a portable 'midi' floppy disk player into a 'sound module' and you have what in effect is a real band backing you. His idea was for us to form a duo to play pubs and clubs using this new 'midi' technology. We could buy midi programs from a company and they would send the data on 'floppy disc'. Then we load it onto our computer and take off any lead guitar sounds and bass and then play it back through our P.A. We both had computers and Bob had a Roland SC55 sound module that he had been using in his studio. I was not too sure about this new venture but as I needed to earn a living I went along with it and we set up our system in a disused clubroom and rehearsed with some backing tracks we had bought.

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