THE SKUNKS - Also KNOWN AS The CRAZE .
I think the first thing to say, is that as 12 years olds we all wanted to be rock and roll stars. Well I did, from the first time i saw Rory Gallagher in 69 at home in Ireland. At school some of us developed that dream and expanded on it. franco had a mate who played guitar on Jesus Christ Super Star in the West end, i saw that and thought mmm, then saw Thattl Be the Day with Moonie and Essex, and that was me sewn up.
I have to say that in 1974-77 it was a terrible time to be young and trying to get in on the recording music scene. Mickie Most had it sewn right up, I did try ( even at 13 i was writing and playing and trying to find a way in !, but no go from any of the studios , Bay City Rollers, Glitter Band had it all taken care of ). Eagles were No1, etc.on the day that the Pistols did the Grunden interview on London Weekend Television, and that was tthe evening that changed all of our lives.
I was 15 at the time, at Grammar School and sitting for exams, within 6 months I was recording on a four track in Brixton, and on the road with a band, playing at the Roxy,Marquee, and every london venue.
We were incredibly lucky to have been inthe right place at the right time, and had wonderful experiences from it all.
This is part of the story
"We played the Roxy in 1977/78 as the Murders, the Dole Q, supporting The Buzzcocks amongst many others.
We then reformed as SKUNKS (London was full of the graffiti OURS ! especially every bridge in London ),we supported XTC at the 100 Club, The Police at the Vortex, The Buzzcocks at Manchester Free Trade Hall, toured with Charlie Harper and the UK Subs.
We have the dubious distinction ( sic ) of Gerry Lambe smashing up one of Pete Townsends guitars ( 1952 Fender Telecaster at Twickenham Polytechnic 1978 cost £2000 to repair ).
We were spotted by Pete Townshend and Keith Moon at a Vortex gig Wardour Street , London W1, supporting Generation X ala Billy Idol in Sept 1977.
Basically it started when the 3 chaps walked in : Alex Harvey, Keith Moon and Pete Townsend they walked in to the middle of the packed crowd and shouted ." YOU STINK "!, Moonie started it, Gerry Lambe said fuck off taking off his guitar, Frank said "who the fuck are you? "Pete T shouted , " We are the WHO !!! who the fuck are you???" No Answer to that !! ).
After the gig they came backstage and Pete spoke to Frank, saying he thought we were really good. Frank said "who the fuck are you, do you play in a band?" Pete said: "Yeh, I play in The Who."
Frank said: " Who the fuck is The Who!" With that Moonie picks up a chair and smashes it over Billy Idols table and starts hopping around with one of the broken legs, doing Long John Silver impersonation, (he'd just finished playing him in a film) saying " Who be taking the piss out of the Whoooo ? !! "
With Alex Harvey and Moonie wrecking the place Frank sobers up quickly and shows Pete an old Rickenbacker he just bought from Kevin Rowlands ( Killjoys, Dexys Midnight Runners).
Pete said he could have one of his guitars and delivered him a 12 String Rickenbacker to our studio in Brixton a few weeks later
We had been going to the Marquee for 4yrs before and Baba O Reilly was the song we always heard at that club new it well and loved the WHO anyways !)
We were 15/ 16 , Pete Townsend was in awe of us, basically because we WERE the WHO in 77/78 ! we basically did what they did , it wasnt copying, we played from the heart , were very loud, and smashed stuff !!, and for us it was from the heart too, it might not have been as well orchestrated, but it was high energy on the Heart Attack mode. We got on so well, Pete signed us.
Looking back in all honesty I speak for all of us, they were the nicest, genuine people you would / could ever meet were / are Pete Townshend, Kieth Moon, and all of that era I include Genesis,Phil Collins, Kate Bush and every star we we bumped into back then.
They ( Townsend ) took us on to Eel Pie Island records. And our 1st single Good from the Bad / Back Street Fighting (Eel Pie 1978) sold 2000 copies. ( only 2000 pressed ) Played on John Peel show etc. We then went on to Cobra records, a subsidiary of EMI, and released Motions and Lucy as Craze."
The book relating to the bands history and experiences is due out in 2010 on Harper Colins.
Dole Q / The Skunks were / are
Gerry Lambe - Guitar, and lead vocals
Franco Cornelli - Guitar,vocals
Hugh Ashton - Bass Guitar, vocals and production and helmut cheese.
Pete Sturgeon - Drums
Rob Doran - Sound Engineer and producer
Managed by John Boyall ( pierce the boyall )
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