Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?

Subject: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 12:30 AM

i've been googling with little success for info on one of my old favourite
live gig new-wave bands.. Leeds circa 1978-81..
[Gang of 4 / Mekons/ Au pairs / agit-pop era]



"Agony Column"




the only thread of a clue on the internet is..

the possibility that a folk artist Tom Bliss ..

may have been a member of this band
[or a different band with the same name]

they released one 7" single that i'm aware of
[cant remember the title.. its in a box in the attic at my old mums house]..

just curious to find out if there were ever any other recordings in circulation..

cuz i'm at the age now when nostalgia is no longer backed up by memories..

i've been listening to a recently released "Delta 5" compilation CD..
just dug out my "Au pairs" CDs

..and the name "Agony Column" suddenly came out of nowhere
and re-emerged in my head !

i'd love to hear some of their music again for old times sake..

this is realy buggin me now.. i should have gone to bed hours ago..

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 12:33 AM

ps..Please if a mod could expand the title of this thread to include his full name..
i abreviated it in case it dint fit in..

thanks

g'night..

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 12:36 AM

oh.. and blame the Jake Thackray telly progs
for reminding me of my bitter sweet 2 years in leeds all that time ago..
[could go to folkie wine bars and punkrock dives all in the same night out !!!!]

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 01:05 AM

one more thing then definitely some sleep..

AGONY COLUMN


BACK DOOR
DOOR 8

1980

A Side:
Love In The Head

B Side:
Free Of Love

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 03:21 AM

Yes - tis true, twas me. But I was only with them for one summer and never made it onto vinyl. My stint was sandwiched between a John Peel session and said single release above. Line-up was:

Malcolm Raeburn (Vocals)
Ian Heywood (Guitar, Vocals)
Bri Tag (Bass)*
Jon Rust (Drums)
and briefly Tom Bliss (Keyboards)

I've seen *Brian's brother Andy Rawson (ex Sneakers) resonably recently, and Jon drummed in my 'seminal' Otley folkrock band Behind The Wall (co-founded with Steve Fairholme, now in The Duncan McFarlane Band).

The Ags reformed for one fantastic gig in the last days of the late lamented Duchess - and sounded as fresh and edgy as ever. Bankers Kid, Mister Sister, Home Movies, Dietician, Love Is A Blanket Expression, Losing My Lust, and - remember - Taxi!

Quite a few musos from that period are still around - Hipflask is probably in touch with more than me (though The Three Johns and The Mekons can be reached from my MySpace site).

Lummy Days

Tom

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 04:11 AM

Duncan (hipflask andy)was of course Luigi anna da boys. (sp?)

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 04:13 AM

Oh and if you remember 'Really' from that period? Dave Bowie now plays double bass, guesting on my last album and currently in a great trio with Boyles Gary and Maggie (no relation). Both he and Creswell are in Burden of Paradise with Snake Davies and Helen Watson

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 07:50 AM

The Ag's drummer John Rust did a spell on the drumstool for me in 'The Way' too.
Malc Raeburn became an actor didn't he?
Early on in his new career I seem to remember him walking (starkers!) past a doorway in 'Bridehead Revisited' - or am I remembering wrong?

Slight sidetrack here (sorry Tom!) - Luigi Ana Da Boys got a mention above....
I've been looking at http://www.netsoundsmusic.com/nsudsii/2/238974003/789/2.html
...where Luigi's vinyl LP (pristine condition) is currently on sale to vinyl collectors at £1512.66!!!!
I expect old Agony Column vinyl is worth summat too!
A' th' best - Duncan

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 08:30 AM

Whatever you do Duncan if that vinyl is worth that much, don´t tell anyone you have boxes full of mint copies!!

It tends to lower the price!

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 10:02 AM

Nah - the mint copies all melted. I have both the Ag singles somewhere, in fact a whole box of Leeds bands' releases from that time. Yes Malc was in Brideshead. IIRC he was the barman in the gay bar and had one line "Would your friend like to tango?" Jon was in it too, I think.

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 10:24 AM

I have the Ag Col single too somewhere, must hunt it out.

Where were you Sat night then Tom?
It was 'free' to get in after all - but perhaps you were catching crabs in Octopus Lagoon?.... Firing cannons in Houseboat Bay? ... or steering into hidden harbours using 'leading lights'?
Byeeeee - Master: John Walker

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,TB
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 10:45 AM

Yes, sorry about that! We did make it to the secret harbour (singing 'a-rowin a-rowin, since rowin's bin moi ru-i-in,' all the way) but after doing the Wrynose and Hardnott ran out of puff (well have you ever tried rowing a small boat over those passes?) Also it turned out J had to be home by 9 am for rugby match.
Titty
(PS we both know two Altounians but not here, ok?)

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 08:25 PM

thanks for the quick response Tom and the rest of you guys..

great news..

so theres a good possibility of John Peel sessions
circulating somewhere out there in the ether of the internet..

maybe even some gig soundboard recordings

or unreleased studio tapes

lost under beds or in attics..??????

i also followed the new clues you provided..

IMDb has a lengthy resume of Malcolm Raeburn's TV appearances
and a possible direct link to contact him..

but that needs a premium membership and to provide
credit card details online..

but this then, this helped google a north country Uni where he is apparently
a lecturer in Media and Performance..

wonder if he's the sort of bloke who'd appreciate
an inquiry from a total stranger..


in the absence of any commercialy available compilations..

if he's got any good bootleg CDs of his old band..


i wish i could remember what they sounded like..

vague memories of a sound slightly more sophisticated
than mekons and gang of 4..

maybe a bit more like Bill Nelsons Red noise ?????


did they were suits onstage..???????

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 03:20 AM

We were occasionally likened to XTC, and Bill was another local hero with a similar pedigree. Angular pop - Jon never played a straight backbeat - he was always upside down and inside out with the beat - easily the most original drummer I've ever worked with. As for clothes, Malcolm had a nice spangly top, and when I joined Ian bought my red coily lead off me and used to perform in tight white jeans with it wrapped round his leg. I had my famous leather kecks. I don't remember suits. Malcom was great as Old King Cole at the West Yorks Playhouse and we exchanged a few words after - he's a lovely chap. Go on - give him a buzz, and tell him I sent you. (Say hi from me but please don't say I'm a folkie now - our secret, ok)? Tom

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:48 AM

I've just had a lovely nostalgia session - out to the garage and dug out the old vinyl from storage boxes...
Yep, there was the 'Love In The Head' single by Agony Column.
I've digitalised it onto my PC (B side too) then the only way I could think of to enable 'guestpunkfolkrocker'to hear it (and any other interested parties) was to temporarily hoist it onto my own band's website - I hope the blue clicky further down these ramblings works! - at the foot of my homepage is the menu - go to CDs and Samples page - I've stuck the wma file and a wee note at the foot of that page.

I saw the band many times but never with Tom in it, sadly - but their drummer John Rust played in the 'Way' with me for a while, whilst still in Ag Col!
Our most memorable night with the Column was at Leeds hotbed of music (at the time!) the Haddon Hall. The Ag Col needed a venue post-haste to be filmed by the BBC for a documentary 'Leeds on the B side'.
We gladly gave up our 'pre-booked' engagement to them so it could all happen on schedule - we turned out to do a support gig that night so that our own fans weren't too let down by the sudden change. As it happens, the producer liked us too - and we were filmed for the same docu a week later! Thanks to the Ag Col boys, eh?
I still have a video of that Beeb programme wi' us all on it!

I guess the Ags were (to these ears) very much influenced by the 'pop-rock' of the day...
folks like XTC and Joe Jackson and Elv Costello spring to mind now I listen in retrospect...
But the Ags songwriting and playing was always very clever and highly enjoyable in their own rite.
Anyhow, here's the link...
http://www.duncanmcfarlane.co.uk/
Cheers - Duncan

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 10:54 AM

Duncan
Just had a listen to Love In The Head. Sounds very good.
Les

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Bassic
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 11:21 AM

Ah....Haddon Hall......brings back some memories! Playing Cello as a guest on "Dust in the Wind" with Red Eye. Standing by at the side of the stage with a series of replacement bass drum pedals for their heavy footed drummer Pete Russell, scenes from "The Biederbeck affair" (or was it tapes?) that were shot in there.
Am getting a pain in the neck from all the headbanging just thinking about it! Dem good o`l days :-). For those about to Rock!

Ah well, you had to be there I guess. BTW, anyone remember "Ethel the Frog" from Hull?

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 01:22 PM

Yep, Bassic - sure remember Ethel the Frog.
Red Eye too - they did a 'Fondling the Floorboards' tribute to our (Luigi's) 'Feeling the Ceiling' - the very album I mentioned above that's currently on sale at £1512.66!!!

Les, the Ag Col were a fine band indeed - I'm glad you liked the clip - doubly so - in that my blue clicky must have worked then!
Other fine bands that Hadd the Hall in that era were....
Dodgy Tactics, Knife Edge... and (sadly, the late) Dale Hargreaves Flamingoes
...so many more...
Recall any Tom? Come on...'Switch' on and 'Play games with me'
Hugs - D

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Bobcat
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 03:32 PM

Hi Duncan..was a great night on Saturday at Ingleton..the band at its best.

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Bassic
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 03:33 PM

Still in touch with Paul "DOUG" Shepperd from "Ethel the Frog" . Also remember seeing Deadringer at the Staging Post just when "Sunday Drivers" was released.

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Bassic
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 03:46 PM

Here`s Shep

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 05:01 AM

Thanks Bobcat - the band were indeed on fire Sat night.
The swell of enthusiasm permeated from the audience - they made us pull out all the stops.
Seems we did another two and half hour (plus) set again.
Twas grand for us!
There's an Ingleton thread - where the last post I read said 'Wot, no more feedback?' Perhaps you might like to put your comments there Bob?
Cheers - Duncan

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 08:47 AM

Well they better be hot at the Gainsborough Folk Festival after all I have said about the band. :-)

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 09:07 AM

The band is always HOT. Sometimes they are hotter than others.

No. 1 Fan..........

Shame more cannot be heard of them - like on the Mike Harding Show.


Dave

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 10:29 AM

errrrmm.. sadly..

..'over-indulgence' during my early 20's has mostly erased my memory
of my few years in Leeds and its amazing vibrant music scene way back then..

but just found this handy reminder

http://www.liveinleeds.com/25JFK79.htm


i mainly 'remember' gigs at a big pub behind the Uni

[27p for a pint of tetlys ? and being so skint i had to make a half last all night !..]

and a small bar in city centre somewhere..


was it called viva ???? something like that???


Gang of 4 were already big in the NME and playing large stage student union gigs..

mekons were still a 'local band' but rising in national prominence..

Au pairs.. were like an adopted leeds band [brummies ??]


Girls at our best had their LP reissued on CD..
but its now deleted and going for silly money on ebay


and the Ags should have gone on to at least release an album..


BTW.. the recent Delta 5 compilation of singles/b sides/ radio sessions
is superb..

not just for nostalgia.. the music is still alive and relevant..


.. and listening to that clip [many thanks]
from "love in the head" single

[for me.. for the first time in quarter of a century
since it got boxed up in my mums attic..]

ought to convince anyone who could make it happen
that there could surely be a similar demand for am indy lable prodution run
of an Agony Column rarities CD..


heres hoping..

lets see what else google can uncover..

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 10:49 AM

..and something else worth noting if anyone do'nt know..

mekons never went away from music scene..

Jon Langford relocated to USA

where he's been a considerable motivator and influence
on alt country rock..

http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artists/jonlangford/


i recently had a very heavy drinking session with a leading artist in
US alt gothic country music

and most of the conversation i can remember is
how much chicago musicians like and respect jon langford..

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 12:14 PM

Agony Column - still one of my favourite bands

They recorded three singles:

All Worked Out/Good Grief (Tyger Records)
Love In The Head/Free Of Love (Back Door)
Blanket Expression/Only U/Missing Person(Lightbeat)

Line up shown above is correct for the first two singles but a new bass player (whose name escapes me at the moment played on Blanket Expression.

Original Bass player was Sarah Lee who went on to join the Gang Of Four and Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen.

I remember Tom Bliss playing keyboards for a while and later Gareth Harwood joined on additional guitar.

If anyone does come across the Peel sessions or has any soundboard recordings I would love a copy. The sound man for a long while was Adrian Wright who I used to know well but I've not seen him for ages.

Since I met you I'll never go by bus again!

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 20 Nov 06 - 07:00 PM

The 'new' bass player was Frank Harrison who I last saw at Bempton Cliffs, looking at puffins! Gareth was from the Bradford band, Beats Working. Saw Ade a year or two ago and he was well.

(Sorry, everyone else - just noticed this while looking for another old thread)

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,find an old friendhi
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 06:32 PM

hi guys,
hope you can help me. ive been out of the country for 20 years and im trying to get in touch with andy or brian rawson, my email is [e-mail] thanks again ...jean thirkill

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 12 - 12:41 PM

Don't know if anyone will ever return to this thread - but I have greatly enjoyed reading it.

I have a tape of Agony Column live at York Revolution 27 Oct 2010. It isn't great quality, done on a portable cassette recorder. But you'll recognise the tunes, and your memory and imagination will do the rest. Let me know if you'd like a copy - and here's hoping the band don't mind me giving it away. Put a post on with your contact details.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 06:39 AM

That should have read October 1978! Jeff.

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 04:01 AM

This just arrived from Jon Rust

It's not the King,
It's not the Jedi,
it's not Martin Guerre,
it's not the Native,
it's not even the Repressed…

It's the Return of
Agony Column
one of the top bands in Leeds 1978 - 1982, with three singles released, a session on the John Peel Show and packed out gigs at The Royal Park and Haddon Hall among others.

Sunday 6th May 2012
The Empire
Bridge Street Leeds LS1 4DJ
plus special guests
Full English Breakfast
Doors open 8pm First band on stage 8.30
RSVP [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: stallion
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 04:23 AM

Good Lord Haddon Hall, My mate courted and married a Viola student at Haddon Hall, A tad earlier, ooo maybe a decade earlier!, I remember driving over and creeping around the grounds and sneaking in, or possibly about) the womens quarters and the odd concert. Alan and Wendy are still married! Wendy is mudcats " Ebor fiddler's" sister, cats out of the bag now! As I remember the place was a bit classical and stuffy, must have had a make over boys!

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 06:58 AM

Wrong Haddon Hall I think.

This one was a pub in Burley, Leeds - made famous in Alan Plater's The Biederbeck Affair. (starring James Bolam and Barbara Flynn).

I did not discover until much later that the Haddon Hall's landlord Terry's surname was, buy delicious coincidence, Addinall.

Its twin, The HIghwood, is still going just done the road from me in Moortown.

It was a thriving music venue. Leeds never managed to emulate Manchester or Sheffield, and it's stars of that era (The Mekons, Delta 5, Gang of Four, Soft Cell et al) did not play the Haddon Hall, but there were some excellent bands and the place was always jammed.

No folk, of course, but both Dunc McF and I were regulars playing VERY LOUDLY in shiny trousers (different pairs, of course).

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 03 May 12 - 09:39 AM

Just a reminder that the Leeds gig is this sunday - and there is one in Manchester on Saturday too, I believe - though I don't know where.

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 03 May 12 - 10:14 AM

Oh, and as he gets a mention above Jon Langford from the Mekons is playing Korks in Otley tomorrow (Friday).

Friday 4th May - £8 adv / £10 door
JON LANGFORD & SALLY TIMMS (Mekons / Waco Brothers)

Three of the Mekons featuring Rico Bell on accordian.
Playing Mekons, Waco Brothers and their own solo material.
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/jon-langford
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/sally-timms

Subject: RE: Agony Column Leeds 79/80 T. Bliss?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 06:07 PM

Jeff - would love a copy of the cassette tape. My email is

[e-mail]

If you see this please contact me.

Many thanks

Richard