Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?

Subject: Origins or artist: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 05:11 PM

I'm looking for an independent folkie from the U.K., a mate I believe of the band Press Gang, who did a song called Bikers of England, about the glory days of motorcycling in England.

Anyone?

jim

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: GUEST,AArk
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 06:53 PM

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: GUEST,AArk
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 07:00 PM

Not familiar with the song but I was around in the (reading-based)Pressgang days - could it have been Steve Hunt?? Do you know anything more about the singer?
Have recently seen Richard Thompson do 1952 Vincent Black Lightning which never fails to impress - I hope you are familiar with this song too.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Mar 03 - 07:49 PM

Bikers of England was definately Steve Hunt- I have his Cassette stashed somewhere.A shame he stopped writing.Unless he has started again down in Cornwall.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 08:15 AM

Bikers of England...sounds fascinating although I've never heard of it. I wonder when the writer considers the glory days of British biking were? For me they were the mid 60's but that's only because it was when I first started and the roads were still relatively quiet. There seemed to be a devil of a lot of accidents though. Mind you most of us took ridiculous risks and rode in a totally bonkers fashion. Song lyrics anyone?

McGrath might recall some of the biking activities around his town at that time...we've discussed some of the more popular haunts.

Couldn't agree more about the Richard Thompson song 1952VBL. Still I believe his most requested piece.

The sun's starting to shine both sides of the hedges...time to get the 'bike out and get some miles under the wheels.

Sorry, not much Folkie content.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:37 AM

YES- It was Steve Hunt. Seeing the name brought it back. So, uh, anyone got contact info for Steve? What's his story? I heard about the song several years back when I was writing a column for FSSNOC, a "thumper"-based motorcycle club here in the states. It's kind of odd that there aren't more good motorcycle songs, y'know? Thompson, Wilcox's Eye of the Hurricane and Gene Clark's Gypsy rider come to mind. I guess you can throw in Woody and Arlo too. I want Richard Shindell to write a motorcycle song!

And Jon, I think from the brief bit of lyrics I had read that he did consider that era the glory days- although admittedly that's my description, not his. Now, goal #2, to find Steve!

Thanks!

Jim
(75 CB400F, 78SR500E, 02ZR7s)

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: GUEST,AArk
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 07:49 PM

Might be a long shot but Damien Clarke of Pressgang also plays with The Myd Wynter Band who have a website of the same name (i cant do blue click things yet!!), and there is an e mail address. This may be worth a try as he could still be in touch with Steve.
Good Luck.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 05:31 PM

Sadly, I found at least 3 people who know Steve whom forwarded my request and I've heard nothing back. So, anyone have a copy of Bikers of England they'd consider lending me to dub, or with one for sale?

Jim

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: Steve Hunt
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 08:23 AM

Hi Jim. Many, many apologies for losing your e-mail (from months ago). If you still want a recording of the song, please send your address again and I'll gladly send you a copy. Although it's something that I never sing these days ('I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now,' as a much better song writer once said), I hope that you enjoy it.

Happy trails - Steve.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bikers of England- who did it?
From: GUEST,Elvis Evans
Date: 08 Jul 21 - 01:27 PM

Yes - Steve Hunt. Wrote "The Head, the Heart and the Hand".
Bikers starts "Remember the stories, how things used to be in the cafes and lay-bys along the M3. When helmets had goggles and Belstaffs were black and doing speed meant turning your throttle right back"