Roundabout (6)

Rob Dady - Bass, vocals Lee Armitage - Lead vocals Matty Bane - drums Steve Hendry - guitar Steve Paul - Guitar Ben Watts - guitar Andy Gibbons - vocals Nigel Gwynepp - guitar Dean Sweeney - guitar Steve Rose - drums Longer ago than they care to remember (1992-Ed), there was a band called Quiet Melon. Taking their name from the infamous Small Faces/Artwoods hybrid, they played raw 60's influenced garage and R'n'B. Sort of Prisoners/Creeps but without the keyboards! Band members were :- Rob Dady - Rhythm guitar Lee Armitage - Vocals Nigel Gwennap - Lead Guitar Paul Doody - Bass Hoppy - Drums After blagging support slots with Glen Matlock (ex Sex Pistols), The Selecter and Doctor & the Medics, they were soon headlining themselves, and built up a loyal following. Like all line-ups though, it couldn't last. And anyway, The band couldn't keep up with Hoppy's drumming! Time for a change, and in came Kieron Battles on drums. A name change (for one gig only they were called Decembers Children) and couple of demo's were released, and despite lots of interest from the majors (Chrysalis records take note), the band never managed to sign the exclusive deal they'd hoped for. Paul left to pursue other projects, and Kieron went on to join Cinnamon Smith. Nigel, being Nigel, went off (he has a tendency to let his mind wander) and continued doing his thing with Black Cat. So in came Lee Harris (ex Tree House/The Cynics) on Bass, Matty Bane (ex Hip Tracies) on drums, and Steve Paul on Lead Guitar. But something wasn't working. Lee Harris was really a frustrated guitarist so left to do his own thing. Rob switched to Bass (a smart move), which left a space for another guitarist, and in came Steve (Jock) Hendry. Now they were Roundabout!! This line up carried on quite successfully for a year or so, but there was trouble brewing in the ranks!! Lee Harris (the old bass player) was in the throws of forming a new band, Carnival, and the best singer he'd seen was already in a band, Roundabout infact. This was very flattering to singer Lee, and as he was already thinking it was time for a change, agreed to join him. Lee then sang in both of these bands for 6 months, but Rob was not best pleased, and Lee was subsequently sacked! The 2 of them not parting amicably, which was a great shame as they'd been mates for years. Still.....on with the story. Steve Paul had new work commitment and so had to leave, which left just Rob, Matt and Jock. They needed a new singer and guitarist. They found and asked Nigel who as well as playing guitar now took on the keyboards, so he was back. Just a new singer required. Who could they find? Up step Andy Gibbons (ex Reverberation) who quickly learnt the songs and the show went on. Rob continued writing songs (on his own since Lee had left) and into the studio they went. Out they came with the album "It's nice to be nice" - a selection of old and new songs, Released by Arc Records. Incidentally, you'll notice that there's no songwriting credit for Lee Armitage as he and Rob still weren't talking, even though he was partially responsible for some of the songs. The album received much acclaim, but the touring was taking its toll. The boys like a drink at the best of times don't you know, amongst other things!! So they split. Simple as that. What once was great came to an end. Quite abruptly. Back to their day jobs. Back to the Hell of their day jobs!! A year went by. Jock wasn't happy. Rob wasn't happy. Lee (now ex Carnival/Nixon) wasn't happy. "Lets get the old band back together", cried Jock. "Oh, go on then", was the reply. Rob and Lee made up, Steve Paul came back on guitar, but Matty bane was now firmly ensconced in The More Specials. They needed a drummer, and up stepped Joe Tatley (ex Inflatable Sharks). The line up was now Rob Dady - Bass guitar Lee Armitage - Vocals Jock Hendry - Rhythm Guitar Steve Paul - Lead Guitar Joe Tatley - Drums They rehearsed a batch of songs that came together so quickly it was unbelievable, and within a matter of weeks were back out gigging again. How they had missed it, and judging by crowd reactions, how they'd been missed!! They carried on for 6 months, but Steve Paul wasn't enjoying the live work (if he was honest, he preferred the studio anyway), so Ben (Phil O’pino) Watts was drafted in as his replacement. During all this, Lee had had a little boy, Oscar, and Jocks girlfriend was pregnant (with Jessica). Jock decided to leave, so Ben took over lead guitar. Erin Bardwell (ex Skanksters/Unity/The More Specials) was also drafted in on keyboards. Then Jock decided he didn't really want to go. So he stayed. Now there were six!! Rob Dady - Bass guitar Lee Armitage - Vocals Jock Hendry - Lead Guitar Ben Watts - Rhythm Guitar Erin Bardwell - keyboards Joe Tatley - Drums Into the studio again to record the EP "Maximum Power Pop". Maximum as a nod to The Who. Power Pop as the only way they could now describe the volume/intensity of their new live shows. Lee was a Mod after all!! October 2002 saw the departure of Joe and Jock to join Nova, a local covers band. It was a shame, but meant that original band members Matty Bane and Steve Paul could rejoin. This was the first time this original line up had played together in quite a few years, and the gigs rocked. Anyone who saw their version of Tin Soldier that night in December at Riffs would testify. Erin then left after the Christmas 2002 show to concentrate on his solo album, and Matty went with him. How could he refuse? They were recording in Jamaica after all!! So in came Steve Rose (ex Steerpyke) on drums. The next few months were filled with lots of recording and a few gigs (not enough), and then a break in the summer as Steve Roses’ wife Charlotte gave birth to their twins, Isaac and Esmé. A brother and sister for Maisie. During this break period, Ben decided to go his own way, and left to form a band with ex Roundabout singer Andy Gibbons and ex Carnival guitarist Lee Harris, the latter now playing drums. The Quezon City Rocket Corps. were then born! So, in came new boy Sam Drew on keyboards. The line up was now:- Rob Dady - Bass guitar, b. vox Lee Armitage – Vocals, harmonica, guitar, tambourine, maraccas Steve Paul - Lead Guitar, b.vox Sam Drew - keyboards Steve Rose - Drums Incidentally, Matty Bain has now joined legendary Ska outfit Bad Manners. Dec 2003 saw the departure of Sam Drew, to be replaced by Dean Sweeney on guitar. Dean was a friend of Lee and Robs from years ago. In fact Lee was nearly the singer in Deans band The Rhythm Method back in 1985, but unfortunately it never came off as the drummer left to join the Army. But that's another story. Incidentally the bass player in that band was local Face Dean Belcher. He's now a famous photographer. The current line up is now:- Rob Dady - Bass guitar, b. vox Lee Armitage – Vocals, harmonica, guitar, tambourine, maraccas Steve Paul - Lead Guitar, b.vox Dean Sweeney - Guitar Steve Rose - Drums, b. vox