HISTORY 'CAUGHT IN THE ACT',

'AVALON' & 'AVALON mk 2' 

Once upon a lifetime ago (1977/78) I played bass and provided some  vocals + songs for pub rock bands 'Caught In the Act', 'Avalon' and 'Avalon mk 2' in sunny Newcastle upon Tyne. The two constants in all three bands were John Darmody the drummer (far left) and myself, the guy with the imperious air looking down his nose at the camera. Some things never change!

 

Over 2 months 'Caught' put a set together and did 4 (?) gigs. First was at the Gosforth Hotel and we opened with Neil Youngs 'Heart of Gold'. We blew the opening of the song, had to restart, and many in the audience walked out. After the second gig, Leo Mc Cabe (lead vocals-accoustic and bass guitar-songwriter), Tony Coyle (lead vocals-rhythm guitar-songwriter) and John Darmody (drums and percussion-songwriter) and me, were joined by Paddy McAloon (lead vocals-electric guitar-songwriter), who joined because he was a pal of Tonys and,  apparently, he wanted to experience playing in a band with a PA and drum kit.  His audition blew us all away . Played Claptons  'Layla'. Sure it sounded like he was playing both lead guiitar parts of Clapton and Duanne Allman at the same time (honest!) A couple of weeks later Tony said 'Paddy writes songs. He's very good'. So we listened. He played 3. 'Walk On' was one of them. Tony wasn't wrong! Paddys stuff was obviously a bit special!

 

Leo had a really classy irish voice, a cross between Frank Sinatra and that guy in the Pogues . Leo is sadly no longer with us, having died in his early 30's. His songs are marked in the lists on page 1. He received an award for his musical about Anne Frank.

 

Shortly after Paddy joined we morphed into Avalon with the above five. Leo left after 2 (?) more  gigs and we became a 4 piece.  Avalon (what Tim Linnel calls the pre-prefab sprout band) lasted 10 months, after which time Paddy left (to form Prefab Sprout) and Tony, as far as we know, no longer  played in bands which was a shame cos he had an exciting raw style of singing and was no slouch when it came to writing good rock songs.

 

Avalon mk 2 was the drummer and I's next incarnation. Pete Archbold came in on lead guitar, Steve Daggett brought his rock star prescence and fine songs to sing lead on all material - unlike the prev two bands where lead vocals were shared around - and for a time a great player, Paul Dean made us a twin lead guitar group.

 

After a year mk2 split and I went back to playing in folk clubs, eventually ending up like a lot of people in this digital age, putting my music on audio editing software. This way I could sound like a rock band, an orchestra or a man tap dancing on your grannys garage roof. (The latter would be extremely annoying, I realise, and probs impossible anyway, given the amount of arthritus I have, but do forgive me in advance if such a transgression does ever come about) Now I put stuff on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/basscantplay and Youtube http://bit.ly/19h56Q8  often together with films made to accompany them.

 

 John Darmody & I have kept in touch over the years and I am pleased to report that he currently rocks in 2 bands,  both based in York, The Blast & Close Call. (catch em on Utube)  After Avalon Mk II he had joined Hooker and then Stiletto in Newcastle. Daggett was also in the latter and they released 2 singles that I know of. When he left the North East in 1986 he gave up drumming for two and a half decades until (he says) I re-kindled his enthusiasm which led to the purchase of a brand new kit and cymbals. 

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THE ABOVE DETAILS GET HAZY WITH TIME. IF U WERE THERE OR KNOW OF OR CAN ILLUMINATE ANY DETAIL, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I AND A FEW OTHERS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY PHOTOS OF ANY OF THE THREE BANDS SO IF YOU HAVE ONE PLEASE SHARE BY SENDING TO ME,  roy mc calvey at crimesxagainstxmusic@yahoo.co.uk, or twitter/facebook - (there had to have been some photos taken - even in pre digital camera/phone times - by someone somewhere) PS if anyones got the lock and chain with HERO written on it (nicked off the top of my rig at The Hawthorn, Benwell - I used to wear it round my neck), plse return it. (not holding breath)