WRIT, THE

Vox, Tpt: Alan Holmes

Vox, Gtr: Mick Davison 

Gtr, Tpt: Pete Trower

Keys: Fred  ?? ?? ??- Jun66 (2)Mel Stallwood Jun66-??

Bass: Dave Lodge

Drums: Eddie Cavanagh 

Stallwood recalls joining up with Decca recording act The Writ. “The original keyboard player was Fred Iveson – actually the band were originally called Beats Ltd but manager Jonathan King who had obtained a song for us to record had a writ served by Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who had some vested interest in the track we were releasing, so King changed the band name to The Writ. We released Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind in early 1966 and it was ‘climber of the week’ on Radio Caroline. It was, however, later withdrawn from sale on account of the legal proceedings. We did a tour of the country playing to packed houses. It was a different scene for bands in those days, in that you didn’t need a top ten hit to have hordes of screaming fans at gigs, although coming from London or Liverpool helped. We played the Bradford Majestic (might have been the town hall?) one night and were amazed by the size of the poster on the front of the building – it must have been 30 feet high and read ‘From London – Decca recording artistes “THE WRIT” latest release, blah blah… We heard the D.J. introduce us as if we were The Beatles. Suddenly the lights blinded us and the curtains opened to a deafening crescendo of the sound of a thousand screaming girls. We fell apart. Mick split his hipster paisley flairs, Eddie broke a drum stick with his first shot, I fell off my keyboard stool, Pete’s trumpet mouthpiece flew off and broke a note in the middle of my keyboard and then he knocked a mike-stand over trying to catch it! Dave’s bass amp packed up and he quickly plugged into mine and we both suddenly sounded like ‘Metallica on steroids’ I kid you not, all that happened in the first few seconds of our opening.” After the band fold Stallwood joins up with ?? and Cavanagh to form The Eddie Cavanagh Trio

Discography:

7” Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind b/w Solid Golden Teardrops

Decca Records F12385 released ??/04/66

Mediography:

Writ Withdrawn PET 13/05/66

Release withdrawn from USA as Lovin Spoonful releasing as next single.

Hopes For A Disc PET 14/10/66

Bibliography: Tapestry Of Delights (EE) VJ

Website & source: stallwoodmusic.co.uk