CORE GROUP
Andy Murray - Guitar and vocals Nigel Dick - Bass and vocals and guitar
Hugh Attwooll - Drums
MAJOR PLAYERS
Pete Glenister - Guitar and vocals
Nicky Graham - Keyboards and vocals
THOSE WHO ALSO SERVED
Mike Allen - Guitar
Phil Barnes - Bass Mary Bird - Vocals Alan Cowderoy - Guitar
Chas de Whalley - Guitar
Andy Ebsworth - Drums
Ron Francois - Bass
Mike Gaffey - Drums
Nick Garnett - Drums Huw Gower - Guitar Clive Gregson - Vocals & guitar
Tony Guest (?) - Guitar & vocals
Dean Klevatt - Keys
Neil Murray - Bass
Jamie West Oram - Guitar
Philip Rambow - Vocals & Production
Martin Scott - Drums
Stan Shaw - Keys Jay Stapley - Guitar
Influences
Sounds Like
Some said we rocked like Rockpile and swung like Little Feat... ...others said we didn't. Recommended Listening:
If, like us, you like things in the groove, try having a listen to the following: MICKEY JUPP 'Juppanese' (reissue). One side of the orginal album produced by Nick Lowe, the other by Gary Brooker. Now with bonus tracks including the single 'Don't Talk To Me', what's not to like? Featuring 'You'll Never Get Me Up In One Of Those', 'Short List' and Mickey's unique take on 'Be Stiff'.
ANY TROUBLE have reformed for a brand new album, and it's out now. Titled ‘LIFE IN REVERSE’, it was recorded with original producer JOHN WOOD, and they're back on Stiff Records. The new album contains 13 brand-new Clive Gregson songs, including the single ‘That Sound’ Their first UK Live show was at The Jazz Cafe, London on October 18th, and got a rave response. Contributing to the album are original members CLIVE GREGSON (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards), CHRIS PARKS (Guitar) MARTIN HUGHES (Drums, Percussion), plus bass player MARK GRIFFITHS (Plainsong). Backing vocals are supplied by DORIE JACKSON, who works regularly with Chris Difford.
THE STIFF ALL-STARS formed as the house band of legendary UK Independent label Stiff Records . In true Stiff style, their first record deal came from an offer by Ted Carroll of Chiswick Records, who had seen them perform in between Madness and The Inmates on a hot night at Hammersmith's now-demolished Clarendon Hotel.
The first waxing 'MAYBE TONIGHT' established the post-pub pop that remains their raison d'etre. Founder members were ANDY MURRAY (Vocals/Guitar) and NIGEL DICK (Bass/Vocals) from Stiff, plus Nick Garnett from Virgin Music on drums. Their self-penned debut disc also included Dean Klevatt from Lene Lovich's band on keyboards.
HUGH ATTWOOLL's permanent position at the drumkit, (he had been part of mythic 70’s group The End - big in Spain), signaled the start of a regular gigging lineup that added Jamie West-Oram (of The Fixx and Tina Turner) on guitar.
Another original song ‘LIES' was released on their own label, and promoted through live TV appearances, including the late and unlamented `Friday Night & Saturday Morning'.
The 'classic' All-Stars lineup came with the arrival of guitar genius PETE GLENISTER (Guitar, ex-of The Hitmen), and NICKY GRAHAM (Keyboards), who had been in The End with Hugh, and was yet to discover and produce Bros.
The Attwooll/Dick/Graham/Glenister/Murray lineup made two records of Murray/Dick songs that both got extensive radio play - ‘RUNNING AWAY' and 'SOUND OF A BREAKING HEART', both under the name of Slow Fade to capture the (theoretical) AOR audience. Confusingly, the combo continued to gig as The Stiff All-Stars, often opening the show for Stiff bright hopes Any Trouble.
The late '80's saw Nigel Dick make his name as a music Video director (Guns N' Roses, Britney Spears, Oasis) and move to Los Angeles, where he had the pleasure of including `Running Away' in his first feature film (`Private Investigations').
Hugh Attwooll and Andy Murray were by then working at major record labels, but still the band existed, writing and demoing new material with various musicians and songwriters, including Mike Gaffey (also of The Hitmen) and Jay Stapley (Roger Waters/Westernhagen.
THE STIFF ALL-STARS still exists as a rhythm concept, with an all-flexible lineup that showcases original songs interspersed with other neglected classics from quality songwriters of the same ilk.
Stay tuned to this site, where we will highlight other songs, most featuring our dear, and much missed, friend Hugh Attwooll.
Hi Andy! Thanks for the heads up regarding the new Any Trouble album. I'm actually doing the artwork for this, and final versions were approved this week. So I'm really looking forward to hearing the album instead of seeing it ;-)
Hey hey... ta for adding ejectorseat, hope you like the tunes, if so why not check out out tour dates and come to a show? and if there's nothing local why not request an ejectorseat show and we'll come to you! x b
Andy Murray - quit messing about playing tennis and stick to music. Great to hear the Slow Fade track again, which I have in my vinyl archives gathering dust. That's it, I am going to convert it to MP3 now...
