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To cut a long story short...
Punk rock changed their lives...
'The Change' started life as 'The Resistors' formed by Paul & Dave while they were still at school in early 1977. Foz joined as vocalist in September 1978 and Chris became the drummer in December of the same year...and 'The Change' were born.
By March 1979 they were out giggin' and by May had recorded a demo, been in the local press, and had played 10 nights at the 'Wishing Well' club and 'Snoopys Youth Club', both in Swinton, Manchester.
June saw them giggin' outside of their hometown with a notable gig at 'Manchester Poly' with anpother local band 'Fast Cars'. This was to be 1 of 4 gigs with them in 1979.
Baz Richards replaced Chris on Drums in December 1979, playing 4 gigs with them. One of these being at 'Jenks Bar' in Blackpool. They disbanded in May 1980.
March 1990 saw a 10th anniversary gig with a reformed 'Fast Cars' back on their homeground, with Colin Rox on drums from 'Jayne County & The Electric Chairs' and who Paul was playing guitar with by this time. Dave took the easy way out and became a succesful Dj, while Foz went on to form the excellent 'Born Idle'.
'The Change' reformed in December 2007 with new drummer Dan Patton. They played to a packed 'Phoenix Club' on the 22nd March 2008.
With renewed interest in their authentic punk rock the band have so far managed to stay together - for how long?
THE LONG VERSION -
"It all starts in the classroom when you call the teacher a twat!"
Paul moved to Swinton from Salford in the summer of 1976 and met Dave in September that year at skool. Pauls mum bought him a 'woolies' guitar for his 15th birthday for 5 quid (with an amp)! Dave heard the 'Ramones' on Radio Luxemborg, on a transistor radio... and new it was the future, and went out and bought a 'Sattelite' bass with the money he'd saved from his paper round.
Paul and Dave met 'Fast Cars' after the XTC gig at Rafters in May 1978, just after leaving school. Paul promptly bought the drummers old kit, even though they didn't have a drummer!
Foz was asked to join the still drummerless band one night after meeting him at the 'Lancastian Hall' in Swinton. He was probably pished on cider...but said yes anyway. They set up rehearsals in Ellesmere street, the home of Steve Cockpit. Chris eventually joined the band around Christmas time after the band had tried several other drummers...but Chris could keep a beat. 'The Change' were complete.
The first gig took place on March 2nd 1979 at 'Salford Dockers Social Club' in the run down area of Salford Docks. They carried their gear on a bus to the club. Foz was almost arrested for whistling the Laurel & Hardy theme tune at a copper.
They moved rehearsal roome to Bri Nylons cellar on Station road in Swinton and began a Residency at 'The Wishing Well Club' also on Station road on Tuesday 23rd March 79. The 'well' as it was known became the heart of the Salford Punk scene, together with 'Snoopys Youth Club'.
They did their first of 3 gigs at 'Snoopys' on March 30th. Moved rehearsal rooms again, this time to Lenny Apex's on Rutland Street, which is now appropriately a massage parlour.
They recorded a demo at 'Cargo Studios' in Rochdale around May, and carried on their residency at the 'Well' until the 15th of that month. They played 4 more gigs. One of these at the 'Manchester Poly' with 'Fast Cars' (a total of 5 with them). Chris left the band in December and Baz Richards joined to replace him in the same month, playing his first gig with them at 'Jenks Bar' in Blackpool on 25th Feb 1980.
They played 3 more gigs, 1 at the 'Lancastrian Hall' where they had first asked Foz to join the band, another at 'Snoopys', and the last ever gig was at 'Ambrose Barlow School' on 13 May 1980.
Baz joined 'Urban Blitz', Foz went on to form 'Born Idle', which left Dave n Paul back where they started and formed '3rd Sex' with Dr Rock on drums (a drum machine)!
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