Posted: 17 January 2011 at 8:59am | IP Logged

Let's get back to the band as we start 2011 :-) What was the first ATF song you ever heard, and what associations does it have for you? You can answer this, whether it was in the 70's or last year, and it would be great to hear a wide spectrum!

Dipping through the excellent new Youtube site of recent concerts (see link), I remembered that "Love will always make you cry" was the first ATF song I ever heard. I had started at Southampton uni in 1981, and ATF were due to play in the refectoy (not during lunch!). There were some keen fans in the C.U. hall group, and someone had a copy of the 1980F album (12" vinyl, ofcourse!). It's a rather more poppy song, but very distinctive ATF: tight, melodic, great keyboard foundation, and typical Piercy lead vocal and Banks/Russell precision backing vox. All the ingredients of a great single - including the subject matter ! ;-)

It was never my favourite - I prefered the Laser Love Album, and later on discovered Signs of Change with enthusiasm, but hearing it again at http://www.youtube.com/user/zippyatf#p/u/5/ZN4-OPh9CwE reminded me that it's a great song, superbly performed here.

My associations? Living in hall (life was simple!) Good fellowship-eating porridge during the early morning prayer meetings, the juke box in the JCR, struggling with the work, and of course, going to my first ATF gig. Rumour had it that Memory Banks was seen warming up for the concert on the space invaders machine (that dates it!). I was just gobsmacked at Piercy's combined bass-playing and vocals (and still am) as we jumped around at his feet. I'm not sure if they played that song, but I know they did Laser Love... ;-)

Posted: 17 January 2011 at 11:33pm | IP Logged

So, Maggie, you're a true oldie fan who ordered a copy of Signs of Change, or bought it at a concert  because it was a private release. And now its a collecter's piece if you still have it, as only 4000 copies were ever pressed on vinyl. Lets have a listen to "Dance of the Marionette" by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSGXaVUF-Lc

Love this! Such a good introduction to the whole album. What does it bring back to mind from 1978, Maggie? What was life like then?

(Do you like my style?)

Posted: 21 January 2011 at 9:10am | IP Logged

While we're waiting for that, Ill use this "memory" topic to rework an old question that I still havn't cleared up - maybe Banksy can belp out here too?

Having just finished reading the history of the band, on the Friends site, I was gratified to read that at the final Dominion concert:  "The set included ...a lengthy improvised piece with a guitar-synth from Banks, leaving his keyboards, and stepping downstage to play it."

Well, that's something I certainly remember in the flesh, although I was beginning to wonder if I'd imagined it. My question is: did Banksy do this at any other London concerts? I thought I'd been to the Dominion to see ATF, but I can't remember it being the final concert - it's all a bit hazy. Did the band play more than one gig there? I've been told not, but maybe that's wrong? It would be good to clear it up. Certainly it was a great concert, and jam-packed, cos I was up on the gallery wall (very uncomfortable!) .

Posted: 25 January 2011 at 10:25pm | IP Logged

Fairly sure they only played there once.

Yes I recall the guitar synth...only ever saw it at the Dominion in ATF but recall Pete using it at early Zip Codes gigs (LSE if I remember it right)

Posted: 27 January 2011 at 9:07am | IP Logged

Hey Jigs, shame on you. You joined in 2009 and only just done your second post ! Can we not encourage you some more !! 

Thanks for the info by the way.

Posted: 28 January 2011 at 7:19pm | IP Logged

Sorry ! before "Jigs" I was "Blue Beastie" ((see BNI sleeve notes)- changed user name when I changed ISP and email)...even then I didn't post much ! but thanks for your encouragement..will try and post more in 2011