Here are a few memories from across those years
1991
Formed in front room of 36 Ribblesdale Road, Streatham by Dan, Clive & John. Search for drummer commences. Pam's mate Danny used to play the drums, so he comes along for a bash and the line-up is complete
1992
After a year of rehearsing, the first gig takes place at the St Johns Tavern, Archway. Slim Chance (promoter, doorman, soundman, DJ, all round good egg) coins the phrase Mondo Wray to describe the Napiers' sound.
1993
First recording session in May. 14 songs recorded and mixed in two days at the then somewhat ramshackle Toe Rag. Jim Carlisle comes along to blow harp.
Memorable gig at More Than Vegas, backing stripper Lois Lane as she gets her kit off to a 14 minute version of Human Jungle. John looks mildly uncomfortable as she writhes around him on stage.
Mark Norton guests for the first time on a couple of numbers at a gig supporting Madness tribute band Cairo East
First gig as a trio, when John declines to play at a PRS party. Clive & Dan alternate guitar & bass, and Danny tells the MC to go away (or words to that effect) when he politely requests us to vacate the stage
1994
Second recording session in April. 15 songs recorded and mixed in two days at the still somewhat ramshackle Toe Rag. Johnny Johnson comes along to blow harp, Parsley plays Hammond and Mark Norton plays sax
Nick Garrard recommends us to Thomas of One Million Dollars Records, who agrees to release two 10 inch mini LPs culled from the first two recording sessions.
Billy Childish wants to put out two tracks on a Hangman's Daughter single, but only if he can remix them. Deciding that Billy's production style is perhaps not best suited to the Napiers' sound, we decline. In the end he puts out 2 tracks from Feb 95 session (Valleri & Surf Rider).
Performance at Xmas Frat Shack slightly marred by alcohol, especially last number when half the band play Moon Over Shoreditch and the other half play Don Juan.
1995
Third recording session in February. 12 songs recorded and mixed in two days at the now rather less ramshackle Toe Rag. Johnny, Parsley & Mark Norton all guest.
Memorable gig supporting Huevos Rancheros in Portsmouth, who rapidly rewrite their set when they realise were playing half of their set
Tour of Germany (dis)organised by Thomas, Tassilo & Thorsten to coincide with release of 1st mini lp Square Root Of Evil, which has now expanded to 12 inches in an effort to cut costs. Mooted 2nd mini lp, provisionally entitled Get The Jag never materialises.
First experiences of foreign touring (what, you mean we get free beer, free food and enthusiastic punters?) not to mention first encounter with the hoo-ers of Braunschweig. (You vont good time? Or are you just going to make viz ze stupid talk?)
Jim Mew comes along as roadie and films various exploits. Final footage slightly marred by overindulgence by the cameraman
Clive announces intention to leave just before final gig of tour in Hamburg. Turns out to be possibly the tightest gig of the tour, alas in front of 3 men and a dog
Play one gig as a trio at St Johns then Lee drafted in.
Tour of Isle of Wight leisure centres in July
First recording session with Lee, featuring Danny on stand up drums
1996
Jim Mew invited on stage to bash bongos on a couple of numbers. Finally leaves the stage about 6 months later
Back in Toe Rag for more recording, including the mammoth Faceful of Pasta recorded in 3 sections and stuck together afterwards
Cheesy gig as house band at Comedy Store. Jo Brand, Sean Meo, Jeff Green all merrily take the piss. Danny's overenthusiastic drumming ensures we don't get asked back
Second tour of Europe (Germany, Switzerland & Holland) in seriously ailing Ford Econoline.
Hamburg television volume disagreement incident:
O'Brien: Turn your telly down
German fella: You are being most impolite
O'Brien: Would you care to discuss this amicably to see if we can reach a mutually acceptable outcome? (Actually, that's not quite what happened)
There is no way I'm sleeping with that labrador say I, although when the photos get developed there is one featuring a very sorry looking dog curled up next to my fart sack.
Econoline somehow makes it from Bremen to Switzerland then all the way back to Beverwijk. After several thousand miles on its last legs, the knackered truck collapses in the venue car park and moves no more. Inauspicious end to tour as good pals Pam & Stu fly out to Holland to witness us play a vast arena to 3 men and a dog. And I'm not joking about the dog. Everyone misses ferry/flight home.
1997
2nd album, the grammatically incorrect Il Suono di Violenza released, containing songs from all recording sessions going back to 1993
Mini tour of Germany, Switzerland & France, with Stu along as roadie/driver. As I recall, he drove the van for about half a mile through the streets of Zurich, and not once did he lug an amp.
Nuremburg toilet incident:
Dan: I'd give it a minute if I were you
Stu: Don't worry, I don't have a sense of smell
5 seconds later
Stu: Bless my soul!
1998
2 recording sessions at Pathway lead to the 18 songs that make up 3rd lp The Sinister Organisation
Kitten Natividad dons a Napiers t shirt and flashes her knockers for a couple of Polaroids
Hastily knocked together set of girl group covers for opening night of Da Doo Ron Ron
1999
Sinister Organisation released, along with This Is Mondo Wray cd compilation of 1st lp + ep + unreleased tracks from early Toe Rag recordings
Tour of Belgium, Germany, Italy & France with Braby on drums (full sordid details in Orchestrated Pittance fanzine)
Hastily knocked together set of spaghetti numbers for Boldre Festival
2000
Tour of Italy, including gig in Florence in front of 1000 crazy Italians. Back to earth one week later as we play in New Cross in front of 3 men and a dog
Hijack last half hour of Diaboliks recording session to knock out cover of What's My Name for Raucous Records Clash Tribute with Sophie on drums
Danny throws in towel after Wild Weekend gig. Last straw was when Josh came on halfway through the set to announce that the bingo was starting
Sophie takes over on drums
2001
Last ever trip to Toe Rag to record Thunderball.
Dan living in Holland, so John, Lee & Sophie rehearse as a trio with Dan flying over every couple of months or so to fill in the gaps
3 date tour of Holland, including playing at a 25th Wedding Anniversary supported by a puppet show and a 50s diner where the unfortunate promoter thought he had booked The Rapiers.
Charles Napier himself gets in touch, having heard there's a band named after him. He's rather chuffed about the whole thing, and sends everyone signed photos of himself, inscribed with his classic line: You're gonna look kinda funny trying to eat corn on the cob with NO 'KIN TEETH.
Extended line up gig at Big Club with Parsley & Norton. Last gig for 13 months
2002
Having spent several months wondering whether to call it a day, suddenly support slot offer comes in from Flaming Stars and Thomas suggests Dirk as a promoter for another German tour.
5 date tour of Germany in December. 2 rubbish gigs, 2 cracking gigs 1 so-so.
2003
Short flurry of activity with handful of London gigs.
Sophie announces intention to leave
Napiers through the ages show at Orchestra Pit, cramming 3 line-ups into 40 minutes.
Sophie leaves, Braby joins
2004
Support Los Straitjackets
First Blues From The Crypt night with JB & Wolfmen and Silencers
2005
Second Blues From The Crypt night with JB & Wolfmen and Big Joe Louis
June 28th - Final gig with Phantom Surfers, Witchdoktors and a biblical flood. Kevin from The Speed of Sound asks me what I'm going to do next and on the spur of the moment I tell him I'm going to form another instrumental band. Less than 5 months later, The McDeath Trio make their debut performance...
Napiers Discography
