Drums, Bronze, Budgie and Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall...

MEMORIES OF THE EARLY 1980's

Bronze feature in South Kent Gazetteer 22nd December 1981

Back in 1981 Crows frontman, Gary, was playing drums in local Folkestone rock band Bronze. Playing the classic rock songs of the time the band frequented the local circuit including a regular slot at the Royal Norfolk Hotel at Sandgate, Folkestone. The venue would be regularly packed to the rafters with 'bikers' whose support of the band was extraordinary. Gary remembers: "the only way the landlady could clear the venue at closing time was, after a couple of warnings, to play a Max Bygraves song loud and proud over the sound system! Within seconds a mass of leather jackets was heading to the exit doors."

There were some fine bands on the circuit at the time including Gary and the Moondogs, Enry, Sandy Beach and The Deckchairs and English Rogues.

And Henry McCullough, a fine guitar player formerly a member of Joe Cocker's Grease Band, Paul McCartney's Wings and the Frankie Miller Band was residing in the Folkestone area in the early 1980's and was a regular performer on the local circuit. Gary remembers: "i remember Henry coming up to me at the Louis Armstrong Pub in Dover saying he recognised me from the local music scene and asked me to remind him what band i was with. At the time i was astonished he would even bother to ask and it is something that has stayed with me. He was a very down to earth person and a great guitarist."

Henry appeared at Woodstock Festival in 1969 with Joe Cocker and played the wonderful guitar solo on Paul McCartney's song, My Love. Apprarently, McCartney had composed a guitar break for the song but when Henry came to record it he just played in his own style with a break that he felt was perfect for the song. McCartney was over the moon with what he heard and it has become a classic guitar break.

"Drums had been my passion since watching the Dave Clark Five at the ABC in Dover in April 1964. There were various bands and projects that i was invloved with between 1975 and 1984 but Bronze was probably the most successful in as far as the amount of shows that we played" says Gary. "The peak of our achievements was probably supporting Welsh rock trio Budgie at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone along with another local rock band called Denigh" adds Gary.

5th September 1981

Bronze at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone on 5th September 1981

Bronze was a classic rock covers band featuring songs by AC/DC, Motorhead, Van Halen and UFO. However, an early compostion by Gary Virtue entitled God Give Me Strength (To Carry On) had been worked on at rehearsal along with input from Bronze guitarist Martyn Roy Harris. It became a popular song in the band's live repertoire. Adds Gary "God Give Me Strength was a slow burner with a heavy chorus. It got heads shaking down at the front. The strange thing was when Bronze disbanded Harris took the song with him when he joined Denigh and it subsequently featured on their 1984 album entitled Fire From The Sky. I was not informed of this at the time and i did not receive a songwriting credit. Charming!"

The local music scene in the Folkestone area was very strong at the time and the same can be said of the current vibes in the area.