Pleasureheads at Glasshouse Xmas party

coverpage

introduction

The Blue Mist

Darkness At Noon

The Pleasureheads

Nutmeg

Flowershop

The Charlottes

The Nightjars

 80's Cambs rock

(c) Andrew Clifton 2000-1

The Pleasureheads after Molesworth Records

Mark Randall left to study in Nottingham, where he was to establish The Fat Tulips and Confetti, and slide guitarist Kev Murphy took his place. The Pleasureheads released two 12" EPs ("Holding On" CALC10 1986 and "Treasure" CALC25 1987) and an LP ("Hard To Swallow" CALCLP43 1988) for Ediesta Records. The track "Something You're Above" is considered an indie classic. It appeared on the latter two discs and a compilation LP for the housing charity Shelter, and was frequently broadcast by John Peel and other indie dj's. "Harvey's Cane Is Out" was admired as an early swipe at Tory sleaze.

When Pete Herron gave up the bass for pot-holing, their producer Dave Colton replaced him. Joe Macoll, Dave's rhythm partner in previous bands such as The Name, took the drum stool to free up Pete Elderkin and Dean to sing and perform their Tommy Cooper and Ted Chippington-inspired banter.

The bankruptcy of Red Rhino Records late in 1988 was a stunning blow for British indie music. A Brighton shop bought most of Red Rhino's stock, including The Pleasureheads' records, and sold them cheaply in Record Collector. Vinyl vulture that I was, I happened to be filling gaps in my Red Rhino-distributed Fundamental and Nate Starkman & Son collections by phone while the shop manager was playing "Hard To Swallow" in the background. It was his favourite in the Red Rhino consignment and he was convinced the company's demise would be The Pleasureheads' chance to move on and sign a big deal.

A much-anticipated Peel Session in May 1989 and the release of the "Barfly" 12" EP (12REV60) on the Black label in 1990 were encouraging signs, but to my mind hints of Madchester and a lessening of live humour suggested some loss of direction. Black's parent company FM-Revolver never really recovered from their dispute with The Stone Roses, and when they failed to follow up with the promised album deal, The Pleasureheads called it a day.

Pete became a dj. Dave formed (Suns Of) Dekhan, a precursor of Kula Shaker, with Chris Lovell of Boysdream and they released a couple of singles; he now plays bass in One-Eyed Cats. Kev, Andy, Dean and Joe continued until the mid-'90s as Jacknicholson, and the first two have recently recorded some eccentric singles for Chris Lovell's Vibrations From The Edge Of Sanity Records as Plastic Hip. As well as compering the same Chris Lovell's Club With No Name, Dean continues the left-wing, leftfield tradition of the 'Heads with Moosejaw. By a strange quirk of fate he also now has the very same teaching post at Sawtry College I had when I ran Molesworth Records.

Continue to read Dean's account of The Pleasureheads' Peel Session, and the rest of the Molesworth story.