The Sting-Rays - Gigs 1981

THE STING-RAYS.

Possibly the most underrated band of the 80's!! wild shows, melodic tunes and the most fantastic LP's and 45 records I have ever heard!

I first saw the Sting-Rays with The Vibes at The Clarendon Hotel downstairs at The Broadway on the 10th Feb 1984 (I had just turned 16 years old). I always remember me and my mates got to the venue in Hammersmith at around 6:30 pm!!!! (as we were not sure where it was) and waited to get in when it opened at around 20:30!!!
This gig (£1.50 admission) changed my music direction from the Psychobilly/Neo Rockabilly bands I was listening to at the time, The Meteors, Deltas, Ricochets, Restless etc etc but my eyes (and ears) were very quickly widened to the fuzz fuelled garage trash sounds of not only The Sting-Rays but The Vibes, Milkshakes, The X-Men, Tall Boys and The Cannibals.
That two years watching bands downstairs at The Clarendon (and then later in mid 84 upstairs at the same venue when the Klub Foot shows began) were my education in music, hot sweaty venues with bands who wanted to play to kids like me .....I loved it and visited the venue a grand total of 48 times (upstairs & down) until Feb 86 (I stopped when I saw that the mediocre Psychobilly bands started to take over the billing towards the end of 1985) I just never took to bands like Torment, Skitzo, Coffin Nails and Highliners, they were not what I musically needed anymore .....my education was moving on to other sounds and locations.

So I decided to compile a list of shows by The Sting-Rays from 1981 through to 87, this, trust me is not easy and there are gaps here & there which I hope to fill over the next few months .....lets start at the beginning ...81!

Many thanks to Bal for help and for additional early gig info :)

Line Up -
Alex (Bal) Croce - Vocals
Alec Palao - Drums
Mark Hosking - Lead Guitar.
M.K- keith Cockburn - Upright Bass.

1981.

1 - Tues - 29/12/81 - Bull & Gate, London + Nogoodniks

1982.

1 - Fri - 23/01/82 - Pax Hall, Crouch End.

2 - Fri 12/02/82 - The Boat Club, Nottingham + Jam Today.

Poster courtesy Mark Hosking

3 - Sat - 13/02/82 - St Barts, Medical College + Jam Today.
4 - Mon - 01/03/82 - The Pegasus, Stoke Newington + The Cannibals.
5 - Tues - 02/03/82 -The Horseshoe, London + The Cannibals.
6 - Sat - 06/03/82 - Bull & Gate, London + The Nogoodniks.
7 - Sat - 20/03/82 - The Straight Room, London + The Cannibals.
8 - Fri - 11/06/82 - Bull & Gate, London + The Nogoodniks

9 - Fri - 18/06/82 - Broadway, Clarendon + The Deltas

10 - Sat - 19/06/82 - The Starlight Club + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.

11 - Sun - 04/07/82 - Hope & Anchor + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.

12 - Thurs - 08/07/82 - Bridgehouse, Canning Town + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.
13 - Tues - 13/07/82 - Dingwalls, Camden + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes (band offered Big Beat record deal after this show)
14 - Mon - 19/07/82 - 101 Club + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.

Flyer courtesy Bal

15 - Fri - 30/07/82 - The Venue, Victoria + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.
16 - Tues - 24/08/82 - Dingwalls, Camden + The Cannibals & The Barracudas.

Contract © Mike Spenser

17 - Fri - 10/09/82 - Gibus Club, Paris, France + Les Coronados

Gibus Club 1982 - Photo © Bal Croce

Fanzine 'Creepy Crawly' gig review - Courtesy Olivier El Capitan

18 - Sat - 11/09/82 - Gibus Club, Paris , France + Les Cronados

19 - Tues - 28/09/82 - Dingwalls, Camden + The Cannibals & The Changeling.
20 - Tues - 05/10/82 - Bull & Gate, Kentish Town + The Nogoodniks.
21 - Thurs - 07/10/82 - Marquee, Wardour St + True Life Confessions.

Wed Oct 13th 1982 tracks for the EP 'On Self Destruct' at Pathway Studios were recorded

22 - Fri - 29/10/82 - 100 Club, Oxford St + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes & Black Velvet Underground (AKA The Pogues)

Billboard outside 100 Club

23 - Tues - 02/11/82 - Bull & Gate, Kentish Town + The Nogoodniks
24 - Fri - 12/11/82 - Garage, Brixton, Frontline Theatre + The Cannibals
25 - Tues - 16/11/82 - Fulham Greyhound, London + The Nogoodniks
26 - Fri - 19/11/82 - Garage, Brixton, Frontline Theatre + The Changelings
27 - Fri - 26/11/82 - Sir George Robey, Finsbury Park + The Cannibals & The Rhythmic Itch.
28 - Fri - 03/12/82 - Garage, Brixton, Frontline Theatre + The Corvettes

1983.

Big Beat 'On Self Destruct' advert courtesy Stewart Rhodes

1 - Fri - 14/01/83 - The Garage, Brixton + The Ramblers.

2 - Sat - 26/02/83 - 'Culture Bunker' The Kings Head,Crouch End, London + Time Dance.

Culture Bunker - 26/2/83

'These Cats Ain't Nuthin' But Trash' saw the first 4 recordings on vinyl.

'On Self Destruct' Big Beat EP released Feb 1983.

Promo cover 'On Self Destruct' courtesy Stewart Rhodes

Back Cover courtesy Stewart Rhodes

3 - Tues - 01/03/83 - Moonlight Club, Hampstead + Thee Milkshakes.

Flyer courtesy Adrian Gibson

Photo © Andy Scott - Moonlight club

Moonlight Club - Photo © Andy Scott

4 - Thurs - 03/3/83 - Hope & Anchor, Islington, London
5 - Thurs - 10/03/83 - Frontline Theatre, Garage, Brixton + Route 66.
6 - Sat - 19/03/83 - Frontline Theatre, Garage, Brixton, London +Sweet & Bitter.

Set list tape 19/03/83

7 - Fri - 01/04/83 - Frontline Theatre, Garage, Brixton + The Jeremy Gluck Band.
8 - Fri - 15/04/83 - Brixton Ace, London + The Cannibals & The Barracudas.

May 4, 5, 6 & 9th Recording 'Dinosaurs' LP in Denmark Studios, London.

9 - Sat - 07/05/83 - Hope & Anchor, Islington, London

10 - Sat - 14/05/83 - C.L.E.C, Le Havre, France + The Cannibals & Thee Milkshakes.

Ticket number 79 - Le Havre 'Night Of Trash'

11 - Thurs - 19/05/83 - Gibus, France + Les Coronados.

Sun June 12th - Pathway Studio, Bananamen recording.

12 - Mon - 06/06/83 - The Garage, Frontline Theatre, Brixton.
13 - Wed - 15/06/83 - Clarendon, Broadway, London + The Nogoodniks
14 - Sat - 18/06/83 - Clarendon, Broadway + The Deltas.

Flyer courtesy Bal Croce

15 - Mon - 18/07/83 - Pindar Of Wakefield, Kings Cross .
16 - Sat - 23/07/83 - Culture Bunker, Crouch End + New Age, Heck.

Flyer - 23rd, 25th, 30th July and 3rd Aug

17 - Mon - 25/07/83 - Pindar Of Wakefield, Kings Cross.
18 - Sat - 30/07/83 - Electric Ballroom, Camden + The Meteors + The Defects + Under Two Flags.

19 - Wed - 03/08/83 - Hope & Anchor, Islington + The X-Men.
20 - Sat - 06/08/83 - St Albans City Hall, Herts + The Escalators, The Prisoners, Thee Milkshakes & The Remayns.

All photos below © Thomas Buch

Poster courtesy Charlie Spliff

Mon Aug 8th - Recorded 'Catman' and 'Escalator' at Pathway Studios.

21 - Sat - 27/08/83 - The Clarendon, Broadway + Obvious Wigs.
22 - Sat - 10/09/83 - Poplar Civic Centre (Young socialists benefit) London + Icarus, The Dark.

Photo © Alex Croce - 22/09/83

23 - Sat - 24/09/83 - Lilliebon, Le Harve, France + The Prisoners, Psych Out & Les Dirty Wankers.
24 - Mon - 03/10/83 - Fulham Greyhound, London + Guana Batz.

25 - Thurs - 06/10/83 - Ad Lib Club, Kensington + The Cannibals
26 - Sat - 08/10/83 - Grand Hotel, Leigh On Sea, Essex + Shakers, Cruise-O-Matics.
27 - Mon - 10/10/83 - Pindar Of Wakefield, Kings Cross + Obvious Wigs
28 - Sun - 16/10/83 - The Lyceum, London + Bay City Rollers & The Addicts.

Poster courtesy Richard Smith

Photo © Richard Smith

29 - Mon - 17/10/83 - Pindar Of Wakefield, Kings Cross + Circle Of Sin

Go Ape Shit!

'Dinosaurs' LP was released by Big Beat.

30 - Sat - 22/10/83 - The Clarendon, Broadway + The Asylum
31 - Mon - 24/10/83 - Dingwalls, Camden + The X-Men & Guana Batz.

'Bananamen' 45 released by Big Beat in late 1983. 'Surfin' Bird', 'Love Me' and 'The Crusher' .

32 - Thurs - 03/11/83 - Gossips, Dean St, London + Pogue Mahone (The Pogues)

Flyer courtesy Lade

Thurs Dec 1st 1983 - Recording Pathway Studios, 'Loose Lip Sync Ship' and mixing 'Catman'

33 - Sun - 11/12/83 - 100 Club, Oxford Street + The X-Men, Thee Milkshakes.

'Blood On The Cats' - Released on Anagram Records in late 83 had one song by the band ...'Dinosaurs' .

34 - Wed - 14/12/83 - London College of Printing, Elephant & Castle.

Flyer courtesy Bal Croce

35 - Tues - 20/12/83 - Culture Bunker, Kings Head, Crouch End
36 - Wed - 21/12/83 - Gossips, Soho, London + Circle Of Sin
37 - Fri - 30/12/83 - Clarendon Broadway + Circle Of Sin.

1984.
1 - Sun - 15/01/84 - Wealdstone F.C, Harrow + Guana Batz, Thee Milkshakes.

'Don't Let The Hope Close Down' Compilation LP had one track 'What The New Breed Say' by The Sting-Rays.

2 - Sun - 15/01/84 - Hammersmith Odeon, London + The Pretenders.

3 - Wed - 18/01/84 - The Venue, Victoria, London + The Prisoners +Thee Milkshakes + Playn Jayn.

4 - Wed - 25/01/84 - The Savoy, (next to Boston Arms) Tuffnell Park + The Truth + Playn Jayn
5 - Fri - 27/01/84 - Jackson Lane Comm Centre + Tall Boys, Guana Batz.

6 - Mon - 06/02/84 - Pindar of Wakefield, London + The Surfadelics

7 - Fri - 10/02/84 - The Clarendon, Broadway + The Vibes #

8 - Mon - 13/02/84 - The Pindar Of Wakefield, London + Asylum

Flyer courtesy Bal Croce .

'Who Are The Cardboard Cutouts' was released by Big Beat in March 1984.

9 - Sun - 04/03/84 - 100 Club, Oxford St, London + The X-Men, The Vibes.

Flyer courtesy Christopher Plummer

10 - Fri - 30/03/84 - Chez Paullete, Toul 54, France .

11 - Sat - 31/03/84 - Strasbourg, Le Bandit + Wampas

12 - Tues - 03/04/84 - Paris, France + 3 hemme hom + Wampas
13 - Wed - 04/04/84 - Salle Jean Vilar, Chambery, France + Shpenix

14 - Thurs - 05/04/84 - Toulouse, France, Le Peniche
15 - Fri - 06/04/84 - Bordeaux, France, Le Babylone
16 - Sat - 07/04/84 - Decazville, France + Coronados
17 - Sat - 14/04/84 - Project Arts Centre, Dublin + The Golden Horde.

18 - Mon - 23/04/84 - Nottingham Palais + Hanoi Rocks, Tall Boys, Thee Milkshakes, Guana Batz, The Prisoners.

'Revenge Of The Killer Pussies' - Blood on the Cats II - Again released by Anagram and had tracks by The Sting-Rays (Escalator) and Bananamen (Psychotic Reaction)

19 - Tues 24/04/84 - 100 Club, Oxford St, London + The Wigs.

20 - Fri - 11/05/84 - Clarendon Broadway + Rib Joints #
21 - Sat - 19/05/84 - Jackson Lane Comm Centre, Archway, London + Thee Milkshakes, The Prisoners + Dr & The Medics.

22 - Sat - 16/06/84 - Klub Foot, Clarendon + Guana Batz, The Milkshakes, Sunglasses After Dark #

This gig never happened as the Klub Foot gig above did!

'Four on 4' EP was released by Big Beat in Sept 1984. 'Come On Kid' was the Sting-Rays track included.

23 - Mon - 18/06/84 - 100 Club, Oxford St, London + The Wigs + Cat Talk.

24 - Sat - 21/06/84 - Thames Poly, London
25 - Fri - 29/06/84 - Chislehurst Caves, London.
26 - Wed - 04/07/84 - The Mean Fiddler, London.
27 - Sat - 21/07/84 - Klub Foot, Clarendon + Guana Batz, Sid Presley Experience + Restless.

Saturday 21st July 1984

28 - Fri - 24/08/84 - Interaction Centre, London + Tall Boys, The Vibes.

Flyer courtesy Tim Fuller

29 - Fri - 07/09/84 - The Paradise Club, Reading + Empti-Fish.

Flyer courtesy Jeff Mead

30 - Sat - 22/09/84 - Klub Foot, Clarendon + Guana Batz, The Milkshakes, Restless (live recording) #

'Rockabilly Psychosis' was released in 1984 by Big Beat and had one track 'Cat Man' included by the band.
Sleeve design by 'Bal'.

31 - Fri 05/10/84 - Clarendon Broadway, Hammersmith + The Creepshow.

32 - Fri - 12/10/84 - Hope & Anchor, Islington, London

33 - Fri - 26/10/84 - Clarendon Broadway, Hammersmith.
34 - Tues - 30/10/84 - Hope & Anchor, Islington.

According to Jeff Mead the above gig at The Hope & Anchor was a benefit gig to raise funds but they had cut the electricity as the venue was soon to close so the venue was lit with candles and the PA was powered by an outside generator.

35 - Sat - 03/11/84 - Interaction Centre, Kentish Town + Tall Boys, The Huns.