Life 'n' Soul (Deal/Herne Bay)

As with all groups that have lasted more than a few years, there is an evolution - with changes in personnel and direction. The following is an attempt to record the changes.

Forming the band 1977

Naming the band was something of an ordeal - six different people, six different sets of expectations and experiences and six different views on what constitutes a "good name".  Lets face it - it must have been a strong character that got his way with "The Rolling Stones", "Night Riders of the Purple Sage" or  "Led Zeppelin". 

So, it was with little surprise that the conversation got a little heated.  After drawing up a list of first choices, second choices and absolutely hates, the band went home called The Exits  - a name Paul had remembered from his Manchester days.  The decision had been democratically chosen, based on a points system. 

As with many such democratic decisions, no one had actually chosen the name to win but had placed it fairly high up on second and third choices.

The next day everyone admitted they hated it and unanimously chose Life 'n' Soul - another ex-Mancunian band name.

I can remember Little Paul disliking another option Penthouse because of its "rude" connotations. Little did he know of what was ahead!

Starting to Gig

With the line-up finalised, the job was to get work.

It was initially hard, with the odd job thrown in each week or so.  An early gig was at Kent Uni for foreign students, with the Golden Arrow (Folkestone) - a personal favourite. Gigs were often arranged by Paul Clugston at On Stage (Margate) or obtained by the band directly. 

 These two early pictures taken at a function near Ashford - a young farmers club, I think.

First publicity shot 

This shot was chosen from the first photo shoot and was used as the main publicity photo.  Geoff had now left the band and they were moving more into a cabaret style act.

(L-R)  Little Paul, Reg (front), Perry, Terry and Paul

The photo's feature stage suits made by Little Paul.  Well made, little sewn and mostly glued - but they looked great!

An interesting point is that the photos were taken by a Margate guy called Denis Taylor, whose nickname was Tea-Cup.  It is fairly usual to hear "I used to be in a group, y'know" but it came as quite a surprise when Tea-Cup got out his photo album!

It contained shots of him in his old band, posters, single covers and an album cover.  Interesting - but there's more!  The band was Davie Jones and the Lower Third, which was just prior to David Bowie and the Buzz band. 

There was our cameraman some years previous, playing lead guitar for Bowie.  Tea-Cup hung around with us for a time  - always a nice guy and good fun.  Great photos too! 

The last we heard of him was in the Daily Mirror!  He had been part of a scam by Ramsgate Councillors to con a European shipping consortium into putting money into the Ramsgate ferry.  "Better get in quick", was the idea, " the Arabs are interested in it".  

No one was fooled by the phoney looking Arab - it was Tea-Cup. 

The Golden Arrow was the place to try it out! The crowd had been building for some time - now the room was packed out every gig, to the extent of covering the pool table so it could be sat on.  The audience expected the unusual - a raffle where the somewhat posh winner was shocked to receive a pair of Perry's socks (still warm) or the band opening up with Moon River or worse, opening up and trying to play someone else instrument!

The Gary Glitter act went down a storm, especially with a guy called Gordon - who used to do something "odd" every time the band played.  Although he had turned up dressed in unusual things, the most  memorable was him dressed in newspapers as a punk.  A quick thinking Terry called him over to chat on stage, while Perry set him alight!

Eventually the band could no longer afford to play at the GA - although the fee increased to a massive 27 pound 50p plus the odd free drink. Not to mention the toasted sandwiches.

Live at the Golden Arrow - Love Machine featuring Perry White on backing vocals :-)

Life as a Comedy group

More stuff to carry around, more dosh and (sometimes) shorter playing hours but usually balanced out with more travel and 5am's back at home.

The Arthur years ....

Although a comedy band, Life 'n' Soul members were heavily involved with Herne Bay Ska superstar Arthur Kay.

His second single "Play My Record/Sootie is a Rudie" involved Paul Mlynarz on sax and Bob Colthart on guitar.  Shortly after both Perry White (keyboard) and Terry Cutting (drums) joined the band for recording.

These recordings are featured on numerous CD's - both from Arthur and Ska compilations.

Bob's "Volecanoes"  ("No One But You" single/EP) also featured the Life 'n' Soul band members.

Members to 1983

These are not in any order of priority - just a rough chronological order 

Reg Mercer aka Reg Plumber (bass guitar)

Paul Elliot aka Little Paul (lead guitar)

Paul Mlynarz aka Paul Fox (sax then lead vocals)

Terry Cutting aka Terry England (drums)

Geoff Corner aka Greasy Geoff (sax)

Perry White (keyboard)

Bob Coltart aka Bob Scott (guitar)
 

Larry aka Larry the Lamb (bass guitar)

Steve Foster (guitar)

Adrian Doms aka Susan (bass guitar)

Garry Dean (guitar)

John Lawrence (guitar)

John Philpott (vocals)

Neil the Roadie

Steve Smith (roadie)

Yearbook

Odds and Sods Gallery

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• Paul's last night with the group - no wonder they are happy. Paul's last night with the group - no wonder they are happy.
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• In South Africa In South Africa
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