And
so it was that, after a truly chaotic start, Mournblade gigged the London pub/club
circuit to death, and later the regions - throughout 1984 and 1985 alone clocking
up more than 400 shows...
Nowhere,
from London’s Brentford Red Lion (we closed it 'cos we were too loud!)
to Stroud’s Assembly Rooms (a police cordon thrown around the venue to
keep out rioting mods), to the Stonehenge festival (doling crateloads of out-out-of-date
beer to crazed hippies) was safe. Getting chucked off Hawkwind’s Huw’s
tour for having too much gear was no highlight!...
Early
1980's...Punk's dead; the NWOBHM lumbers on...out of this dead sea of chaos
rose a band called Mournblade. Founded in 1983 by Dunken Mullett and Rich Jones
...the name blessed by Mike Moorcock himself (at a Forbidden Planet book signing
session)...the band later to be hailed by Derek Oliver of 'Kerrang!' as 'The
Future of Heavy Metal'
1985
saw the first album; 'Times Running Out' released on Flicknife Records, followed
by a manic touring schedule, all under the leadership of manager Brian Banks.
Venues ranged from Brighton to Manchester via
South Wales and everywhere inbetween, but always returning to the home ground
of West London...finally gaining regular headline slots at London's Marquee
club, 100 Club, and Dingwalls. Major suppport slots with Dr. and The Medics,
Hawkwind, Motorhead, Nik Turner's Inner City Unit, Hazel O'Connor, Zodiac Mindwarp
and The Enid assured a growing fanbase...fans who had their own fanzine, 'The
Machine', thanks to the tireless efforts of Martin, Mournblade's pyro man, who
mailed these things worldwide...
- m
New CD 'Anthology
Part 1' available November 2010 (revised issue date)
on Angel Air Records www.angelair.co.uk
and as advertised in 'Record Collector'
yths, legends & links***
- updated with live video footage
