‘A Perfect Combination: The Untold Stories of Hull Pop’ is a companion project to  ‘A Perfect Combination: Fairview Studios 1973 – 1993’, a recently released double CD charting the pop music history of Hull and East Yorkshire. The Willerby based Fairview Studios has been the studio of choice for musicians from this area for over 50 years, and their archive provides a unique insight into the region’s pop music heritage.

For this oral history project Andy Richardson, who produced the CD with Fairvew founder Keith Herd, interviewed thirty people involved in Hull’s pop scene, many of whom appear on the CD. These edits are short excerpts taken from extended interviews.

Click here to visit the Bandcamp page for the project

Then Mick Ronson Asked Me To Join The Rats…

Keith ‘Ched’ Cheeseman began his musical career in the Jelly Roll Blues Band with Ian and Trevor Bolder, before joining legendary Hull band The Rats alongside Mick Ronson. Here he describes how he came to join The Rats one afternoon in the Gondola Coffee Club. Ched still performs regularly in Hull.

Ruby & The Takeaways

Graham ‘Graham’ Beck came to Hull in 1973 to study at Hull Art College, where he quickly became friends with Eric Golden (later Wreckless Eric). Here he describes how himself, Eric and Arthur Smee formed Ruby & The Takeaways, and the road they took to their first gig upstairs at the Bull on Beverly Road. Graham has just released an new album of solo material and performs regularly in Hull.

Starman

Lou Duffy Howard moved to Hull in the early eighties to study law at Hull University. She was a member of the Red Guitars and later Planet Wilson – both signed to Virgin Records. She describes how going to see David Bowie  on the Ziggy Stardust tour changed her life.

Dead Fingers Talk

Jeff Parson began his musical journey in the late 60’s in Hull in bands such as Bone, Zhane and Arena. A founder member of Dead Fingers Talk, he describes how the working men’s clubs of Durham changed them into a punk band.  Jeff is currently a member of the Loudhailer Electric Co. who recently released their debut album.

I Joined The Housemartins…

Ted Key was a founder member of legendary Hull band The Gargoyles. Here he describes joining the embryonic Housemartins with Paul Heaton, and how the band quickly developed an audience. Ted still performs as a solo act.