From issue two (unpublished version July 1973)
Fission - who hail from Coventry, are a band, who in my humble opinion, hold much potential if given the chance...
They consit of Johnny Adams on 2nd lead guitar, who is also a talented songwriter and nutcase! (in the nice sense!), Rick Thawn on lightening fingered 1st lead. Al Varney on bass guitar and stilts! Simon Lovegrove on drums and hairylegs! Ant Callaghan - on lyrics and vocals and other ANTics....
Their music, if it has to be classified, could be termed Jazz/Rock with classical / medieaval influences, with touches of Hawkwind here and there (whichhasn't really classfied it, but at least you know tnow they are not likely to play Long Haired Lover from Liverpool if you go to see them.
All their material is self-composed within the group, apart from a few rock faves thrown in to get it off on. The group were formed about 3 moths ago and have had about four gigs, the biggest beig the Budgie gig at the Royal Navel Club. They have other gigs lined up, one being with Hawkwind at the Locarno. Like all local groups that I've talked to Fission are victims of the same problems that have plagued the city for a long long time - a) Lack of suitable venues with the city to paly at. b) Lack of suitable places in which electrical gorups can rehearse. Schools and Church Halls have been instrumental in supplying places but because of the volume of electric bands, they told to turn it down and down until they are virtually acoustic, and are often not invited to return. When viewing Fission, the fact that because of this problem they have had very little electric practice, must be taken into acount. Fission feel strongly, with a good many others, taht facilities for group rehearsal rooms, where they can practice at their operating volume without being hasseled should be got together. Well, lads, we're working on it, but as always, we're swimming against the tide! Most mebers of the gorup hail from bands that are no more, and some who have carried on with replacements. Johnny Adams has played with such bands as Wiser Now, Flying Circus (with who Rick Thawn also
played), The Mick Green Blues Band (along with Simon Lovegrove.) And I promised faithfully that I wouldn't mention that their name is not to be confused with Fission-chips! Oh dear, sorry lads!!!
(Johnny Adams later played with Squad and is featured further down on this blog under Johnny Adams. Rick Thawn later played in Trigon who wer regulars at the Hobo Workshop and which also
featured Paul Samson later of the Reluctant Stereotypes).
This is a great piece of history. Thanks for the effort and appreciation.
Simon Lovegrove (former drummer with Fission)
Posted by: HOBO - Coventry Music Magazine | 03/29/2007 at 10:50 AM
[this is good] I would like to echo Simons' comment about being a great piece of history.
Posted by: Babs Wainwright | 06/04/2010 at 05:55 PM