In 1978, The Members were one of the hottest bands on the London circuit. Their unique Post-Punk sound combined a dual guitar attack with Reggae basslines and incendiary drum work, add to this mix the pocket rocket that was singer Nick Tesco, and you got a very unique band that blended Surf guitar, Dub Reggae and New Wave. They were on the cusp of smashing through into the big time, and they went into the studio with soon to be superstar producer Steve Lillywhite to make a recording of their best numbers. This recording would ultimately get them a record deal, subsequently the recordings lay in a cupboard untouched for 45 years. The recordings also stand as a record of their unique sound recorded at the first black owned studio in the UK, Eddy Grant‘s Coach House Studios. This record has it all, the first studio recording of Sound Of The Suburbs, which went on to become a huge single, and to this day remains one of the most loved anthems from the Punk era, alongside early recordings of the songs from their influential debut album, At The Chelsea Nightclub.

The Members At The Coach House finds the band at something of a crossroad. They were standing on the edge of their biggest record, the studio was about to have their biggest hit, and Steve Lillywhite was at the beginning of a huge career. Also, because guitarist JC Carroll was working in a bank at the time, he couldn’t make it to the backing vocal sessions, so his brother Meesh and future World Domination Enterprises bass player Steve Jameson sang backing vocals. Lovingly digitally remastered in 96K hz at the Great Bear Studios in Bristol, this unique record of the band’s development is essential listening to any fans of this important period of music. The Members At The Coach House is available on 12″ vinyl which includes a 16 Page 77 Style Fanzine, CD, Digital and limited edition boxset that contains two vinyl records, CD, repro posters, T shirt, plectrum, postcards, shot glass and signed lyric sheet. And as if that wasn’t enough already, The Members are also proud to announce the first vinyl release of the (At The) End Of Term EP that will be released on 10″ white vinyl. Recorded in 1979, the lead song was originally intended to be their answer to Alice Cooper‘s Schools Out, but the band missed the end of term school deadline for the release of (At The) End Of Term, so the single was shelved and forgotten about. Fast forward to 2012 and a chance conversation at a suburban car boot sale.

“Those of you who know me well will be aware that I collect musical instruments. To get the sound that I need in the studio it’s sometimes necessary to use old instruments. In 2012 I was at a car boot sale buying an old 60s Farfisa organ (think Percy Sledge or Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs). Derek, the seller, asked me if I was in a band. ‘Yes’ I said, ‘I was in The Members’. I bought the organ but Derek had left the pedal at home so I gave him my phone number and asked him to call me so I could arrange a time to pick it up. When I went to Godalming to collect it, Derek surprised me, ‘My son in law’s got a big tape of the Members – a master tape.’  He then explained to me that his son-in-law’s father used to own a recording studio in London. A few phone calls and months later I found myself looking at two 1 inch, eight track, Ampex master tapes of The Members recorded in June 1979. I had found the Holy Grail of Member-O-Bilia. The other three tracks were ‘Normal People’, ‘Muzak Machine’ and a song called ‘Gang War’. The last three songs were recorded on the second Members album. I had the tapes baked, then transferred onto a hard drive and opened them in my studio. It was a perfect time capsule – all the instruments and voices were clearly recorded on the tape. The songs sounded fresh and vibrant, full of youthful energy. This was The Members Mark 1 at the top of their game.” (JC Carroll)

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