(The first June Brides gig, 6 August 1983, at The Spotted Cow pub in Hither Green, London. We were playing as part of the pub's "Grand Charity Pram Race"! Even at this early stage of our career we were setting a precedent by doing something and not getting paid for it!). It was great fun, even if the pub regulars didn't enjoy it very much. We got very drunk after playing and then, because an expected band had failed to turn up, had to play some more. I remember (but only just!) playing "Brand New Cadillac" for 10 minutes but only being able to do the words to the first verse. Needless to say, we weren't asked back...
See - second gig - free again!!! This was in Lewisham, South London in a grotty pub. However, a strange guy called Frank Sweeney went to it, and decided he liked the cut of our jib - either that or he was desperate for a band to practise playing his viola in. Either way, he offered his services and, being Velvet Underground fans to a man, how could we resist having a viola player in the band?!
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Chris Nineham, Simon Beesley, Phil Wilson, Frank Sweeney, Adrian Carter