ON THIS DAY in ... 1988 - THE CONTENDERS

Bull & Gate (Paid subscribers - 23 photos)

If I needed any reminding, which I obviously didn’t, that the record industry was pathetic it was the failure of any label to sign THE CONTENDERS, easily the best band of this era. Everyone at the Bull & Gate recognised it, but A&R men were clueless. I tried some A&R later and you just couldn’t ever get a decision on what you were recommending, which was mad. I would even tell labels when I was a freelancer to sign bands, and I recommended Carter, Suede (based on the first demo, not the woeful early gigs), Daisy Chainsaw, PJ Harvey etc the moment I saw them, long before they eventually got signed. If you have ears you KNOW!!! It’s that simple. But no, they have to see them a do\zen times, they have to wonder if anyone else is after them, because they’re scared to stick their necks out.

Anyway, THE CONTENDERS were pure class. Singer/guitarist Gem (aka The Nicest Man In A Band) would then go on to Whirlpool and Heavy Stereo before finding a berth aboard the care home sixties tribute Oasis.

Gem book (including lots on The Contenders): GEM BOOK