The Group HEROES (1978)

HEROES circa 1977/8

Earliest picture I have was taken by Paul Durrant's mum Edna.

Taken in the bay of their front room at 6 St Snnes Gardens NW10, would have been a Saturday evening. At some point we would have tucked into fish and chips from the chippy across the North Circ. I'm sat behind my first drum set a made up Broadway kit from Geoff Baker music shop in Hanwell. Paul is playing his Gibson SG Special that Pete Townshend gave him. (I was there, and that was some moment) I wasn't left out he autographed a few bits I'd taken along, and gave me some clothes which took a bit of time for me to grow into. One item being the leather T-shirt I'm wearing in the photo. After many years and some investigation it turned out to be a John Entwhistle tv wardrobe piece for promotional work on TOMMY in America (There are some Getty Images of him wearing it online).

Amatuer band rehearses in a nearby hall

Here we are down the road from St Annes Gdns at St Mary's church hall. Myself, Paul D, Lee Porter behind me, and Steve Sandor beyond the female whose name was Sherry Four lads all in the same form at school, and if memory serves we played the same Chicago tune over and over Above photo by Chris Jesman.

Flirting with Pete Makowski

Moving on a little bit the hair is longer, and we're at 18 Wimborne Gardens W13, Pete Makowski's front room. We were all from the same year, at school (Ealing College Upper for boys). Pete spent a little time with us before going to work at SOUNDS magazine. I've moved up a little and are now playing Premier drums.

We have Steve (Plant) Sandor on bass, and second guitar Pete Makowski.

Pete is playing what became of PDs Gibson SG Special the neck damage was dowelled/reset, followed by a black piant job by Pete Cook Guitars. Pete Makowski may have bought/sold on the guitar, I don't know what happened to it after this time.

I did bump into Steve Sandor some years back. He was sitting on a bench outside Tesco Greenford, he told me he had suffered a clot/heamorage on the brain which had affected parts of his memory, but he did remember me, and asked after a few people, He was living locally just off Oldfield Lane at the time.

Temple studios - Goring on Thames

Rehearsing in Pete Townshends Temple studio at Goring on Thames. I've got Ludwig drums now these came to me via The Bee Gees through their road manager Tom Kennedy. They were blue and silver sparkle and got a temporary light maple wrap, before going for their proper white finish. Loved those drums.

Me taking a brake strumming a black Les Paul. Heard a story about one of these going missing from the cottage (Clapton gift to Townshend) lot of flack about that. Guitar was returned in the end. Above photos Jackie Sheldrake.

Triptych from Jack James, when the studio was occupied we would use the victorian launderette building in the grounds. We would wheel the gear up the hill from the studio on the trolley, and back. Very live sounding with the concrete floor and tiled walls

The Questors Theatre

Myself and Keith Ratcliffe (bass) on stage at The Questors Theatre for sound-check Photo Paul Burley.

Foggy on this one

Cannot remember this venue, Ratcliffe, Townshend, Odwyer, Durrant, and Keith Jones minding the amp. Photo Ann Warden, my bosses wife at the time. Keith Jones died sometime early 2000s, motor-scooter accident out in Bali.

Wokingham Rock Club

Setting up the Ludwig at Wokingham Rock Club. Kit is nice and white now, plus I've borrowed an extra floor tom from the studio kit at Goring.

Above photos Paul Burley

Feel the Beat.

Feel the Heat. above photos Ron Mitchell

All change, new bass player

Eyes down, Paul Townshend and Ed Mitchell.

In the infamous Room 60 - fag break

And that's another thing!.

Smile H, Yeah fluffed it again

In the Zone. Above photos Paul Burley.

Rock club Queensbury/Kenton

Bit of an ex-wives club in the background above.
Jane Townshed and Jacquie Durrant.

Not worked up a sweat yet.

Henry, Ed, and Paul hammer it out.

Paul Durrant With trilby hat possibly left over from our pseudo skinhead days resurrected is hitting some of the higher notes on that 335 fretboard. Spot the W.P.O.D badge, The Tubes - White Punks On Dope. He did like a smoke did Dazzle. {Photographer unknown)

Rocking the famous MARQUEE

Townshend, Mitchell, Odwyer. photo Andre Bell

HEROES at The MARQUEE club 1978. photo Andre Bell

Shepperton Live stages

Rehearsing on one of the Shepperton live sound stages, or is it The Whistle Test. Where's Bob? A shocking neg to scan, looking like gaslight. photo Paul Burley and did well to get anything.

Beginning of the end for me

Beginning of the end for me (Mortgage and Marriage), new bass player Tony Ayre (The Adventures) and the Amazing Andre Bell on vocals.

I had a couple of rehearsal sessions on tape with both Andre and Tony together, but it disappeared when my 1275GT had its stereo nicked, the buggers took the tape as well. That was just off Harrow View Road, Harrow. There may have been other recordings, but unless I'm on them they're not of interest to me.

I have a 25 minute segment of myself Tony Ayre, and Paul Durrant just jamming, it builds to a crescendo before the tape runs out.

Goes to show anyone can look good around The Ludwig kit. photo (Andre Bell Archive). Really did enjoy playing with Tony Ayre.

Paul Townshend, and myself with a few drinks onboard after Paul Durrant's Funeral.

In Memoriam
Bass player Tony Ayre 20 December 2009
Peter Makowski 04 November 2021?
Paul Burley 18 April 2023 (The Photos)
Lead Guitar Paul Durrant 22 April 2024
RIP

Messages us via Facebook please