The Gargoyles: Better Than The Bloody Housemartins!

Back in the Hull music scene was massively vibrant and deeply incestuous (it's Hull, of course it was), The Housemartins declared themselves to be the "fourth best band in Hull". The three "better" bands were The Red Guitars, Everything But The Girl and the band that for many defined the fun and irreverence of the music scene at the time, The Gargoyles. Fronted by the larger than life ball of energy that was "Mad" Eddie Smith, The Gargoyles established themselves as the must see live band on the Hull scene.

The band was formed in 1982 by Eddie, Ted Key (who would go to play bass in The Housemartins) and Paul Warhurst. They started writing songs in Paul's attic bedroom off Spring Bank. Developing an irreverent rockabilly comedy song style, that screamed Hull! Drummer Hugh Whittaker soon joined them, after leaving the band he was in with Dave Rotheray (Mammoth, that later became the Newpolitans). Hugh was replaced by Dave Hemmingway. Both Dave and Dave went on to form The Velevtones with Mike Montez. Then in 1984 Ted Key met Paul Heaton, who along with Stan Cullimore had formed The Housemartins in late 1983. As Ted says he, "Feigned the ability to play bass" and thus jumped ship from The Gargoyles. He then, "Sequestered Hugh into joining The Housemartins." This first full line-up of the band went on to write and record songs for their first album "London 0 Hull 4". By 1985 Ted had left The Housemartins, just as the band were about to break the big-time. Before the recording of the second album Hugh had left too, replaced by Dave Hemmingway.

By 1986 Ted, Eddie and Paul had reformed The Gargoyles, with Chris Elliot on guitar and Martin Owens on drums. For a short time Hugh would also rejoin The Gargoyles, as well as playing in other local bands. The Housemartins split in 1988, with Paul Heaton and Dave Hemmingway forming The Beautiful South, soon to be joined by Hemmingway's old band-mate from The Velvetones Dave Rotheray. (Phew! That was a bit of a skip through music history of Hull in the 80s.) Oh wait! In 1986 Ted Key would form independent record label, Reasonable Records with John Rowley of Hull band The Red Guitars. The Gargoyles would record two albums, Mrs. Two Dinners (1986) and Steamflapper (1988). The latter album featuring some of The Gargoyles most well known songs from their live shows, such as Ferry Across The Humber, Bouncy, Bouncy and 1987 single Mad Men From Planet Sex.

The band whose live shows became legendary, garnered some interesting publicity. There was the infamous Look North interview, where the band were interviewed sat in the window of Binns (now Hammonds). Unfortunately the album was not a huge success and The Gargoyles decided to call it a day. However while they were on the scene in Hull, anyone lucky enough to catch one of their performances was in for a real treat. An energetic and often outrageous show from front-man Eddie. I recall seeing them at a benefit gig for The Warren at Hull City Hall, in 1988, headlined by Billy Bragg. Eddie was on form, bouncing around the stage on a Spacehopper, and climbing up the speaker stacks, to run around the balcony of the City Hall. Another memory of that gig was walking out to get something to eat, when Norman Cook came on to do a DJ set. Who wants to see him play a bunch of records?, I thought. Little knowing it was likely one of his earliest DJ gigs!

The Gargoyles, Hull City Hall, March 1988.

I did get the chance many years later get to recall this story to Norman "Fat Boy Slim" Cook, when I met him back-stage at the Global Gathering in Seoul, South Korea in 2010. Just before he went on stage to do a storming head-line set to tens of thousands of people, as probably one of the most famous DJs on the planet.

I found the above video on the YouTube channel of MrMadPeanut, who I believe was "Mad" Eddie himself. Up loaded before his untimely death in September 2014. The information posted with this wonderful piece of rare footage of the madness that was the creative maelstrom of the time, read as follows: "This is the full version of the video "The Magnificent Church" featuring The Gargoyles song of the same name and The Velvetones anthem "Skinhead Girl." Loosely based on a concept concerning the Church of the Divine Magnet, it features Eddie Smith in the pulpit and Mike Montez in the jail cell (inexplicably without his trousers). If you're sharp-eyed you'll even spot Dave Rotheray in a not-entirely-believable skinhead cameo. Ted Key is also here, having recently departed the Housemartins. However his bandmate Hugh Whitaker does not appear, having not yet re-joined Ted and The Gargoyles. In a dusty shoe box in a forgotten drawer probably lies a master copy of this video, until it comes to light this is the best we'll do. Still very watchable and enjoyable I think you'll agree."

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