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Archive

1983

LINE UP #2

Personnel: Richard Allen-Turner (Vocals), Nigel Crawley (Guitar), Mark Howard (Bass) & Phil Hayes (Drums) & Ben Tisdall (Drums) 

Ben Tisdall rehearsing with Toy Factory, January 1983 at Findon Road, Worthing 

Ben Tisdall joined the band as a stand in drummer for Phil Hayes on a few gigs. With a growing local following, 1983 marked an escalation in live performances for Toy Factory with both headline shows and regular guest slots on bills at gigs in Brighton with established national bands. These included supporting Goth underachievers The Danse Society, The March Violets and Gene Loves Jezebel.

Xtreems Night Club, Friday Brighton 18th February 1983 with The Danse Society and fellow local act, Wheres The W? 

(Left) Over 18's Only on the flyer. The band were all 16 or 17. (Right) The original NME listing

 Ben Tisdall also acted as engineer on Toy Factory's self produced cassette demo "Back In The New Days" , recorded on a portable four track on April 7th 1983. It was sold through supportive local record shops.

"Back In The New Days" artwork 1983

Headlining at The Alhambra, Brighton Summer 1983

Headline act once again, this time for the opening night of The Escape Club in Brighton, Summer 1983

(Left) Phil Hayes in action at The Alhambra, Summer 1983. (Right) Worthing Gazette & Herald advert for a gig on Richard's 18th Birthday in 1983.

(Left) Flyer for a gig supporting 4AD label new signings, Gene Loves Jezebel at The Escape Club, Brighton. Saturday 8th October 1983. (Right) "Sounds" listing for the gig. A second gig at The Alhambra on the same night is listed but was never performed.

Onstage at The Escape Club, Saturday 8th October 1983

(Left) Flyer for the second show with The Danse Society this time joined by Sisters of Mercy protégés, The March Violets. Sunday 13th November 1983. (Right) Brighton Evening Argus original gig advert.

Poster for a CND Benefit Open Air Gig in Steyne Gardens, Worthing, Saturday 11th December 1983. One of the last gigs with Nigel Crawley on guitar.

Newly discovered photos of the Steyne Gardens open air gig. Thanks Martin.

Worthing Gazette & Herald local band feature, 13th January 1983. Article name checks future Toy Factory members, Nick Randall and Gordon Tempest (sic).

1984 - 1985     2002 - 2008    1981 - 1982 

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