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Archive
1984 - 1985
LINE UP #3
Personnel: Richard Allen-Turner (Vocals), Nick Randall (Guitar), Mark Howard (Bass) & Andy Ward (Drums)
Guitarist, Nigel Crawley left the group in December 1983 and he was quickly followed by drummer Phil Hayes, who joined local band The Songbirds. In the Spring of 1984, Richard recruited his fellow street busker, Nick Randall on guitar. Nick was the former guitarist with Worthing Sixth Form College rock band, Lonely Nights.
Richard & Nick busking practice Summer 1984
Nick's penchant for classic metal, combined with his natural guitar skills started to develop Toy Factory's sound into a new heavier, rock driven direction. Andy Ward, who had previously been the drummer in Worthing bands, Small Mercies and The Electric Side Show joined Toy Factory for a number of gigs.
The new line up makes it's debut gig at Worthing Sixth Form College, late Spring 1984, featuring Andy Ward on drums (right)
Miners Benefit Gig at The Carioca, Worthing January 2nd 1985, with The Songbirds and Private Sessions also on the bill
After performing at the opening night of The now legendary Zap Club in Brighton, Andy Ward left the group to join the R.A.F.
Promo shots Spring 1985. Band in need of a drummer...
LINE UP #4
Personnel: Richard Allen-Turner (Vocals), Nick Randall (Guitar), Mark Howard (Bass) & Gordon Tempest-Hay (Drums)
Andy Ward was replaced by Gordon Tempest-Hay on drums in 1984. Gordon had previously played in Lonely Nights with Nick and his arrival as stickman consolidated the move to a bigger, tighter sound. Due to academic pressures, the band performed only one gig with this line up before calling it quits. But the swan song performance at The Glynn Owen Centre, Worthing on Saturday 18th May 1985 was probably one of the best shows Toy Factory ever delivered.
Worthing Gazette & Herald, 20th May 1985 review of the "Rockaria" show, Toy Factory's final gig
In a parting shot from the south coast band scene, the band tricked the local newspaper into printing an article regarding a fictional complaint over the band's "anti-social behaviour" at their final gig. The band had sent the letter to the Worthing Gazette and Herald under the guise of local Young Christian, Adrian Parris. This upstanding member of the community was actually a longstanding friend of Toy Factory and the former guitarist in Nick and Richard's street busking act. He definitely wasn't a young Christian and didn't even attend the gig in question as he was at Warwick University at the time. Malcom McLaren would have been proud.
Local paper, Worthing Gazette & Herald, fall for fake letter of complaint written by the band itself, June 5th 1985
Summer 1985 marked the end of Toy Factory as the members started to drift in different directions. Richard and Nick headed off to study in London, Mark stayed working in Worthing. Gordon moved from drums to guitar and played in three Brighton bands, Strip System, Beyond the Wire and Hay Sherwood. Although there was sporadic contact, it became less and less as the years passed by and lives inevitably went down separate paths.
That was until...
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