Terry Arnett
"Where's the click?"

Taken before a gig at the Camden Barfly at the Falcon.



Born - West Ham, London 11th April 1965

Marital Status - Married to Jo, and have a daughter, Jennifer (now nearly 8), and Christian (born 11th August 2001).

Instrument Played - Drums

HISTORY

1984
Having left school with a bundle to CSEs, O levels, failed A levels, and choosing not to join the RAF (something I had aspired to from an early age!), I got a call from an old school friend David Artis. Thus Destiny Calls! was conceived.
We started rehearsing at Space Studios in Twickenham, with two guitarists, one of whom was Stewart Wadge. The second guitarist didn't make it past the first three rehearsals.
We also recruited Matthew Stuemer as vocalist and keyboard player.
We never made it past the rehearsal rooms!

1985
After being disillusioned by Destiny, I concentrated on expanding my knowledge of computers (being a tape monkey!) at a geophysical data processing centre in Brentford, West London.
It was here that I met Chris Lipthorpe. He was a saxophonist, and was in a new band with a guy named Troy (real name Richard Deehan). He asked if I wanted to join - I said "why not."

We started rehearsing in Troy's flat in Goldhawk Road, opposite the Townhouse Studios.
It starts going well, and I begin to feel that we can do something good with this.
I said that we needed a guitarist, and I got Stewart Wadge involved. His association only lasted three months as he felt uncomfortable with live performances.
Troy then recruited John Catto (ex The Diodes - a successful Canadian punk band). John gave that edge that we were looking for. After producing a demo tape, we decided it was time to gig.
But under what name?

My girlfriend at the time suggested "Mystery Guests" - it will look good on flyers, especially when supporting other bands. "OK" we said, and went to work.
Gigging at the Bull & Gate in Islington, and what was the Hammersmith Clarendon followed, and a following began. This setup wasn't to last though.
John wanted more control over the band, and Troy wasn't going to relinquish his hold. So, John and The Guests parted company.

Troy quickly recruited Andy Higgins as a replacement. His backround was more blues and jazz based.
The band played a few more gigs in London - Camden, Islington and Hammersmith, before Troy became cheesed off with the lack of exposure we were getting - and promptly jacked it all in.

1986-7
During my time in The Guests, I was spotted by Mick White. He was the bass player in The Meteors - a "psychobilly" band. He asked if I could join with him on a solo project of his.
We started rehearsing, with myself, Mick, Andy Higgins, and a new guy, Danny Gray on vocals.

The use of Danny's father's studio was great. The band as it stood just rehearsed, rehearsed and rehearsed. Got boring in the end, with no productive work coming from it. So after six months of working with them, I promptly left.

1987
Danny approached me with the proposition of joining his band, Worldspin.
The band consisted of Danny on guitar, Paul Varney on vocals, Chris Duncan on bass, Paul Freeman on keyboards, and myself on the batters.
Chris left the band, then Paul V left shortly afterwards. Paul V got a new contract deal with Pete Waterman to create a singing duo called Yell!

The band got to record with Tim Laws, and featured on an LP called "Sounds Around".
Two songs were cut, "Into Your World" and "Goodbye". To do this, we had to use Paul V for the vocals, and Keith Murphy (a friend of Danny) on bass.

The band was then renamed "The New Breed", and had Tony West (who also appeared on the album - but with another group - and he was a drummer - Phil Collins clone!) on Vocals, Andy Warby on bass and Andy Rainham on keyboards, replacing Paul F.
After rehearsing for a showcase gig in Walton-on-Thames, where I ripped off my big toe nail on the bass drum pedal (teach me to play in socks!), Tony began not to turn up for rehearsals. The material was great at this point, and the band felt disheartened that one person was causing so much grief. We sacked Tony. Then, Andy Rainham left. We were back at square one - again!

1987-90
Danny managed to recruit Tony Hunte for vocals and Chris Blundell on keyboards.
The band started rehearsing for pub gigs in and around West Middlesex.
The band got a good following, and I got to do backing vocals!
This I enjoyed a great deal. It got me to start writing material for the band. However, they were deemed as "not reflective of the band", so they were put aside.

In 1990, the band was at full steam, but the boiler was about to explode! Tony wanted more input in the band, and wasn't getting it. That saw the end of The Breed.

1991
X2C - Hmmm? A good XTC covers band with Paul Goodenough on vocals and guitar, Trevor Thorn on guitar, Neil Martin on bass and me on drums.
I met up with these guys after having spent many drunken days in and around Swindon - the home of XTC.

We managed only to rehearse, but the potential was there, storming through versions of "Making Plans For Nigel", "Generals and Majors", "The Hop", "Senses Working Overtime" - the whole gamut of stuff! But, I am an 80's man anyway!!!!!!

It was a pleasure working with them.

1992
Lemongrass - Simon Smith vocals and guitar, Steve Spiers on bass, "Alberto" on guitar, me.

A couple of gigs but not much doing! - nuff said.

1992-3
The Wiltons - just a covers band with me, Danny Gary, Matt Bell on bass, Servo Sarai on guitar, Paul Sommerton on vocals.

The usual 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s covers done here. Only two gigs before I took a sabbatical due to the birth of my daughter late in 1993.

1993-4
This saw me reunite with Simon Smith - only got as far as rehearsing, but BOY did we rehearse!

1995-8
Answered an add in NME for a "Keith Moon" playalike! Went for the audtion and the rest was history!



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