In 1986/87, the Tamworth music scene was flourishing, one of the main reasons for this being a certain, Sam Holliday. Once a singer in local band The Classified Ads, Sam was an obsessive Stranglers fan and had started as a cub (Scooper!) reporter on the Tamworth Herald, he had since progressed to become Musicbox Editor. His enthusiasm had encouraged literally dozens of bands to take to the stage. His first contact with the Armchair was watching him perform in The Reliants #2 at the second infamous Guildhall Massacre in 1979.

In March 1986, the Rathole opened and the Armchair's wilderness years were beginning to come to a close. With his printing business flourishing he printed the Tamworth Rock Festival posters and t-shirts, with Sir Robert Peel going punk. Rikk Quay had just left The Sway, a band comprising two former colleagues of the Armchair when he was in The Ulterior Motives, Rikk went solo for a while, then formed The Cradle before leaving to join up with new local guitarist, John Reeman in XPD. Wolfsbane were the biggest band locally and in October, released their debut single 'Clutching at Straws' and the Armchair attended the single's launch party.

In early 1987, local tin-rattler Ian Gibbons left the town and The Rathole closed. XPD split and Rikk Quay joined The Pakistani Brothers. The Armchair again got to print the Rock Festival t-shirts- this time 'Thatcher's coming'. The Festival was a wash-out as usual but Bayley from Wolfsbane stole the show with his trailer-top display. Shortly afterwards, inspired by Mr Cooke's performances, the Armchair's loins began to stir, 'what fun it would be to be back on stage with a band again', he thought. A pint or ten of Carling at The Tavern, the Armchair and Rikk decided - it was time for The D.H.S.S. - again!

The Armchair and Quay got together with John Reeman and in turn recruited Anice Byfield the perfect backing vocalist. Music was to be computer generated, with samples, drum machine and Reeman's guitar. The plan was to recreate the original D.H.S.S. songs of 1979 along with a set of new material. Practising took place in Reeman's bedroom, alcohol, tobacco and fish and chips inspired half a dozen songs and by late 1987 the band went into the Expresso Bongo Studios to make their first recording.

< Contents - Read Part 2 - Ashes to Ashes >