The Flys – Coventry Pioneers

The Flys – Coventry Pioneers

by Pete Clemons

Get the album here

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-flys-today-belongs-to-me-the-complete-recordings-1977-1980-2cd/

The four piece Flys burst onto the power pop and new wave battlefield during mid 1977. The boom in Power Pop and New Wave followed the Punk Rock explosion and The Flys were one of the pioneers of that field.

The Flys were Dave Freeman - lead guitar, Joe Hughes – bass, Pete King – drums and Neil O'Connor – rhythm guitar and vocals. Their musicianship was melodic and imaginative and, with a regular slot at La Chaumiere in the Burges during August and September 1977, their future looked assured. Especially after an early break for them when they hooked up for a support slot alongside Buzzcocks at Mr Georges club during October 1977.

That particular night was meant to be a one off but it went so well that the Buzzcocks invited The Flys to do most of the remaining tour dates. Especially those around the Midlands. So the band ended up doing around six more dates with them.

Before that Buzzcocks gig The Flys had laid down the tracks that made up their self financed debut, the 'Bunch of Five' EP on Zama Records. And all this early activity had alerted EMI who promptly signed them up. Zama Records was also the home for Black Parrot Seaside and their epic EP release.

With so many talented bands around, at that time, you needed that little extra boost like a session on the John Peel show. And there was no shortage of opportunity. The Flys appeared on his show at least three times. The first being during March 1978 when they performed 'New Hearts', 'Fun City', 'We Dont Mind the Rave' and 'Living in the Sticks'.

Further Peel Sessions were recorded during November 1978 when they performed 'Love and a Molotov Cocktail', 'Name Dropping', 'I Don't Know' and 'Waikiki Beach Refugees'. And once more during September 1979 when, by then, drummer Pete King had left and Graham Deakin had replaced him. For that session the band aired 'Lets Drive', 'Energy Boy', 'Frenzy is 23' and 'I'll Survive'.

And almost all those tunes, along with many others, – the complete studio recordings 1977 to 1980 in fact – can be found on a wonderful release titled 'Today Belongs to Me'. Additionally this release contains seven previously unheard songs.

In hindsight, the punk rock and new wave era was an incredibly short window of time. As such, timing was crucial. By the end of 1978 people were already saying that punk and new wave was dead. It just seemed to have run its course.

Power pop was mainly applied to UK bands and had no real legs overseas. So it was limited in its appeal. Having said that the likes of Elvis Costello and Squeeze faired well. But by and large the new wave soon became the old wave.

A lack of real commercial success led to internal bickering. And, despite a valiant effort, it was always a struggle. The Flys called it a day during the spring of 1980. But, and as this new release proves, what a legacy they left us. Listening to these songs 40 years on they still sound so fresh and not at all dated. And this double CD package comes with a wonderfully informative booklet.

Post Flys, Neil O'Connor joined his sister Hazel's band. Bass player Joe Hughes and guitarist Dave Freeman would team up again in The Lover Speaks. They also penned the ballad 'No More I Love You's' for Annie Lennox and took her into the charts during 1985. Pete King joined After the Fire but sadly passed away during 1987 aged just 26.

TRACK LISTING 

DISC ONE

1. WE DON’T MIND THE RAVE
2. BEVERLEY
3. LOOKING FOR NEW HEARTS
4. SHE’S THE ONE
5. MONSOON SKY
6. FUN CITY
7. DON’T MOONLIGHT ON ME
8. SOME KIND OF GIRL
9. I DON’T KNOW
10. WAIKIKI BEACH REFUGEES
11. SATURDAY SUNRISE
12. DARK NIGHTS
13. LOVE AND A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL
14. CAN I CRASH HERE?
15. ME AND MY BUDDIES
16. JUST FOR YOUR SEX
17. CIVILIZATION
18. FUN CITY (single version)
19. E.C.4.
20. WAIKIKI BEACH REFUGEES (single version)
21. BEVERLEY (edited single version)
22. NAME DROPPING
23. FLY V. FLY
24. ADRIAN (DON’T CALL ME JIMMY)
25. I’LL SURVIVE
26. LIVING IN THE STICKS (first demo version)

1-12 The album Waikiki Beach Refugees, EMI EMC 3249,
released October 1978
13-14, 17 Single, EMI 2747, released January 1978
15-16 From the EP Bunch Of Five, Zama ZA 10, released
December 1977
18-19 Single, EMI 2795, released May 1978
20 Single, EMI 2867, released October 1978
21 Single, EMI 2907, released January 1979
22-23 Single, EMI 2936, released April 1979
24-26 Previously unreleased

DISC TWO

1. LET’S DRIVE
2. ENERGY BOY
3. FASCINATE ME
4. TALKING TO THE WALL
5. 16 DOWN
6. FORTUNES
7. NIGHT CREATURES
8. WHEN 2 AND 5 MAKE 9
9. UNDERCOVER AGENT ZERO
10. CHEAP DAYS
11. WALKING THE STREETS
12. THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN
13. FREEZING
14. FRENZY IS 23
15. WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES
16. LIVING IN THE STICKS
17. NIGHT CREATURES (single version)
18. LOIS LANE
19. TODAY BELONGS TO ME
20. WHAT WILL MOTHER SAY?
21. UNDERCOVER AGENT ZERO (single version)
22. COME ON STUPID
23. PROGRAM
24. DOWN YOUR END OF THE PHONE
25. HANG ON
26. I SAY
27. LIVING IN THE STICKS (second demo version)

1-14 The album Own, EMI EMC 3316, released
October 1979
15-16 Single, EMI 2979, released July 1979
17-19 From the EP Four From The Square,
Parlophone R 6030, released February 1980
20-21 Single, Parlophone R 6036, released May 1980
22-27 Previously unreleased