Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Roy Butterfield

Roy Butterfield

by Pete Clemons

Roy Butterfield was an early member and co-songwriter with The Tom Robinson Band but his Coventry Music Credentials go back to the 70's - in Alive and Smilin' with Horace Panter of the Specials and in the 60's - he was also in Coventry's RCA Neon band - Indian Summer.

Mention the name Roy Butterfield and the words lovely bloke and incredibly talented, readily and quickly come back in abundance. When he talks about himself Roy says that he gets 'bored quite quickly and easily'.

Borrowing from notes left by harp player, Tim James, 'Roy Butterfield replaced Steve Bentham in the Boll Weevils. He had a lovely sunburst Fender Telecaster which he later bartered for a crappy Hofner and a new suit. But Roy could have played any old rubbishy instrument and sounded class. He later played pedal-steel and bass guitar. He sadly lasted only a few weeks with the Weevils before, as predicted, he went back to his old band to be with his mate Bas Fawcus'. This, I am certain would have been during 1964.

Roy then joined a Coventry beat band called The Little Darlings, later known as The Sensations. This, again with finger in the air, I am guessing would have been late 1966. Apparently Roy replaced John Gilroy as the bands lead guitarist.

Roy then became the original lead guitarist for the newly formed Indian Summer. According to Roy 'they were a great bunch of lads' and, as people, he liked them very much. It was just the music. Roy didn't like it. Roy was into country and rock and not so much progressive. Additionally his guitar at that time, a Harmony Stratatone, gave him more of a BB King sound. Plus, he says, it had bits dropping off it.

Tim James continues: 'When Roy Butterfield joined Monster Magnet during 1972 he rolled up to the first rehearsal with the components of a 1960s Fender Precision bass in a Tesco carrier bag. He had got the bass by barter, probably for a suit ! He assembled it and, playing bass for the first time in his life became, instantly, the best bass player I have ever worked with'.

Roy was then involved in a band called 'Alive and Smilin' with Horace Panter. Roy remembers a battle of bands competition during October 1974 where they appeared at the final which was held at the Hammersmith Odeon. 'Alive and Smilin' finished runner up. According to Horace in his book Ska'd For Life 'Roy played the most tasteful guitar he had ever heard'.

Roy Butterfield even played in a Coventry punk band. They were called 'Certified'. Roy remembers that Certified once supported the Automatics during October 1977. at The Heath Hotel. Urban Blight, Squad (who at that still time contained Terry Hall) and The Wild Boys (who still had Roddy 'Radiation' Byers in their ranks), were also on the bill. Jerry Dammers famously mentioned that his organ wouldn't fit on the stage of the Heath Hotel so he played in the audience facing the band.

Delving, once again, into the memories of Tim James, he wrote: 'Roy Butterfield was later involved in writing the hit single '2-4-6-8 Motorway' with Tom Robinson but got fed up and left the band before the money rolled in'.

It appears that it was during the summer of 1976 when Tom Robinson and Roy Butterfield first met. Roy remembers that it was during Gay Pride week and when he happened to be playing for a band in a London theatre. Tom was still with his band, Cafe Society, at the time when he first met Roy. And Tom Robinson just happened to be an audience member at one of the gigs.

Later that year it was announced that Cafe Society had split. Tom Robinson quickly put together some gigs under his own name. The first at the Hope and Anchor in London quickly followed by one at the Golden Lion in Fulham. And it was at this time that Roy was in the early throws of what became the Tom Robinson Band. The pair certainly did a lot of song writing during those early days. The bands drummer. Brian 'Dolphin' Taylor even renamed Roy 'Anton Mauve'.

I can confirm however that Roy Butterfield did not contribute to Tom Robinson's massive anthem '2-4-6-8 Motorway'. However he did indeed contribute to the song 'Up Against the Wall' and several others. Roy would write the music and Tom Robinson the words. During the very early part of 1977 Roy Butterfield was replaced in the Tom Robinson Band by guitarist Danny Kustow. Nowadays, it seems, Tom is selective when it comes to TRB history but Roy was certainly with the TRB at the very start.

After the Tom Robinson Band Roy joined a band called the American Housewives. And there is an eye witness account of a time when the Housewives were playing a gig at the Stapleton Hall Pub in Stroud Green. It mentioned that, during a break in the proceedings, Tom Robinson stepped up on stage with guitarist Anton Mauve, and the Housewives drummer, and thunderously performed 'Up Against the Wall' and 'Motorway'.

Later in time, Roy Butterfield sold his rights to the Tom Robinson Band songs. As such Roy's name never now appears on any reissues. But, for similar reasons as to why Roy left Indian Summer, Roy left TRB. As he admits, he gets itchy feet and wanted to do country rock.

During 1978 and 1979 Roy was at his most financially successful when he joined various country music and show bands. Which seems to be the kind of music where Roy is most comfortable.

By the late 1980s Roy appears to have returned to Coventry. Bass player, Steve Barney, would encourage Roy down to Tile Hill Youth Club. According to Steve 'It was an education to just hear Roy jamming away in a blues style'.

Steve was a member of Paradise West who changed their name for a while when they became known as Saigon. Saigon played many times around the city. The core of Saigon was still Gez Moran, Dave Valley, Colin Hankinson and Steve Barney but occasionally Roy Butterfield would also add his talents to Paradise West / Saigon, joining them on stage, at many gigs. Steve Barney particularly remembers his amazing guitar solos and slide guitar playing.

Today, Roy still loves listening to country rock particularly bands like The Byrds. But hopefully this article goes some way of preserving the memory of Roy's talents. I just didn't feel he should be totally airbrushed out of music history. As I have borrowed from the notes of Tim James, I will give him the final words: Roy is a superb musician and an incredibly dry and funny guy. It's all a real shame because he really could have given something to the world if he could have kept his head together.

My thanks to Steve Barney in his help putting this together.

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Additional memories from Trev Teasdel

Roy Butterfield was also in an early version of the Coventry folk / rock band April - with bassist Ron Lawrence who went on to play bass for Sniff and the Tears and the Kinks (on tour and the Come dancing album). April were Ron Lawrence (bass ) Mick Thompson guitar, Grey Richardson percussion Barry Fawcus drums, Bill Jackson piano / vocals and Roy Butterfield guitar. Barry and Roy had left by 1970 but the group continued with a residency at the Swan in Yardley etc.

Runestaff - In the autumn of 1971 Al Docker and I were living in a cottage out at Shilton near Coventry and Al, then a drummer and songwriter, formed a Coventry supergroup which involved former members of April - ie Ron Lawrence (bass), Bill Jackson piano and vocals, Al Hatton acoustic guitar (ex Indian Summer) and Roy Butterfield on lead guitar - ex April and Indian Summer and Al Docker drums - ex Tsar and Love Zeus. It was a great band - I used to watch then rehearse in our dining room but alas the band split up before they got a gig. The band was named after a Michael Moorcock trilogy Al Docker was reading - Runestaff.