Reluctant Stereotypes

 Reluctant Stereotypes

Coventry became well known for some remarkable talent during the late 1970s and early 1980s not least of which were the more 'avant garde' yet, still familiar with the then current scene, Reluctant Stereotypes.

But, as reported at the time, the Stereotypes had not been content to rely on the simply flogging the almost dead formula to death, to squeeze out the last trickles of cash, before disappearing back to their old jobs, the unemployment queue or merely hang around for the next burst of energy to drag them back out again.

The Reluctant Stereotypes were Paul Samson, guitar, Steve Edgeson, clarinet, Paul King (AKA Winston Smith), vocals, Tony Wall, bass and Colin Heanes on drums.

Steve Edgeson was more than aware of the help they've had received from the 2-Tone organisation. 'The Selector and The Specials have done a great deal for Coventry, although we don't feel part of the 2-Tone scene. The city received a lot of attention and it certainly helped us on our way initially' said Steve during 1980.

He continued 'I'm sure there are lots of bands around the country who are as good, and possibly better, than most from Coventry but they haven't had the same exposure. I don't deny the fact that we have probably been able to get this step up because we are from Coventry but I don't think its a sham or that we are relying on that fact. The talent was always there anyway and we were fortunate to have other bands bring the limelight here and enable us to show what we've got to offer aside from them'.

'People get a stereotyped image of what the band should sound like. We didn't jump on the bandwagon, we just sort of hitched a ride for a few miles and jumped off when we realised that the petrol was going to run out'.

The then line up had its roots in a jazz rock outfit called ENS who were kind of sneered at for the idea of playing 'serious music' to visuals in a live context. But then another line up, featuring Paul Samson and Steve Edgeson, managed to release a track called 'The Lull' under the name of the Reluctant Stereotypes both Paul and Steve wanted to take some of the commercial aspects of their work into a new outfit.

Steve went on 'We thought why not do something that we liked and have a chance for commercial success instead of playing to a cliquey following, and working at Talbot Cars, which gives you an obvious clue as to our motivations'.

'I feel that now we are a pop band that want to be commercially successful but my ideology is that people should try and be individuals if they can and not be influenced by the masses, your mates and what the gang may think'.

'Its like our song 'Factory Wit', the opening track on our new album 'The Label', which is an observation on the so called characters, the wits, the people who use catch phrases that they've heard on TV. Its cringing to hear those people rely on what other people say because they cannot think of their own comments. Its not condescension. We've all been through it. Tony Wall and Colin Heanes were both carpenters, Paul Samson was a tool fitter and Paul King worked for Rolls Royce'.

'I was considered a standing joke at work because I didn't conform to the role as a Parts Control Analyst. I used to wear off beat clothes and I was a weirdo who didn't have his head screwed on, according to them, but I used to feel the same about them' claimed Steve.

The Reluctant Stereotypes use both their jazz influences and the West Indian rhythms that have been adopted as the sound of the city, though they prefer to exploit the more expensive reggae rhythm while retaining the essential dance-ability.

The band were offered a one off deal with 2-Tone, that being Jerry Dammers usual ploy to give confidence to worthwhile bands while allowing them the opportunity for perusal by the larger record companies, but they refused.

'We didn't want to be part of 2-Tone because we thought that its life was going to be limited but they've proved us wrong. But we always had the confidence in ourselves and while they were a breath of fresh air, we felt we wouldn't need their organisation to get off the ground'.