Moon
by Pete Clemons
Moon were not strictly a Coventry band but a band that had many Coventry connections. In fact Moon formed in London and were, at one time, associated with the London pub rock scene.
Moon formed during1975 when punk rock was in its infancy, disco was huge and glam rock was beginning to wane. It began when Noel McCalla began to see what was happening in London. 'I thought what the hell am I doing in Coventry'. He commuted for a while, fulfilling his previous band commitments, which appear to be a couple of local showbands. He finally began to stay down in London, rehearsing with a couple of guys left from a jazz group called Moon. And slowly the current band began to take shape, with friends called in from Coventry and others drifting down from Newcastle. Now the line up of Noel (vocals), Loz Netto (guitar), Graham Collyer (rhythm guitar), Ron Lawrence (bass), Nicky Payn (tenor sax, flute and harmonica), Luigi Salvoni (drums) and Doug Bainbridge (alto sax, flute and percussion) boasted Italians, Australians and Swede's in its pedigree.
An interview during mid 1976 claimed that 'Moon don't particularly want the pub rock label stuck to them now, and its unlikely to happen because they're certainly a cut above the average group on that circuit. They combine the energy and enthusiasm of early soul with a blue eyed horn section and some very good original songs but they acknowledge an obvious debt to their early stamping ground. They're also proud of their lead singer Noel McCalla who is only 19 years old and is a natural vocal talent. The others, good musicians though they are, view him with a certain amount of awe. Because McCalla with his stage movements and bright button eyes is totally untrained and free from influence. He's great for us says bass player Ron Lawrence, admiringly, because bands can easily get stagnant. You all have histories and little things you love. The rest of the band have all got their influences but Noel there – he freaks me out'.
Ron Lawrence, the oldest member of the group continued: 'McCalla's move to London from Coventry was the luckiest thing that ever happened. I spent eight years up there trying to get bands off the ground. You can stay in Coventry so long as you finally twig that either you have to make a break and get to London, make the ultimate move, or just forget it. There is no music coming out of Coventry. You open the front door there is a factory. In there is a working men's club. There you can have a game or snooker or work the 'bandits'. The town thrives on industry. But at 11pm its dead. There is nowhere to play and nowhere to hear music'.
Moon's debut album, 'Too Close for Comfort', was reviewed as follows: 'An agreeable first from a group who have already made some impact slogging around the countries pubs and clubs. Basically they are a tight rhythm section with an exceptionally good vocalist, 20 year old Noel McCalla, who has already been compared with all the singers worth being compared with. It is a varied set with enough identity to give a good picture of their ideals. Among the best tracks is the funky opening title 'Lone Ranger'. 'Cold Nights' with its contagious and skillful title track, slow burning harp and percussion. If talent still counts then this band will make it sooner or later'.
A second release 'Turning the Tides' was issued during 1977 at the height of punk rock. It never stood a chance as The Sex Pistols had just released their infamous album and that was getting all the attention.
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For more information - this is a link to the Moon entry on Coventry Bands - 1960's to Now (the new version of the Hobo A to Z of Coventry bands)
The Lone Ranger - Moon.
Too Close For Comfort - Moon
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