Fresh Maggots

 Fresh Maggots

by Pete Clemons

Originally published in the Coventry Telegraph.

Rosemary Hill is an insignificant piece of road of no more than 100 metres long which overlooks the delightful scene of Abbey Fields in Kenilworth famous for its green fields and slopes. Yet, over 40 years ago, it was immortalised forever in song by a Nuneaton duo that, collectively, were known as Fresh Maggots.

Although not at all about the stretch of road itself, but more so, the surrounding countryside, Rosemary Hill is one of eleven enchanting tracks on the bands one and only album ‘Hatched’. The title of the song apparently came to the band when passing through Kenilworth, on the way home, after a holiday in Devon.

Mick Burgoyne and Leigh Dolphin both grew up on the same housing estate in Nuneaton but did not become firm friends until they met up as teenagers on the local folk circuit during the late 1960’s.

Both were accomplished multi instrumentalists and each shared a mutual interest of music in sounds as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher’s Taste and The Pentangle. This meeting of minds led them to the common ground they needed to team up and to begin to write and craft songs together. What they created was fairly innocent and ‘of that time’ but combined their love of both rock and folk music.

Mick and Leigh, it seems, came up with the band name when they noticed a sports shop advert they had seen in a local newspaper - ‘fresh maggots always available’. Presumably, the maggots were available for the fishermen of Nuneaton.

The band name had not been meant to be taken at all seriously but things moved fairly quickly after being ‘discovered’ during September 1970, and by the time of their second ever gig, that the name stuck. Another local band ‘Boots’ were supposed to have been the band in the spotlight that particular evening. Fresh Maggots were actually the support band. But it seems as though it was the duo and their folk songs that had made the more lasting impression and impact.

Fresh Maggots were then invited down to a London studio to make a demo. This, in turn, led to the RCA record label sending some of their people to a gig in Coventry where they were immediately signed up.

At that time, and bear in mind that these two musicians were still just teenagers in 1970, their only real ambition was ‘just to walk on stage with our gear, say hello and try to make as many people as possible a little more cheerful’. As such all became a bit overwhelming for them as the pair was now being touted onto radio shows such as Radio Luxembourg. To them, they had very little control over their own destiny.

On Saturday 9th October 1971 the pair played Durham University. They were the support band to Van Der Graaf Generator. Dennis Burns, who was their roadie and was also involved on the mixing desk, remembers that particular gig well. Van Der Graaf’s iconic album ‘Pawn Hearts’ was released during October 1971 and the band were just beginning to promote it by taking it on the road. The whole of side 2 of the record is taken up by a single track called ‘A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers’ and was described in Melody Maker as one of the most fascinating and dramatic items they had ever heard. The album was certainly memorable to Dennis. And even today that particular album remains a huge favourite amongst the progressive rock fraternity.

The following night, Sunday 10th, and Fresh Maggots were appearing at London’s Marquee Club in Wardour Street. This time they were the support to ex Jethro Tull’s bass player Glenn Cornick’s, then, new band Wild Turkey. And so impressed had they been the night before that members of Van Der Graaf Generator were also in attendance having also made the long journey south.

Fresh Maggots were certainly becoming more widely known. They were touring heavily at this time as during November 1971 they played as far south as Tofts club in Folkestone.

During their short existence, Fresh Maggots completed several local BBC radio interviews and live sessions. They appeared at local stations in Sheffield, Leeds, Teeside and Liverpool. They also recorded a session at the BBC radio theatre in Portland Place near to the London Palladium for Alan Black and Anne Nightingale who had made their record the album of the week on their ‘What’s New’ programme.

Fresh Maggots only album ‘Hatched’ album has had the CD reissue treatment complete with the non-album single track ‘Car Song’, and its B side, as a bonus. The music itself has a very grand and majestic feel to it. In part, I guess, due to the orchestral arrangements within it. The songs are well structured and are about hope and love.

But there is so much more to it though than the delightful Rosemary Hill. Despite being classed a folk record the album contains elements of fuzz guitar and feedback as well as some quite stunning harmonies and melody. The songs on it are wistful and, yes, maybe a little naive, but for me personally that just adds to the charm.

Some time ago I read that Mick Burgoyne, on reflection, has mixed thoughts about the album. ‘Some of it makes me very proud but some of it makes me cringe’. Like most musicians, however, the pair will be self-critical about their work and pick on the parts they could, with hindsight, maybe have done better. As the artists they are entitled to. However, as the listener of the final product, I for one enjoy it just the way it is and I always feel that little more cheerful for listening to it.

More here https://coventryfolkclubs.blogspot.com/2013/04/fresh-maggots.html

Fresh Maggots on Spotify 1st and 2nd albums. https://open.spotify.com/artist/06VUtXjmLbkXTSoV3cqJaW