Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Squad and Gus Chambers

Squad and Gus Chambers

by Pete Clemons

The importance of Coventry punk rock band, Squad, cannot be understated when it comes to local music history. Formed during November 1977 and struggling on through till around 1980 they played many gigs locally in a variety of venues. Often on the same bill as The Automatics.

Lead singer Gaz 'Gus' Chambers appeared to have a love/hate relationship with Coventry where they thought that they were seen as a joke. And that assertion couldn't have been further from the truth. Reviews of Squad outside of Coventry were more than favourable.

Gus once commented, via Alternative Sounds, about a scene he wanted to build up in the city. But then he railed against the 'tits' that turn up to each gig and spoil it for everyone. 'Fans' were also accused of being more interested in what was happening in the audience rather than in the music.

Money was also an issue too. During the same interview Gus mentioned how Squad couldn't possibly progress as a band when half the audience were getting into gigs for nothing. Like a lot of bands back then they were ripped off by their own fans who would enter venues without paying.

Gaz began at Warwick university 1974/75. He was an incredibly principled guy. Quite quickly he began to stamp his mark on the campus. Several times he stood, for the broad left, in Coventry Area Student Council (CASC) elections. Tuition fees were a particularly bug bear. Time and again Gaz railed against them.

1977, and after running the election favourites closer than expected, it was reported that a celebration event by the eventual winners was marred by an eventful appearance by Gaz. 'The representative of the Coventry Area Students' Council, was not invited to the gathering, as he is not a member of the executive'.

The report continued 'Chambers was seen, quite late in the proceedings, to enter the room surreptitiously and help himself to liberal quantities of food and wine. The union president discreetly informed Chambers that he was not invited and asked him to leave. Chambers took the hint, but picked up an unopened bottle of wine as he made for the door. When asked to leave the bottle behind, Chambers, in a fit of pique, tossed his loaded plate onto the floor, tipped his pint glass of wine over a table, dropped the glass onto the floor, and departed'.

Gaz did become CASC general secretary towards the end of his time at Warwick.

On leaving uni Gus returned to the Warwick campus soon after as his band, Squad, were support to The Specials during February 1979. Squad (I have assumed line up 3) were described as a 'high quality, high energy punk band'.

'The drummer, bassist and rhythm guitarist provided a very high beat upon which the singer super imposed his distinctive voice. The best song in their set was an adapted form of 'The Bells are Ringing for Me and my Gal'. 'Millionaire' proved that the band's rhythm held together even at high speed, not a characteristic of many punk bands. Other songs included 'The Flasher' which was the trigger for an outbreak of rowdiness'.

It appears that scuffles escalated during Squad's last number, when a minor disturbance broke out among thirty or so fans. This continued for some time until stewards formed a wall in front of the audience to prevent them from leaping onto the stage. An eye witness, re-marked "The stewards showed remarkable restraint under extreme provocation."

However the Arts Fed house manager claimed another side to the events. 'Two of our stewards refused to wear Anti-Nazi League t-shirts. He also accused Gus Chambers, as being responsible for some of the charges towards the stage.

Guitarist Ade Dix let me have a few notes from post Squad days: 'I didn't see Gus for years after the punk thing moving forward to the early 80's but I remember seeing him down the Dog and Trumpet and he said that he had been working in a Siberian salt mine, I don't know how true that was but I wouldn't put it past him as he was some character!. I know that he went on to play with albeit briefly with another band ( I'm thinking they were some sort of Napalm Death type metal band) as I recall seeing an article and photo somewhere, I think that they had a record deal, could be wrong?

Sadly the next thing I heard was that he had passed away, he must've only been in his thirties, he was about our age as we're all the original Punks'.

Squad were an incredibly fluid band. Using pieces of information from different sources I have attempted to document the evolving line up's of the band during its lifetime. They are not meant to be a definitive. It is open for debate. I am fairly certain other line up's represented the band. But I do think it is a decent start.

Squad 1

Drums: Billy Little

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Scully

Vocals: Terry Hall (left to join Specials Dec 1977)

Squad 2

Drums: John Hobley

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Ade Dix

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Squad 3

Drums: Rob Hill

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Guitar: Scully

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Squad 4

Drums: Rob Hill

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Squad 5

Drums: Marc Hatwood

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Recorded Red Alert (McNulty)/8 Pounds a Week (written by Chambers/Ade Dix – uncredited) 1978. It cost £440 to make 2000 copies. Despite selling out the band made nothing.

Squad 6

Drums: Rob Hill

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Recorded Mi££ionaire/Brockhill Boys (written by Chambers) 1979

Squad 7

Drums: Steve Young

Bass: Sam McNulty

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Squad 8

Drums: Steve Young

Bass: Nick Edwards

Guitar: Danny Cunningham

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Squad 9

Drums: Steve Young

Bass: Nigel Mulvey

Guitar: Johnny Adams

Vocals: Gus Chambers

Finally, returning to Gaz's days at Warwick university, another incident was reported as follows: 'I hear that certain members of the "Broad Left" let it "all hang out" at a recent gathering in a Tocil Flat (pronounced Tock Hill). Other occupants of the flat, curious as to what was going on, were confronted by Gaz Chambers wearing only a smile ........ A peep inside the door would have revealed other .... er 'members' in a similar state of undress'.

An inspiration for the Squads song 'The Flasher'?

My thanks to Ade Dix, Danny Cunningham and Steve Meehan in helping me compile this article.

More here https://coventrybands.blogspot.com/2021/07/squad.html