© Gary Crofts (Graphics Wizard) 1986
SEVEN SISTERS
Seven Sisters first started as a spin-off from (charity gig-playing) sixties covers band 'The Mix'
- in which Adrian Miller, Ric Jones and John Gardner had been the guitarist, drummer and bass
player, respectively. Along with school mate 'Hugh Mannerings' on flute, they formed the first
incarnation of Seven Sisters - at that time (mid 1985), an anonymous covers/originals band
from Surrey (UK).
(From L-R: Adrian Miller, Ric Jones, Hugh Mannerings, John Gardner) © 7Sisters Archive: 1986
The first outing of this inimitable quartet took them to a friend's party, at the 'White Hart'
public house, in Reigate. It was here, and at other future venues, that the band gained
notoriety for their mid-set 'Smoking Demon' antics - in which a mysterious 'caped avenger'
(named 'Dim') billowed intoxicating smoke in their general directions!
The band had already individually started to write their own material, with Miller and Gardner
taking the lead. They adapted two songs - 'War' and 'Win or Lose' - by former 'Mix' frontman
Hendrick Kleinsmiede, which caught the crowds by storm. These were rapidly followed by further
freshly-penned gems such as 'Last Words' and 'Feeling on my Heartache'. Both of these songs
(plus 'Win or Lose') made up the debut recording, released in January '86.
© Gary Crofts (Graphics Wizard) 1986
It was this EP (with graphic design by Gary Crofts [now known as 'Gnomad']) that led them
from strength to strength and won a cross-Surrey audience. The crowds loved them, and they made
themselves known at venues such as Reigate Art College, The Dolphin (Kingston-on-Thames), The
Fetcham Riverside Club and The Epsom Playhouse - where veritable chaos reigned once or twice...
© 7Sisters Archive: 1986
By the time Seven Sisters had really made their mark on the local scene, Hugh had left the
band. His place was taken by Mike Brown - another old-school tie wearer - who played
rhythm guitar, and occasional bass. Mike's addition supplied the band with a more solid
sound, and it was this combo who headlined the 'Bourne Hall' gig - to some few hundred
writhing followers, dancing the night away.
The same fearsome foursome stole the show when they supported the 'Gotham City Wreckers'
at the 'Basement Club' in Brighton, and they also took headline place at the 'Riverside' when the
'Macc Lads' got banned from Surrey!
Other supports/headlines at the time included: Irish Moss Peat, The Grown-Ups and The Hunger.
A second recording was made, at a rehearsal, sometime in mid-late '86. This rough-cut
featured most of the newer material, including songs like: 'Conscious Thought', 'January' (a
group composition), 'Magic Box' and Hawkwind's 'Master of the Universe'. Full respect was
never paid to this back-room masterpiece, because - as sometimes happens with bands -
things progressed too fast, members took-in different influences, messages got confused.
Such was the case with Seven Sisters.
Unfortunately, for whatever reasons then, the band split. Most of them stuck together -
taking a change of musical direction and introducing other personalities such as: Chris Armstrong
(bass/guitar), Bruce Russell (analogue synth), Mothball (sax) and Lucy Horswill (bongos). This led
to a far more improvised style, influenced by the likes of Ozric Tentacles, Pink Floyd and Gong.
(From L-R: Mike, Lucy, Emma, Ric, Chris, John [with shades], Nicky) © 7Sisters Archive: 1987
Composition followed energy - listenability followed enthusiasm, and the new 'Metamorphosis'
of Seven Sisters managed four live dates. The first, at Epsom Playhouse, was only truly
successful when Adrian re-took the stage halfway through the set to win back a dampened
and apprehensive audience. The Croydon 'Star' gig returned solidarity to the ranks, until it
was afterwards revealed that an expensive 'on loan' flute had been lost. The NESCOT gig
only ever happened in the Student's Union office - due to official complaints from a certain
major high street chemist about inappropriate flyposting. Events like these caused further
'spiritual' bankruptcy to the group - although now at least, there were finally seven sisters
- or eight, or six.
Sometime during the 1987 'Summer of Love', various members of Seven Sisters performed in the
same space, at an outdoor party, somewhere around the Surrey/Sussex border. Adrian attended,
and featured on cosmic, jazz, guitar-synth 'trickery'. Some songs were almost played, almost forgotten.
Seven Sisters made their mark, and although it may have faded, it has not disappeared forever...
'Hawk' © 2003
© 7Sisters Archive: 1986
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