Psylons Run To The Stranger Promo 1986 Version 1 and Version 2

 

Run To The Stranger Promo 1986 Version 1 and Version 2 

This film has not been seen by anyone, including members of the band for forty years. Only recently turning up in a box from a loft. Getting the single together had been our goal and had given no thought to any wider outlet for it than the Radio and Music Press. With a single of the week in the N.M.E leading to the Peel session and a rapidly arranged distribution deal (Revolver in Bristol) the record entered the indie chart at number 21. With the possibility of it rising in the chart we were asked if we had a video to go with it. We had not. Fortunately we had an association with the College of Art so were able to rapidly arrange the use of a studio and edit suite. We didn’t have time to over think what we were doing so the result is a classic ‘lazy mime” backed up by our usual stage lighting. The edit suite offered all the visual effects of the 80s era, but the only two effects added were a touch of 8mm film and a tube of coloured lighting gel held in front of the camera. A few takes were edited about resulting in its Lo/fi fuzzy psych feel. The sound was never broadcast quality and has now been finished. We put it together within a week but ran out of steam when the single dropped out of the Indie Chart. We were pleased with the result at the time but out attention was drawn towards the release of a follow up single. The Run to the Stranger tape was never marked up for easy identification and after being passed around the band the only VHS copy went into a box to be lost for forty years, only ever having been watched by a handful of people. So we are pleased to present to you a 1980s curio, which we hope you will enjoy as much as we have enjoyed finding it and seeing it for ourselves. The Psylons wish to thank Sean Nye for Camera work and editing, Mike Snarr for Lighting and Sean O’Connell for the transfer from the original VHS to Digital. Cheers Chaps

Psylons 1st Single BBC Sessions

 In 2024 myself Jack Packer and Warren Grech decided it was time to put the 1st Psylons single and both BBC sessions onto YouTube. After many many months of tinkering for your pleasure we have finally uploaded them. Unfortunatly Mr Edwards is no longer with us, but we are 100% sure he would approve.

Just a Bad Dream

In the summer of 2018 I was contacted by Cherry Red Records who were putting together a 60 track compilation of 1980s Garage/Postpunk/Trash. They were very keen to include a Psylons track from the Bite Back Records Cassette release Psylons is Golden.
It had been many many years since I had given my old band Psylons much thought. Occasionally things would turn up on YouTube and other places on line, but that was about it. In 2016 Gideon Coe played a Psylons Peel Session track (Gideon Coe has also consistently played Keith Seatman tracks. Thank you Mr Coe) and in 2014 a Psylons track was played on a John Peel 75th anniversary special.
I have over the years (on and off, def more on than off now) stayed in touch with the rest of the band. So after a catch up and band meeting (not had one of them for decades) we agreed to let Cherry Red use the requested track Waiting Nation. Jack Packer (Psylons Guitar) re-mastered the track as we only had a cassette copy of it and Warren Grech (Psylons Bass) did the write up for the CD booklet. Unfortunatly Carl Edwards (Drums) was very ill and could not meet up with us. So we agreed that we would email, text all relevent info to Carl to keep him in the loop and part of the whole project. Carl would regulery reply to my emails outlining what was going on and giving us the thumbs up to go ahead with it.  Just A Bad Dream is a massive and impressive collection. Naturally Billy Childish features heavily on this collection (Thee Mighty Ceasars, The Milkshakes, The Headcoats) but there are also so many others: Naz Nomad, The Playn Jayn, The Wolfhounds, Biff Bang Pow, Jesus and The Mary Chain, The Prisoners, Prime Movers, Sexton Ming and loads and loads more. The music site Louder than War said this about the collection
A must-have compilation for all lovers of that stripped back primitive sound.On this new compilation, Cherry Red have taken a snapshot of the bands that maintained the garage-trash sound throughout the 80s in the UK.

Sadly by the time this collection was released our dear friend and Drummer Carl Edwards had passed away. I am 100% certain that he would have loved the finished product.

Martin Rushent 11 July 1948 – 4 June 2011

In 1986 I was living at home with my Dad. I got in one evening and my Dad told me that someone called Martin had called. He had heard the band I was in (Psylons) on John Peel and could I give him a call. I asked my Dad if this Martin had a surname and he informed me it was Rushent. Of course I knew who Martin Rushent was, I had a number of albums that he had produced so I was well aware of his work. But this could not have been him calling me.
I phoned the number that was left and was informed by the person at the other end that it was in fact Martin who had called. He wanted to meet up with us at Genetic to discuss recording us, and could we pop up next week. I said yes, of course, trying not to sound like an over excited 10 year old. The following week the rest of the band and I jumped into my little green Fiat 127 and set of for Genetic. On arrival we were met by Neil O'Conner who informed us that Martin was a tad busy that day but that he (Neil) would show us around and then take us out to lunch. At the local Pub Neil told us that Martin had liked our Peel Session and wanted to record us and then some sort of licensing deal would be sorted out later, and the finer points would be thrashed out with or Manager. Neil said that he would be in touch in a few weeks. So many hours later we said goodbye to Neil and headed of home. 
Weeks went by and we had not heard from Neil at Genetic. Months went by and nothing. Then one day I got a call from Neil O'Conner. He phoned to say sorry but the recordings were not going to happen. Things had gone on at Genetic which made it not possible. We did not realise at the time that Genetic was in a lot of financial trouble.
After what was quite a long call we said goodbye to each other and that was that.
We never really got to meet Martin Rushent. But as we were being shown around Genetic that day, we saw him in the distance and he gave us a wave and said "All right". R.I.P.

Something from my Past. Psylons

Something from my past.  A couple of promo vids for Psylons

The Emperor of Songs Video was made by Simon Heartfield and remixed by Jim Shaw of The Cranes.

The Bug Video was made by myself and Carl Edwards and produced by J Packer.

From 1986 to 1995 we released 5 singles, 1 Cassette EP,  1 Album.

1 Peel and 1 Kershaw Session and appeared on a few compilation albums

But more on all of this at a later date