Old Stains



The Understains first hit the stage in Nottingham during the hot Jubilee summer of 1977. Just two short years later, it was all over. The last chords were heard ringing out in public when the band, with a lineup of Chris O'Connell (drums), Pat Gallagher (bass), Larry Crouch (keyboards), Mike Cooper (rhythm guitar), Carl Price (lead guitar) and Mike Biles (vocals), played a farewell gig at the Greyhound, Beeston, in August 1979 under the name of 'Men Using Ladders'. It was to be 25 years before the unique Understains sound was heard again. But in the brief period when they toured the halls, toilets and other trendy night spots in Nottingham, the band became synonymous with loud, fast music, built up a small loyal following, managed to get themselves banned from at least one venue, blew other acts off the stage and completely failed to make any impact whatsoever on the music scene.



Original Understains 1977 - Andy Nye, Mike Biles, Pat Gallagher, Carl Price, Paul Andrews

The band had, in fact, morphed from an earlier combo called ‘Gypsy’s Kiss’, put together for a university ball, with front man Tommy Wright.  When the university and Tommy decided they could rub along without each other, someone else was needed to make noises into a microphone; and it was decided that a new name was needed.  Some genius came up with ‘Mike Noxious and the Understains’; it was, after all, the height of punk rock…

The ecstacy - Mr P is playing his Fender Telecaster
- in case you're interested

The live act...

The original line-up of the Understains was: Paul Andrews (drums), Pat Gallagher (bass), Andy Nye (lead & rhythm guitar), Carl Price (lead & rhythm guitar) and Mike Biles (vocals).  There were subsequently various personnel changes along the rocky path to oblivion.  And, for a short while, the band gigged under the name of ‘the Rawboys’.  The Understains was essentially a live experience.  They entertained with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.



1979 in the Greyhound.  Pat & Mike share the mic (or something);
Mr P with his beloved white Gibson SG.
Note the dark hair...