When starting a band the only important thing is that you play the type/style of music you like. To do this ,the rest of your band has to have very similar taste`s. Playing music you like and want to hear is first and foremost ,the rest is just secondary.
The band started life on July 1st 1989 when Paul and Sean met at a party. They had seen each other round but never spoken before. As the party got into full swing the conversation got onto music. Within the hour the band was formed , it`s members sorted , and music was about to be made!!
The band line up would include Sean`s brother Jason and Paul`s friend David. Although David didn't attend the party he was voted into the band because he could sing a bit and also had a guitar. Paul took the keyboards ,while Jason was left with the bass guitar. Sean had already mentioned he was having drumming lessons so that position was taken. A band and life long friendships were made, now the hard work would have to start ( because nobody could play ).
The very first band practice was on the 19th July at Sean & Jason`s house. The band had to think up of a moniker that would suit them and the music they hoped one day to play. Many names were suggested but they settled on White Hot Daze ( a play on a Simple Minds song ). However this name would last just 5 rehearsals and 7 weeks as Jason dropped the bomb shell that he wanted to leave the band. On Sept 4th 1989 Paul took up the bass guitar and the band changed it`s name to Heavens Echo.
By Oct 89 the time was right to find somewhere else to Rehearse, so they hired a small room at the local youth centre Canada Villa ( Mill Hill ), and it is here they would stay until July 1991.
Heavens Echo first gig would come about without any prior warning .On Thursday 8th Feb 1990 Davids brother Mark was playing a gig in Kenton at a place called The Plough. His band The Scandinavian Roofjumpers needed a support band for the gig ,so he called his brother and told him to get the band together so they could play their debut gig. The band was found and got to the gig just in time to get up on stage and play their hearts out. The nerves were obvious , but that did`nt matter because the crowd loved it , but not as much as the band did. Heavens Echo were on their way.
The next gig was in March and the band would have a new member on stage with them. Kevin was Paul`s cousin , and he would be a sort of Bez character ( singing , dancing and playing tambourine ). Kevin would only play a handful of gig`s with the band and was asked to leave because of his terrible time keeping and deciding to get his hair done instead of turning up for band practice.
Already the band was getting noticed on the gig scene. The owners of The Attic club in Clapham were about to put a compilation album together of the best unsigned acts in London. Heavens Echo were asked to record a track for the album which was to be called VINYL UNDERGROUND. The contracts were signed on Wed 4th July 1990, which just so happened to be on world cup semi final day against Germany, so the band quickly signed the contract and then got to see the last of the game. Recording of the song ( something for someone ) took place on Thursday 9th Aug 1990 at the famous Elephant Studios in London.
A series of gigs followed , some good , some not so good. It was around this time the band started doing press interviews ( local papers ), and also around at this time the band started to take it seriously. They were playing better gigs, writing more mature songs and started to get a loyal following. It was by now late 1990 and the band needed to push things on , this would happen when a new member joined in 1991.
