Ken & Andy pre WY

[barry ryder]

A big 'hello' to all WY fans.

I've happened on this forum quite by accident and I thought that I might contribute by offering some personal recollections of my time with Ken and Andy in the days before WY.
I think that I can lay claim to have been in the first band that the brothers formed and I think that I can claim to have played along with them on their first ever gig!!

I met Ken in the mid '70's when he and I worked at the same firm. We had similar interests in music - heavy metal - and Ken invited me to join himself and Andy in the formation of 'Warrior'. Initially Andy played drums and Ken and I were on guitars. Bass was taken by Neil Anderson who lived a few roads away from Ken. The two Scotts had already written some songs and we began to rehearse in the function room behind the Black Lion pub in Plaistow High Street.
It wasn't long before Ken moved Andy from drums to front man/vocalist and brought in Alan Denny to take up the drumming duties.

We rehearsed every Sunday morning (!?) but only played about three times - I think. We did two gigs and we played the Melody Maker Folk/Rock Contest (London Heat) in Woolwich. I'm sure that both Ken and Andy would agree that we didn't quite set the world alight.

I remember that Ken replaced Alan with a lad from Maidenhead, who I think was named Steve Day.

After that, I'm not sure exactly what happened. I think Ken had already spotted his true vocation when Punk happened and Warrior were finished.

I was very sad to learn that Ken had been unwell and I can see that some users of this forum are in touch with him. I would be very grateful if those who can reach him pass on my sincere best wishes to him for a full and speedy recovery. Also, of course, best wishes to Andy.

Barry Ryder

[TerryMurphy]

Lovely memories,Barry,thank you,you have brought me up to date with there begining, which i had no idea of,I thought the tickets was there first band,when they played for me at the Bridge house in 1977.also big surprise heavy metal.T.M

[Lee Drury]

Before the Tickets they were called 'The Rape'. I can still remember Ken sprayed it on a wall down Tunmarsh Lane. With a name like that the gigs didnt come thick and fast so they became the Tickets.
Lee.

[Julie]

Yikes, that's almost the same name as my ex's band. They were called Raped in their punk days, and got a lot of stick for that; so they changed it to Cuddly Toys!

[Lee Drury]

with singles called 'Pretty Peadophiles' they had the same problems as well! I didnt know what that even meant when the single came out. We were innocent back then!
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Julie.i have a tape of Cuddle Toys,would you know if it was recorded at the Bridge House, or in the studio,it does have a live feel to it, its on a cassette with no details except for the name,T.M
Are you JULIA on myspace,i have answered a add,and thought it was you.?

[Julie]

Yes, that's me!
I can't remember if CT ever played at the Bridge House, but have a vague memory of them possibly playing on the upstairs stage. Dementia could be setting in and I may well be mistaken though!! 

[Beej]

The Tickets were the first live band I ever saw! Great songs and great playing! I was hooked.
R.I.P John! Best wishes to Ken and Andy and all the BH crew!

[looby]

I have an autographed Tickets single signed by Andy Scott.I have many memories of  them both!!

[Lee Drury]

Does anyone remember Andys solo gig at the bridge. He was one of those annoying people who could play any instrument well. When he got up with us to do Motorhead he would play chords on the bass like Lemmy. I still cant do that! On this particular night I was his roadie? It was only Andy and an accoustic guitar but some of the songs were about people and incidents that were very current then. One song was called 'Dave Krony did it'. We had posters made and I stuck them all over the walls of the pub. As im well over 6 foot I put them up very high and poor old Dave couldnt take them down. I wont go into what Dave did but if you were around then you will know. Other songs were 'Blow Job' 'Spider down the plug hole' 'F*ck it' etc. Andy sung in a crazy voice and at first all the serious musos who were there for the main band were taking the piss and laughing, but as he went on they began getting into it and at the end he got a standing ovation.
Its a real shame that there doesnt seem to be any places like the Bridge House left where young kids can cut thier teeth and learn the ropes without having to pay for the privelidge.
I miss the whole thing terribly.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Blimey Lee ,that fetched some memories back,one song i will never forget, is Spider down the plug hole,i do think i may have some of these songs on cassette,but on the label it says Cockney rejects,but it is definetly Andy,have you heard or seen him at all,I sent some CDs to his house last year ,but have not heard since.Regards Terry M

[Oggy]

My claim to fame  was lending Andy from the  Tickets( the drummer) my bass pedal when we played on the same venue at North east london polytechnic in plaistow around 1977/78?.
Yes it is hard to recall dates the older you get !!!
Oggy

[TerryMurphy]

hi Oggy,i remember the gig,after that night ,with in a year there were Wasted Youth,and in my opinion,Andy was unquestionably the best Drummer around,they played the next year there, the YMCA wasn't it,for Gary Bushells birthday party.great times aye T.M

[Oggy]

Yes Terry The YMCA building it was.
I recall the place being packed out, and really rocking, i'm glad i had that claim to fame !
Oggy 

[TerryMurphy]

The old YMCA is close and is be redeveloped in to a housing project,can you believe it,Terry M ..H.N.Y.