Johnnie
- Jun 25, 2023
- 3 min read

How would you feel if you lost all your photograghs?

It is often said by those whose homes have been consumed by fire, that of all their possessions, it's the photographs that matter most.

When I was a teenager, I was in a band called The Explicit. (Whenever you tell people the name, they often say, "oh yeah I remember them"). Well, the truth is they probably don't - it just sounds like a band that would have been around during the 'post punk' era. Although original, it sounds highly familiar. I really liked it. I don't remember who came up with the name or indeed whether it was a team effort, but 40 years on, my friends who were 'lucky enough' to see us perform, still remember the name. In all honesty, it's was probably the band's strongest asset.

About a year ago I decided to scour the internet to see if there was just a shred of evidence for the band that had informed my teenage years. After a few hours it became very clear that I had completely wasted my time. It wasn't until I was going through my late mother's photo albums that I found some evidence.........

Up until that moment, having no 'evidence' of The Explicit meant that my memories couldn't be shattered by hearing, for example, some appalling iPhone recording (I've enough of those with my current band). I'm under no illusions as to how rough round the edges we were, but we loved playing together. We probably argued, but I don't remember...we probably wanted to punch each other.....again I don't recall. We would spend from mid morning until late evening rehearsing in our drummer's family home during school holidays; his parents and sister must have been saints (or deaf!) ...they never complained. The memory etched on my brain is perfect.....uncontaminated and beautifully preserved; teenagers playing in a band...nothing on the 'inter web' to spoil those cherished memories!....until my mum's photo album.......

WARNING: the last photo can't be 'unseen' hence why I have left it until the end so you can avoid it

Looking through these old family photo albums I stumbled across a few pictures and a newspaper clipping. I was quite excited to see hard evidence of The Explicit once again. Upshot?.....OK, so I my 'perfect memory' doesn't quite stay in tact...there wasn't too much collateral damage...apart from one dreadful photo. WARNING: the last photo can't be 'unseen' hence why I have left it until the end so it you can avoid it)

I've decided that The Explicit should be searchable, so I'm uploading the pics I have, and naming the band members. It means that if anyone (really unlikely) does a search, they won't be disappointed!

There is a final twist to The Explicit story. It just so happens that we unwittingly inspired one of the biggest bands of the last 20 years. Evidenced by the black & white photos, we played a gig at school in 1983 that offended so many teachers' ears that they decided to put an outright ban on electric guitars; it was the only way to ensure such appalling music could never be experienced on the school premises again. In our defence, the song they appeared to object to was a cover, Tin Soldiers by Stiff Little Fingers! Anyway, the law of unintended consequences meant that the next school band needed a work-around/hack to the current guitar ban......they despatched with them altogether and used keyboards instead....it worked out just fine...they've sold 13 millions albums. I dreamed once that during an interview, Tom Chaplin looked into the camera and proclaimed that Keane really owed their success to The Explicit..."without The Explicit .... none of this would've happened!"

If you were ever at one of our gigs and you would like to share those memories, please comment as I'd love to read them!

The Explicit (1980-1983)

Guitar

Matt Hardcastle: I still keep in touch with Matt. Currently runs his own business. Started off playing a Les Paul copy but soon found and fell in love with the only true guitar....Fender Telecaster.

Drums:

Jeremy Goring: The loudest drummer on the planet...hated being at the back where drummers are supposed to be so brought himself to the front with constant fill-ins and drum solos. He now runs a hotel in London somewhere.

Bass Guitar:

Tom Pridham: everything you'd want from a bass player. Cool, musical and technically sound. I think he's a cameraman now; last I heard he was hanging out of helicopters filming Bear Grylls in action.

The Explicit 1980-83