“Red Letters” – A brief
history by Jake Heriot. March 2004
"Red Letters" were born in May '79 from the remnants of a punky anti-Nazi band
called "Strange Writing". The members of the band were Ted Echo - guitar/vocals,
Pud Allan - bass/vocals and Jake Herriot - drums/vocals. Pud and Jake were mates
from their early childhood in the mining village of Newtongrange, whilst Ted and
Pud met in 1st year at Newbattle High School ( a school that was later to
produce Tunde the lead vocalist with "The Lighthouse Family", who was 1 year
below them).
The trio originally came together in mid-1976 in punk 5-piece outfit "Vimto
Fun(X)" with singer Dinah and a rhythm guitarist named Scroll. "Vimto's" 1st 3
gigs resulted in them being banned from playing all educational establishments
in the Edinburgh area by Xmas of that year. Dinah was sacked a year later
because he didn't even own a mike! He was replaced by a bluesy singer who went
by the name "Cake" - "........we never knew his real name .... honest! And "Vimto"
were re-launched as "Strange Writing" in the autumn of 1977.
By early-1979 our three amigos had tired of their tour of the same gigs
constantly and craved a new and less agressive sound, and secretly plotted to
remove Scroll's dirty guitar from the band's line-up. Unfortunately, they did
not expect the enigmatic "Cake" to follow his band-mate down the road, however,
the resultant line-up and sound of the new three-piece was more appreciated by
agents and audiences, and the band thrived on their extended touring
itineraries. "Sacred Voices" was recorded in a converted cowshed in September of
1979, and subsequently released in November of that year. The disc was
well-received by the music media, and made John Peel's playlist over a couple of
weeks, indeed, once encouraging Mr Peel to remark "I like that"! The record's
release and the ensuing airplay resulted in the band gaining greater support
across the country and bigger venues to play.
Regrettably, Jake left the band in 1981 after marrying and the band stuttered on
for 6 months or so using a procession of drummers only to succumb and die later
that year. Ted Echo, under his own name - Eddie Nowak - went on to perform
briefly with an acousticky band called "The Fishermen", but this was short
lived. Eddie now lives in London and is a critically acclaimed artist. Pud
Allan, now known as Deke is a Guidance teacher at Glenrothes High School in
Fife, Scotland, and is rumoured to be playing in, of all things - ssh! Whisper
it - a wedding band!
Jake Herriot is now a Community Worker in Edinburgh.
Incidentally, this September is the 25th anniversary of the recording of “Sacred
Voices”!
|
