The Bears
If you think all Watford has for it is Elton John and the Gap and of course, Wire then think again. The Bears were one of the first bands on the emerging Watford punk scene in the Christmas of 1976. Originally a wacky punk band called Smarter & The Average Bears they sang about dodgems and other zany things.
The band comprised Kris Kershaw (ex-Wire), George Gill (ex-Wire), Ron West – Bass guitar, Cally Callomon – Drums and Mick North on Vocals.
They were that little bit different. Like Wire, they went in for minimalist song riffs but unlike Wire clearly had a sense of humour and the absurd. Take a look at Fun, Fun Fun their contribution to the Farewell To The Roxy live album from 1978 about dropping bags of flour off tower blocks on people’s heads and compare it to the other songs on that album about snipers, getting yourself killed, living in a car and so on.
While building up a following disaster struck in September 1977 when vocalist Mick North and friend Pete Perspex (Pete Dollimore of the band Paper Doilies and Bears roadie) were killed on his motorbike. As if that wasn’t enough it was reported in Sounds in January 1978 that George Gill and girlfriend were beaten up by hooligans because they were punks. (14.01.1978)
Continuing as a four-piece playing places like the Roxy they finally recruited a new singer in the shape of John Entrails (again ex of Paper Doilies) and gravedigger Christian Paris – Sax.
Cally Callomon We conscripted a guy called Max first who sang for a bit, and then we got John in. Christian was known as Icky. Punk 77 email, October 2024
In mid-1978 they released their debut single On Me on Waldos Records with its classic opening riff sounding like a punky Monkees and gaining the record of the week in Sounds 3.6.78. The band had also featured in the same paper earlier in the year with some welcome exposure on 29.3.78. The piece was by Nic Egan entitled On safari in darkest Herfordshire…Bears roam wild in Watford.
Cally Calloman It’s worth (i.e. important) mentioning Phil Smee who used to be a student at Watford Art School. He started Waldos Records, named after The Jazz At Waldos which we used to come on stage to, – in Saint Albans and he bravely put up the cash to make the first Bears single plus three Tea Set singles. We recorded that album [see later] in just one day and took ‘On Me’ from that session and jazzed it up a bit to make it more dynamic. Neil Richmond was the excellent producer. Punk77 email, October 2024
They were featured at The Roxy Club in Janet Street Porter’s revisit of Punk a year after her first Documentary on London Weekend Television broadcast on 01/01/78.
LWT – YEAR OF THE PUNK (January 1st, 1978).
And then within three months the band nearly split up. In Sounds 19.8.78 The Bears were reported as splitting with Cally And Ron leaving to form The Screaming Ab Dabs and George reportedly as having “no plans for the future, but he is unlikely to continue playing music.”
Cally and Ron in fact formed The Tea Set releasing the Cups And Saucers Ep. Reviewed by NME 9.6.79 they described it as…”having the self indulgence of ATV, the vanity of Public Image and the whackiness of Swell Maps.” It also came with 16 page booklet, PVC sleeve, lyrics to all the songs and pics all for a quid – something The Bears had wanted to do with their first single. Christian also departed and would find fame, and maybe fortune, starting up the legendary Alice In Wonderland psychedelic club at Gossips in Soho.
The next week in Sounds it was revealed The Bears were carrying on. George and John remained but were joined by Tim on bass and Phil Howstan on drums. Phil says on the Bored Teenagers website.
In 1979 we tried to move into a more blues orientated sound and even experimented with some brass but it did not work and we eventually split in 1980.
In November 1978 they released arguably their best single Insane on Good Vibrations records and that was it. Insane was a double A side and rightly so and was written by Mick North. This single is absolutely brilliant… Intelligent, classy, catchy punk. It sounds like those late 60’s acid beat groups like the 13th Floor Elevators and that’s a compliment. Essential.
The Bears suffered from infrequent recordings, lineup changes (we haven’t mentioned them all here!) and personal disasters which is a shame because they were a bit special and should have had more success. Punk wasn’t all about anger and shouting and The Bears showed some real individuality.
In the mid 1980’s a Bears album called Insane came out on Tigerbeat Records. It was recorded at the same time as On Me. Christian Paris recalls it in his book A Pretty Smart Way To Catch A Lobster
We played live in the studio but among the bum notes and feedback there are some great songs.
There are indeed Christian; there are indeed!
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May I add to your page on The Bears? There are errors!
Excellent band!
They had their own brand of punk.