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That got you running didn't it? Nope, Oral Tradition is story telling - history to you and me!

The Life & Times of a Rock & Roll Band (part 1)

Winter 1982 - Mark & Dave play in public for the first time at Fagley Youth Club.

Spring 1985 - Silence debut in the big city playing bottom of the bill to 'Lady October' & Harlequin [Before my time! - Ed.] at the Queens Hall Bradford. Robbie wasn't in the band at this time but he'd met the guys the night before and helped out at the gig. He was very diplomatic when a 4x12 guitar speaker became wedged in his car. He wouldn't be so diplomatic now.

Summer 1985 - Silence as they are today played their first gig at the Wheatsheaf, Bradford. Robbie was shitting bricks (well, pebbles!). Robbie escapes death by inches when en route to the gig a HORSE!! jumps on his car. He played at the Elephant & Castle the same night. The car was a write off, the horse became Pedigree Chum. While the rest of the world watches 'Live Aid', Silence rehearse.

Spring 1986 - Silence breaks the Wheatsheaf attendance record.

Summer 1986 - Silence perform at St. George's Hall in Bradford in aid of the 'Bradford Fire Appeal'. The band steals a beer barrel & has enormous fun rolling it around backstage down all the corridors. Silence are segregated from the other bands because they are not cool.

Winter 1986 - Gavin arrives at a Silence gig. He's been there ever since.

Spring 1988 - Silence play London for the first time, headlining a Bradford bands showcase as the famous Dingwalls venue in Camden Town. Roxy music & The Eurythmics began their careers here.

Summer 1988 - Silence play the Duchess of York in Leeds and are hailed as the best new band to hit Leeds for two years. The band head to London to meet several record companies. After a positive response from MCA to 'The Secret' demo the band celebrates. This leads to Dave & Mark singing on stage at an Australian Police convention??? & eventually being thrown out of their Earls Court hotel at midnight with a police escort. Silence involved in a riot at the Park Hotel Bradford after landlord refuses to pay. Fights were had, arrests made etc.

Autumn 1988 - Silence spread their wings playing glamour spots like Blackpool, Oldham (where an amourous landlady got the hots for Robbie), Liverpool and The Boardwalk in Manchester where an unknown band called Oasis rehearsed. Silence return to London to play the Hype Club - on the journey there Mark's ulcers give out, so after losing lots of blood he's take to hospital. The band play Skiton Town Hall in aid of 'Children In Need' - a ridiculous amount of Police escort Silence to and from the gig. IT WAS ACE!!!

Spring 1989 - Silence support the notorious Macc Lads at a packed Frog & Toad. Robbie had lager thrown over him, Dave had spit dripping from his left eye [but that was Mark's fault - Ed.], but despite this they went down a storm. It was revealed later that the previous support band had been hosplitalised by flying bottles! Silence play the first of serveral support slots to 'The Prowlers' at the Duchess of York in Leeds.

Winter 1989 - An extremely lubricated Silence perform on Radio Aire. A hilarious interview & an acoustic song played live.

Summer 1990 - Silence interviewed on Pennine Radio. Major support slots in the Queens Hall Ballroom, Bradford, first to 'GONG' and the following week 'The Icicle Works'. Both gigs are sold out and Silence play to their biggest crowd.

Summer 1991 - Silence play The Stick of Rock, London.

Winter 1992 - Silence support '999' at the Duchess of York. Mark, Gav & Robbie go on holiday to Egypt and play two gigs in their hotel.

Summer 1992 - Silence support 'Mike Peters of the Alarm' at the Queens Hall. Mark jokes to Mr. Peters about the age of his groupies, only to be told that the lady in question was his mum. Silence are offered the next night's support in Glasgow, but can't make it.

Sring/Summer 1993 - Silence take part in the Britvic/Pepsi-Cola North of England Battle of the Bands competition at the Leeds Warehouse. After several heats and a final resembling a cattle market, Silence are named runners up. [And finishing in front of a band called 'Terrorvision', so I've been told - Ed.][Nope, I've also now been told that this is a lie - Ed.]

Part two of this drivel will appear the next time the gig-leaflet is updated. Bet you can't wait!