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On this day, 1 April 1979, punk band The Members played Cardiff’s Top Rank as support to rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods.
The Members were formed by lyricist Nicky Tesco (Nick Lightowlers) in 1976, through an invited audition at a recording studio at Tooley Street, London. The original personnel, with Tesco (vocals), was Gary Baker (guitar), and Steve Morley (bass guitar), initially with Steve Maycock then Clive Parker (drums). Morley and Parker were later replaced by Chris Payne and Adrian Lillywhite.
In 1978/79, the Members continued to play the London pub and club circuit, became a feature in the music press and were championed by John Peel.
They signed to Virgin Records in 1978, for which label they recorded "The Sound of the Suburbs", again produced by Steve Lillywhite. This became The Members' biggest chart success and their best-known song in the UK.
However, the follow-up single, "Offshore Banking Business", a reggae tune written by Carroll, based on his experiences working in offshore banking at the private bank Coutts, did not achieve the same popularity. A version of "Offshore Banking Business" was recorded for the early 1980s film Urgh! A Music War, produced by Michael White, and distributed by Filmways and Lorimar Productions.
Band
Nicky Tesco – lead vocals
Gary Baker – guitars
Adrian Lillywhite – drums, percussion
JC Carroll – guitars, backing vocals
Chris Payne – bass, backing vocals
