Party Day were an English goth/indie rock band formed in 1981 in Wombwell near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, originally a four-piece consisting of guitarists Martin Steele, Greg Firth, bassist Carl Firth and drummer, Mick Baker.Their sound was described as being "hard knuckleduster goth with post-punk overtones"
The band were formerly called 'Further Experiments' (1979–81) but refocussed as Party Day. They released their first single, "Row the Boat Ashore" c/w "Poison" on their own label, Party Day Records in 1983.
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Links to Peel[]
Steve Drury, who was the photographer for the band on the Party day website described the group's connection to John Peel:
That elusive Radio One Session for John Peel was the recognition that bands desired, and then sometimes collapsed like a black hole afterwards. This seal of approval from The Master was essential, not only did it give you credibility, it also served as a trampoline to greater things (if you were lucky).
So what happened? Why no session? Even though Peel was enthusiastic about the band and also played the test pressing of ‘The Spider’ single on his
Show a week before its release, we just didn’t get that final . . . ‘nod’. With hindsight it's still guess work worthy of Sherlock, but I believe it was a combination of several factors;
- In 1983 John Walters was back as producer and it was JW that went to the gigs, to find the new bands for the show. I had tried several times to get him to any of our London dates; the Clarendon, the Embassy even the Greyhound, but without success (date clashes?)
- I knew Peel already liked our music and he’d recognised something wonderful within it (from our chats), but it seems that Peel’s taste for seeking out the unusual in non-specific music areas, had played against PD. Later 1984 would be remembered as Peel’s fascination for non-electric cowpunk music.
- As the second single came out, it coincided with not only Peel’s show being reduced to 3 evenings a week (so, less sessions) but also Richard Skinner left his Radio One early evening show for daytime diatribe (that was a lot of wasted effort on my part, trying to secure a session).
Only a matter of time. The momentum was gaining; More noticeable gig dates for the band were on the horizon (including London), a feature or two in the weeklies were in the offing, agents were ringing back. So things were going well . . . but events moved on; I left in Sept ‘84 and Martin became unwell and eventually left the band a few months later. The band needed to re-organise.-
Funnily enough, here’s a familiar story from years earlier, Peel was the first to play the Def Leppard EP nationally (1979) which began the stampede to their recognition, but they didn't fit the 'Session' criteria, and therefore probably didn't need one. I knew Joe at the time, and had he been asked to do a Peel Session, he would have sold all the band's mothers without hesitation to do it. Peel was that vital to numerous generations and genres. Long Live Peel. Forever missed. [1]
Shows Played[]
- 24 August 1983: Row The Boat Ashore (7") Part Day
- 27 August 1983 (BFBS): Row The Boat Ashore (7") Party Day
- 1984
- 20 February 1984: Rabbit Pie (v/a album - Giraffe In Flames) Aaz
- 06 March 1984: Rabbit Pie (v/a LP - Giraffe In Flames) AAZ
- 07 April 1984 (BFBS): The Spider (7" - The Spider) Party Day
- 15 May 1984: The Spider (single) Party Day
- 23 May 1984 (BFBS): The Spider (7") FX
- 03 April 1984: The Spider (7") Party Day
- 02 July 1984: The Spider (7") Party Day