Walking Seeds (sometimes known as the Walkingseeds) were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1986 in Liverpool. Frank Martin (vocals), Bob Parker (guitar), and John Neesam (drums) had previously worked together as the Mel-O-Tones, releasing a mini-LP and an EP on Liverpool label Probe Plus. They met while students at Liverpool art school 1982-84, as was Martin Dempsey (ex-Yachts), also in the Mel-O-Tones. After appearing as The Corinthians for a few months, during which time they recorded a seven-track demo, they decided on a change of name to Walkingseeds, and debuted in June 1986 with the Know Too Much EP, still on Probe Plus. The band's sound was characterised as "psychedelic grunge". Neesam departed and the others drafted in former Marshmallow Overcoat guitarist Barry Sutton and drummer Tony Mogan. The band recorded several albums and singles, before disbanding sometime in the 90's.
Peel played tracks from the band when they were called the Mel-O-Tones, due to mainly them being signed to Probe Plus, a label that one of his favourites, Half Man Half Biscuit were signed to. The band also did a session for Peel in 1985. Later when the band changed their name to the Walking Seeds, Peel continued his interest in them, inviting them to do four sessions for his shows between 1987 and 1990.
Sessions[]
THE MEL-O-TONES John Peel 13th August 1985
Mel-O-Tones
1. Recorded: 1985-08-13. Broadcast: 27 August 1985. Repeated: 11 September 1985
Machines / Weekend In Suburbia / Wigs On The Green / Posh
31 March 1985 (BFBS): 'Burton Buzz (12"-Bomb Sutra EP)' (Probe Plus) (JP: 'I think the band and their followers see that as being psychedelic music, although it's not psychedelic music as I understand it, but then again, I am vey old.')
01 April 1985: 'I Walked With A Bugs Bunny Bendy Toy (12")' (Probe Plus)
03 July 1985: I Walked With A Bugs Bunny Bendy Toy (12" - Bomb Sutra) Probe Plus
08 April 1987: Marc Chapman (12" - Marc Chapman / Blathering-Out) Moral Burro
28 April 1987: Marc Chapman (12" - Marc Chapman / Blathering-Out) Moral Burro
08 May 1987 (BFBS): 'Marc Chapman (12")' (Moral Burro) (JP: 'Almost too melodic for me. What I'm looking for is something really rowdy and distasteful, and there's not much of that about at the moment. You look at the charts (listening to them is even worse) and there's nothing in there, as I probably said to you before, that I as a parent should disapprove of, and that seems to me to be a very bad situation indeed.')
Walkingseeds- Obeying The Law.
06 October 1987: Obeying The Law (LP - Skullfuck) Probe Plus
