if you lived in Brighton or Hove in the late 70s when Punk and New Wave was the only visible and vibrant example of "culture"around, then you couldn't miss THE PIRANHAS. They rehearsed as did most local bands in the basement of The Resources Centre (known as The Crypt) and they played all the local pubs in the area.
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| Johnny Helmer |
They were the Brighton band most likely to succeed and did in fact break into the charts with ska song TOM HARK. Reggae and Ska were a major influence on the town's music scene at the time while Punk was hitting all the headlines.
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| The Piranhas |
The Piranhas even got to tour with the Jam and a picture here shows music mogul Pete Waterman back-stage with song-smith "Boring" Bob Grover at the Demontford Hall if I remember correctly THE DOLLY MIXTURES a three girl outfit were also on the bill that night.
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| Dick the drummer |
Apart from Tom Hark the song that stands out in my memory was "I don't like my body …. it looks like an advert on an Oxfam poster, sex is its hobby, drop it in the slot like bread in a toaster …. " or something like that.
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| Reg the bass player |
I guess that Boring Bob must have been the quiet genius behind the lyrics although it IS only a guess and Johnny Helmer stood out as a perfectly effective and sweet faced front-man. The two characters in this gang who stood out for me as personalities were Dick the irrepressible drummer and Reg the bass player who along with Johnny, actually had a bit of time to say hello and have a giggle.
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| Bob Grover with Pete Waterman and friend at the Demontford Hall Leicester |
All of the band were of course local heroes for a good length of time and were I know thoroughly nice chaps.
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| "Boring" Bob Grover |
Heres's to you all guys ! You cheered up the 70s for me.
