Contents
| The Trough | Other Folk | Entrance | 1982 |
| The Music | The Audience | What's Next? | "Fag Ash Blondes" |
| Scottish Pigs | Merchandise | Premier Drums | Carlsbro Amps |
| Suppliers | Fred's Burgers | Email The Pigs! |
The Pigs came to
life in early 1981 although Pete, Gerard and Ray had played together on
occasions before that, having grown up as next-door neighbours in the 1970s. Len
joined the band in 1983 on vocals, moving across from a bass-playing role in a
hard-rock band called "Candle Power".
Candle Power consisted of: Len McGill (bass guitar), Simon Goss (lead guitar), Manfred Keenleyside (drums), Lizzy Goss (vocals), Graham Bound (guitar/vocals).
The Trough is the Pigs' very own music venue on the
The Trough is
operated on a Bring Your Own Refreshments basis so if you are coming up
then please remember to bring your own beer or fizz!
A capacity crowd is about 130 persons and this is regularly achieved. A normal
evening consists of an 1145 p.m. start with two one-hour sets being performed;
most times these days the set just continues from start to end over two hours
later! The venue is sometimes rented by other persons and organisations and has
hosted Jeff Rich of Status Quo, Hank Wangford, (both sponsored by the Shackleton
Fund) and Bob Pearce – a
blues guitarist from Southampton, UK, who has visited the FI in 1998, 1999, 2000
and 2002 (sponsored by the Pigs). Bob
has become a great friend and mentor to the Band and is always keen to meet folk
with
Other folk sometimes
have performed, and do perform, guest spots at the Trough: Jock and Liz, Kevin (where’s my
shed) George, Jay Moffatt, The Avocado Monkeys (with Jay Moffatt), Ant Tuson, RIP (a band from Saint Helena who
were based at the Military base at Mount Pleasant), Martin Plato (once of RIP),
Martin Plato, Gerard and Kevin performing as "Sluts With Nuts (SWN)" Mathew McMullen, and a number of other visitors
with musical capabilities, e.g. ENT
specialists visiting the local hospital. We are grateful to Tim
Cotter who has been playing the bass since Ray injured
Controlling
entrance
is
a key function and most times this is down to Phyl and Rosie. The job's a
tough one, especially when the tight-fisted and the ugly buggers want to get
in for
free. As Phyl says, “It’s £4
or nothing, my friend”. Gerard can
be much ruder, so we tend to keep him away from the door!
On Trough nights the essential burgers, chips, curries etc are provided at best prices just outside the door by Fred (see photo "Right! said Fred"). Needless to say the Pigs partake of the odd morsel after the gig! After all they are at The Trough!
During the
1982 Falklands Conflict the Pigs’ activities were severely curtailed for obvious reasons! Following
several weeks of Argentine occupation it became apparent that most of the
band’s gear was still locked up in the Town Hall, then
used by the Argentine Forces. Charles Keenleyside and Pete King had to make
representations to the Argentine authorities and were finally permitted to
retrieve the gear, although it remained dormant until late 1982 when it once
again became safe to provide a regular musical service!
The
music performed
consists mainly of cover versions of songs, adapted to the Pigs own style which
is a bluesy-rock feel; a growing number of original songs feature on the
play list however. The Pigs do not play from music and prefer the freedom to work
on a basic structure leaving room for improvisation as the mood takes them
. They love to play live and include audience participation in a number
of songs such as "We will rock you" by Queen, which starts, at the end
of "Sweet Home Alabama", with a drum
solo by Pete and at the end transposes into a “Hey Jude” chorus, and then
into another Queen song "Crazy Little thing Called Love". This is
followed by "Another One Bites the Dust". Other
"covers" which are popular with
We’ve Got to Get
Out of This Place - The Animals
Keep on Rockin’ Me Baby - Steve Miller Band
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
’65 Chevy - Bob Pearce
Free Bird -
2468 Motorway
Other
bands/musicians covered include: Van Morrison, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric
Clapton, and Santana. (Please note that we can play “Mustang Sally” but
won’t unless you can persuade Gerard!)
The audience
consists mainly of "The Trough Crowd" but the Pigs also gig
occasionally at the
Military base at
The
Pigs have a busy schedule ahead of them playing at the Trough. The
Blues etc tour was completed in
February and there are plans to bring musicians to
the
Gerard and Ray, with a little help from some friends, have produced a bluesy CD which is now available for £8 plus P&P. If you wish to order a copy feel free to email Gerard direct on gpj@horizon.co.fk A full band CD is also planned for the future.
There
is another band of "Fighting
Pigs" in
Band T-shirts and Polo Shirts are available in black with gold lettering on the
left breast. E-mail prrking@horizon.co.fk for details
The Pigs are agents for Premier drums and accessories in the Falklands. Contact Pete for details of these great drums and for best prices.
The Pigs are also agents for Carlsbro amps . Again contact Pete for details and prices.
Suppliers to the Pigs other than Premier and Carlsbro! Companies in the UK who are and have been regular suppliers to the Pigs are:
Kingfisher Music Co, in Fleet Hampshire
M&M Music in Southampton
Fret Music in Southampton
Holmes Music in Swindon
Folk/music link: This link may be of interest to folkies and others interested in music generally.
CONTACTING THE PIGS - The Pigs are always keen to hear from friends, acquaintances and new people from all over the planet, and indeed from pigs in space, so if you want to make contact please use the individual e-mail addresses at the bottom of the Pig Vine, clink on the link at the top of the page, or just hit prrking@horizon.co.fk.
