Two snippets of audio recordings taken from the local TV news programme in 1982 and 1983, mentioning performances of Black And White In Colour by the Arts Opportunity Theatre.

When we was fab!

'Black And White In Colour' mentioned on TV audio clips

25th Anniversary.  (25/11/1990)
TMT's first foray into the recording studio at PIJ, Kings Square, Bristol. Dave McDonald was at the controls. We were teaching him what not to do and how not to do it.
This was the end result of the first day. We went back in the following day and redid the vocals and lead guitar.
Steve Hawkins - lead vocals and guitar
Wendy Giles - backing vocals
Martin Giles - drums
Mike Taysum - guitar
Rob Vaughan - bass


TMT - The Dustman (Studio Day 1 Mix)

Wonderful historic extracts of 9 tracks from the first public performance of Freedom City by the Arts Opportunity Theatre at St. Barnabas School Hall, St. Pauls, Bristol, 21 August 1981.

Big thanks to the bass player, Rob Pearce, for keeping the tape safe all these years and now making it available.

01 Freedom City
02 African Opportunity
03 Babylon The Fire (extended for dance routine)
04 Flower Shop
05 Slip Slide
06 Twelve Tribes Of Israel
07 Over The Hill
08 Rasta Man
09 Loving You

If you are interested in getting the complete recording, send me a message via Soundcloud or email me at michael.taysum@btinternet.com, and I will burn up a CD for you. (it's free)

The Arts Opportunity Theatre Company was mainly funded by the Manpower Services Commission.

Freedom City (AOT) Sampler

"Is it this Mike feeding back?"

The first song we ever played live (except for the sound check).
Recorded off the soundboard at the Bristol Bridge Inn, 12 May 1991.

Steve Hawkins - vocals and guitar
Wendy Gunter - vocals
Mike Taysum - guitar
Rob Vaughan - bass
Martin Giles - drums


TMT - Running Man (Live at the Bridge)

Recorded in rehearsal at Antenna Studio, Redland, Bristol, 15/03/1987.
Clive (surname unknown) - vocals
Mike Taysum - guitar
Richard Magee - guitar
Rob Vaughan - bass
Julian Hobbs - drums

M?sterons

Johnny Jack - M?sterons

Recorded in rehearsal at Antenna Studio, Redland, Bristol, 05/04/1987.
Rob Vaughan - vocals and bass
Mike Taysum - guitar
Richard Magee - guitar
Julian Hobbs - drums

Where Are All The People Going? - M?sterons

Recorded in rehearsal at PIJ Studio, 21/04/1991. 
Edited version because I made a complete mess of the guitar solo.
Wendy Gunter - vocals
Martin Giles - drums
Steve Hawkins - vocals and guitar
Mike Taysum - guitar
Rob Vaughan - bass

Initially (part 3)

Lost Love (07 edit) - TMT

My first band 'The Photos', recorded in rehearsal in Bristol, 28 February 1978. We did three gigs. The first went quite well. We got kicked off stage during the second, and we cleared the dance floor by the end of the second song of the third gig.  
Our two singers, Simon and Nigel went on to become film producers and directors. They collaborated on Funny Man (1994). The lead actress, Pauline Black, described it as probably the worst film ever made.
Rob went on to play drums with the Bristol bands 'Animal Magic' and 'Birth Of Sharon'.

Simon Sprackling - lead vocals and lyrics
Nigel Odell - didn't sing on this song
Rob Boswell - drums
Mike Taysum - guitar and backing vocals
Brother John - bass

Produced by a stripey muppet.

The Photos

The Photos - Ultra Gross

Glorious jam session. The tune eventually had lyrics added and became 'Hit The Road'.
Rob Vaughan - bass. Mike Taysum - guitar. Julian Hobbs - drums. Robby Cummings - guitar.
Recorded in rehearsal at Antenna Studio, Redland, Bristol - 26/06/1988.

Getting In A Panic

Funk It - Early Panic

Panic Zero - You Fool
Recorded live at the Bristol Bridge Inn, December 1989. Audio taken from a video shot by Jonathan Vaughan.
This was the last tune we played live as Panic Zero. I was playing the music from Richard Magee's "It'll Do For A Start". Don't know where the lyrics came from.
Steve Hawkins - Vocals
Rob Vaughan - Bass
Mike Taysum - Guitar
Robby Cummings - Guitar
Julian Hobbs - Drums

Bridge

Panic Zero - You Fool (live at the Bridge)

AOT folks in 1982 talking about Bristol's involvement in the slave trade.
Features a well-known statue.
(Audio clip taken from the soundtrack of the film "Live A Life")

Live A Life Soundtrack

AOT Talk 4

My personal recordings from 1978 to the present with various bands (The Photos,  M?sterons, Panic Zero,  The Mighty Tojacks) plus a few solo efforts. 

Ex-band-mates are welcome to have digital copies of all the old rehearsal, live and studio recordings (1978-1991). Leave me a message and I'll burn up CDs or DVDs for you.
I can also let former Arts Opportunity Theatre staff have recordings of the 'Freedom City' and 'Black & White in Colour' shows. 

Check out the Mikey's Throwbacks and Arts Opportunity Theatre web sites.

Mikey's Throwbacks

Popular tracks