| Dog Days | |
| |
| Simon's 2nd Band | |
|---|---|
| Released | Nothing |
| Active Years: | 1977-1978 |
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Concerts | 1 |
| Duran Members | Simon Le Bon |
| Dog Days | |
"Dog Days" was a punk band formed in 1977, featuring vocals by Simon Le Bon. This was Simon's second band after Bolleaux. Bolleaux never played any shows, and simply rehearsed in a pub in Acton, London.
Band Name[]
The name initially came from a Webster play called The Duchess of Malfi, with the lines "These are the Dog Days, where nothing really happens". Simon says this line is about the long, hot, summer days - where everything is hot and sweaty, and nobody can really be bothered to do anything. Those lazy days are 'the Dog Days'.
Band History[]
Simon enrolled at Harrow Technical College, perhaps in September 1976(?), just as the Punk movement was in full swing. He had seen punk bands before, and really wanted to be one. He started to cut holes in his t-shirts and covered the holes with black zips. He wore a safety pin in his left ear. In 1977, "Dog Days" was formed by Simon and Alan St Clair - a guitar player - who both attended Harrow Technical College of Art (north west London) and lived near to one another in Pinner. They had previously played together in a band called Bolleaux. At some stage during 1977 he got together with Olly Behzadi; a friend from Harrow Tech Art Collage, who was a drummer. Another friend Pete Johns; who played bass guitar, even though he really wanted to be a lead guitar player. They didn't need two lead guitar players so he went out and bought a bass. Alan Sinclair remained on lead guitar, with Carol Isaacs on keyboards. Carol was a classically-trained piano player who answered their ad for a ‘new wave’ keyboard player in Melody Maker. Still at school she saved up for a Vox electric piano from her Saturday job in a ladies underwear store.[1] Their manager was David Miles; a friend whom they had met "down the pub".
The band rehearsed for several months in bedrooms, wrote and even recorded a few songs. They recorded a demo in 4 hours, at a studio in Acton (west London), probably featuring their three main songs:
1. Computer Commuter
2. Permissive Society
3. Only Room for Robots [2] (@ 9:44)
Show at Harrow Tech[]
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Simon: "We were a proper punk band – this was 1977-78 – and we played our one and only show at Harrow Tech, where I was an art student, supporting a power funk band called Supercharge; who wouldn’t let us set up on the stage. We were given 30mins, but we had to play on the gym floor! We went past our set time - and they pulled the plug on us, but we carried on playing anyway, without amplification. All you could hear was the drums and a little bit of shouting from me. As we walked off, we heard the MC say “Thank you Dogshit!”. But you had to start somewhere. When we left that show, we took half of the [student] audience with us down to The Victory; a pub in Pinner, for a drink."
Breakup[]
Simon decided to enrol on a drama course in Birmingham. The band members went their separate ways, with Carol joining mod band The Small Hours. Pete and Al formed a new band called Voxpop, playing many London gigs before Al went on to join Spear of Destiny. Olivier joined Academy who were signed to RCA records. Simon joined a band in Birmingham called Duran Duran.
Band Members[]
Alan Sinclair[]
Recently, Alan Sinclair has been making synth-based sonic dread since 2009 under the name Repeated Viewing. The UK-based musician/composer creates moody records that look and feel like some lost soundtrack to a grimy, woozy exploitation flick your mom would never let you rent. Movies like Ms. 45, Nightmare, The Beyond, and Death Wish 2 would pair quite nicely with Repeated Viewing albums like Street Force, The Three Sisters, Frozen Existence, and Six Dead Orchids in an Eagle’s Talons. Sinclair immerses the listener in the music worlds he creates. (Source).
Olivier Bahzadi[]
Olivier worked as head of A&R at Sony Records for eight years. He currently works as Head of Digital Production for Sassy Films where his clients include Universal Records. He also acts as Social Media Consultant and Content Creation manager for Gibson guitars.
Olivier: "Started life in music as a drummer, and soon realised that in order to have “input” with my band I had to learn to play a ‘real’ instrument! Got some skills – guitar, bass, keys (2 fingers) and my band got signed to RCA. Made records, toured and had a laugh! Band got dropped! Many projects later I decided that jumping the fence to A&R was the way for me. Starting at an Indie, working for no wages, worked at another indie and received small wages... got headhunted to work at Columbia Records. Got paid!! In the 10 yrs at Columbia/Sony Music I had climbed the greasy pole to become Head Of A&R for the Int’l Company. After Columbia Records I went into TV (MTV, C4, BBC) consulting and on screen on music shows. I now die to grey hair and bagginess Direct/produce filmed content, mostly music & festivals. I recently Exec’d a Frank Turner Performance, Q&A and film showing live from The Vue cinema, Leicester SQ, London and satellite linked to 40 cinemas. I compose music for the filmed content, and work with mentoring artists!" (Source).
Carol Isaacs[]
Carol is a keyboard player and accordionist in the pop and world music fields, recording and touring worldwide with many international artists including Sinéad O’Connor (Ireland), The Indigo Girls (US), Ahmed Mukhtar (Iraq). Also known as cartoonist The Surreal McCoy (published in New Yorker, Spectator, Private Eye) she drew The Wolf of Baghdad graphic memoir based on her own family’s recollections (Link).
Personnel[]
Dog Days are:
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- Alan Sinclair - guitar
- Olivier Behzadi - drums
- Pete Johns - bass
- Carol Isaacs - keyboard
- David Miles - manager