Man on The Verge of A Nervous Breakdown - by Roger Shepherd

There were comings and goings of band members in Pell Mell’s 17-year life span from their 1980 inception in pre hipster Portland, Oregon. The Pell Mell guys were regular unassuming but friendly types who just liked playing their music and occasionally making records and for whom any sort of audience was an astonishing bonus. A new breed.

I saw this band a few times back in pre 1981 times and the recollections are of being awestruck in a misty Old Testament way. The band didn’t so much rock as roll on primal rhythms and connect with the deeper notes. Singer and guitarist Steve Cogle had the presence of a prophet and a voice that predated religion. 

The Bats have pedigree with three out of the four members coming from South Island rock aristocracy in the form of Robert Scott from The Clean (vocals and rhythm guitar), Malcolm Grant of The Builders (drums) and Paul Kean, ex of Toy Love (bass). Newbie fourth member Kaye Woodward brought understated and much needed style and has developed into a fine lead guitarist.

Straitjacket Fits formed in early 1986 when Shayne Carter and John Collie linked up with bassist David Woods (ex Working with Walt). Carter and Collie were still recovering from their friend, and Doublehappys bandmate, Wayne Elsey’s tragic 1985 death but felt compelled to form another band and start again.