Dateline 1994. A Cassette Tape drops on the doormat of Ex-Holiday Patrons vocalist Philly D. It´s got some songs on it, Kinks, Rolling Stones, a bit of Soul, some Squeeze, Elvis Costello etc. There´s a bit of paper wrapped around it. With a message. “First Rehearsal, Tuesday Night, The Sporting Club”. The Passion Killers were born.
The early days saw Phil Dunn (Vocals), Keith Cadwallender (Drums), Kev Taylor (Guitars) and Nige Spaven (Bass) gig relentlessly for over two years, building up a solid reputation as well as a cracking set of covers ranging from Motown, Soul, New Wave (A stonking version of Elvis Costello´s “Pump It Up” ripped the wallpaper from many Hartlepool pub walls!) and a selection of tracks from the then-current film, The Commitments. Within 60 or 70 gigs, the lads had begun to attract the attention of agents and began playing better and bigger venues including a sell-out gig the Hartlepool Town Hall.
As the Summer of 1996 approached, the boys found themselves being asked more and more times to play at peoples weddings, 40ths, and various other celebrations and took on a hectic schedule including several Two-Gig Days and some Hunt Balls in Northumberland which gave them a good grounding for the future. Sadly Kev had to leave the band due to pressures of work but he was replaced by Graeme Aves who survives to this day some 12 years later. The addition of Keyboard wizard Brendan Eyre saw the lads take on even better gigs, and buy some better gear including the infamous White Transit Van, well, every band´s gotta have one!
Over the following decade the band have gone from strength to strength. Sadly, there have been casualties on the way as firstly Drummer Cad left for pastures new, followed later by original Bassist Nige. Luckily, Great Ayton´s finest Lord John Drennan stepped in on the Drums some 8 years ago, and is still in the band today. Bass Duties were taken over by The Headland Funk-Meister Gav Bell, and latterly by Faron “Faz” Hartley.
In 2005, the boys were finally rewarded for the years of hard graft with, of all things, a Top 30 hit in the shape of “Two Little Boys”, Hartlepool United´s Play-Off Final song which reached Number 24 in the National Charts that year.
Anyway, enough for now. Suffice to say, the lads are still going strong and playing at all of the major Wedding Venues and Function Rooms in the area, as well as the odd public gig for your delight!
Catch Us If You Can!