Wednesday, May 27, 2009

NINE STEPS TO UGLY---------A thing of beauty from Slough

According to Eddie Cochran there are three steps to heaven, a fact that through paranormal channels he could possibly confirm for us. Now if Eddie was the curious type he would have continued climbing the metaphorical stairs until he reached ugly which, according to this band from Slough, exists on a higher plane than heaven. Despite their arcane and clumsy name Nine Steps To Ugly relish constructing a straightforward pop tune.

So who was Eddie Lopez? He was the Labour candidate for Slough in the 1987 and 1992 elections, finishing runner up on both occasions to the Conservatives. If you're anticipating a song in Redskins fire and brimstone mould you'll be disappointed. And if I have to explain to you who Bobby Charlton is I'll be disappointed. Bobby Charlton's Haircut, the second song on this flexi is, I think, obscurely referenced by the unusual placing of the apostrophe in the title of the tune as the song itself pays no tribute to Mr.Charlton's disingenuous wispy fibre formation.

Nine Steps To Ugly was made up of Tracey Owen on vocals, Jim Turner on guitar, Cameron Smillie on guitar, Nick Elson on bass and Dave Best on drums and they played their final gig in June 1989 supported by a Thousand Yard Stare.

nine steps to ugly eddie lopez lives in slough.mp3 -

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I have my copy of Eddie Lopez Lives In Slough in front of me now! Sadly, I lost the LP of local bands that also featured the song. Happily, I have recently discovered a stash of diaries going back to 1988 and I am happy to report that I saw Nine Steps To Ugly perform at The Old Trout in Windsor on Saturday, 3 September 1988, supported by local luminaries B-Movies In Black & White and Completely Hatstands. Ah, them's were the times, eh?