Samaria Gardens
Samaria Gardens started life as a 3 piece called ONANISM, consisting of John Taylor on Vox, Craig Steward on Guitar, Neil Butterwick on Bass, they were later joined by Suzanne Frost on backing Vox, to make a nice rounded 4 piece and were ably assisted by a primitive Drum Machine - who was, unfortunately, nameless.
Some of the early bedroom demos from 1985 survive to this day - maybe they'll see light sometime, but then again having listened to them a while back, probably not.
The band went through several changes in line up, notably Neil Butterwick was replaced on Bass guitar by Dean Hawkins, we'd had enough of the Drum Machine by now, so in Autumn '85 we added the services of Rix Jordan. Suzanne had grown tired of the minor backing vox role and so departed. And in came Emma Kraus on Saxophone, and Andrea Murphy on Keyboards. The band now looked like it meant business, and with a handful of songs in the back pocket, went looking for gigs.
Sadly, SAMARIA GARDENS only managed to perform live on 3 occasions. Notably at the Albert (now the defunct & closed Courtyard) on Albert Road, but the pinnacle must have been the Socialist Youth Benefit Gig at the Old St. Mary's Center - which stood where the Registry Office is now, next door to The Empire. On the bill that night were a host of bands including BILLY OBLIVION & the DNA COWBOYS, The Start, Andy X & DICK STIFF & the ERECTIONS, to name but four. It was a fantastic night, and SAMARIA GARDENS played to an appreciative audience; some were even dancing! The set consisted of mainly original tunes, but with a couple of Wasted Youth covers thrown in the mix.
After the St. Mary's gig, SAMARIA GARDENS once again went through a metamorphosis, with the departures of Sax player Emma & Bassist Dean, who held up his hands and admitted that he wasn't into the gigging scene at all. In came Shaun Burgess, one time Bassist with THE CONSTRICTORS. A very talented Musician & Song Writer, it became obvious that Shaun should take up the mantle of Lead Vocals & John went back to his first instrument; The Bass.
Sadly, this was the final line-up of SAMARIA GARDENS; they would gig no more, but before the inevitable demise, they managed a single studio recording - which hopefully you'll be able to hear on the Jukebox of this site.
"Heart of Ice" was a Burgess penned tune, originally written for THE CONSTRICTORS, but Shaun envisaged a more melodic construct, compared to the Anarchic Punk of his former band. The song features Shaun on lead & backing Vox, John Taylor on Bass, Andrea Murphy on Keyboards, Craig Steward on Guitars and Rix Jordan on Drums.
Not long after the recording session, the band folded; John & Craig joining with Michael Baines to try & resurrect the recently defunct THAT'S A RENAULT.
Where are they now? As far I know, Craig lives just outside of Leeds & is still playing on & off. Neil Butterwick went off to Sheffield, where he was DJ-ing in a Nightclub. Emma now lives down South near Ascot. Andrea, I believe is still resident in the Middlesbrough area. Rix continued to drum for several bands later on, notably SPIT THE PIPS in the early 90's.
Sadly Shaun died in 1999, but he continued to create & record music under the names "THE MIGHT FLY" & "HAVEN"
John went on to Record with Bainsy, in a (still) unnamed band, unfortunately they never gigged. John then left to go to Music College in Huddersfield to study Double Bass & has been in several Bands since, notably NO BATTERIES REQUIRED (a 10 Piece 80's Covers band), IN-VOGUE (a 7 piece Originals & Covers band) & latterly INSANITY HEROES; More of them later.
Write up by John Taylor for North East Live
Back to Step Back in Time
The band went through several changes in line up, notably Neil Butterwick was replaced on Bass guitar by Dean Hawkins, we'd had enough of the Drum Machine by now, so in Autumn '85 we added the services of Rix Jordan. Suzanne had grown tired of the minor backing vox role and so departed. And in came Emma Kraus on Saxophone, and Andrea Murphy on Keyboards. The band now looked like it meant business, and with a handful of songs in the back pocket, went looking for gigs.
Sadly, SAMARIA GARDENS only managed to perform live on 3 occasions. Notably at the Albert (now the defunct & closed Courtyard) on Albert Road, but the pinnacle must have been the Socialist Youth Benefit Gig at the Old St. Mary's Center - which stood where the Registry Office is now, next door to The Empire. On the bill that night were a host of bands including BILLY OBLIVION & the DNA COWBOYS, The Start, Andy X & DICK STIFF & the ERECTIONS, to name but four. It was a fantastic night, and SAMARIA GARDENS played to an appreciative audience; some were even dancing! The set consisted of mainly original tunes, but with a couple of Wasted Youth covers thrown in the mix.
After the St. Mary's gig, SAMARIA GARDENS once again went through a metamorphosis, with the departures of Sax player Emma & Bassist Dean, who held up his hands and admitted that he wasn't into the gigging scene at all. In came Shaun Burgess, one time Bassist with THE CONSTRICTORS. A very talented Musician & Song Writer, it became obvious that Shaun should take up the mantle of Lead Vocals & John went back to his first instrument; The Bass.
Sadly, this was the final line-up of SAMARIA GARDENS; they would gig no more, but before the inevitable demise, they managed a single studio recording - which hopefully you'll be able to hear on the Jukebox of this site.
"Heart of Ice" was a Burgess penned tune, originally written for THE CONSTRICTORS, but Shaun envisaged a more melodic construct, compared to the Anarchic Punk of his former band. The song features Shaun on lead & backing Vox, John Taylor on Bass, Andrea Murphy on Keyboards, Craig Steward on Guitars and Rix Jordan on Drums.
Not long after the recording session, the band folded; John & Craig joining with Michael Baines to try & resurrect the recently defunct THAT'S A RENAULT.
Where are they now? As far I know, Craig lives just outside of Leeds & is still playing on & off. Neil Butterwick went off to Sheffield, where he was DJ-ing in a Nightclub. Emma now lives down South near Ascot. Andrea, I believe is still resident in the Middlesbrough area. Rix continued to drum for several bands later on, notably SPIT THE PIPS in the early 90's. Sadly Shaun died in 1999, but he continued to create & record music under the names "THE MIGHT FLY" & "HAVEN"
John went on to Record with Bainsy, in a (still) unnamed band, unfortunately they never gigged. John then left to go to Music College in Huddersfield to study Double Bass & has been in several Bands since, notably NO BATTERIES REQUIRED (a 10 Piece 80's Covers band), IN-VOGUE (a 7 piece Originals & Covers band) & latterly INSANITY HEROES; More of them later.