Last month, author of new book International Velvet : How Wales Conquered the 90s Charts Neil Collins went on a walk around Liverpool with God Is In The TV’s features editor Cath Holland. They explored the links between the city and Welsh music then and now, before heading off to Oswestry for an in-conversation event to discuss the book.
Read part one of this article.
We found ourselves on Mathew Street, at The Cavern….
Adorning the walls in the legendary venue are Badfinger. Named after Bad Finger Boogie (the working title of With a Little Help from My Friends), the Swansea icons were mentored by Paul McCartney and were the first group signed to The Beatles’ Apple label in 1968
From there, we ventured to Cumberland Street where The Lomax was located. Closed since 2015, the club hosted some of the biggest British bands of the 90s including Oasis, Radiohead, The Verve, Placebo and Muse. It also helped carve out the early careers of Welsh bands including the Super Furries, Catatonia and Stereophonics. Sadly, the site will now become a dozen new apartments.
The next stop on our itinerary was Probe Records on School Lane. Established in 1971 and located a stone’s throw from Eric’s Club, it became a focal point of Liverpool’s post-punk and new wave scenes featuring the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes and The Mighty Wah. Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns even worked behind its counter and was renowned for his curmudgeonly responses to customers’ record choices.
In the 1980s, Probe joined a cooperative distribution network called The Cartel alongside indie labels like Rough Trade. By pooling their resources, they were better able to compete with the larger distribution operations of the major record labels and gain access to larger shop chains. Retailers throughout the North-West like HMV, Virgin Records and Our Price bought most of their stock from Probe. In 1981, co-owner of the Probe Records shop (with wife Annie Davies) Geoff Davies established Probe Plus as a label that specialised in ‘music to drive you to drink.’ True to form, Probe Plus released two albums from Bangor post-punk noiseniks, Fflaps (Amhersain in 1988 and Malltod in 1990). Another Probe Plus band, The Vernons featured Simon James and Andy Frizell, who contributed trombone, sax, flute and horns to the Super Furries’ albums Fuzzy Logic and Radiator.
A short walk away from Probe Records was the original location of Parr Street Studios where Betws-y-Coed band Melys recorded their 1998 debut album, Rumours and Curses. While the first half of its title denoted tittle-tattle in a tiny Welsh village, the second half referred to mysterious occurrences at Parr Street where tape machines started self-operating and crashes were heard from empty rooms. Sharing the studio was Cerys Matthews, who was recording The Ballad of Tom Jones with Space (whose singer is coincidentally named Tommy Scott – the original stage name of Tom Jones!)
Before we set off for Oswestry, on a visit to the Dig Vinyl record shop on Bold Street I found a rare vinyl copy of the Manics’ 1991 single, Stay Beautiful. There was still time for a quick vanity stop across the road to see if International Velvet was in the brilliant independent feminist bookshop, News from Nowhere. It was nowhere to be seen (must’ve been sold out), but I did spot Huw Stephens’ brilliant new book Wales 100 Records.
Then it was time leave for the beautiful Wynnstay Hotel where legend has it that the 60ft Dolls wreaked havoc in the mid-90s after a BBC Radio Wales session. The evening was arranged by the lovely people at Siop Cwlwm, and it was the first International Velvet event held just over the border in England.
For over an hour, we chatted all things Cool Cymru and how it still inspires the vibrant scene today. Cath also shared stories of Wales’ links with Liverpool before jumping on the train back to Birkenhead, and then I was joined by local musician, Neil Phillips.
I was made redundant in March following the indefinite closure of St David’s Hall, so the wonderful reaction to the book has been an amazing diversion. From North to South Wales, I would like to extend my huge thanks to all the guests and organisers who have made the tour so special.
The next International Velvet event is at Wrexham Library on Wednesday 6 November at 6.30pm with special guest, Ash Cooke of Derrero. Entry is FREE, but please reserve your spot by calling 01978 292090.
For interviews and podcasts or to arrange an International Event, please contact @neilcollins86 or the Welsh Music Podcast on social media.
International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the 90s Charts is available now in bookshops and online including the University of Wales Press here: https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/international-velvet/
Photo credit: Neil Collins / Cath Holland
