Based in Deptford, The Chords were probably the most energetic and powerful Mod Revival band in London.
The band featured Billy Hassett (vocals/guitar) and his cousin Martin Mason (bass), plus Chris Pope (guitar) and Brett ‘Buddy’ Ascott (on Keith Moon Drums).
Maybe Tomorrow was their most aggressive amphetamine rush of a single, after debuting with the already powerful Now It’s Gone. They even performed it on Top Of The Pops!
In the wake of an excellent album, So Far Away, The Chords issued four more singles, beginning with the barnstorming, bittersweet attack on the institutionalised, brow-beaten acceptance of Britain’s working classes, The British Way Of Life.
The same idea pervaded their follow-up, In My Street, which was backed by a rousing cover of The Marvelettes‘ Motown dancer I’ll Keep On Holding On (via cult 60s Mod band, The Action).
The Chords bowed out in 1981 with One More Minute and Turn Away Again, featuring a new lead singer, Kip Herring (ex Vibrators), who replaced Billy Hassett.
Chris Pope and Buddy Ascott formed a band called Agent Orange (not to be confused with the US band of the same name). The group gigged extensively around London and the South East throughout 1983-1984 but did not record.
Chris Pope reformed The Chords in 1996, and the original line-up went back on the road in August 2010, playing gigs across the UK and in Australia and Japan,
Billy Hassett Vocals, guitar Chris Pope
Guitar, vocals Martin Mason Bass Brett ‘Buddy’ Ascott
Drums Kip Herring
Vocals
Video
Related Posts
Little Murders English ex-pat Rob Griffiths embraced 1960s English pop culture (The Who, The Kinks, Union Jack flags draped over amplifiers) so it…
Long Tall Shorty A London band originally known as The Indicators, Long Tall Shorty were immensely popular on the mod revival club circuit. Fronted by…
Bad Religion Blending old-school power chords with hardcore thrash, Bad Religion formed in Woodland Hills, California, in 1980. The debut album from…
Teenbeats, The A quintet from Hastings, England, The Teenbeats were one of the better bands on Britain's late '70s mod revival scene, with Huggy…
Exploited, The You would be excused for thinking that a band who sing about kicking a Mod in the head to the…
Bandicoot Australian band Bandicoot was essentially the duo of Mick Fettes (who had recently left Madder Lake) and Shane Bourne (who…
Ayers Rock Ray Burton left the band in 1974 and was replaced by Sydney guitarist Chris Brown. The band ultimately broke up,…
Jolt, The Hailing from Wishaw and Shotts, two industrial towns on the edge of greater Glasgow, The Jolt's first step on the…
Chris Pope and Buddy Ascott formed a band called Agent Orange (not to be confused with the US band of the same name). The group gigged extensively around London and the South East throughout 1983-1984 but did not record.
