Q-Tips, The

While serving an apprenticeship at a Vauxhall car factory, Paul Young played in two local bands before forming his own band called Streetband (with John Gifford, Mick Pearl and Vince Chaulk).

The band released two albums and a single before splitting, with Young taking Gifford and Pearl on to form the eight-piece Q-Tips, devoted to performing 60s style R&B, led by his natural blue-eyed soul voice.

In 1980, after gaining a strong following as a live band, The Q-Tips opened for US band The Knack at London’s Dominion Theatre and released the single SYSLJFM (The Letter Song).

Their self-titled debut album charted for just a week at #50. This was to be the band’s only chart appearance, despite a swag of brilliant cover versions on the album, including Tears Of A Clown, Some Kind Of Wonderful and Tracks Of My Tears,

Finally, after playing over 700 gigs in two years, the band called it a day and following the release of the band’s Live At Last album, Young signed a solo deal with CBS Records and went on to huge success.

Young briefly teamed up again with the Q-Tips for a reunion tour in 1993

Paul Young
Vocals
Barry Watts
Drums
Garth Watt-Roy
Guitar
Mick Pearl
Bass
John Gifford
Guitar
Ian Kewley
Keyboards
Tony Hughes
Trumpet, trombone
Steve Farr
Saxophone
Nick Payne
Saxophone, flute
Dave Lathwell
Guitar
Richard Blanchard
Saxophone
Stuart Van Blandamer
Saxophone

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