After the break-up of CONTROVERSY we all went our different ways while still keeping in touch with each other. Colin (Groggs) joined a band that his brother Jeff was in, this band was called SUBWAY, a three piece with Colin on vocals and guitar, Jeff on drums and Ray on Bass. SUBWAY was formed after Jeff had played for a while with a band called MISTY later to become SILVER SOVEREIGN; Terry had a bit of a rest and then joined a band known as TANGENT with ex-members of local sixties band THE DEACONS.
Myself (Tatty) answered a few adverts for drummers, but all they wanted was funk style so I stood in with local band BAKER STREET until they found a drummer and changed their name to SLIMLINE. I then decided to try and form a band as a singer. The band was going to be called COOLMIST, but after a few false starts and then the van packing up it looked like nothing was going to happen. A few months later Colin came around and asked if I wanted to join their band as guitar/vocalist as Ray had left and he was hoping Terry would also join playing bass. Terry did not want to go back in to touring so declined the offer leaving a space that Chris came along to fill. After a few weeks rehearsing (and learning some chords I never usually played) we were ready and went on our first gig on the 14th February 1981 as ACORN as we had not decided on a group name at that time. After that booking we decided to call the band Herbert but with out the H so as it would be ERBERT sort of 'scouse' sounding. Well, after Concert Secretaries saying things like "a big hand for the herbies", (obviously thinking of The Love Bug), we decided to call the band HERBIES (this was before herpes was in the news), again dropping the H for that 'scouse twang', so ERBEES were born to ride and ride again.
Having read about our beginning I will now take you on a trip through the years good and not so good.

After our first few bookings and 'feeling our feet' we brought comedy into the group (by me plugging into my amp...no sorry) with Colin doing some of the sketches that he did in Controversy and Jeff out front getting the audience to join in with other things, (anyone remember "Smart fella"?). With the comedy working well we were booked for several summer seasons in many venues and holiday camps along the North Wales coast for the next two and a half years. In March 1983 we made a trip to the Cargo studios in Rochdale to cut a record that we could sell at gigs. The record comprised of three tracks: A Smokie Medley, If not you (Dr hook) and Silence is golden (Tremloes and Four Seasons).

On the Smokie Medley I played bass (a simple but effective pattern) and Chris played a twelve string jumbo doubled up, Colin as usual did the lead vocal with Jeff assisting in the background. At the time we were not sure if we should record it as a "Stars on 45" type disco mix or as a straight rock/pop type, the latter won although we probably would have got more air-play with the disco version. Still everyone was doing disco so it was nice not to go with the flow.If not you featured lead guitar breaks by Colin with intro and fills by myself (well not by myself yer know). Colin also dueted with himself. Silence is golden had myself doing lead fills with Colin rendering a strong vocal as always, the high bits at the back were done by Jeff (that's what happens when you sit on a drumstick). It took two and a half hours to get the drums miked up correctly but it was well worth it as they came over with a live sound feeling. We did not really know what to expect when we went to the studios but it would be nice to go back in again with the experience we have gained over the years.

In 1984 we decided to drop the comedy and concentrate on the music, something that was more enjoyable to us. The work continued to come in and in 1988 Chris, who at this time was also playing keyboard at the same time as he was playing bass decided he would like to play six string and keyboards instead of bass. So in July 1988 George joined us on bass (a Lincoln), an exceptional player he stayed with us until Oct 1992 and was replaced by Graham who did not really fit in so only lasted a week. Another lad Tony also helped us out for a gig in this transition period, he had a small Trace Elliot bass amp (only 12 or 15") and it sounded great. Tommy who was playing in another band occasionally, stood in with us until a lad named Asa joined us in Nov 1992. Asa used to play in a band called KUDOS (maybe spelt wrong) in the 1970s and also did part time acting work (look out for him in Tripods). After the gig on 31st Dec 1993 Asa left us for pastures new and on the 1st Jan 1994 Tommy joined us full time and we became CLEESHAY. Previous to George leaving us Colin decided he wanted to leave as he had a business to run (Pets Corner in Wrexham) so on the 31st Dec 1991 Colin left us to be replaced by our drummer Jeff taking most of the lead vocals. That was years ago and I think it's about time we took some of the pressure off him, (time to gargle with lemon and honey folks...yuk).

I will probably put in some things that have happened to us along the way if I find something that is printable...TaT


Chris asked me to point these things out

CHRIS` CLAIMS TO FAME; Shook Buddy Rich's hand in his dressing room.
The answer for “Have you got any broken drum sticks”
was “Hey man they don't break they disintegrate!”
Supported The Tremolos;
Stood in for Chip Hawks autograph signing while he was busy!
Supported Gerry and the Pacemakers;
we even give him a slap! (Part of a joke)
He told us that we must have been practicing years to have learned how to play out of tune the way we did (cheek)
Supported the love affair;
Used their gear!
Met Smokie in Ireland and Bradford
Been within two yards of Mel Gibson
(thank goodness he didn't recognise me!)
Been within twenty feet of the Spice girls;
(checking out the musicians of course.)
Been within ten feet of Macca in Liverpool.
Supported many comedians and other bands I`ve forgotten!