GREEN BEACH

We are a three piece that is reforming after a long hiatus which had nothing to do with recording or artistic differences. Basically we've all had lives for twenty odd years.

Green Beach was formed in 1985 by Malcolm Birtwell from West Runton, Dave Lewis from Sheringham and Bill Allard from Southrepps and were part of a scene generally termed as the Cromerzone. North Norfolk had a vibrant local music scene at this time. Malcolm Birtwell taught himself guitar by ear by copying early Cure songs from Three Imaginary Boys and Seventeen Seconds albums and was latterly much influenced by the Smiths' Johnny Marr; as a result stylistically they were often likened to The Smiths. Malcolm Birtwell was the songwriter of Green Beach. Dave Lewis had played drums in various bands notably C-View Bagpipes with Alistair Murphy, Diana Hare and Steve Gilbert, but when he joined Green beach he took up bass guitar having been much impressed by Mark King of Level 42. Bill Allard had also been in a number of bands such as Passchendaele, since Paston School, with Jem French and Steve Little to name but a few. Bill was much influenced by heavy metal music such as Iron Maiden, but his musical tastes, like those of his fellow band members, was quite diverse. Green Beach rehearsed twice a week in Moons Disco, Village Inn, West Runton, courtesy of Chris Wren the landlord and so tended to gig around the coast, at the Melbourne Lounge in Cromer, Moons Disco to the rear of The Village Inn, next door to the by now defunct West Runton Pavilion. They also played at The Jacquard Club supporting Lawrence and the Comfortable Society. Part of their first ever gig at West Runton Village Inn can be seen on Facebook at The West Runton Village Inn appreciation society.

Dr Feelgood, Stranglers, XTC, DEVO, Cult, Cure, Bill Nelsons Red Noise, ACDC, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Alanis Morisette, All About Eve, Andy Partridge, B-52s, BRMC, Bauhaus, Blur, Bluetones, Bo Selecta, Bob Marley, Buzzcocks, Corrs, Clannad, Dandy Warhols, Darkness, David Bowie, Delays, Duran Duran, Echo and the Bunnymen, Elvis Costello, English Beat, Eric Clapton, Cream, Evanescence, Eurythmics, Extreme, Feeder, Foo Fighters, Franz Ferdinand, Fun Lovin Criminals, Gang of Four, Garbage, Gorillaz, Green Beach, Guns N Roses, Iggy Pop, It Bites, Ivor Cutler, Jam, Jet, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Joy Division, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian, Kate Bush, Keane, Killing Joke, Kings of Leon, kinks, Kula Shaker, Lenny Kravitz, Level 42, Lost Prophets,Lightning Seeds, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Manic Street Preachers, Marc Bolan, Marilyn Manson, T Rex, Members, Metallica, Monkeys, Midge Ure, Morrissey, Motorhead, Muse, Ms Dynamite, Nickelback, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Offspring, Pearl Jam, Pere Ubu, Placebo, Police, Presidents of the United States of America, Pretenders, Prince, Primal Scream, Prodigy, Prolapse, Queen, Rammstein, Roachford, Robbie Williams, Robert Palmer, Republica, Ruts, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Scritti Politti, Seal, Scissor Sisters, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sex Pistols, Shamen, Sheryl Crowe, Skunk Anansie, Sisters of Mercy, Smiths, Slade, Snow Patrol, Soundgarden, Spin Doctors, Status Quo, Stiff Little Fingers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Suede, Sweet, Starsailor, Tears For Fears, Terrorvision, Throbbing Gristle, Adverts, Travis, Thunder, Cramps, U2, UB40, Ultravox, Wonder Stuff, Voice of the Beehive, Wedding Present, White Stripes, Cocteau Twins, Zutons, ZZ Top, Frank Zappa, Black Eyed Peas, Teardrop Explodes, Julian Cope, Au Pairs, Mekons, Passions, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Vapors, Psychedelic Furs, Tourists, Altered Images, PiL,