Alan Darby Troy Tate Martin
Recchi Salvator Mulligan Dik Davies
The webmaster, north Bucks:
This was a remarkable gig in many ways as both support acts
ultimately eclipsed the main act by some considerable margin. This was the
first time I saw Howard Jones and it was clear then that the potential was
there and something could happen.
I remember seeing Kajagoogoo who were getting lots of record
company support at this time and they were damn good. It was obvious they
were going to make it and probably appeal to a young/teen audience.
Just before going to this gig, my friend and I had watched The
Whistle Test upon which Fashion appeared, but they could have made a
reference to the fact they were playing Friars that night which pretty
much summed up this band’s luck.
They were playing their acclaimed Fabrique album without their
creative force Dave Harris and replaced him for this tour with Alan Darby
(who had played with Steve Harley at Friars) and Troy Tate who also played
with the Teardrop Explodes at Friars.
Nick Beggs, Kajagoogoo,
writing for the Friars Aylesbury website in 2008 said:
'Playing
Friars was always a buzz. My earliest gig there was with Art Nouveau (Kajagoogoo
before Limahl). We opened for the Scars and John Cooper Clark. AMAZING.It
was the first big stage I ever played on and couldn't believe how
different it felt to a club gig'
If ever a band had bad luck,
it was Fashion and it was no wonder the two support bands would outstrip
them eventually. After this tour, they set about in 1983 recording the
follow up to the glorious Fabrique. Drummer Dik Davies was seriously
injured after being knocked off of his bicycle in Paris where they were
recording. By the time the follow up, 'Twilight of Idols' had come out in
1984, they had largely been forgotten about. Their summer 1984 tour was
their last and they also supported Kajagoogoo returning the compliment.
Mulligan formed a new band as at 1985 called D'Zyon. Dik Davies is
believed to have passed away and little information is known on the
whereabouts on the remaining members.
Kajagoogoo within three
months were number 1 with 'Too Shy' and headlined Friars in 1983. Howard
Jones also went on to huge success having his breakthrough hit 'New Song'
in 1983 and went on to headline Friars four times.
