Pike were formed in Preston in 1990 by childhood friends Mick and Jez who had previously been in Last Orders in the early eighties. Jez on guitar and Mick on vocals and guitar recruited Martin on drums and then Steve Yates on bass. Our mission was to write some songs, do a gig, record a demo and appear on TOTP. After tirelessly rehearsing for 6 months we played our first gig on 28th December 1990 at our rehearsal room in Lostock Hall, to an invited audience. Two of our aims completed and now to Assembly Line Recording Studio and Jim Hesketh at the controls. 12th January we recorded our demo and released it on cassette 'Goes Like This E.P.' Just Top of the Pops to go haha!
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Sean Bates came in on lead guitar in July 1991, and we gigged regularly around the Preston area, before recording another demo cassette at West Orange in March 1992 entitled 'Clear the Air E.P.' Later in the year we had the track 'Bleed' immortalised on vinyl, on a Preston compilation album, 'Reclaiming the Guild'.
JEZ and MICK 1982
PIKE OUTSIDE THE ADELPHI< PRESTON 1992
BAZ 1995
ANDY and JEZ 1995
Baz pollard joined on drums in 1993 as Pike changed direction musically. From being a kind of indie punk style band we evolved into a more diverse rock-punk/ Americana band. There was no real direction taken, more of an anything goes as long as it was good. In time we moved more towards punk music and added a number of covers to our set, Clash, Pistols etc, which helped us get more gigs but at what cost? In 1995 we recorded another E.P. 'This Time For Real' featuring 'Murder on the NHS' and for the first time people began to take us seriously on the music scene. Pike had arrived and Rock Punk was born, making no attempt to dumb-down our songs and instead showcase our talent. We could play our instruments and write great songs. Our direction led to Steve leaving citing musical differences, though he still remained part of the Pike family, driving, toting and supporting us. He sadly passed away in 1997 and we still miss him. Jez took over on bass, and Baz left as he had wanted a new bassist. Andy Middleton came in on drums. Andy mysteriously came and went over the years, he played a number of gigs, before going AWOL prior to our biggest gig, supporting UK Subs at Jalgos, Preston and the following night at the Rock Coven, Colne. Big Baz was back!
THIS TIME FOR REAL 4 TRACK CASSETTE 1995
We followed this up with support slots with The Vibrators, TV Smith & 999 before going into Drone Studios at Chorlton-Cum-Hardy and producer Paul Roberts, who had worked with The Smiths & Happy Mondays. Destroy all Monsters was recorded. continuing gigging regularly around the North we gained a reputation as a great live band. Even with a small amount of success egos were inflating all around. Curse of the drummers! Baz was proving to be less than reliable, Andy a little spooks, so we enlisted Phil Seed and somehow managed to fulfil our gig commitments. Swalesy (Burnleys finest R.I.P.)also helped out on a number of occasions. 1997 will be remembered due to the passing of former bassist Steve Yates, Jez took time out and Dave Dog Barker came in on bass. We also recruited a permanent drummer. Mr, Robin Hazlehurst. We released our first album on CD, 'Now! Pike!' and gigged tirelessly. After a year out Jez returned on Bass. 2000 and Dave Dog on guitar in place of Sean, new songs, new sound. Story of my life E.P. released featuring Bloodsports and Beast. 2001 and normality returns with Sean back on guitar. More gigging till 2003 and the release of'Almost live at The Bears Paw' CD featuring Enema-m. These new songs led to gigs at The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne Punx Picnic and Punkfest in Preston and Leeds amongst others. 2004 jez loses a finger in an industrial accident. Step forward Roy Hesketh till jez returns in June. Sean leaves to be a dad and in comes Ged Pike. 2007 Rob Ronson takes over on guitar. 2016 Sean returns.
PIKE 2000 Robin, Mick, Jez & Dave
May 2008 we sadly lost another colleague and friend, Baz Pollard. sadly missed.
Conclusion. Pike have released 9 albums, 8 E.P.'s appeared on 2 compilation albums. Played hundreds of gigs playing consecutively every year since 1990. We have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with UK Subs, Vibrators, TV Smith, 999, Seven Little Sisters, Glen Matlock, Emergency, Dead Pets, Penetration, Broken Bones, Anti Nowhere League, Menace, Superyob, Crashed Out, The Beat, Conflict, GBH, Eastfield, Frank Sidebottom, Peter & the Test Tube Babies, Dan Donnelly and many, many more. To be continued.........
