In a former professional incarnation under a former nom de plume, I used to have a lot of fun with literary meanderings and letting my imagination go off at a tangent, but it's something I've not done for a while (at least not publicly).
However, my girlfriend Sarah and I were at a gig last week waiting for the band and we started playing round with various 'fundraising' band names and imagining what types of bands they might be.
So Sarah and I present 11 raisertastic pop acts that might have been.
Case for Support - heavy metal group, once supported Motorhead at Knebworth. Just the once though so failed to live up to their name.
PenPak - White American rapper notorious for his parental advisory lyrics.
RoI - 1990s American indie band. Had a global smash with 'What's the Frequency Recency Value, Kenneth?'
Attrition Rate - Thrash death metal. Very noisy. Guitarists leave every six months; drummers every four. But lead singers break even after a year.
The Ask - mod revival band from '79, totally forgettable cover of 'Money (That's What I Want)' trashed in charts by the Flying Lizards' version.
Dorothy Donor - 70s folky-type outfit. Didn't they sing some song about going on a sponsored walk to Bangor?
Face2Face - south London teenage girl duo. Their gimmick was to jump off stage and 'accost' members of the audience.
Telephone Preference Service - early 70s prog rock band. Clearly ahead of their time.
Don8 - Girl group manufactured by popraising impresario Bill Bruty. Every member was called Raechelle Greene (sorry, bit of an old in-joke but some of you will get the reference).
Control Pack - 1980s Europopsters with big hair. Everyone remembers their big hit 'The Final Mailpack'.
The Gurus - Who can forget that famous gig at Shea Stadium when Ed Sullivan introduced them with those immortal words: 'Honoured by the Institute of Fundraising, decorated by Professional Fundraising magazine, here they are, Ken, Tony, Alan and Pidgo - THE GURUS!'
If you're a fan of any other fundraising-related beat combos, do post them on this thread.
Comments
Knopfler Prophets - A Dire Straits tribute band, covering such great hits as "Money For Nothing".
Since it's Chuggers playing pop, then no doubt these bands would all offer a cover version of "The Gates of Door to Door" by China Crisis from their Working with Fire and Steel album (1983):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_with_Fire_and_Steel_-_Possible_Pop_...
Howard Lake @howardlake www.fundraising.co.uk
Andy Hamilton on Have I Got News For You last week said he couldn't get used to 'these new metric politicians like Ed Miliband' and much prefered the old imperial ones like Michael Foot.
There's also the influential Ed Milli-Band (thank you to Third Sector's Matthew Little for that one).
Howard Lake @howardlake www.fundraising.co.uk
Well, it wasn't a band for more than two days, but the follow up concert was legendary.
"Gift Aid" was a one off, created for Christmas 1985, encouraging people to send ready wrapped presents to African Children.
It was the record that defined my life. The clanging chimes of doom .....
Prospect-KING - An exciting, good looking, hip thrusting rock 'n' roller who sent all the ladies (aged 65+) wild with rapturous response! Sadly, he began to think way too much of himself - became obeist - and died. Many mourned his death all those years ago, and today some still mourn. Occassionally though Prospect-KING has been seen working at the local List Broker!
New Media - a funky 5 piece teeny bopper boy band. Alot of promise - but you know that in 10 years time you'll only be able to recall one of their hits. 3 members will go into obscurity, 1 will die tragically and the most successful one will integrate (marry) a deeply religious girl (channel) of better pedigree, get her hooked, then sit back and watch her destroy her own career whilst he lives off of the income and the acclaim!
The Web - a dark gothic 'Marilyn Manson' type outfit. Very very popular - but nobody really understands them.
Perfect Pitch - a duo singing opera and classical interpretations of pop songs (like G4) who made it to the third round of X Factor. Pefect Pitch were Howard Lake (who runs the Perfect Pitch) and Adrian Salmon (who really does sing with perfect pitch)
Prospect Research were a fab progressive jazz band, who still pop up in the occasional late-night session at Ronnie Scott's. Particularly regarded for their assimilation of a eclectic range of musical influences, but a tendency towards meandering improvisations....
...some members broke away to form an alternative combo called Rich List, with a tighter, more 'commercial' style.
Neither are to be confused with Corporate Membership, an altogether more 'lounge-style' outfit.
Adrian Salmon
Footsteps Fund Manager
University of Leeds