Here & Now (band)

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Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong.

History

The first version of the group was co-founded in London by drummer/vocalist Keith Dobson, guitarist/keyboardist José Gross, bassist Franco and others in March 1974. By 1975 the line-up featured Dobson/Kif Kif Le Batteur (drums/vocals), Steffe Sharpstrings (guitar), Paul 'Twink' Noble (synths) and Keith Tha Missile (bass).

On 7 June 1977, Here & Now played a Jubilee Street Party at Bristol Gardens, a squatted street in Maida Vale.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1977, Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth recruited the band to tour with them under the name Planet Gong, and this combination released a live album Live Floating Anarchy 1977 and a single "Opium for the People". The musicians who played on Live Floating Anarchy 1977 were:

  • Steffe Sharpstrings (Stephan Lewry) - guitar
  • Keith Tha Missile Bass (Keith Bailey) - bass
  • Kif Kif Le Batteur (Keith Dobson) - drums/vocals
  • Gavin Da Blitz (Gavin Allardyce) - synths
  • Suze Da Blooz (Susan Allport) & Ano Wombat (Ano Graver) - dancing/vocals
  • Gilli Smyth - vocals
  • Dingbat Alien (Daevid Allen) - guitar/vocals

Kif Kif, Suze and Ano left the band by January 1979; Graver to join Alternative TV, Allport sang with The Androids of Mu, while Dobson fronted the cult 1980s post-punk bands The 012 and World Domination Enterprises. He was replaced initially by Rob Bougie. Here & Now continued into the 1980s around the nucleus of Keith and Gavin, with (following Steffe's departure) Dean Gaisburgh-Watkyn on guitar and Paul Rose on drums. Gavin left the band in the early 1990s but, following a 'Planet Gong' reunion tour, Steffe subsequently rejoined and brought in drummer Steve Cassidy (until 2007).

Steffe left Here & Now again in 2009. He has continued to work with Steve Cassidy on various fusion projects and contributed to Joie Hinton projects. He is now concentrating on solo work and his long-time involvement in Visitation Arena with Cher Newsam.<ref>http://visitation-arena.soundawesome.com Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Here & Now continues to tour as a loose collective under the leadership of Keith Tha Bass. As of 2024, a new studio album is partially recorded. The current line-up is: Keith The Bass - Bass/Vocals Mark Robson - Keyboards/Vocals Tom Ashurst - Guitar/Vocals Steve Cassidy - Drums

Band members

  • Kif Kif Le Batteur (Keith Dobson) – drums/vocals (1974–1978) + ~
  • José Gross – guitar/keyboards (1974–1975) ^ +
  • Chris Kelleher – violin (1974–1975) ^
  • Franco – bass (1974)
  • Marguerita – vocals (1974)
  • Drucilla – ? (1974)
  • Joleon Buchanan – guitar (1974–1975)
  • Nick Reiter – bass (1974–1975) ^
  • Richard Heley – vocals (1974–1975) ^
  • Hugh – flute (1974–1975)
  • Twink (Paul Noble) – keyboards (1974–1977) ~
  • Alan Dogend – ? (1974–1975) +
  • Steffe Sharpstrings (Stephan Lewry) – guitar/vocals (1975–1981, 1992–2009) ~
  • Keith Tha Missile Bass (Keith Bailey) – bass/vocals (1975–1976, 1976– )
  • Max Cann – bass (1976)
  • Suze Da Blooze (Susan Allport) – dancing/vocals (1976–1979)
  • Gavin Da Blitz (Gavin Allardyce) – keyboards/vocals (1977–1990)
  • Ano Wombat (Ano Graver) – dancing/vocals (1977–1979)
  • Jack The Sax (Jack Neat) – saxophone (1978)
  • Rob Bougie – drums (1979–1982)
  • Bernie Elliott – guitar (1979–1980)
  • Deano Ferrari (Dean Gaisburgh-Watkyn) – guitar/vocals (1981–1992)
  • Rob Peters – drums (1982–1983)
  • Paul Rose – drums (1983–1986)
  • Pete Davis – drums (1986–1991)
  • J.C. (Jonathan Lambert) – saxophone (1986–1989)
  • Dominic Luckman – drums (1991)
  • Nick Danger – drums (1991)
  • Andy Roid – keyboards/vocals (1991–1997, 2011–2019)
  • Steve Cassidy – drums (1991–2007, 2021-)
  • Joie Hinton – keyboards (2003–2009)
  • Merv Pepler – drums (2007–2009)
  • Slim Verhoef – guitar (2009–2017)
  • Gwyo Ze Pix (Howard Scarr) – keyboards (2009–2010)
  • Nik Nimbus – drums (2009–2013)
  • Mark Robson – keyboards/vocals (2011– )
  • Stephen 'Woody' Wood – drums (2013–2017)
  • Andy Burrows – guitar/vocals (2017–2020 )
  • Gem Quinn – drums/vocals (2017–2020 )
  • Tom Ashurst - guitar/vocals (2021- )

^ formed Blank Space in 1975; + formed The 012 in 1979; ~ formed Ici Maintenants 2001-2007

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:105 bottom:100 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:15/03/1974 till:15/08/2020 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1975 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1975

Colors = 

 id:vocals    value:red        legend:Vocals
 id:guitar    value:green      legend:Guitar  
 id:keys      value:purple     legend:Keyboards
 id:bass      value:blue       legend:Bass
 id:drums     value:orange     legend:Drums
 id:violin    value:drabgreen    legend:Violin
 id:flute     value:skyblue   legend:Flute
 id:sax       value:tan2        legend:Saxophone
 id:unknown   value:yellow     legend:unknown
 id:release   value:black      legend:Album

BarData = 

 bar:Kif      text:"Kif Kif Le Batteur"
 bar:Bougie   text:"Rob Bougie"
 bar:Peters   text:"Rob Peters"
 bar:Rose     text:"Paul Rose"
 bar:Davis    text:"Pete Davis"
 bar:Luckman  text:"Dominic Luckman"
 bar:Danger   text:"Nick Danger" 
 bar:Cassidy  text:"Steve Cassidy"
 bar:Merv     text:"Merv Pepler"
 bar:Nik      text:"Nik Nimbus"
 bar:Woody    text:"Woody"
 bar:Gem      text:"Gem Quinn"
 bar:Franco   text:"Franco"
 bar:Nick     text:"Nick Reiter"
 bar:Keith    text:"Keith Tha Bass"
 bar:Max      text:"Max Cann"
 bar:Saracen  text:"José Gross"
 bar:Jol      text:"Joleon Buchanan"
 bar:Steffe   text:"Steffe Sharpstrings"
 bar:Bernie   text:"Bernie Elliott"
 bar:Deano    text:"Deano Ferrari"
 bar:Slim     text:"Slim Verhoef"
 bar:Burrows  text:"Andy Burrows"
 bar:Twink    text:"Twink"
 bar:Gavin    text:"Gavin Da Blitz"
 bar:Andy     text:"Andy Roid"
 bar:Joie     text:"Joie Hinton"
 bar:Gwyo     text:"Gwyo Ze Pix"
 bar:Mark     text:"Mark Robson"
 bar:Marguerita text:"Marguerita"
 bar:Heley    text:"Richard Heley"
 bar:Suze     text:"Suze Da Blooze"
 bar:Drucilla text:"Drucilla"
 bar:Dogend   text:"Alan Dogend"
 bar:Ano      text:"Ano Wombat"
 bar:Chris    text:"Chris Kelleher"
 bar:Hugh     text:"Hugh"
 bar:Jack     text:"Jack The Sax"
 bar:JC       text:"J.C."

PlotData= 

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Kif      from:15/03/1974 till:15/12/1978 color:drums
 bar:Kif      from:15/03/1974 till:15/12/1978 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Kif      from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:drums
 bar:Kif      from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Bougie   from:15/01/1979 till:15/09/1982 color:drums
 bar:Peters   from:15/09/1982 till:15/02/1983 color:drums
 bar:Rose     from:15/02/1983 till:31/01/1986 color:drums
 bar:Davis    from:15/10/1986 till:15/03/1991 color:drums
 bar:Luckman  from:15/03/1991 till:15/06/1991 color:drums
 bar:Danger   from:15/06/1991 till:15/09/1991 color:drums
 bar:Cassidy  from:15/09/1991 till:15/08/2007 color:drums
 bar:Merv     from:15/08/2007 till:15/05/2009 color:drums
 bar:Nik      from:15/09/2009 till:15/06/2013 color:drums
 bar:Woody    from:15/06/2013 till:15/04/2017 color:drums
 bar:Gem      from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:drums
 bar:Gem      from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Franco   from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:bass
 bar:Nick     from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:bass
 bar:Keith    from:15/07/1975 till:15/03/1976 color:bass
 bar:Keith    from:15/09/1976 till:31/01/1986 color:bass
 bar:Keith    from:15/09/1976 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Keith    from:15/10/1986 till:15/08/2020 color:bass
 bar:Keith    from:15/10/1986 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Max      from:15/03/1976 till:15/09/1976 color:bass
 bar:Chris    from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:violin
 bar:Saracen  from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:guitar
 bar:Saracen  from:15/03/1974 till:15/10/1974 color:keys width:3
 bar:Steffe   from:15/07/1975 till:15/02/1981 color:guitar
 bar:Steffe   from:15/07/1975 till:15/02/1981 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Steffe   from:15/09/1991 till:15/05/2009 color:guitar
 bar:Steffe   from:15/09/1991 till:15/05/2009 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Jol      from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:guitar
 bar:Bernie   from:15/01/1979 till:15/02/1980 color:guitar
 bar:Deano    from:15/02/1981 till:31/01/1986 color:guitar
 bar:Deano    from:15/02/1981 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Deano    from:15/10/1986 till:15/06/1992 color:guitar
 bar:Deano    from:15/10/1986 till:15/06/1992 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Slim     from:15/09/2009 till:15/04/2017 color:guitar
 bar:Burrows  from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:guitar
 bar:Burrows  from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Twink    from:15/10/1974 till:15/09/1977 color:keys
 bar:Twink    from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:keys
 bar:Gavin    from:15/10/1977 till:31/01/1986 color:keys
 bar:Gavin    from:15/10/1977 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Gavin    from:15/10/1986 till:15/11/1990 color:keys
 bar:Gavin    from:15/10/1986 till:15/11/1990 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Andy     from:15/09/1991 till:15/06/1997 color:keys
 bar:Andy     from:15/09/1991 till:15/06/1997 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Andy     from:15/08/2011 till:15/01/2019 color:keys
 bar:Andy     from:15/08/2011 till:15/01/2019 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Joie     from:15/04/2003 till:15/05/2009 color:keys
 bar:Gwyo     from:15/09/2009 till:15/03/2010 color:keys
 bar:Mark     from:15/02/2011 till:15/08/2020 color:keys
 bar:Mark     from:15/02/2011 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Marguerita from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:vocals
 bar:Heley    from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:vocals
 bar:Suze     from:15/09/1976 till:15/01/1979 color:vocals
 bar:Drucilla from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:unknown
 bar:Dogend   from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:unknown
 bar:Ano      from:15/10/1977 till:15/01/1979 color:vocals
 bar:Hugh     from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:flute
 bar:Jack     from:15/01/1978 till:15/06/1978 color:sax
 bar:JC       from:15/10/1986 till:15/10/1989 color:sax

LineData = 

layer:back
 color:release
 at:06/12/1977
 at:15/06/1978
 at:07/11/1979
 at:15/06/1983
 at:22/10/1984
 at:31/01/1986
 at:15/06/1995

</timeline>

Discography

  • Bristol Gardens (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
  • Rivington Pike (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
  • Rivington Pike 2 (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
  • Oxford Poly (Live CD, recorded with Daevid Allen 1977) (Free Love Records)
  • Live Floating Anarchy 1977 (as "Planet Gong", 1977)
  • Give and Take (1978)
  • Dog in Hell (EP, 1978)
  • What You See... Is What You Are (LP shared with Alternative TV, 1978) (Deptford Fun City, DLP 02)
  • All Over the Show (1979)
  • Off The Cuff (Live Recordings 1979 - cassette only)
  • Stolen Moments (early 80's - cassette only)
  • Fantasy Shift (1983)
  • Theatre (1984)
  • Been & Gone (1986)
  • Standing Forever (EP, 1989)
  • UFOasis (1995)
  • Gospel of Free (recorded 1976 to 1978, released in 1999)
  • Space and Time (as "Ici Maintenants") 2001/2003 (Free Love Records)
  • Wild and Free (1976 line-up re-union live, released 2007) (Free Love Records)
  • Coaxed out from Oxford (originally on tape, released on CD in 2009)
  • Live in London (2007 concert at Dingwalls, released in 2013)

References

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