not "scene" and herd, but to be seen and heard

previous page) it was time to progress (easier to say than do with on an almost non existent budget) but a new demo - raw versions of 'she's nothing special', 'contradiction' and 'blew it' - did the trick and kicked off a year in which c:b took hold of the reins, having a good time with their following while making progress. their reputation was spreading via the net. they picked up special dates and good press from the start of the year and it has continue since, as new ears find them.

according to the establishment system, within six months they needed to release a single and start getting media attention. that takes money, being in the right place at the right time, and being admired/courted by the right people. the band just want to give up their jobs and spend all their time doing what they were born to do, but sadly, it just wasn't possible yet. as an unsigned band, their equipment wasn't even always up to a good sound or getting through a whole show. aware of what they were capable of, it was screamingingly frustrating at times, but c:b still didn't lose their focus.

though living largely hand-to-mouth-to-stage, they didn't stop improving, constantly writing material, rehearsing and tightening up, pouring in every penny, every ounce of energy.

just when the cash ran out in summer 003, music magic happened and some help from a successful rock band meant that the band kitty had some cash to at least store and improve their equipment, and even afford transport to play outside of london once or twice. the instant appeal of their songs worked it's magic on all ages. they supported a diverse range of bands, never paying themselves if they got paid. everything went back into making the band.

their beat was kept first by charlie (now in transparent things) then brad (now touring with various projects). alphabetically counting down rob, dexy and andy moved forwards with ash on the path of c:b. something clicked - they had their perfect chemistry. the band that could change everything, felt ready for anything. their beat was now definitely that of a mega rock group.

they could now start thinking about recording a single.

c:b.had spent a year becomng a serious prospect. something record labels used to do for their most promising charges, the band had done for themselves. the new demos had worked for them like a recorded release. c:b had received a constant trickle of very promising live and demo reviews, got the thumbs up from well known names, launched and become involved in a club, contributed a track to the love music hate racism rock album 'fear of a black kennett', and appeared at the alternative rock idol events that that became a set of music films less than a year later.

they also got the chance to play on bigger stages, to bigger audiences, a few times, and went down the proverbial storm while looking at home on a larger stage than most of the (very necessary) "toilet-circuit" venues can offer.

corporation:blend photographed early 003 by ian rendall who caught their show at london callin' club in Nov-002 and helped the band out, co-managing them before grassroots xchange started getting so hectic itself as part of the alternative media and industy's current rise..

the threads of their story start to weave together when they become a gang.

one of those threads was the paradise bar (new cross), scene of early 003 band meetings. at one of these meetings , a discussion on what a great venue it would be for bands to play became reality when the otherwordly pop of the tops club was launched there (apr-003) by c:b. and friends as a rock club/hang-out. with around twenty to thirty bands regulary represented at each event, it became a regular haunt for many musicians and their posse from day one. it was affordable, friendly, laid back and witnessed a high percentage of alternative idols with big ideas that didnt get scoffed at. wheneveer c:b get the chance to get their fans in cheap as possible, they'll accept less payment to do so.

that autumn, many music fans got together at the paradise and exchanged music, ideas and contacts. some of them wove into an album, 'the new cross', which angular recordings, a local label was compiling. inspired by bands helping bands and the power of music, the world's only music tourist board was formed. a different way of doing things that embraces the initiative and creativity of a new art riot in action.

c:b are one of the bands that make the club, playing shows, dj-ing, suggesting acts to play (i.e. bloc party and do me bad things), helping out or just having a night out with friends. a thread of their story, bournemouth, is also part of the south east london activity.

c:b. ended 003 with a glimpse of their possible future. in november they opened for king adora and the glitterati at birmingham academy. (maxi & nelstal of king adora had had dj'd at the alternative idol gigs, one of the glitterati had worked at the hobgoblin pub on new cross road, where andy had been a bar man while at goldsmiths college.). it was their first show with the definitive line up and converted so many strangers in half an hour that they sold out of demo cds and spent much of the evening meeting new friends, signing autographs (including a few saucy ones!) and coming down from the amazing reaction to their set. this reaction happens regularly enough for their star potential to shine.

in december 'fear of a black kennett' was released on the anti esablishment r*e*p*e*a*t label, and was well received. c:b's track, 'the shutdown', won them fresh interest. over the last few years, the love music hate racism campaign's profile has been raised by the number of musicians coming on board the ground swell oft he general population's opinion that nazis are not to be tolerated. to end the year, there was a gig at punkish club christmas party with johnny panic, smother & abner (surreally matt from busted was in the crowd seeing one of the other bands), then ended the year supporting ten benson and the parkinsons at a benefit gig that turned out not to be, an odd twist to what had been an exciting year, c:b. were ready to go public.

they were at the point where some sectors of music establishment would suggest that they change their name and re-launch themselves. it would be another year before they had progressed from corporation:blend to c:b. what's in a name. this is an organic story of a band that left with school with no alternative plans to being in a working, respected, inspiring rock band as a career.

andy, dexy, rob and ash are steering the ss c:b. so instead, they came up with even more songs. democratically written and arranged. they could now start thinking about recording a single and setting up a tour out of london.

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