In the beginning ...
Ian 1976
Ian's first band - 1976
Phil Allchin (guitar), Ian Devlin (drums), and Clive Brazier (bass).
Yes, Ian's first instrument was drums.
Ian says that Phil came up with an outlandish name for the trio, but it was so long ago that he can't recall it. If anyone remembers it, please let us know for the record.
Phil is pictured here with his Gherson SG Copy. Jon remembers that Phil had this guitar when they first met, which was when Phil joined Talisman. Later still, Ian would play this very same guitar in DENIGH.
Jon 1976
It was also in 1976 that Jon was introduced to Folkestone's local music scene, when he joined a band called 'Busby' as bass player.
The line up was Steve Bennett on guitar and lead vocal, John Regan on drums plus Bill Flannery on keyboards and Dave Birch on guitar.
This band never got beyond the rehearsal stage because Bill and Dave left, but Jon stayed with Steve and Johnny – being the 'main players' with previous experience in local gigging bands.
Steve said he knew of a really good lead guitarist to complete the line up, so one evening they went to Ingoldsby Road in Folkestone – and that's when Jon met Phil Allchin.
Phil joined, rehearsals went well and the new band 'Talisman', was gigging in 1977, playing covers in local pubs and clubs. Phil was the youngest, being only 16 at their first gigs!
It was in Talisman that Jon began singing backing vocals, but the band only lasted about a year because Steve wanted to quit gigging. However, he gave them his PA amp & speakers, which was a nice gesture that might help them to move on with a replacement vocalist.
We have more Talisman images in the Gallery, below.
The Original DENIGH line-up - 1978
With Talisman off the local gig circuit, it was now that Phil introduced his mate Ian Devlin to Jon and Johnny. Ian joined on guitar & keyboards and rehearsals began, but they still needed a lead vocalist. The hunt was on and the first two 'prospects' were hopeless, but the third was really good – though sadly he turned out to be utterly unreliable. They were still searching when Phil was offered the Lead Guitar position in a local gigging band called Last Orders. Everyone understood that it was an opportunity for Phil to get out there and do what they all wanted to do – play live gigs. No bad feelings, still good mates.
Jon, Ian and Johnny continued searching and Steve Maddock joined the line up on Lead Guitar, having answered a 'postcard advert' pinned to the wall of Kennards Music shop, Canterbury.
During rehearsals, the PA was always set up with a mic, so Jon would be singing a few parts here and there as a guide, and it was Steve who suggested Jon take on the lead vocal. And in those early days, when they didn't know they were allowed to write their own songs, Jon found it easier to combine vocal & bass for their own material. Maybe this was one reason why the band had eight self penned songs to perform from the outset?
DENIGH's debut gig was August 1978 at The Seahorse, Greatstone.
In February 1979 they made their first demo of eight original songs at Europa Sound Studios, Folkestone.
Who Named the Band?
After rehearsals, the guys would stop by Hougham Village Pub 'The Chequers', for some lemonade .. yeah, right ..!
One night the landlord set them a riddle:
“there is only one four letter word in the dictionary ending ENY, what is it?”
No one could guess it, so he told them – DENY.
They changed the spelling and DENIGH was ready to Rock!
We have very few pictures of Steve Maddock in the band archive, because he would hide behind the PA speakers - or Jon!
June 1979 - Phil takes his place in DENIGH
A few months after recording the demo at 'Europa', Steve said he wanted to take a break from music, but would stay until they had a replacement.
This seemed like another setback for the band but by June 1979, Last Orders had split, Phil was available and DENIGH welcomed him back on Lead Guitar.
With the addition of Phils lead guitar skills and song writing ability, many would regard this as the 'Classic Line-up' .