Web Links in Bold, Slide Show at bottom of Profile This is my Tribute to a band I managed back in the 1980's, this site pays tribute to the lads in the band, Pete, Andy , Dave, my wife Syb who owned the record company, my daughter Sarah who used to have to go to gig after gig even though she was only 10 at the time and was not into the music. I would also like to thank all who helped in their efforts to put on show after show.
And lets not forget, our Producer John Thomas of Budgie , without him none of this would have happened, I would like to wish JT all the best for the future. Pete Williamson (Manager and ex Budgie PR and now ANUBIS Bassist) The Early Days from Effigy to Target UKTarget UK was formed in late 1984 from the remnants of the group Effigy a Black Country heavy rock band. Effigy had many incarnations featuring many different musicians, the most well known being Pete Stacy and Andy Hart who later formed Target UK, Paul Cox (Drums) who went on to manage Budgie .After the recording of Revin in the Redline and much touring Effigy went their separate ways. Pete Stacy (Effigy Rhythm Guitar and Song Writer) and Andy Hart (Effigy and later Budgie Lead Guitarist and now Anubis) still continued to work together and formed Athens incorporating Mark Bentley on Drums and Andy Yarnell on Keyboards. This group played the odd concert but never toured or released any records. Pete Williamson (Wibble now ANUBIS Bassist) a very old friend of Pete & Andy's took on the management role of Athens.In 1983 Athens split but Andy Hart and Pete Stacy (Stan) continued to write together and in late 1984 went on to form Target UK bringing in the unique drumming talent of Dave Hacket (Taggitt).The POWERFUL unique sound of TARGET UK had arrivedTarget UK by early 1985 had written a complete set and were ready for touring, the band did no covers, only their own unique style of songs. It was then decided the services of Pete Williamson (who had now formed PW Enterprises Rock Promotion Company) were required, he came on board and things started to move forward. Concerts were played across the UK from small pubs to large town halls and the fan base grew. Whilst playing in the South of the UK (southern UK concerts promoted by Tony Tyas) the band tweaked the interest of a Polydor Record Promoter who thought the sound was original but not yet polished.With this in mind the band and management decided it was time to dip their toes into the record business and Pete Stacy wrote Alive & Kicking for the single, FBI was written for the B side. The two songs were tried out on the audiences and were well received.The record was released and Target UK went from strength to strength. The single had airplay on Radio One's Tommy Vance Friday Night Rock Show, The band were featured in a write up by Steve Harris of Iron Maiden in Kerrang and the single was played on many commercial radio stations across the UK and also received airplay in Sydney, all across Europe and New York.
It was time to make a Video and the band made a promo video in Manchester with Soundation. This Video received good reviews and got played on MTV in the US and Europe.Target UK went back into the Studio to record an Album version of Target UK and a single version of Target UK, the B side was to be Too Late for Love. By now John Thomas had become a firm friend of Andy Hart and sold him the Flying V guitar which became the bands trademark and gave name to the Record Company. Although the tracks were recorded at the Barn and produced by JT they were never released as the group broke up after many disagreements on the way forward and in 1987 a disastrous concert in Hemel Hempstead was the last time the band appeared live.CREDITS All songs were written by Pete Stacy (Stan)
This site was written by Pete Williamson - Target UK Manager as a thank you to Andy Hart , Pete Stacy and Dave Hackett for the great times had and the kind friendship that we shared over this period and on to today.
I would also like to send my best wishes to JT (John Thomas) and hope all goes well for him in the future and hope that his health improves from day to day. Paul Cox for all his help in the past and present.
Tony Tyas (the mouth of the south) for his hard work in promoting an unknown group in the South of the UK. Alec Price, Mick Jackson, Chris Plumbly, Martin Hawkins, Phil Jeans, Sybil of Flying V Records , Sarah Cockburn (my Daughter 10 years old at the time, Big Mart, Mel (Pete Stacy's wife) Tront, and anyone we met on the way.