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Tricks Upon Travellers, or TUT as they were fondly known, was formed in Brighton by good friends Dick Langford and Graeme Hobbs in 1984. They'd previously played bands together and TUT seemed to be the natural next step to provide a platform for Graeme's Iggy Pop/John Lydon like personality, and Dick's vibrant sound writing style. Joining them later, from 1985, on bass were Mike Skinner, Martin Sharpe on guitar, drummer Dulles Foster, fiddle player David Favis-Mortlock, and flutist/whistle and sax player Jules Lawrence. TUT picked up a good crowd playing the circuit on the south coast of England and gained a reputation as being one of THE top Folk Rock bands in the country. During this period, the band release a 3 track cassette called "Bed Heaven" (which contained Bed Heaven, Blame and Circus Maximus) and their first CD release, strangely named "Cilla Taped".
Mark 'madfiddler' Knight picked up the violin after a three year break and joined the band in 1994, replacing Mortlock. Early in '95 Martin left so TUT went down to having a single guitarist in the band. During the latter half of that year they recorded "The Last Fish Supper", which was released in '96. Whilst this kept the familiar Folk Rock sound the band were known for, there was also a hint of where the band were moving towards in the track "Porton Down" where the violin takes an very unfolk rock (and slightly out of tune) distorted solo... The shape of things to come? Fish came out in '96, Mike left the band soon after to be replaced by Melvin Taylor. The band then seemed to go through a bad period. Dulles had an injury at work which made it pretty difficult to play drums any more since he was unable to hold is sticks with any kind of grip. Moral was low, gigs were poor and the decision was taken to give it a break.
It took about a week before Graeme, Dick and Mark got together in a pub, got drunk and realised they were being a bit silly. WIthout Dulles, Melvin and Jules, Mark sourced Paul Stevens and Darren Chapman from his work to fill the vacant drum and bass positions. Things started looking up again and in '97 the band started recording what was to be their most successful CD, "Where the Skeletons Dance". Mark's heavier rock influence was clearly showing by this time and the band became heavier and (some would say) more grown up, ditching the light 'Folk Rock'style and morphiny into a 'Folk Punk' band. After recording guide versions of the first three tracks for the album (where it was later discovered that Paul was suffering from a fractured wrist - not good for a drummer), TUT's famous member curse came back. Darren left the band, and after a steaming performance on the Greenpeace stage at the Glastonbury Festival, Paul went too.
June 1997, and Paul 'H' (no, we never knew his surname) came in on bass. Dulles carries on filling in until Feb 1998 when Rick Burtonshaw (whome Mark met a couple of years earlier at a rehearsal studio) joined the band on drums. After learning the set it was back in the studio to start the Skeletons CD again from scratch. Rick's heavier rock The rock style helped harden the band's sound further, and the CD was released in 1999. Mid 99, Rick left due to family commitments and Paul Stevens (now Wright), the drummer Rick replaced, came back in with his shiney new V-Drum electronic kit.
TUT split up at the end of 2000 after lead singer, Graeme Hobbs, moved to Spain and electric violinist, Mark Knight, joined well known Bristol Folk Rock band 'K-Passa'. Not to be held back by this TUT guitarist, Dick Langford, decided to carry on the TUT name with surviving drummer, Paul Stevens (now Wright), and bass player, Matt Szul. With the aid of Matt's wife, Sam, on accordian and 'The Electrics' fiddler player, Tim Cotterall, TUT2 came about playing old TUT and new tunes in a much quieter laid back style.
After a stint with his friends the Blue Horses, and a few bits of session work and one off gigs Mark ended up moving to Dundee in Scotland, because of work commitments. Before moving up he intended to revive the original sounding TUT (which he missed greatly) and with the permission of both Graeme and Dick he starting the process of recruiting members. Exactly a year passed and Mark had not found anyone he felt would do the TUT name justice until, moving down to Manchester!!!
to be continued.....?
Mark also has a myspace profile, http://www.myspace.com/the_madfiddler
