lee n. retna and the spirals

Lee N Retna & The Spirals is a pseudonym for Neil Hunter. Neil has been injecting his unholy diatribe in and around the local music scene since moving to Coventry from Southend in the mid 70s. After taking over guitar duties from Roddy Radiation in local band ‘The Blue Dogs’ (previously 'Jumping Bad') Neil went on to form the 10 piece R&B outfit known as ‘The Baptists’. Next up, and formed purely as a vehicle for piling abuse on Thatcher and her gang, Neil formed ‘The Tendermen’ (see below)with Roddy’s little brother Mark Byers (guitar) Gary Muldoon (drums) and Craig Burden (bass). The Tendermen packed it in after Thatcher was dumped, their work having been completed and Neil shacked up with a couple of local musicians, Clive Layton and Baz Eardley, resulting in the brilliant but short lived ‘Little Red Monsters’ (featured here). That led to Neil and Clive, joined by vocalist extraordinaire Vicky Farmer nee, Cordin, putting together a three piece called ‘Monkeys Grin’. The Grin were supplemented over time with Ruth Roberts (vocals), Bryan Lea Bradford (harmonica), Dan Layton (bass) Howell Lovell (saxophone) and their one studio album ‘Passing of the Years’ is still touted in cult circles as ‘a little gem’. Monkeys Grin is an on-going project so watch this space, but for now, lookout for 'Apesmirk' who can be seen at the Nursery Tavern, Lord Street for a short set 8.00 onwards Wed 24th June...