sunday bandstand
14th Mar 2010
The Lost Chords . . . .
The Lost Chords were one of the seminal bands on the late-eighties Newham scene, unique amongst their peers in never actually having played in Newham. They rapidly achieved notoriety after a gig at the Tiger's Head, Lewisham, where the landlord suffered a brutal machete attack at the hands of local Hells Angels gang members not more than a month later.
Gigs at the famous Brentford Red Lion, the Hare and Hounds Islington and the Hammersmith Clarendon followed, and the Chords built up a devoted following. Perhaps the zenith of their career was the infamous Christmas Beach Party at the Queens Head in Islington. If everyone who claims to have been there that night were to gather in Wembley Stadium today, they would fill a dozen or more seats to overflowing.
The original line-up changed as musical differences took their toll and the ones who could play left to join better bands. Jean Marie Marquez, known as the 'sixth Lost Chord', rues to this day his decision to quit, as only a successful career in sound engineering for major-label bands followed.
So for one age-defying, ear-bending, teeth-grinding and knee-cracking afternoon only, on Sunday March 14th, the good people of Hertford will allow the Chords to play again after twenty years of knowing better. Following the path taken by Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Spandau Ballet, they'll be performing their classic repertoire to a new generation, who'll be going to watch their dads embarrassing themselves whether they like it or not.
