King of the Slums

The band formed in mid 1984/1985 in Hulme, Manchester . UK.

The area at that time was dominated by a huge housing complex known as,'The Crescents'. The area had become a virtual no go district for traditional family life, most families had moved out. The area was infested with drug problems and gang issues. It was all eventually demolished and rebuilt , but this time with actual consultation with the people who would be living there. It is now a completely different environment.
In the mid 1980's it was a place most Mancunians regarded with caution. It had a lot of empty properties, these empty flats became populated with a high number of musicians, bands, artists. Charlie Keighera, acquired a flat in one of the 'crescents', specifically to start a band. The flat was lived in and frequented by a colourful collection of characters over the following six months, Mohican punks, ordinary punks, Smith's people, Smackheads, Rastas, young alcoholics and deserted soldiers to name but a few. They all invariably had one thing in common, they were unemployed, many unemployable.

After a while it became clear that 'Charlie' was getting nowhere with starting his band, there were too many distractions, too many people lying on the floor. He decided to clean up his act and clean up his flat. Nomore smackheads, nomore gluebags hanging around, nomore 'fannying' about.

Three months later, ironically through one of his ex Mohican acquaintances, Sarah Curtis' visited the flat. For some reason he wanted a violinist to help start the band and develop a sound. If guitarists were required, then they were literally falling out of the windows nearby, but a 'violin' was required. Luckily, 'Sarah Curtis', not only had one but she could actually play it, she was a classically trained violinist from the Royal Northern college of music. If Sarah, was looking for something a little outside of her music studies, then she had defiantly found it.

Over the next few months a curious range of noises were peeling the wallpaper from the walls. Charlie, and Sarah, were experimenting with what could and couldn't be done with the sound of a violin. There was no budget for the experimentation, just nothing better to do, so anything and everything that was hanging around was used to 'adjust' the sound. Charlie was all the time writing words/lyrics too and learning more and more about the guitar. The flat was then burgled, the small amount of equipment they had acquired was stolen. It was a big blow but the two begged and borrowed from all they knew and continued after a month or so. The flat was then burgled again :( It was deeply sad faces all round. Charlie, then decided to ask a few friends from the past to ask a few questions, little was forthcoming, he then asked a few questions personally, and enough equipment was returned to come to a decision. "We need to record something before what's left of our equipment disappears up some knobheads vein again", was the decision that was reached. A trip to a recording studio shortly after resulted in the band's first 'single'. "Spider Psychiatry", it had three tracks and was posted to every person they liked and had heard of in the world of radio etc. Nothing happened for a whole year. The band then also performed their first 'LIVE' gig at the "Cyprus tavern", in Manchester City Centre. One evening, the weirdest of the three tracks on the single was played by BBC Radio Manchester DJ. "Phil Korbel", things then began to slowly change.

Following their first radio play of the year old single, by Phil, the band sent it out again to their 'favorite' radio people. 'John Peel', then also started to play a track on the single. The band were also introduced to,' Dave Haslam', he liked the band too, he was also setting up a record lable, and running a magazine, he was also a highly regarded DJ at "The Hacienda", nightclub. John Peel continued to play the old single, but it was "Dave Haslam", who got the band known and exposed to the national music press etc. It was 'Dave', who financed their next recordings and subsequently released them on his record lable, 'Play Hard Records'. A flex disc was included in one of Dave Haslam's magazine's, the track was titled 'Hemophiliacs on tacks'. The song was a 'storysong', as was the next one released through 'Dave's lable 'Play Hard Records', 'King Steptoe & The Strangeway's Headcase'. The band had a great number of these 'story type' songs in the beginning, 'Wretched Dunce District', 'Mattress, Fag and Slang', 'The Sideboard Walks', 'Mauled by Inertia', 'Deep Downtown Dimps', 'The Treehouse Fire', these and many more came through as a bootleg some years later.



In February 1988, 'Play Hard Records', released the band's first EP. The EP was called 'England's Finest Hopes'. It resulted in the band getting more national music press coverage, more gigs, more radio play and most important it got them a 'John Peel' session. Another EP followed , "Vicious British Boyfriend", and then the 'Bombs Away On Harpurhey', single. Play Hard Records, then released an album of the bands music.."Barbarous English Fayre". The album did very well in the independent music charts and the future looked very positive for the band. King Of The Slums, decided to move to another record lable, "Midnight Music". A tempestuous relationship evolved with the new lable, publisher, management etc...A second album was released, "Dandelions", followed by three 12" singles. The relationship broke down and the band were offered a new deal with "Cherry Red Records", the third album was released, "Blowzy Weirdo's", and the "Joy", single. The band's relationship with their now 'third' lable also disintegrated. King Of The Slums were obviously not the easiest of band's to deal with. They were also falling out with each other too. A series of performances in America and Europe were being negotiated when they 'fell out' with their agent. Charlie & Sarah, then fell out with each other and everyone had fallen out with everyone. The band then did what turned out to be their last performance in 'May' 1991, in Manchester. According to 'Charlie', it was one of their best gigs.



A few weeks later they sent a letter out to the fans in their fanclub explaining the situation and that the band had decided to, if not have a rest, then split up. They all went their separate ways............ In 2009, King Of The Slums, released a new collection of songs. "The Orphaned Files". The Album/CD, is the first official release since the "Blowzy Weirdo's" album. As a result of the success of the new album, 'Charlie Keighera', is currently negotiating the recording of another 'King Of The Slums', album/CD at the end of 2009. If this materializes then the band will more than likely consider performing "LIVE" again in early 2010 or 2011.. If you would like to contact the band direct then please feel free

to email on support@kingoftheslums.com



copyright. kingoftheslums.com 2012 Juliet Green/NY