1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 2006-8
The CUD Story, pt.1
Links
- This story first appeared in the CUD quarter of William Potter's own website.
And so it begins.
The following is the first part of the story of CUD in diary form, based on my own jottings and vague recollections, interrupted by ephemera.
I would like to encourage you, the reader to add your own personal reminiscences of particular events listed. Email cudband.com.
- William Potter, 2007
(above) William (seriously bad haircut), Elvis Belt and Carl, Leeds Poly, 1985
14 Jun 1985
The first CUD gig.
Except that we have been advertised as CND.
Clubterranean was the alternative night at Leeds Polytechnic (now the
better-dressed Metropolitan Uni). Bitzen, Batzen, Botzer also suffered
from the terror of the typo. They are Ritzen Ratzen Rotzer, the elder
band from the Poly Fine Art department. (Ritzen were one of a long line
of Leeds Poly Fine Art acts that look back to Soft Cell, Fad Gadget and
even Frankie Vaughn.)
Through bothering, we both got ourselves on the bottom of the bill below
a rockabilly band, but this was a different CUD to the CUD known and adored
internationally. This was Elvis Belt (Dave Read) vocals/guitar, Alan Thomas
(guitar), Carl Puttnam (bass), William Potter (drums), Nicola Hill (salad
spoons) and Susan Johnstone (recorder) who, through the strength of a
demo cassette, had secured a gig before they had a band... or songs.
[Dave claims to still have the tape somewhere - an early version of You're
the Boss').
The
first gig as it appeared in Leeds Student newspaper
And so, in the basement of William's flat in Burley, with William bashing drums sat on the cellar toilet, they put together a patchy set of songs in just a week including 'You're the Boss' (about the Leeds Poly director) and 'Art!' which would eventually be immortalised on vinyl and an appalling solo shouting/drumming outro by William called 'Fuck Off You Bastard!'
 |
Elvis Belt Dave
Read got his nickname because he wore an ELVIS belt. |
 |
Alan Thomas Alan didn't wear an ELVIS belt, but his trousers stayed up. |
It was a lark, nothing taken too seriously. The name was chosen not for its glamorous and inviting connotations, but because, with just three letters it would look big on posters. This theory only worked if the poster designer gave the band names the same amount of space as opposed to the same font size as was more likely the case. It could have been worse. 'Allez Cud Dem Nid Du Prog' was one early rejected proposal. Or we could have been called Limp Bizkit.
Carl
as light fixture, Leeds Poly, 1984
Leeds Poly, 198 |
Carl
and William met on the first day, arriving for the Fine Art course
in autumn 1984. Alphabetically they appeared next to each on the
course roster. Dave Read was also on Fine Art. He was a more sarcastic,
direct, arrogant guy than Carl and William. He got CUD the first
gig probably through force of will. Nicky and Susan were on the
course too. Alan was going out with Nicky. He had Bob Dylan looks
and guitar hooks. |
Leeds Poly in the Eighties
So,
one gig under their belts, the force that was CUD went on from strength
to strength. Well, no. Actually, they did fuck all for five months. And when they returned, they
were half the size.