ArtistInfo

Goats Don't Shave

Band, IE
Rock and Alternative

UK group active in the 80s with an address in the West Midlands. Not the Irish group active from 1990 onwards. The original line-up was Neil Fanthom – keyboards, Ewan Watters – guitar, George Russell – drums, Richard Edwards – bass, Anthony Goldrick – synthesizer, Ian the Goat – vocals. The band played their first gig at The Railway, Birmingham, UK on 7th October 1983 supporting Ginger Tom. After a few more support slots the Goats headlined at The Railway in December ’83. Through 1984 the band began rehearsing and playing occasional gigs at The Shoulder of Mutton, Blackheath. They also began appearing regularly at JBs, Dudley. After producing a couple of demo tapes an agreement was reached with Eddie Blower to release the band’s debut single on his Smethwick based ‘Shoestring’ label. In November ’84 the band went to Birmingham’s Sinewave Studio to record ‘Like This Forever’ for the A -side of the single. Shortly afterwards Neil Fanthom, who was at Manchester University and finding it hard to get back to the Midlands for gigs, quit the band to concentrate on his studies. He was not replaced and the band’s sound altered as a result. ‘Like This Forever’ was relegated to a B-side and the new line-up recorded a new song ‘A Rumour’ as the A-side. The single finally appeared in mid ’85. With only 500 copies pressed and no distribution it didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it sold at gigs and the project broke even and helped get the name known. During 1985 the band broadened their horizons and began gigging away from the Midlands. In 1986 they began work on their second single, to be released on their own ‘Go Go Goat’ label. Anthony Goldrick left the band between recording sessions, the band carried on and recorded ‘Omar Sharif’s Moustache’ as a four piece. The single came out Autumn ’86 and was quite well received but with no distribution deal copies had to be sold at gigs. In 1987 The Goats were starting to get regular gigs in London, Cardiff and Plymouth as well as on the local circuit. Richard Edwards decided to leave and was replaced on bass by Paul Rees, known to everyone as Ragga. This fourth version of the band was fairly short-lived. George Russell left the band later that year to be replaced by Tony Dickinson, known as Dickie – the only Goats Don’t Shave member with the ability to levitate a tomato. Two tracks, ‘Tarrah Trace’ and ‘Up the Club’, were recorded for a third single but Dickie decided to quit and the project was shelved.

Members

	Ian Kesterton
	Ewan Watters
	Richard Edwards
	George Russell