‘MANBIRD!?
“I have no idea what it means. Ask Steve Hands, he came up with it. No, don’t ask him. He won’t know either”. Richard Vernon struggles to account for the name. ‘I can describe what MANBIRD! is though, It’s me discovering that Paul Smith is still writing songs, and playing guitar like Pete Townsend running out of patience with Tom Verlaine riffs. Me persuading him to sing and record, me bringing in Steve Hands to give it wings, and me bringing it back to Earth because I want people to hear this. And all in the kitchen because Smith won’t go in a studio’. – Richard Vernon
Vernon and Hands met in the band ‘The One’ with Peter Perrett from The Only Ones. Since then Vernon spent nearly ten years playing bass for The Mission, then The Almighty’s Ricky Warwick and a host of well-known artists.
Hands, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and performer in his own right, has been in The Band of Holy Joy and is now back with The Only Ones. Peter Perrett has described him as the most musical drummer he has ever played with.
Vernon and Smith met when they were signed to Rough Trade then Island Records, with Helter Skelter. Smith left the band and dropped out of view as their now sought after debut album ‘Consume’ was released.
New single ‘Busy Giddy Minds’ “is about the oldest trick in the politician’s book. If you’re failing, find a war. And you don’t have to look far to see that it’s a trick that works.” – Paul Smith
‘Busy Giddy Minds’ is released on July 31, 2024 and can be pre-saved HERE
MANBIRD!
Rich Vernon – Bass (The Mission/Peter Perrett/Ricky Warwick)
Paul Smith – Vocals (Helter Skelter, The Doctor’s Children)
Steve Hands – Drums (Peter Perrett, and The Only Ones)
