Rays story..."Southampton was "nowheresville" and I realised that moving to London was the most logical thing to do, aged about 15 there was no plan, just an idea that something better could be found there, not to mention that I was kicked out of school for violent behaviour :)
(Photo of Ray at 'ya ya' 1984)
When I landed in London, I got myself various part time jobs helping out at Kensington Market. I had even met Tony James at a Sex Gang Children gig in Westbourne Park and he snubbed me when I approached him! Fast forward to 1983 and I had seen Martin Degville and Tony hanging out at Kensington Market and as it turned out they were looking for band members. Martin and Tony had spotted me outside a shop called 'YaYa' and I was hanging out across the way at a stall called "Pure Sex" - but it was Neal that actually approached me: Neal - "'ere mate you look great - can you play drums?" Ray - "Yeah, but I'm guitarist!"And then I was given a phone number and I had a gut feeling that it had something to do with Tony James as I had seen him hanging out with Neal at a shop called "Western Styling" nearby. I was a little apprehensive at first, but something inside told me that THIS was it. I phoned them and got invited round to 3 Pindock Mews, a place that belonged to Magenta Divine. It was Tony that answered the door and was invited in and there sat Martin and I fucking freaked (inside, that is).
They gave me a sort of informal interview and we got on great and they fed me as well, which was great because I was starving!
A nice glass of wine, but I wanted the bottle really...if only they knew then what they know now! but I still love them :)" - Ray Mayhew 11/08/08
There's lot's more to Ray's story, and it proves to be quite a controversial interview!
Mel - Hi Ray welcome to 'Mudkiss' interviews - I guess my initial question would be what are you doing these days?
Mayhem Deranged are:Ray Mayhew - Words and Music,Kevin Prockter - Guitars and Programming, Robert Godfrey - Bass Guitar.
Mel - How would you describe the sound of Mayhem Deranged? What do you write about?
(ARTWORK BY ALEXANDER HEATON 2006)
Ray - Because we are all c***'s, but because c***s are useful no one likes to lick them like crazy. If I have said a word out of context, then more the fool me. I will burn myself down in flames as I do everyday.
Mel - Did you ever perform live gigs with Mayhem Deranged (which is a fabulous name by the way)?
radar.Does anyone remember my drum sticks? It's all pointing at you! I am at what I am because I am what I am. There was another one around 2001 at a bar called the Trinity in Harrow...is that place still there? I fell into the house drum kit during the 2nd song (Pubic Heaven) and they removed me from the venue! If that had happened now it would have been on YouTube!
'Ray Mayhew and Billy Idol at the 'Dortmunder Westfahlen Halle' dressing room -
Mel - Who writes the songs and where is your inspiration from?
Ray - Me, myself and I. there are many influences - Billy Idol, Iggy Pop,Lou Reed, definitely not Sigue Sigue Sputnik, TRex, Whitesnake, Sisters of Mercy, Suicide, Alan Vega, Basement 5, Prince, Madonna, The Farm, Pete Wylie and The Mighty Wah, and All Saints and Kylie Minogue.The Clash and Mick Jones, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleroes. Paul Simonon as Artist (paintings). Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, Jamie Stevenson, Steve New, Steve Jones, John Lydon, The 4x2s Jimmy Lydon (Johns brother).
Ray - I was the first drummer to be recruited in the sense of the new regime
of the group as a spectrum of the so called society we live in. but it all started in Southampton 1979, playing guitar for the band with no name.
Mel - One legend goes that the band had a special T shirt made with the lists of all your court appearances as you were dubbed the 'dangerous one' tell us more about that...
Mel - Mick Jones lent you his '50s white Gibson’ and became your sound mixer for a while and even lent you his roadie and a transit van after he'd been sacked by the clash - what were these times like? Any fond memories of Mick?
(Photo with Mick's guitar by Ray Stevenson)
Mel - You used Sid Vicious old flat in 3 Pindock mews as your rehearsal rooms. Any old ghosts floating around?
Ray - Yes, I used to fuck them frequently!
Mel - You all worked for a while and hung out with Johnny
Thunders, tell me about that.
Ray - I met John in Dundee through the MacKenzie brothers and I hadn't realised that I had hung out with their brother Billy.The voice that c*** had was amazing and John's got the same vocals big up to John. We did try writing songs together and that was it really.
Mel - It's an interesting tale about Mark Laff and Terry Chimes giving you your first drumming lessons, could you tell us about these times and how it came about ?
Ray - Mark Laff was a frequent visitor to 3 Pindock Mews and he introduced
me to Led Zeppelins "In Through The Outdoor". He also lent me a drum kit (in addition to Topper Headon) and taught me how to swing the sticks.He taught me the John Bonham and Keith Moon stuff, which is where he learnt it all from.
I used to see Steve New in Camden busking - Bee Bop A Lula and all that
stuff, great guitarist. I met Terry Chimes in Hammersmith, in a rehearsal studio near the old Odeon. I didn't even know there would be 2 drummers in the group. I got into the studio and there were 2 drum kits set up and Terry sat behind one of them! He showed me the bass drum, hi-hat and snare and a simple 4/4 beat. We did great "Balls of Fire" and all that sort of stuff. Terry Chimes actually part owns Berry Street Studio where we recorded our Last track "Here I Go Again" - small world eh? Sadly, I have not seen Mark in years, but I do know that Terry is chiropractor....The rest as they say is history....
Ray - I got disillusioned with the fact that Giorgio Moroder was producing
the album 'Flaunt It'
And I should have had a whole string of limos! I'm still in touch with Martin and I played drums for him back in Jan 2005 for Sputnik 2. I might play some guitar for him in the near future. Chris? - I don't know where he is and I miss him. I hope he's safe. Last time I saw him was playing drums for BAD in Hammersmith. Neal is cool, he just needs to know that I am.Tony is the most superb bass player that I have played drums with and one of the most patient people I have met! And I didn't steal the money off the table. Fuck'em - I'm the real deal, I am so sorry that you lost me.
Mel – When did you first start to get into music – what bands did you like, what kinds of music? Did you go down the punk road or were you too young?
Ray - I was always a punk rocker (at about 11 years of age) Like many of my generation, I was into the the Sex Pistols and The Clash, Buzzcocks, 999, Generation X, Bowie, John Lydon, Iggy Pop, etc. I had also played the part of donkey in a play which was really good fun touring round all the local middle schools, 23 quid a week for doing that too...the cracked actor eh?
Mel – Do you go and watch bands and are you still London Based?
Ray - Yes, I caught some bands at the 12 Bar Club on Denmark Street
recently.Yes London based.
Mel - Where do you see your future in music and what's new in the pipeline?
Ray - We are going to release "Here I go again" and a remixed version of it
will be done in the first week of September. Work on the album is ongoing.
We also have a gig coming up at "Lark In The Park" on the September 28th
with a very special guest on guitars, so watch out for that.
Listen to 'Here I go again' http://orangeunsignedact.co.uk/acts/mayhem-deranged
Remember how good they were.......
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