Ken Gamby

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Fixations


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = London
Instrument =
Genre = Mod revival
Occupation =
Years_active = 1978-1981
Label = Detour Records
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Paul Cattini
Ken Gamby
Paul Cathcart
Richard Sharp
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Ken Gamby was the drummer for The Fixations from 1977 to 1980. Originally joining the band in 1975 with a new new kit, new haircut, new scooter, new everything! He left the band temporarily during a period when the line-up was incomplete and joined a mod trio called Relay who played a number of school discos and pubs around Islington.

In 1977, following a Relay gig, Paul Cattini was spurred on to find a bass palyer and complete the line-up for The Fixations. Ken was explosive on stage, and often explosive off stage too. Between Gamby, Cattini and Sharp a gig was rarely finished without the sacrifice of some not-yet-paid-for equipment; expensive but immense fun.

Considered by many to be the soul of the band, he would often finish the set by trashing his kit in an aggressive and usually alcohol fuelled frenzy.

After leaving the band Ken went on to breed a new generation of Mods! His son Martin plays drums for Miss Scarlett. Having gained control of his drinking and his life, Ken now plays congas at Green Street Green Baptist Church and runs drum workshops for people with disabilities, working with organisations such as Bromley Mencap, CASPA and Leonard Cheshire Homes.

Ken had a huge mention in the mod fanzine Maximum Speed.

The Maximum Speed Article

"The first time I saw The Fixations they were supporting The Scooters at The Hop Poles in Enfield. Although almost everyone had come to see the local heroes, The Fixations managed to win over the crowd - but only just! By the sixth viewing The Fixations had progressed to playing The Marquee on a Friday night. The crowd was there to see them this time and it provided just the stimulus they needed to produce their best set. Despite the constant interruptions of a pilled-up Mod who tried to get on the stage, the set flowed really smoothly. They have never had any lack of good material, although on previous occasions the timing sometimes let them down. But of The Marquee the good songs shone through, 'Rex Features' is a really memorable number and 'Sunday Outing' re-states their apparent hatred of their work, (mind you I can't see what's wrong with a day out in Brighton). However, it's typical of their song writing - unusual topics are covered without being pretentious. In their earlier days they even included an instrumental (not Telstar) called 'A Day At The Asylum'. However it is their lyrical qualities which lift them from the pack. The high spot of this is 'Clever Remarks', a sharp analysis of those boring people who've always got to put someone down (Alan Jones - MM, we've got you marked). The strange thing about Fixation gigs is people tend to remember two things about them. The first is that The Fixations have three or maybe even four really special songs and secondly that their drummer 'Ken the nutter' is a 100% mental case; alright, so it’s a bit of a cliché to smash up your drum kit, it certainly looks (stupid) if some normal sticksman starts acting vicious at the end of a cool, calm collected set, but Ken Gamby is either totally retarded or permanently paralytic and with him it just seems natural. In fact I’m disappointed when he doesn't smash it up. The only problem is it stops them getting too many encores 'cos it takes too long to sellotape his kit back together. It's a shame too, as there's always one of their songs nagging away at your brain as you leave their gigs. As the song says, 'There's No Way Out'!"

ources

* http://www.boredteenagers.co.uk/FIXATIONS.htm
* http://groups.msn.com/MARCHOFTHEMODS/thefixations.msnw
* http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/3091
* http://www.purplehearts.freeola.net/sounds_mar_79_article.htm
* http://www.thechords.co.uk/biography/biog03.htm