A Witness

Infobox musical artist
Name = A Witness


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Origin = Stockport, England, UK
Genre = Alternative rock
Indie rock
Years_active = 1982–1989
Label = Ron Johnson
Communion
Vinyl Drip
Strange Fruit Records
Associated_acts = The Membranes
URL =
Current_members = Rick Aitken
Keith Curtis
Vince Hunt
Alan Brown
Past_members = Noel Kilbride
Notable_instruments =

A Witness were an alternative rock band formed in 1982 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, by Rick Aitken (guitar), Vince Hunt (bass) and a drum machine, in 1986 replaced by Alan Brown (of Big Flame fame).cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 ] Keith Curtis (vocals) and Noel Kilbride (guitar) joined the group in 1983. [ [http://www.euphoniumrecords.com/awitness1.htm Biography] ]

Career

Initially signing to the Ron Johnson label, debut EP "Loudhailer Songs" put them at the forefront of a wave of Beefheart-influenced bands that emerged in the mid-1980's, and won praise from the NME. They gained further attention due to the inclusion of the track "Sharpened Sticks" on the NME's C86 cassette in the following year.cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music |year= 1992 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-579-4 ]

Debut album "I Am John's Pancreas" followed later in 1986, with a further two 12" singles on the Ron Johnson label (one each in 1987 and 1988) before its collapse. Communion issued the US-only "Sacred Cow Heart" compilation in 1988.

Guitarist Rick Aitken died in a climbing accident 1989, and the band split. The band's sessions for John Peel were collected on an album ("The Peel Sessions"), and a posthumous single "I Love You Mr. Disposable Razors" was issued in 1990 on the Vinyl Drip label. The Imaginary compilation series "Through the Looking Glass 1966" included their cover of The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and "Through The Looking Glass 1967" compilation (1990) included their cover of The Doors' track "Break on Through (To the Other Side)".

Keith Curtis went on to play guitar for John Robb's Membranes and bass in Goldblade. Vince Hunt recorded three critically acclaimed soundscape albums as Pure Sound (Yukon (2006), Submarine (2007), Acts of New Noise (2008) then converted the band into a live unit featuring Harry Stafford (keyboards, Inca Babies), Rob Haynes (drums, Goldblade) and Boz Hayward (guitar, HoundGod). He was also a founder member of Marshall Smith in 1997, with Alan Brown and former Pram drummer Daren Garratt, recording a debut album 'Colours'.

Interest in A Witness has never waned, and a retrospective, "Threaphurst Lane", was issued in 2002, while 2006 saw the reissue of "I Am John's Pancreas" for the first time on CD. Hunt formed the label Euphonium (www.euphoniumrecords.com) as a home for his various musical interests.

Discography

Albums

* "I Am John's Pancreas" (1986, Ron Johnson, LP, ZRON 12) (2006, Euphonium, CD, EUPH001) UK Indie #18cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980-1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ] :*"Smelt Like A Pedestrian", "O'Grady's Dream", "Car Skidding", "Red Snake", "Dipping Bird", "Sharpened Sticks", "The Loudhailer Song", "Legs Be Sturdy", "4.49 Stool", "Hard Days' Love"
* "The Peel Sessions" (1989, Strange Fruit, LP/CD, SFPMA 206):*"I Love You Mr Disposable Razors", "Life - The Final Frontier", "Helicopter Tealeaf", "Prince Microwave Bollard", "Take Me To The Earth", "McManus Octaphone", "Sunbed Sentimental", "Zip Up" [ [http://www.euphoniumrecords.com/awindex.htm Homepage] ]

Compilations

* "Sacred Cow Heart" (1988, Communion, LP/C, COMM003/C):*"Smelt Like A Pedestrian", "Red Snake", "Dipping Bird", "Sharpened Sticks", "Legs Be Sturdy", "Hard Days' Love", "Faglane Morris Wind", "Nodding Dog Moustache", "Raw Patch", "The Loudhailer Song". Extra tracks for cassette only: "O'Grady's Dream", "Smelt Like A Pedestrian 2", "Sharpened Sticks 2", "Hard Days' Love 2".
* "Threaphurst Lane: The Best Of A Witness " (2002, Overground, CD, OVERVPCD88):*"Sharpened Sticks", "I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "O'Grady's Dream", "The Loudhailer Song", "Car Skidding", "Dipping Bird", "Lucky In London", "Hard Days' Love", "4.49 Stool", "Smelt Like A Pedestrian", "Faglane Morris Wind", "Nodding Dog Moustache", "Red Snake", "Zip Up", "Threaphurst Lane", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Dudefield"

EPs and singles

* "Loudhailer Songs" (Nov. 1984, Ron Johnson, 12", ZRON 5) UK Indie #9:*"Lucky in London ", "Camera", "Kitchen Sink Drama", "Regular Round" "Drill One"
* "Red Snake" (1987, Ron Johnson, 12", ZRON26):*"Red Snake", "Regular Round", "Hard Days' Love"
*"One Foot In The Groove" (May 1988, Ron Johnson, 12", ZRON 30):*"Nodding Dog Moustache", "Faglane Morris Wind", "Zip Up", "Raw Patch"
* "I Love You Mr. Disposable Razors" (Nov. 1990, Vinyl Drip, 12", SUK 010):*"I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors", "Disposable dance version", "Tomorrow Never Knows"

References