Music City (a rehearsal & recording complex in Deptford) became the
operation centre for The Deptford Urban Free Festival in 1994. Pete
Davis & Craig High ended up doing voluntary work there. They quickly
formed Fuzz Nation Lemmings (soon to be shortened to Fuzznation) with Jim
Woodward (Music City's founder) on keyboards, drum programs, samples &
vocals. Other members included Mel Graham on vocals (close friend of
Genesis & Paula P. Orridge from Psychic TV), Steve Franklin on guitar,
DJ Toneeee as scratch mixmaster (a one time member of The Tribal Energy
Soundsystem), Wayne on drums & Jono on bass. Craig sung, played clarinet,
recorder, melodica, tin whistle, harmonica & percussion.
Fuzznation
Their debut gig (at the end of 1993 under the name F.N.L.) was at
the opening of Goldsmith's Tavern in Deptford as a regular live venue
with free entry. They then gigged regularly for the best part of two
years. They organised & played at an all-dayer at Goldsmith's College with
Back To The Planet, The Sea & The Brain of Morbius amongst others. They
played The South East London Musician's Collective Marquee at The Deptford
Urban Free Festival in 1994. They played at The Telegraph Hill Free
Festival & The Forest Fayre in Wales in the same year. The Forest Fayre
brought such bands as Zion Train, Tribal Drift, Ultramarine, Harold Juana
& The Dust Brothers to the fore. The Conscious Collective had booked them
& this signalled the beginning of a cultural collaboration that drew many
South East London strands together. They also played at an all-nighter
on an outdoor stage at Sanford co-op in Deptford. Another all-nighter in
a marquee in Welshpool crystallized their role as a mainly festival band.
More Fuzznation
Some of the indoor venues they played included The Round The Bend in
Deptford, The Lewisham Labour Club (which New Labour shut down & sold
off when it came to power in 1997), The Amersham Arms in Deptford &
Music City itself.
Fuzznation's music was a fusion of Punk, Soul, Acid Techno, Folk, Dub &
Space Rock with an element of Rap running through everything. One demo &
a stack of gig & rehearsal tapes survive.
The two photos are from The Deptford Urban Free Festival (antimatter pic)
taken by Pam & Norman High & The Forest Fayre taken by Karen Robinson.
The band's lyrics were written by Craig High, Mel & Jim.
The line-up stayed the same throughout with the exception of Pete
Davis who went to India with his partner Kirsty just before The Forest
Fayre gig.
Fuzznation at Music City 1994
Some of the other bands who shared the same line-up as Fuzznation have
included Gardez Leau, The Co Creators, Ponophobia, Impossible Stress
Factor, Conch, Mark Is, The Tripping Kittens, Senser, Sunjam, Ship of
Fools & Scarfo.
Anti-Criminal Justice Bill Soiree
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Craig Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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DJ Toneeee and Jono Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Fuzznation at Music City 1994
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Jim Fuzz at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Jim Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Mel Fuzz at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Mel Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Mel and Craig Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Pete and Mel Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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The Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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Wayne Fuzznation
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Wayne and Craig Fuzznation at Goldsmiths College 1994
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[Email] Craig
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