NITE LIFE
Last updated: 24-07-2018
More Info Required
Also Known As:
- Night Life
- Switch
- Ipswich
Basic Information
Area:
- ??, Suffolk, Uk
Genre:
- Unknown
Active Years:
C1978 - Undated
C1978 - Undated
Related Bands
Lead Vocals: Wendy Chapman
Lead Vocals: Chris Conolly (possibly passed on) (ex Cruiser)
Guitar: Gene Perry (passed on) (ex Cruiser)
Keys: Dave Nelson
Bass: Richard Croome
Drums: Tim Mower (ex Cruiser)
"Connolly, Perry and Mower were previously in Cruiser and Wendy joined after auditioning. I met up with Perry and we jammed together before he joined. Nelson came from Eltham and joined the band after quitting university at York.
The band began gigging in 1978 and got together a large repertoire of songs, performing in local pubs, clubs and hotels throughout London and the south east. In December of that year the group were selected for the British heats of the Eurovison song contest playing a song called 'Who put the shine on your shoes' which they recorded at CBS studios in London. They had also changed their name from Night Life to Switch.
In March 1978 the band now managed by London based impressario Ivor Raymond, who wrote the hit song 'I only want to be with you.' for Dusty Springfield were told their band name had changed. A band in the US was claiming their name so Ivor decided to call the band Ipswich, much to the surprise and consternation of the whole band. It wasn't that they had anything against their home town it just wasn't very cool.
The contest itself was somewhat of a debacle. After dress rehearsals and a full run through with Terry Wogan at the helm, approximately five minutes before the live broadcast the cameramen went on strike. Whilst an old movie played on the TV the regional judges listened to the bands on tape (yes cassettes) and Ipswich found themselves in fifth place, the winners being Black Lace with a Smokey style rip off. Despite this unfortunate brush with fame (lol) the band continued to work together for a further year with new found agents sending them all around the kingdom including a month of work in the working men's clubs of north east england playing each and every night and twice on Sunday for the princely sum of £1000. After expenses each band member recieved about 30 quid! ( OK the van did need anew engine!) TBC!" Richard Croome 2018