The Retreat come alive

[totnesdave]

Great to see this, I used to go to the Cooperage most Sundays and see them, caught the coach to London Subterranea and saw them win the National Battle of the Bands too, was awesome ! I still have their two CDs, also got the live cassette tape lurking round somewhere, which was possibly the best example of their 'vibe'. Please dig out more stuff if you have it :)

[scokeatia]

Hi there, I'm one half of SMP Stage Lighting Systems that supplied the lighting for most of their gigs. If you have anymore clips, I would love to see them.

[yenpowellmotor]

Somewhere I have got a video tape of four of their songs made by Plymouth film students which I begged for ages to get a copy of in the early 90s. Time to start digging I reckon. I still listen to their CD in the car even nowadays.

[andygretz]

i used to go to the swan stockwell to see this band bought their cassette still got it

probably nothing to play it on great days great band

[rampentferret]

well ive managed to get my cam corder fixed and its working i have a small amount of film left with the retreat on it but unfortunatly not as much as i thought i had ,i will post up as soon as i can.in the mean time ive done a short video using still pics with a retreat music in the background i hope you like it.

[ba6babe]

more Retreat please...:) music is not the same without them .

[ba6babe]

more Retreat please...:)

[cocoboybenny]

i remember then they use to play up blue monkey they were class any idear were i can get cd from

[conky6669]

Top band, I got to know em quite well, they even gave all my bands support slots which were great!

[rampentferret]

Hi Folks thanks for the comments and i hope it has brought back alot of good memories,iam desperatley trying to find another camcorder and the time to up load more stuff

[mwill96]

Surreysteve.. you are so wrong. I was a judge and one of the organisers of that Plymouth battle of the bands contest and there was only going to be one winner. And it wasn't Rythym Machine. I actually managed to get the A&R manager from London to come to Plymouth to see them that night in the Cooperage. And he was blown away. Yes, they won the final.. And didn't get signed because they would not compromise their sound. What you are right about is...sometimes talent isn't enough :-(

[mwill96]

OMfuckingG. I was the Evening Herald (Plymouth) music reviewer in the days when they should have been signed to London. As a result of a Battle of the Band competition I help organise which they won. But weren't going to because they (Richard) would not compromise their music. True story! (Martin Williams) 1234. Are they still alive. I would like to think so. Fond memories of being in some gash pit in Southampton and they turned ambivalence to worship with Dirty Old Town. RespecT

[surreysteve]

As I remember they won the Plymouth battle of the bands despite organisers trying to rig the result in favour of another band (forget the name...was it Rythym Machine?) who did Blues Brothers stuff at the Street nightclub. I believe the Retreat went on and won the national Battle of the Bands as well...they should have made it big.....sometimes talent isn't enough :-(

[surreysteve]

As I remember they won the Plymouth battle of the bands despite organisers trying to rig the result in favour of another band (forget the name...was it Rythym Machine?) who did Blues Brothers stuff at the Street nightclub. I believe the Retreat went on and won the national Battle of the Bands as well...they should have made it big.....sometimes talent isn't enough :-(

[thekevwhite]

Wow I've been trawling the net for years trying to find stuff on the Retreat. I have their album on cd. Any idea what became of them. They should have made it big but instead vanished.

[rampentferret]

@thekevwhite

Hi thanks for the comment,well sadly they all went there diffrent ways some of the are still local and some have moved away from plymouth.Richard the lead singer is still doing stuff.look for the name richard james

[piperlee100]

@thekevwhite......my old man is al corber the drummer, they were a top band, the best plymouth has ever seen and ever will see

[rampentferret]

@piperlee100 aaah thats great news,i wonderd we he went when the band dissolved ,its great to hear from you,i will try and get some more stuff

[dartmalcolm]

Great to see this, i used to go see them when they played exeter, i still have their album on cassette! Takes me back

[legless710]

the best live band in plymouth ever, those sweaty nights down the cooperage were awesome. how this band never made it big has always baffled me

[rampentferret]

ooh turningwheel what a great song,well to tell you the truth i have loads of stuff on 8mm tape but unfortunatley my cam is no longer playing them,and i am not sure what i have on them i might have a small clip of the turning wheel,but until i can access the tapes who know`s. but i soon as i can get round to it i will post here.

[andymoore64]

Wow- a Group of us used to go every Sunday night to see the Retreat at the Cooperage in Plymouth. Fantastic nights, great band, I even have Providence Street CD in my car and play every so often on the motorways. Thanks so much for posting this!

[rampentferret]

HI andy well i am glad you found the clips,there is more to come,but when i will get round to uploading them iam not sure.but please tell your friends or send a link to them about the retreat.

thanks for your comments providence st is one of richard classic songs well they all where :O)

[andymoore64]

look forward to seeing more. Having looked closer I have spotted a few mates. Don't suppose you have my

all time favourite - Turning wheel?

[rampentferret]

Hi outcastie,thank you for the comment,i am glad it has brought back some good memories.I will post another tonight if i can.

[outcastie]

very very nice to see this! takes me back to the swan stockwell - venue new cross and all sorts of other random London sweatholes! a truly awesome band.

if there's more - please post it!