This is fascinating – a 20-minute BBC Schools documentary shot in 1973 about a jobbing semi-professional rock band called Renia, some with day jobs, some washing dishes, all subsidising the dream of turning professional (nothing changes…).
They released one album (on Transatlantic Records, home of 60s folk legends like Bert Jansch and Pentangle but by the 70s, home of third-division rockers like Stray, Skin Alley, Marsupilami…) and appeared in session once on Radio 1’s ‘Sounds of the 70s’.
Transatlantic label boss the legendary Nat Joseph is one of the interviewees here – displaying his charming but ruthless approach to business. It’s the only period film I’ve seen of Nat.
Also interviewed are Whispering Bob Harris and his producer Jeff Griffin, who (albeit very pleasantly) damn Renia with faint praise…
Renia are seen here in the studio and in concert in Liverpool – earning £30 and making a loss of £5 on the trip. Seemingly, the band knocked it on the head in the same month that the TV doc was broadcast (March 1974).
It’s a charming glimpse of a lost (but tough) world.
This is the first part of a 3 part documentary about the Mike Stuart Span from Brighton in 1968 who, in the style of Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Zoot Money etc, changed their name to Leviathan when psychedelia kicked in. Spoiler alert : it didn’t work. It’s a fascinating time capsule.
That doc did indeed come to mind when watching the Renia one.
Wasn’t the legendary Les McQueen in Renia at one point?
I’ve no idea. Who’s Les McQueen?
Should’ve been massive but as Les said in later life “It’s a shit business”
BBC Schools Career Advisor to BBC Commissioning Editor:
“Too many young fools are trying to leave school early, ditch education and become pop musicians; we HAVE to do something!”
BBC Commissioning Editor: (thinks):
“Yes! I know just the thing; I was chatting with Whispering Bob in the canteen just the other day – do a programme about this band that his mates at Transatlantic Records are trying to make something of before the lads have to go back to working in Safeway. They are called, er, what was it? Oh yeah, Hernia I think. Check with Bob. That should open their eyes.”
Renia’s drummer was Richard Desmond who later had a somewhat colourful career making millions from publishing pornography all whilst dodging the Gambino Family who were keen to recover unpaid debts.
Gosh @Colin_H. This thread of yours is the Rip Van Winkle of the AW.
Eleven months slumber and suddenly it’s back with a vengeance.
That Richard Desmond sounds like a real bounder @Clive.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/25/richard-desmond-ex-express-owner-pursuing-a-big-profit-in-property
I was researching the band for an idea and found out that little nugget. His publishing catalogue was an eye opener 😂