Deaf School: The art school dance goes on

 WHEN Deaf School jumped out on an unsuspecting public in the mid 1970s, they shattered a silence that had held Liverpool in its grip for over a decade.  

Ironic, given the name, yet after the Beatles swift departure in 1963 there was little new to twist or shout about. Until the city's Second Coming of Pop, manifested when Deaf School's members met at Liverpool Art College in October 1973.

Thirteen or more of them on stage on a good day: Enrico Cadillac Jnr, Bette Bright, Rev Max Ripple, Cliff Hanger, Steve “Mr Average” Lindsey, Ian Ritchie, Eric Shark and Tim Whittaker the star players.

The aim had been to cobble together an act to play at the student Christmas dance in the historic Hope Street canteen. What they ended up serving was a polished, unique glam-noir signed to Warner Brothers. Theirs was an infectious sound and vision: theatrical live shows combining high-energy pop and cabaret.

Book launch at LIPA on Oct 18. If the city had been in the grip of a musical permafrost after Merseybeat went south, Deaf School delivered the blowtorch for a whole new generation of musicians and artists. The pool had thawed back to life.

Now Deaf School return to Liverpool this October for a weekend of very special events heralding their 40th anniversary. Practically every learning institution in town is involved.

First up, Liverpool Confidential is proud to present the launch of Paul Du Noyer’s new book, Deaf School: The Non-Stop Pop Art Punk Rock Party, at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts on Friday October 18.

Join us for chance to meet band members, hear readings and get your copy signed. A real must for Deaf School fans.

It coincides with the opening of an exhibition at the Liverpool John Moores University, earlier the same evening, with Deaf School band members Miss Bette Bright and Cadillac cutting the proverbial ribbon.

The next night (Saturday October 19)  the entire band will celebrate by playing play a very special book launch performance in the intimate East Village Arts Club.

The book launch

In the book, published by Liverpool University Press next month, veteran music journalist Paul Du Noyer charts the band’s careers and the impact they continue to have on pop and art cultures. Du Noyer and other critics regard them second only to the Beatles as Merseyside’s most important band. 

Their early ineptitude, short songs, dramatic stage presence and distinctive look (short or dyed hair, charity shop attire) and adoption of aliases – all pre-dated punk, the movement that ironically made them suddenly unfashionable when it exploded on the music scene in 1976/77. Following their victory in the 1975 Melody Maker Rock/Folk/Pop contest, Deaf School signed to Warner Brothers, but chart success eluded them.

Deaf School perform at
CBGBs, New YoirkThe band’s members went on to successful careers in music, art, film and TV, including Clive Langer as a writer and producer (Madness, Elvis Costello, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Morrissey, Catatonia), Bette Bright as a solo singer (before marrying Deaf School fan Suggs of Madness), Steve Allen in A&R and Ian Ritchie as composer for TV.

 Du Noyer explains: "The book is my way of thanking Dead School for all the fun they've given me. And of course I'd like more people to know their story. Deaf School are a sort of secret and it's high time they were recognised."

Mark Featherstone-Witty, Founding Principal and Chief Executive of LIPA agrees: “LIPA is delighted to be part of Deaf School’s 40th anniversary celebrations.  Our plans for the renovation of the iconic Liverpool College of Art building where their fantastic story began will also be part of the weekend.  We look forward to telling future generations how important the band and the building are to Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage and the world’s pop industry.  Happy Birthday Deaf School!”

The Exhibition

As the archetypal art school band, Deaf School reflect the creative impact such institutions have had in shaping British pop music, from the Beatles and Roxy Music to Pulp and Florence and the Machine.

Fittingly, the venue for the month-long exhibition, The Art School Dance Goes On Forever, is the other end of Hope Street, in the public areas of LJMU’s John Lennon Art and Design Building.

Bette BrightIt is curated by Bluecoat Artistic Director Bryan Biggs, who studied fine art alongside some of the band members,  in collaboration with Liverpool record sleeve designer Steve Hardstaff.

Biggs says: “The display illustrates the fertile art school environment from which Deaf School sprang, highlighting the art and pop music crossover.

“Exhibits include original art works – including some by late band members Tim Whittaker, Sam Davis (Eric Shark) and Roy Holt – posters, record sleeves, press reviews, photos, rare footage of live performances and some of the band’s stage costumes.”

The Performance

Meanwhile, the birthday party gets into full swing the next night with the East Village Arts Club gig. Another must-go and it's bound to be a sell-out.

Founding band member Clive Langer says: "The story has unfolded really well. I started Deaf School and I'm very proud. And here we are, still doing it. And the creative spark is not dead. There's a power in Deaf School. And where it's going nobody knows.

"The main thing is, I'm still in love with it."