Huggy leaver biography of michael

Huggy Leaver (Vocals), Ken Copsey (lead guitar), Paul Thomas (rhythm guitar), Eddie Mays (bass) and Dave Blackman (drums)

Some of the Teenbeats’ best friends are Canadians. Dave Blackman talks to our  man-with-the-earning, by J.W – 1979

The rumours are confirmed. The Teenbeats are selling records across the pond, a trip to Canada could be on the cards; and drummer Dave Blackman is still cadging drinks.But just a minute, the Teenbeats version of I can’t control myself was pretty grim – suffering, no-one would deny, from the dreadful Wall of Sponge production at the hands of international Ray Fenwick. So who is buying it?

I collared Dave Blackman in the Chatworth Hotel and asked him:“Canadians” he burbled into a pint of lager, “Canadians are buying the record. Canadians are thick. “What?”  “Well its an awful record. Loads of rubbish really.  “Isn’t that a little harsh?” I asked. The portly sticks man ignored that and went on: “the important thing is that if the record is selling in Canada it’s getting airplay and that means FM listeners in the States will be picking it up”. The whole band is surprised to put it midly that the record is selling as it is.

“Canadians are that much more receptive to the rough, English music,” said the Cozy Powell unlook-a-like. “The 400 copies sent out were picked up by discos and the record was then in great demand”. Huggs said the last he has heard was that the record was number two in the FM airplay chart, 20 in the disco chart and number four in Quebec.

Copies sold so far are in the region of 20,000 which means the Teenbeats should be seeing some money for their efforts.“Things in the band are generally okay” said the drummer and part time mermaid but we want to release records and we want to work”. And work they shall. The band has a gig coming up next Friday (May 30) at the Carlisle with the Model Copies.

The Jim Jim and the Jims gig taking place in the hotel on the night I talked to Dave Blackman ended wi

Original starting of life as 'The Plastics' and the founding members were Michael Cook, Nick Sayer and Mark Hogins who were all from Bexhill-On-Sea. Michael and Mark were at school together. Mark Wilmshurst then joined the band who was from Eastbourne. The Band were complete.

Then a year later, Michael Cook left to join the RAF and Huggy joined as the new vocalist.

The Plastix were a early UK Punk band from the South Coast of England and were managed by 'Simon Watson'. Members coming from Bexhill-On-Sea & Eastbourne. One of their claim to fame that they appeared on the famous "Farewell to the Roxy" album with a track called 'Tough on You'. 'Huggy', the lead singer introduces the track in his distinguished rough gravely voice by announcing 'It's nice to see a lot of you moving out there tonight....This one is for all the people out there who don't like us....' . What a opening line to get the audience on side! Also in the line-up was a young 'Nick Sayer' who went on to find fame with Brighton band 'Transvision Vamp' in the late 80s.

The complete line up of the band consisted of:

In 1978 'Huggy Leaver' audition to be the lead singer of the Kent based Punk band 'The Rivals', but he was turned down. Then in 1979, the Mod Revival started sweeping the UK after the film 'Quadrophenia' had been shown at all the cinem