So, how did Betty's Clinic ever appear in front of you?
Well, there are various distinct versions of this. For the alternative one, go here (there is some overlap, by the way).
Then there's the other alternative one, which is, well, alternative... that's here.
Phil Stoneman was once a small geeky boy that went to Carter Lodge School, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield. There he met Scott Handley and decided to start a band, with Phil playing bass. He was supposed to be a guitarist, but the guy that was supposed to be playing drums came into school one day and announced that he'd just got a new guitar from his dad. Okay, Scott said to Phil, then how about you play bass? This sounded good to Phil. Sure, cool. What's a bass?
These years of Phil playing guitar with Scott eventually evolved into a band called Shallow when they met Adam License and Craig Burkinshaw at college. Eventually they found a drummer through a drum school in Sheffield and he turned out to be Ben Hukin. Shallow practised for ages, but never played a single gig. The practises were characterised by bottles of cheap cider, lengthy visits to the pub and Ben stopping for one of his 'Dirty Slags' (fags). The only thing that they ever really managed was the recording of 'Hollow' at Red Tape Studios.
Then the whole thing fell apart. Phil went to university in Scotland, Craig in Wales, Adam and Scott staying in Sheffield. In Scotland, Phil played his first ever gig. With their bass player sick, a band that Phil knew needed someone as a replacement. The gig was cool, Phil was in the band. After that, Phil played as much as he could, usually playing in about three or four bands at once, eventually ending up in Troma Team. On coming home in the summer of 1999, Phil needed to do something.
Phil met up with Craig, who had been away for god knows how long working on a boat in the Mediterranean, and knew that they had to get a band together for the summer, if for no other reason than to get a gig with Scott and Adam who had by now evolved into Third Rail. Phil and Craig jammed for weeks, new songs were written, and alcohol was consumed.
By the way, to avoid confusion, at this point we recommend you having a look at the Sheffield rock family tree.
One night drinking in town, a drummer was found. Nigel Townshend, formerly of Stikklebrix, passed the initiation test; he could play drums. The whimsical idea of using Adam's drum machine was discarded. A first ever proper practise was arranged at The Yellow Arch for the day that the world ended, July 4th 1999. It went well. After the practise, we went to see Chaz Salt, practising in his pub with his new band, The Celebrity All Star Band. Within two hours, Betty's Clinic had two gigs booked; things were going well.
With a week to go before Betty's Clinic's first gig, The Farfield Inn on Friday 30th of July, Craig announced his departure. He was needed on the boat once more and had to leave for Egypt immediately.
And so started a summer of great gigs and replacement bass players...
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