The Trend (Glossop)

formed in 1977 in Charlesworth near Glossop.

• Rev - lead vocal
• Charlie Vincent - guitar
• Jake Higgs - lead guitar
• Steve Scott - bass guitar
• John Toop - drums

Later -

• Nicky Knott, occasionally John Woodruff.

But quite a lot had happened in a short space of time before this.

Overlode II

consisted of the four young members of The Trend and Billy Henshall, a lead vocalist who had joined the band after leaving ‘Opportunity Knocks’ winners Socrates. The band played around the pubs and clubs in the Manchester area throughout 1976 and Billy who later became Buzz Hawkins the man behind the comic series The Bradshaws brought his experience and songwriting talent to a band that were already writing great songs themselves.

This line up would be remembered with Billy as the man in the mask, the incognito scarecrow singer.

Enter Rev (Mark Revell) who hailed from Ashton -u - Lyne and replaced Billy who left the band to record a solo album with what he deemed to be a more experienced group of musicians.

Rev was a revelation!

Hard hitting and controversial.

The Trend dropped their rock-oriented image and honed their song writing talent into shorter, snappier power pop tunes which fitted into those new wave times.

The band soon picked up a large following as they continued to play regular gigs at

The Boundary in Shaw, The Commercial in Stalybridge, The Gransmoor in Openshaw and The Birch in Ashton - u - Lyne.

The Trend were also showcased at self-publicised gigs at large Town Hall venues in Glossop and Hyde which also featured luminaries such as The Freshies and The Distractions.

It was at this time that the band came to the attention of local impresario’s Peter Sharratt and John Woodruff who presented ‘The Saturday Night Rock Show’ on BBC Radio Manchester, the duo soon decided to manage the band, and so it was time to move up a gear and into the city where The Trend secured residencies at The Phoenix on Oxford Road, Manchester and The Duke of Wellington in Swinton.

This is where things started to happen.

Here The Trend found a new audience that seemed to be fascinated by their quirky songs and odd appearance; the band wore coloured tailcoats and boxing boots, which was a little at odds with the ‘new wave’ suit and tie image of their contemporaries.

The Trend’s debut single ‘Teenage Crush’ was recorded at Revolution studios in Cheadle Hulme which was produced by Andy McPherson and John Woodruff and released on the bands own label ‘Trendy Records’ the record was played on the Radio 1 - Mike Reed show and brought The Trend to national attention.

A demo recording of the complete set of Trend songs was recorded at Pennine studios in Oldham, which along with a place in the final of The Melody Maker talent competition, secured them a record contract with MCA records.

This is where the Band made a line-up change when Nicky Knott, who ironically had played drums for Socrates, become their permanent drummer.

MCA introduced the band to American producer Liam Sternberg who produced two more 45’s.

• Polly and Wendy b/w Family way and
• I don’t anymore b/w Routines

Both recorded at Basing Street, Island Studios in London.

Liam later went on to write the hit single for The Bangles - Walk like an Egyptian.

Next up were BBC, John Peel and Kid Jenson sessions and an appearance at The Venue with American country rocker Joe Ely.

More prestigious London gigs followed -

Dingwalls, The Rock Garden, Music Machine and at The Marquee Club, where they played support to power poppers The Records.

It was at this point - 1980, that The Trend were invited onto a national tour as support to the iconic guitar rockers Wishbone Ash, playing dates at large theatres throughout the UK.

Although the tour brought them to the attention of a larger audience, The Trend were still looking for the success that eluded them and as a compromise MCA arranged for hit maker Tony McCauley to write a winner.

Unfortunately, the song ‘This dance hall must have a back way out’ although a great recording was not the hit that the band had hoped for.

Oh well - That’s the way the cookie crumbles!

The Trend are still together, recording and playing gigs, their latest album Bella Vega has gained critical acclaim and is available on Spotify and ITunes.

Still the original line up: - Rev, Charlie, Jake, Steve and producer John Woodruff on drums.

The End.

Steve Scott June 2023