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Damascus UK Band

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Topic: Damascus UK Band

Posted By: Swedenora
Subject: Damascus UK Band
Date Posted: February 28 2025 at 02:33

Does anyone know anything about Uk Prog Band Damascus active in The Midlands mid to late 80s in pubs & clubs think they had a name change to Arc later
Not to be mixed up with American Christian Band with the same name

All info welcome thanks

Replies:

Posted By: Brass Jester
Date Posted: May 03 2025 at 16:36

Hi Swedenora
My name is David and I was the original drummer for Damascus when we formed in 1981.
Original lineup
Tony Short: Vocals, flute
Mike Ashford: Guitar
Steve Shilvock: Bass
Dave Cooper: Drums

We played many pubs and clubs around the West Midlands and Birmingham

Mike Ashford left and was replaced by
Pete Wheatley: Guitar

We also later had a second guitarist
Pete Redrup (‘Red’)

He just left suddenly, but we wanted keyboards
Rob Blake: Keyboards

He left due to health issues and we gained
Jim Grey: Keyboards

We were playing many gigs a week including two residencies. We also had a stage show featuring John Foxall as ‘the Mad Vicar.’

I left in 1985, the pressure of playing all original material was getting too much – it got to the stage of where we would write a new song on Saturday afternoon and play it live that evening at a gig somewhere.

I recruited Dave Robbins (Drums) to replace me

I believe Steve and Jim left shortly after I did ( it was a bit of a break-up) and they reformed as ARK. They did win the Friday Rock Show Battle of the Band and had a LP “The Dreams of Mr Jones.”

One of their later bass players was John Jowitt, who has gone on to make a name for himself with such bands as IQ and Arena.

Have lost touch with all of them now