Local Boys

Brought together by big-time producer Glyn Johns (Rolling Stones, the Who, the Eagles, Eric Clapton), the Local Boys were the teaming of five music business veterans for what turned out to be a one-off project for Island Records. Led primarily by '60s U.K. teen idol Andy Fairweather Low (Amen Corner), who was coming off of a disappointing stretch as a solo artist, the band released one and only record, Moments of Madness, in 1983. Also on board were Tim Gorman (keyboards,vocals), who had recently worked with the Who, former Fotheringay bandmates Jerry Donahue (Fairport Convention) and Pat Donaldson on lead guitar and bass respectively, as well as session drummer David Kemper. And while Low seemed to be the focal point, this was without a doubt a collaborative effort, both in sound and material. Gorman, whose synths stamp a date on the recording, actually takes center stage on a pair of tracks, writing and singing lead, as well as sharing credit on three others with the rest of the band. Moments of Madness, which mixes the more accessible sides of Low's talents with intelligent, if slightly dated, early-'80s AOR, failed to create any sort of interest in the marketplace, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter. Following the breakup, each of the members returned to doing sessions and tours supporting others. Gorman also released a classical/new age recording (Classical Daydreams) in 1996, while Donahue formed the telecaster-wielding Hellecasters. Aside from three albums with Willie & the Poorboys, which featured Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, Low seemed content to be the sideman of choice for the likes of Roger Waters and most notably, Eric Clapton. ~ Brett Hartenbach