Anthony Meynell

Possessing ability and talent are often not enough for exciting new bands. Luck plays its part, too. Sometimes making your own luck is the way forward

Mod revival outfit Squire applied that approach back in May 1979, and for them it paid dividends. Originally a trio, Squire took their name from the name of a shop (Squires) that they rehearsed above in their early days.

All three original members of Squire went to the same school as Paul Weller. To start with they performed covers, which changed in June 1978 when guitarist and singer-songwriter Anthony Maynell joined the band. A short time later, Squire opened for The Jam at what was a local show for both bands, at the 1000-capacity Guildford Civic Hall. Once having joined, Anthony changed the band's direction from performing covers to originals in a relatively short time. A demo recorded in late 1978, ‘Get Ready to Go’, released in 79 via the tiny ROK label, was given airplay by the late John Peel. It was one of, if not the first, specific mod revival releases, although Merton Parkas’ debut single, ‘You Need Wheels’, is cited as the first 79 mod revival single to make an impact on the UK singles charts.

In May 1979, Bridge House venue in East London hosted an all-dayer to showcase some of the rising stars of the mod revival. Although not on the line-up, Squire turned up early with their van full of equipment. For whatever reason, Little Roosters didn't show, so Squire, being in the right place at the right time, were given the opening slot. The rest, as they say, is history.

We caught up with Squire's Anthony Maynell for a look back to former glories as well as a look forward, with the 40th anniversary of the 79 mod Revival and that iconic Mods Mayday gig taking place this year.

What do you remember about Squire's Mods Mayday appearance in 1979?

Two weeks before we, Squire, were talking about Mods Mayday at the Bridge House. We felt we should have been on the line-up, so we decided to take a gamble by turning up early, ready to play, and to see if there was any way we could blag our way onto the bill. Certainly, in London and the south-east at that time, the growing mod revival scene was close-knit, with lots of camaraderie between bands, so we were both hopeful and confident that we'd get some sort of result. We got there very early, the first van in the car park, and we made it known that we were there and ready to play. Little Roosters pulled out. Tony Murphy, the Bridge House promoter, then offered us the opening half-hour slot, which was all we needed, Squire's original material then ran to around 30 minutes in total. We ended up with three tracks included on the live Mods Mayday album.

Secret Affair's Ian Page signed us to their I-Spy label on a two single deal. Being the first band on that day, I think I must be one of the few people who saw every band play that day, and they were all good. With our van being first in the car park, with other bands arriving later, in effect blocking us in for the duration, I was, that day, a captive part of the audience.

Squire's first single for I-Spy is regarded as one of the 79 revival’s finest double-sided singles, with a revival anthem on either side. Was that the intention at the time?

I'd say our first single, ‘Get Ready to Go’, having been played on John Peel's radio show, did help our gamble to blag our way on to the Mods Mayday bill. Ian Page signed us to I-Spy on the strength of our Mods Mayday appearance on a singles deal. Squire also were invited on to some tour dates with Secret Affair. Squire did a few dates on both ‘March Of The Mods’ and ‘Dancing In The Streets’ tours in 1979. The A-side for the first Squire release on I-Spy was always going to be ‘Walking Down the Kings Road’. Initially, the thought was to have ‘The Face of Youth Today’ on the B-side, which was an A-side in its own right. Ian advised that we held it back for our second single, a newer song that hadn't long been finished, ‘It’s a Mod, Mod World’. That was chosen for the B-side to ‘Walking Down the Kings Road’. It became a Radio One Record of the Week and made the lower reaches of the UK national singles charts. As the mod revival spread across Britain, both sides of our debut single for I-Spy certainly were popular at the time, and even more so 20 and even 40 years on.

‘Face of Youth Today’, Squire's second single for I-Spy, was equally well received and equally a live favourite in 79, 80 and beyond.

1980 saw Squire join Stage One Records, with another single released. It also marked the departure of the last original member of Squire from the line-up. What do you remember from that particular period?

Squire at that point hadn't been offered an album deal. I was writing songs that were potential singles, with a view to playing those songs live. Squire joined Stage One and released ‘My Mind Goes Round in Circles’, which was as strong as any of the previous singles. Kirsty MacColl appears on that single on backing vocals and harmonies. At that time the impetus of the 79 revival was waning, and the Stage One single didn't have the impact we all thought it should have had. Enzo was frustrated by the lack of instant success and decided it was time to leave.

During 1981 you set up your own Hi-Lo with the first Squire album coming out. Tell us about that?

‘Hits From 3000 Years Ago’ was, in reality, a collection of old demos and live recordings from the early days of Squire. Understated production is reminiscent of early albums from The Who and The Kinks. Although the songs are understated, they retain pop appeal; a cool aura with a timeless quality. It was the record that I hoped I-spy would release. The initial release was limited to 500, and credited to Anthony Meynall. What hasn't occurred to me was, it was the best way to stay in contact with the fan base.

‘No Time Tomorrow’ was, in effect, a fan club single. Looking back, it certainly made sense. During the early 80s, the demographics were changing, those originally into the mod revival having moved on, while those who were younger in 79 were becoming interested in music. Through the Squire Fan Club, it transpired there was a fan base in America and Australia. Squire connected in America, specifically on the West Coast, with the power-pop and later Paisley pop scene. In the UK there was an age limit on entry to gigs. Squire did a 20-30-date series of matinee tours, playing all over in record shops. They were great times. Squire's first studio album proper was ‘Get Smart’, which was released in 1983. John Bicknell had joined Squire on bass by then. This was followed by the ‘September Gurls’ EP. Work then started on what would have been Squire's next album ‘Smash’, which was never finished.

Moving on to 1999, Squire was invited to headline the 20th anniversary of Mods May Day 79, at the Forum in Kentish Town. What are your memories of that, and those times?

I remember it being a great event; it was like a revival of the 79 revival. Back at the time of the 79 mod revival, we probably didn't appreciate that we were only ten years on from the 60s. I think it was the journalist Chris Hunt (occasional contributor to Scootering during the early days of the magazine) who said something along the lines of, “Squire are closer to The Beatles in their sound.” Mods May Day 20th anniversary captured the essence of the 79 mod revival and those who came from the same area as Squire. As well as the nostalgic enjoyment of playing, it was meeting up with old friends and more recent band members that Squire had had a degree of influence with, such as Dodgy and Stone Roses, with John 'Walking Down The King’s Road' Squire, as he was known at one stage, on guitar. Mod is timeless; it evolves, yet it stays true. From the 60s to now there have always have been bands and artists that subscribe to those original mod ideals. There are Mods May Day gigs all over the world, from the Philippines to Australia and Tokyo. Mod is culturally influential everywhere.

With the 40th Anniversary of Mods Mayday being celebrated in 2019, Squire is on the Mods May Day rosta and involved in marking the revival Ruby anniversary. Your thoughts?

Squire is supporting Secret Affair on their Glory Boys 40th Anniversary tour through April and May. Secret Affair, Dave (Cairns) and Ian, are long-time friends of mine. I'm not sure yet exactly where we are on the Mods May Day 40th anniversary line-up. It'll be good to hook up with The Vapours. Squire line-up is a surprise and something special, too. What I can reveal is that everyone is up for it, it may be an expanded Squire line-up on the day. We're planning a 45-minute set of classic Squire songs, with maybe a couple of new songs, the basis of which were intended for our unfinished album. Squire may re-release our original singles as limited edition items, in parallel with maybe some new singles.