Stitched-Back Foot Airman

Stitched-Back Foot Airman started in the early eighties as a side project to the Southampton UK based band Games To Avoid led by guitarist and singer Simon Vincent. Stitched was initially an "occasional" band Simon formed with his younger brother Robin Vincent and Mike Farmer and film maker/visual artist Crimp Beringer. The name was taken from a headline in the Southern Evening Echo relating to a small plane pilot who had crashed and had his foot re-attached to his leg, the full headline was "Stitched-back Foot Airman on the mend". 

 

The band operated without boundaries, constantly swapping instruments and experimenting with many different sounds. Their first ever gig at The Kingsland Hall in Southampton (circa '83) has become a legendary boundary busting event. As time passed Games to Avoid and Greeting No.4 both dwindled and Stitched became the main focus. 

 

In '83 or '84 the band migrated to London and several records were released on their own label Very Mouth including the sublime mini album 'Seven Egg Timing Greats' and the 7" 'Wouldn't You Like to Know'. They then signed to the Manchester based label In Tape and released 12" 'Shake Up' and the 12" 'Costa Del Sol'. 

 

Stitched-back Foot Airman played many gigs, mainly in London in the mid-eighties and were regulars at early Club Dog and Whirly-yGig events also sharing bills with the likes of Mekons and Psychic TV, and supporting luminaries like The Smiths just before they hit the bigtime. They also played at a WOMAD festival in Carlyon Bay, Cornwall in 1988. Life's needs meant that jobs were found and around this time Simon moved to the Welsh borders where he has lived ever since. Mike Farmer worked for EMI publishing for a couple of years in their West End studios before setting up home in Sussex and earning a crust writing library music. Robin has pursued an active career as an academic. All are still making music and both Mike and Robin played on Simon's album 'Out of Here' released in 2004. The band have never split and still occasionally get together to record.