The First Steps

The First Steps were originally named The Resistors, with the same line up but with Al Copperthwaite on vocals. Al moved away leaving the rest, Phil Thornalley on guitar and vocals, Chris Murrell on bass and vocals and Jem Murrell on drums. Phil's brother Jonny was in charge of everything else-management, marketing, setting up the English Rose' Label, beer purchasing and all other essentials. 

 

The first single (E.R.1) was 'The Beat Is Back' and was released in November 1979. They pressed 1000 copies and it went really well and gained some really good reviews in the NME and Sounds. It received nightly plays on Radio One via John Peel and Mike Read and they sold them all within 2 months but the budget didn't stretch to do a re-pressing so that was that. The second single (E.R.3) was 'Anywhere Else But Here'; was released the following year and they pressed 2000. It did OK but was less successful at the time. Then some 10 years later they sold all the remaining copies to an exporter supplying an inexplicable appetite for obscure English Powerpop in Japan. 

 

The only other signing to the English Rose label was David Harris; they released the 'Harry's EP' (E.R.2) around the same time as 'Anywhere Else But Here'. Sadly, it was not a great success and that was about the end for the English Rose label. 

 

Phil was the only one to pursue a career in music and has had great success as a writer and producer. Probably best known for the Natalie Imbruglia hit "Torn" but also for songs recorded by The Cure, Bryan Adams, Ronan Keating, BBMak, Melanie C, Shannon Noll and many other well known artists. He also has played in The Cure around the 'Pornography' album and has also been in Johnny Hates Jazz. [SOURCE: BORED TEENAGERS]