more! pretty please!
So…! I used to do some of the artwork for them Poster art, T-shirts, flyers etc. My main contribution was the “Pieface” artwork, and my proudest achievements were an enormous “Pieface” stage backdrop in UV fluorescent green with bright orange eyes, and a dancing Pieface with inflatable guitar, built in the style of those dancing flowers that were popular in the 1990s.
The Pies had a bit of a guerrilla attitude to promotion, hence the memorable graffiti campaigns (I had no involvement in any of that I hasten to add!)
One of the earliest graffiti appearances was I think at Kirkdale station; “THE PIES” emblazoned on the big sandstone wall to the east of the platform - a familiar landmark to anyone travelling on the Merseyrail Northern Line.
The imaginative approach to publicity wasn’t just limited to graffiti - there were extensive flyposter campaigns, and they had some friend in regional telly, which led to one or two memorable occurrences.
In one incident, on the TV show Brookside, Ron Dixon is at the “Poly” student union bar, where Ron’s son is performing in his band. Ron is having a heart-to-heart with the lad, telling him he needs to ditch these fancy ideas of becoming a musician and generally knuckle down. On the wall by Ron’s head there is a tour poster of “The Pies” clearly visible. Ron pauses, turns to the poster disparagingly, and says words to the effect of, “I mean, come on! The Pies? For crying out loud!”
Another time, on a Sunday midday talkshow / current affairs / debate programme on Granada, (I forget the name) they managed to get Pies T-shirts on a large number of the participants.
Sadly, it was all a bit chaotic though, and throughout the 90s they never released anything, ultimately disbanding. However, the lead singer, Ashley, kept the band alive. He brought in a new crew and they have had some modest success since, releasing at least a couple of CDs. They occasionally pop up to this day, playing one-off gigs here and there.
It is a big regret that I never got any photos of the stage backdrop at a gig, it looked spectacular. The dancing pie was slightly less impressive - it didn’t work properly and just juddered around a bit. I do have some of the T-shirt artwork still, and one or two of the old posters. I shall pop up into the attic and take some pics.