Factory Records: TUNNELVISION

Active between 1980 and 1982, youthful Blackpool band Tunnelvision released just one single (Watching the Hydroplanes) on Factory Records, produced by Martin Hannett. Yet their studio demos and live tapes reveal a group of considerable promise and power.

Perhaps the most obscure of the early Factory bands, youthful Blackpool group Tunnelvision performed just seventeen gigs, cut a solitary single, and suffered the indignity of being slated as 'spineless heavy metal' by the NME. Yet as their live and demo recordings reveal, Tunnelvision had far more to offer.

The group first came together as The Pose at Blackpool Roman Catholic School early in 1979, initially to perform Clash and Buzzcocks covers. The first stable line-up comprised vocalist Chris Shea, guitarist Chris Anderton, drummer Phil Barnard and bassist Paul Swindles. As their music matured beyond primitive three-chord thrash, The Pose became Tunnelvision early in 1980, after Shea decided to leave.

Following a re-shuffle Chris Anderton took over on vocals and cast around for a suitable second guitarist, eventually settling on Andrew Leeming, a teenage protege of sage Section 25 guitarist Paul Wiggin. As a result the Sections decided to mentor Tunnelvision, much as they had earlier been mentored by Joy Division.

Line-up

TONY ASHWORTH
CHRIS ATHERTON
IAN BUTTERWORTH

TUNNELVISION FAC 39 Watching The Hydroplanes

TUNNELVISION FAC 39 Watching The Hydroplanes