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THE HAND – Live in London
(Independent Jan 2025)
The Hand met in London UK in the early 1980s and played together, often swapping instruments, for about 15 years until the turn of the century (aka 1999). Playing pubs and after-hours clubs and parties for the most part, they played songs to enthusiastic crowds, with classic tunes by the Beatles, the Hollies, the Who, the Kinks, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Chuck Berry, and hundreds of other great songs, all from memory. Their performances were an all-night rock and roll party not to be missed, and never to be forgotten. In a fit of nostalgia for a simpler time and younger minds, band member and current producer/singersongwriter, Michael Holland, has rescued these recordings from the past to bring a little much needed joy to the present.
Playing 3 sets a night at their weekend residency at the Army and Navy pub in Stoke Newington, often followed by another 3 hour gig at an illegal underground club around the corner (The 99 Club??), paints a blurry picture of how entitled these hard working lads felt to playing equally as hard.
In a classic Three Stooges moment, the band name came about when at a gig (The Red Lion??) one member was musing on a replacement for their already taken band name ‘The Stingrays’. He misheard another, who misheard him, by answering with what time it was. “Yes! I like that! The Hand… that’s excellent”. It was that quick. They changed the name immediately and were The Hand for the second set.
Another more corporate gig had American Airlines dressing them as human bowling pins – hey, it was a gig don’t knock it! Or the time they were sharing a bill at a college in Hertfordshire with the glam rock band Mud – who wouldn’t share their beer – things got dodgy. Keeping it global by downing tequila shots while playing at Mexican restaurant Break For The Border. Another time, caught by the police when smoking pot in the parking lot on break, they were let go without charges (tho they did confiscate their stash) due to the men in blue understanding that, seeing as their gear was still on stage waiting for the next set, the show must go on!
BAND BIO
Their most consistent lineup, the one on the album “Live in London”, featured Rob “Clash” Harper (drums/guitar/bass/vocals) – he actually played with the Clash, Andy “Danny” Douse (guitar/vocals), Simon “Psymon” King (guitar/drums/keys/vocals), and Mike “Where Did I Put My Car Keys?” Holland (bass/keys/vocals). Other musicians playing with the Hand at various times included founding members Bobby Miller (drums) who was in Supertramp, and Marlene Hotz (bass), as well as Sean Heaphy (drums) previously in Scarlet Party.
ANDY “DANNY” DOUSE
(Vocalist/Guitarist/Cigarette Juggler)
Andy is a gentleman and a scholar. His hobbies include debonair cigarette juggling and patiently removing infestations of free AOL sign-up CDs. He longs for world peace and Sinatra albums in every home. He shares a fondness for Fisherman’s Friend Original Lozenges with Emmanuel Macron.
SIMON “PSYMON” KING
(Vocalist/Guitarist/Drummer/Keyboardist/Day Tripper)
Psymon is a psychedelic journeyman song carpenter with several vacation properties in the astral plane where he writes songs and melts like a Salvador Dali watch. On one of his many trips, he was infected by the International Test Match Bug, and a persistent cricket team is now fused with his remaining brain cells. Howzat!
ROB “CLASH” HARPER
(Vocalist/Drummer/Bassist/Guitarist/Attitude Adjuster)
Rob specializes in musical explosives and was the drummer in The Clash for a time. He played bass with Mark Knopfler for a time, and has been in many cool bands for a time. Rob has also forced countless stoned or drunk musicians off their couches and into steamy venues, including the rest of this band. Thanks, Rob! It was time.
MIKE “LET’S GO TO THE CHIP SHOP” HOLLAND
(Vocalist/Bassist/Keyboardist/Recordist/Complete Unknown)
Mike loves to sing Dylan songs with at least eleven verses slightly off-key, and enjoys being unable to find his car keys after a pub gig, and asking a landlord’s son to break into his rusty MGB so he can drive 40 miles home without noticing he has a flat. He has made numerous records as a producer/engineer and expects to recoup his expenses sometime in the 34th century.
