Katch 22 - Biography

Katch 22.

''Formation and early years.''

Mike Eastman and Paul Bonner were schoolfriends, in Wallington, Surrey, England, and formed a band together in 1964. They were joined by brothers Martin and Robert Godbold to complete the band's first line-up. Whilst playing at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London in 1966, they were spotted by record producer and songwriter, Tokenam Aw, who was born in Hawaii and later became their manager. They were signed to the Fontana Records label, and released their first single, "Major Catastrophe" / " Hold Me " (Fontana TF768). Both songs were written by Aw and produced by Harry Roberts, and recorded at Olympic Studios London on September 20, 1966, and released on October 3 the same year.

In June 1967 Robert Godbold left the band and was replaced by Paul Clifton. With this new lineup, the band recorded their second single on the Fontana Records Label, "Makin My Mind Up" / "While We're Friends" (Fontana TF874), released on October 20, 1967.

During this period they were regular support artists to many bands of the era, including The Small Faces, the Alan Price Set, The Animals, and many more.

''The Professional Years.''

In November 1967 they turned full time professional, and went on their first Continental Tour with the Psychedelic 'La Fenetre Rose' package show supporting bands, Keith West and Tomorrow, Cat Stevens, Zoot Money and Dantalions Chariot, Spencer Davis Group, and The Soft Machine.

''BBC Radio One Session Band.''

On return from this tour they made their first B.B.C Radio One recording at Maida Vale Studios for the ''''David Symonds Show'''' on December 12th 1967. The first record release of 1968 was "'The Worlds Getting Smaller" / "Dont Bother".( Fontana TF930) released on 27th April 1968. Once again the songs were written by Tokenam Aw, the A side arranged by Rex Morris, and the B side by Arthur Greenslade, from the BBC Band, Arthur Greenslade and the G Men.

9th May 1968. Recorded session for BBC Radio One The ''''Jimmy Young Show'''' at Maida Vale 4 studio, London. 10th May 1968. Live session on the ''''Joe Loss Pop Show'''' BBC Radio One.

"It's Soft Rock and Allsorts, It's Katch 22", first album.''

Their next recording was an Long Playing record on the Budget Label Saga Records, entitled ''Its Soft Rock and Allsorts, It's Katch 22",(SAGA EROS 8047) recorded at Regent Sound Studios, and for the first time featured some songs written by the band themselves, particularly Martin Godbold, who wrote under the name of Martin Wayne, Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman. Released on 10th May 1968, went on to sell somewhere in the region of 75000 copies, and became the BBC Radio One ' LP of the Week',on the ''David Symonds Show'', leading to the band becoming one of the most regular 'session bands' on many programmes from the time.

During 1968, "Katch 22" played support to many 'chart' bands of the time including, The Kinks, The Bay City Rollers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, etc. During 1968 they became session singers for other artistes in the Fontana stable, and recorded the backing vocals for the Wayne Fontana record "Never An Everyday Thing" / "Waiting For a Break In The Clouds" (Fontana TF976), with musical arrangement by Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann.

''First television appearance, and a feature film debut.''

17th May 1968. First ever Television Recording. ''Late Night Line-Up / Colour Me Pop'' BBC 2 TV. recorded at BBC Studio B White City, Shepherds Bush, London. One of the first ever television shows recorded in colour. The show was screened on Saturday May 18th. On the 24th May 1968 the band played at the famous California Ballroom in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

Due to the Radio popularity of the LP, Katch 22 were approached to play themselves in a discotheque scene in the Michael Klinger, Avco Embassy film 'Baby Love', starring Diana Dors, Anne Lynn, Linda Hayden, Keith Barron, Dick Emery. To coincide with the film and featured in it, were two Tokenam Aw penned songs "Baby Love"/ "Out Of My Life" (Fontana TF1005) with musical arrangement by the band themselves.

''Radio One, more singles and personnel changes.''

20th August 1968. {BBC Radio One Session for the '' David Symonds Show'', Maida Vale Studio, London W9. 16th September 1968. Session singers, ''Hughie Greens, Christmas LP''. 18th September 1968. Backing Vocals session for Wayne Fontana,"Never An Everyday Thing" (Fontana TF976).

Their own next single was entitled "Pumpkin Mini" / "100,000 Years", ( Fontana TF984), released 30th November 1968 with musical arrangement by Richard Hartley originally from the group Fire. Richard went on to write and arrange many film scores.

4th January 1969. California Ballroom, Dunstable.

6th January 1969. BBC Aeolian 2 Studio. '''The Dave Cash Live Show'', with Guests Ronnie Corbett, and Bill Tidy from the Daily Telegraph.

30th January 1969 - 5th February 1969 Katch 22 were resident at the famous Star Club in Hamburg, following in the footsteps of many other bands before them.

4th March 1969 '''Baby Love''', was premiered at the Odeon Theatre in London, and the record released to coincide with this event.

28th March 1969 [Paul Clifton] ( Bass Guitar ) left to join "Cliff Bennet and the Rebel Rousers, and later that year on 11th April 1969, [Martin Godbold], (now calling himself Martin Wayne) left also to form a progressive rock band calling themselves 'Nimbus'. Paul was replaced by ex Portsmouth based band 'Cherry Smash' Bass Guitarist, [John Curtis]. 'Cherry Smash' were in the same management stable as Katch 22 namely [John Edward Entertainments]. Martin was replaced by [Keith Wilford], ex Newcastle-Upon-Tyne band, "Sefton Wall".

The influence of Keith's guitar playing and Johns driving bass style bought a new more contemporary sound to the band, and the new line-up played their first BBC Radio session on 24th April 1969 for the ''"Dave Cash Live Show.''", recorded at BBC Radio One Maida Vale Studio.

20th May 1969. BBC Paris Studio, BBC Paris Studio Lower Regent Street, London, recorded '''Radio One Club'''. 24th June 1969. Recorded '''The Jimmy Young Show''' BBC Aeolian 2 Studio. 8th August 1969. BBC ''Radio One Club Live'', at the Top Rank Suite, Swansea, South Wales. 16th September 1969. Recorded the '''Terry Wogan Show''' at Aeolian Hall, Bond Street, London. 4th November 1969. BBC Radio One '''Stuart Henry Show''',at the Maida Vale Studios, London W9.

14th November 1969. CBS Records released a new single entitled "It's The Sunshine", written by Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman, and a 'B' side written by Lally Stott called "Mrs. Jones". (CBS4644).

John Curtis left on 19th December 1969, to join 'Gary Moore, and was immediately replaced by Bryan Jackson.

The group also continued to tour extensively, playing on the University, and RAF and Naval Camp circuit. In January 1970, the band released a record under the pseudonym "Westland Steamboat", entitled "Born Under A Bad Sign" / "Missouri Train" (CBS4756). The two songs were written by Mike Eastman / Paul Bonner / Stephen Shane and which was produced by Stephen Shane.

10th February 1970. Recorded ''The Terry Wogan Show''. 31st March 1970. Recorded ''The Jimmy Young Show''. 24th April 1970. Recorded ''The Stuart Henry Show''. 27th May 1970. Recorded ''The Jimmy Young Show''. 30th June 1970. Recorded ''The Jimmy Young Show''. 29th July 1970. Recorded ''The Terry Wogan Show.''
In the Summer Katch 22 played in a residency at the Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall, during the season they played support to Status Quo and other top bands of the time.

8th October 1970. BBC Aeolian Hall Studio, recorded ''The Terry Wogan Show''. 21st Octber 1970. BBC Maida Vale Studio, recorded '''The Jimmy Young Show'''.

In December 1970 Brian Jackson left the band, and Mike Eastman changed over from Guitar to Bass Guitar, and Katch 22 continued as a three piece with the line up:- Mike Eastman Bass Guitar / Piano / Vocals, Paul Bonner Drums / Vocals, and Keith Wilford, Lead Guitar / Vocals. By this time Tokenam Aw had gone back to Hawaii and management and agency were taken over by ex Radio London DJ /Agent John Edward. 25th May 1971. First BBC Radio One Session with the new three piece line-up, playing for ''The Jimmy Young Show''. 29th July 1971. Recorded at the BBC Studios at Pebble Mill, Birmingham. They played their last show as 'Katch 22' on February 5th 1972.

''Recent Work.''

After the success of the Cherry Red Album released in 2011, during 2014, original members Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman, got together again, writing new music and songs together. An album entitled "Classical Soft Rock" was the result, with eleven new songs released on January 30th 2015.

They continue to compose together to this day, and on the 29th July 2015, the 1970 single "It's The Sunshine", was re-launched by Radio Mi-Amigo on the "Tony Currie Show", during the Pirate Radio Week in Harwich, and a new song was also written specially for the occasion called "Sing Me An Old Song ( Pirate Radio Memories)".

27th February 2016. A new album was released on their own label Rookwood Records, entitled "Drifting''. The title track of the same name, was originally written in 1970 as the next single on CBS Records, but was never released. A further 10 new songs completed the album, including "Sing Me An Old Song". Monday August 1st 2016. Katch 22 were recorded live in an interview on the 'Tony Currie Show' Radio Mi Amigo, in Harwich, during which they played four songs.

Wednesday November 9th 2016. A live interview and performance was recorded for the 'Keith Skues Show' at the BBC Radio Norfolk studio in Norwich. The programme was broadcast on Keith's show on Sunday December 11th 2016. The interview lasted an hour and a quarter and featured archive BBC Radio C

7th June 2019. A third album was released on the Rookwood Label, entitled "Ris

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