Snaps - Biography

Snaps Version 1

Dave Roberts – Vocals
Les Roberts – Bass
Glyn Davis – Guitar
Keiron Brian – Guitar
Andy Hubble – Drums

SNAPS were formed in 1975 and came from Wednesbury in the Black Country. The twins Les and Dave Roberts were 19yrs old at the time and invited 17year old Drummer Andy Hubble and neighbour Guitarist Keiron Brian (also 17) to join the band. Within a week 16 years old Glyn Davis came in as lead guitarist, all living within a half mile radius of each other.

Roy Massey and Mike Lucas took the band under their wings and at the same time formed SOUNZ Management. Roy later went on to manage “Alvin Stardust” and “Shakin Stevens”, but at that time worked for “Astra International” booking agency based in Thornley Street Wolverhampton above the “Club Lafayette”. In fact, it was Roy & Mike who named the band SNAPS.

During 1975 SNAPS had residencies on a Friday night at both the Cavalcade in Willenhall and The Red Lion Bentley public houses, alternating between them. The Christmas and New Year's Eve gigs were a particular hi-light when they crammed over three hundred people into the Red Lion during Christmas Eve 1975, which was way beyond its’ capacity and would now have broken modern fire regulations. On the 18th of January 1976 after performing at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton with “Stevenson’s Rocket” and supporting “Thin Lizzy” at Champness Hall in Rochdale they had no choice but to turn Professional, due to the upcoming amount of UK wide bookings they had.

Roy organised a recording deal with Lee Sound studios in Pelsall, enabling the band to record whenever the studio had any down time, consequently this led to a few late-night sessions. Between Sounz Management connections and studio owner Ron Lee they were lucky enough to work with Dave and Barry Pritchard of the “Fortunes” as well as Peter Green “Fleetwood Mac / Daniel Boone”, both writing for and producing the band in the studio. Barry penned the Snaps debut single “Don’t you worry” and Pete a track called “Suffocation”, the studio engineer at that time was Brad Davis.

Studio owner Ron Lee had signed a studio production deal with Charisma Records in Wardour Street, Soho London (also home to the original Marque Club) and Snaps Single “Don’t you worry” (CB274) was released in February 1976. The release was sandwiched in between Monty Pythons Lumberjack song and the Genesis single A Trick of the tale.

The A side of Snaps single “Don’t you worry” sold to the pre-sixteen Teen Scene fans while the rockier B side “Hard lovin” was bought by a much older audience, which also reflected the age range of the two different audiences attending their gigs.

Through lack of foresight however, Phonogram had not printed enough copies of the single and the first print run had sold out quickly, apparently to the surprise of Charisma? Unfortunately, there were no slots available for another pressing for a number of weeks, so the single was left to fizzle out. They were told at the time that the life of a single was counted in weeks and this was just the way that the industry worked! Radio 1’s DJ Tony Blackburn did however feature the single a number times and said on air that he liked it.

Through Personal reasons lead singer Dave left the band, playing his final gig at the Drakes Drum Great Barr on the 19th of April 1976.

Snaps Version 2

Les Roberts – Bass
Glyn Davis – Guitar
Keiron Brian – Guitar
Andy Hubble – Drums

For the next five gigs, including one at Kings Hall Stoke upon Trent with Radio 1’s Bruno Brooks, both Glyn and Andy shared lead vocals, in the meantime Roy organised an intense advertising campaign to find a new vocalist.

Snaps Version 3

Chris Nott – Vocals
Les Roberts – Bass
Glyn Davis – Guitar
Keiron Brian – Guitar
Andy Hubble – Drums

On the 10th of May Chris Nott from Dudley joined the band. In fact, it was a baptism of fire for him as four days after he joined the band visited their new publicist “Tony Barrow International” situated in Mayfair, London and was also the original Beatles Public Relations agent. Their busy schedule included Interviews and photo shoots with FAB 208 and Jackie Magazines, Melody Maker and New Musical Express.

Days later while gigging at the Top Rank in Southampton, producers from Thames Television came to see the band perform with the view of them fronting a new TV show for teenagers, however, the producer loved the band but not the bands Brumie / Black Country accent? Within days the lads were in Scotland on a nine-date tour living in the van again.

Snaps had plenty of work throughout the hot summer of 1976 with both Glitter Band tour dates as well as their own bookings, also making a number of guest appearances on BBC radio Birmingham (Now BBC WM), visiting their old school Wood green Secondary in Wednesbury for a performance in front of the school. During that time the band clocked up many miles traveling between Scotland and Cornwall, usually coming back home again within the same 24-hour period.

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