The Armoury Show formed in 1983 and could be described as an agit-prop collective of post-punk rockers. Or just a collection of talented musicians, featuring one spirited Skids front man Richard Jobson - scissor-kicking Into The Valley and beyond – Ahoy! Ahoy!
Another ex-Skid, Russell Webb on bass and backing vox, drummer John Doyle, ex-member of the thinking man’s punk band Magazine, guitarists’ guitar player John McGeoch,who co-founded Magazine and Visage, and played for Siouxsie and the Banshees and Public Image. Their debut single was Castles In Spain in 1984. After just one album - ‘Waiting For The Floods’ - and six singles, the band effectively split in 1986 when Doyle left and McGeoch joined Public Image Ltd. A couple of releases from Jobson and Webb under the name of The Armoury Show formed their epitaph in 1987. The band was no more. Sadly, John McGeoch - one of the world’s most influential guitarists - passed away in 2004.
TO ARMOURY OR NOT TO ARMORY, THAT IS THE QUESTION. Never saw this coming: fast-forward 32 years to 2019 and some fascinatingly bizarre hints appear from Richard about the band making a come-back - one Facebook post said they were to support the Skids. However, the other two surviving members weren't aware any of this, adding to the ambiguity. In September I asked Richard about the line-up - and to see if this was all true - to which he replied: "It's work in progress..." which certainly added to the mystery. Suddenly Autumn saw the announcement of two gigs north of the border, but talk turned to the new spelling: was it the same band? Armory Show, apparently, was Richard's original idea until the others out-voted him for The Armoury Show. Did the two gigs go ahead? The new 2019 line-up is: Richard Jobson (vocals), Rory Cowieson (guitar), Nickolas Young (guitar), Nick Hernandez (drums), Gil Allan.(bass). Hopefully there will be more gigs soon expanding across the UK - or is it still work in progress!?
