The Pleasers


The Pleasers are an English power pop group, founded in 1977 in West London/Surrey, consisting of Stephen Benham, Steve McNerney, Nick Powell and Dave Rotchelle, they released five singles; one on Solid Gold Records, and four on Arista Records, however none of the singles entered the UK Singles Chart, they contributed two tracks to the Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival LP record, songs from their 1977 and '78 Studio recordings were eventually released in the United Kingdom on Compact disc in 1996, and a version with extra tracks was released in Japan in 2009. The Pleasers were managed by Chips Chipperfield, who would go on to win two Grammy Awards for Best Long Form Music Video as co-producer with Neil Aspinall in 1997 for The Beatles Anthology, and in 2000 for Band of Gypsys – Live at Fillmore East featuring Jimi Hendrix. The Pleasers' records were produced by experienced record producers; Ron Richards, Geoff Haslam, and Tommy Boyce.

Band members

Stephen Benham Composer, bass guitar and vocals, would go on to produce New Music Television, and is currently managing director of InTune Music Library and Sound Street Radio Tokyo/London.
Steve McNerney vocals and guitar, is a composer and songwriter, and has provided music for documentaries including;,,,,,,,, the featured song We All Need Love in Strays written/directed/starring Vin Diesel, the featured song Changing Man in Deadliest Catch, and five featured songs in 16 and Pregnant.
Nick Powell |Nick Powell lead guitar and vocals.
Dave Rotchelle drums, had previously been a member of The Rockets, and later The Count Bishops, and is currently freelance photographer, and chairman of National Union of Journalists Freelance London Branch.
While they were members of The Pleasers, Steve McNerney and Nick Powell were involved in a car accident towards the end of 1977, but both escaped with only bruises and sprains, although their car was a write-off.

Newspaper and magazine appearances

The Pleasers were featured in the edition of 6 December 1977 of the Evening Standard, were the front cover artist in the edition of 14 January 1978 of the Record Mirror, were the co-front cover artists in the edition of 21 January 1978 of the NME, were a featured artist in the January 1978 edition of ZigZag magazine, were featured in the edition of 23 January 1978 of the Daily Mail as an example of the type of band responsible for the death, were featured in the edition of 4 February 1978 of Sounds, and were featured in a 2007 edition of Mojo.

Television appearances

The Pleasers television début was a performance of Lies on Get It Together, performed Billy and The Kids Are Alright on Tony Wilson's What's On prior to appearing at Rafters nightclub, Manchester on Saturday 18 March 1978, performed The Kids Are Alright on Crackerjack, Cheggers Plays Pop, and The Paul Nicholas Show, performed You Don't Know on Get It Together, and performed A Girl I Know on Get It Together.

Concerts

The Pleasers' first gig in 30 years entitled 'Making the Modern Scene 2' was a Benefit concert for rock journalist and author Terry Rawlings , who is ill with cancer, and took place at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, London on Sunday 26 July 2009, one of the support acts was a supergroup comprising Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks, Mick Jones of The Clash, and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, in addition, Simon Fowler from Ocean Colour Scene also played, and the gig was attended by members of The Purple Hearts, The Chords, Kenney Jones, Dennis Greaves, Mark Feltham, Bermondsey Joy Riders, the DJs were Eddie Pillar and Gary Crowley, and the MC was Danny Baker.

Discography

In addition to the following album and single releases, The Pleasers also recorded versions of; No Particular Place to Go, and Think It Over, these and other tracks are available on Myspace.

Albums

LP record