November's "Animal Games"/"Us Kids Cold" couldn't better that, although it did win them an appearance on the televised music show So It Goes. They were wrong as the single stalled at number 52. The single sported three B-sides, the frenetic "No Time," the band's tribute to Banshees chanteuse "Siouxsie Sue," and a rousing cover of the Easybeat's "Friday on My Mind." This time, London did breach the charts, and band, label, and manager were all sure that they had a hit on their hands. Regardless, hopes were high for the follow-up, "Summer of Love," which was released in August. Everyone was convinced that "Winner" really was one, and while the single sold well, it didn't chart. More headlining gigs followed, with the flamboyant director Mike Mansfield brought in to shoot their video. Their debut single, "Everyone's a Winner"/"Handcuffed" hit the shops that May. Even with a slew of show cancellations, due to fear of punk bands in the provinces, London made enough of a splash to be snatched up by MCA Records in March 1977. Within weeks, the quartet swiftly moved to headlining clubs and then on to the opening slot of the Stranglers' early 1977 national tour. On the enthused word of his assistant, Napier Bell grabbed up the group and quickly went to work on their behalf. In attendance at their debut gig in North London just happened to be the assistant to Simon Napier Bell, the legendary manager who would later go on to handle Wham.
London, not surprisingly, was the quartet's hometown. Both Tredinnick and Wight promptly changed their names, the latter dropping Colin in favor of Dave, the former opting for the more punk-flavored Riff Regan (a tribute to the lead characters in the popular British crime drama The Sweeny). An ad in the music papers in late 1976 brought him requisite musicians in drummer Moss, guitarist Colin Wight, and bassist Steve Voice.
#ALTER EGO BAND MANSFIELD MOVIE#
Singer Miles Tredinnick had previously worked for maverick movie producer Robert Stigwood and he brought that sense of showmanship to his band.
With a little more time, they might have made a real mark on the scene, instead they just gave the world future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss. One of the great could-have-beens of the early British punk scene, London released three singles and an album in their brief two-year lifespan.
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