Planet Gong

Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong.

History

The first version of the group was co-founded in London by drummer/vocalist Keith Dobson, guitarist/keyboardist José Gross, bassist Franco and others in March 1974. By 1975 the line-up featured Dobson/Kif Kif Le Batteur (drums/vocals), Steffe Sharpstrings (guitar), Paul 'Twink' Noble (synths) and Keith Tha Missile (bass).

On 7 June 1977, Here & Now played a Jubilee Street Party at Bristol Gardens, a squatted street in Maida Vale.

In 1977, Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth recruited the band to tour with them under the name Planet Gong, and this combination released a live album '' Live Floating Anarchy 1977'' and a single "Opium for the People". The musicians who played on ''Live Floating Anarchy 1977'' were:
* Steffe Sharpstrings (Stephan Lewry) - guitar
* Keith Tha Missile Bass (Keith Bailey) - bass
* Kif Kif Le Batteur (Keith Dobson) - drums/vocals
* Gavin Da Blitz (Gavin Allardyce) - synths
* Suze Da Blooz (Susan Allport) & Ano Wombat (Ano Graver) - dancing/vocals
* Gilli Smyth - vocals
* Dingbat Alien (Daevid Allen) - guitar/vocals

Kif Kif, Suze and Ano left the band by January 1979; Graver to join Alternative TV, Allport sang with The Androids of Mu, while Dobson fronted the cult 1980s post-punk bands The 012 and World Domination Enterprises. He was replaced initially by Rob Bougie. Here & Now continued into the 1980s around the nucleus of Keith and Gavin, with (following Steffe's departure) Dean Gaisburgh-Watkyn on guitar and Paul Rose on drums. Gavin left the band in the early 1990s but, following a 'Planet Gong' reunion tour, Steffe subsequently rejoined and brought in drummer Steve Cassidy (until 2007).

Steffe left Here & Now again in 2009. He has continued to work with Steve Cassidy on various fusion projects and contributed to Joie Hinton projects. He is now concentrating on solo work and his long-time involvement in Visitation Arena with Cher Newsam.

Here & Now continues to tour as a loose collective under the leadership of Keith Tha Bass. As of 2024, a new studio album is partially recorded. The current line-up is:
Keith The Bass - Bass/Vocals
Mark Robson - Keyboards/Vocals
Tom Ashurst - Guitar/Vocals
Steve Cassidy - Drums

Band members

* Kif Kif Le Batteur (Keith Dobson) – drums/vocals (1974–1978) + ~
* José Gross – guitar/keyboards (1974–1975) ^ +
* Chris Kelleher – violin (1974–1975) ^
* Franco – bass (1974)
* Marguerita – vocals (1974)
* Drucilla – ? (1974)
* Joleon Buchanan – guitar (1974–1975)
* Nick Reiter – bass (1974–1975) ^
* Richard Heley – vocals (1974–1975) ^
* Hugh – flute (1974–1975)
* Twink (Paul Noble) – keyboards (1974–1977) ~
* Alan Dogend – ? (1974–1975) +
* Steffe Sharpstrings (Stephan Lewry) – guitar/vocals (1975–1981, 1992–2009) ~
* Keith Tha Missile Bass (Keith Bailey) – bass/vocals (1975–1976, 1976– )
* Max Cann – bass (1976)
* Suze Da Blooze (Susan Allport) – dancing/vocals (1976–1979)
* Gavin Da Blitz (Gavin Allardyce) – keyboards/vocals (1977–1990)
* Ano Wombat (Ano Graver) – dancing/vocals (1977–1979)
* Jack The Sax (Jack Neat) – saxophone (1978)
* Rob Bougie – drums (1979–1982)
* Bernie Elliott – guitar (1979–1980)
* Deano Ferrari (Dean Gaisburgh-Watkyn) – guitar/vocals (1981–1992)
* Rob Peters – drums (1982–1983)
* Paul Rose – drums (1983–1986)
* Pete Davis – drums (1986–1991)
* J.C. (Jonathan Lambert) – saxophone (1986–1989)
* Dominic Luckman – drums (1991)
* Nick Danger – drums (1991)
* Andy Roid – keyboards/vocals (1991–1997, 2011–2019)
* Steve Cassidy – drums (1991–2007, 2021-)
* Joie Hinton – keyboards (2003–2009)
* Merv Pepler – drums (2007–2009)
* Slim Verhoef – guitar (2009–2017)
* Gwyo Ze Pix (Howard Scarr) – keyboards (2009–2010)
* Nik Nimbus – drums (2009–2013)
* Mark Robson – keyboards/vocals (2011– )
* Stephen 'Woody' Wood – drums (2013–2017)
* Andy Burrows – guitar/vocals (2017–2020 )
* Gem Quinn – drums/vocals (2017–2020 )
* Tom Ashurst - guitar/vocals (2021- )

^ formed Blank Space in 1975; + formed The 012 in 1979; ~ formed Ici Maintenants 2001-2007

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:105 bottom:100 top:0 right:0
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:15/03/1974 till:15/08/2020
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1975
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1975

Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:violin value:drabgreen legend:Violin
id:flute value:skyblue legend:Flute
id:sax value:tan2 legend:Saxophone
id:unknown value:yellow legend:unknown
id:release value:black legend:Album

BarData =
bar:Kif text:"Kif Kif Le Batteur"
bar:Bougie text:"Rob Bougie"
bar:Peters text:"Rob Peters"
bar:Rose text:"Paul Rose"
bar:Davis text:"Pete Davis"
bar:Luckman text:"Dominic Luckman"
bar:Danger text:"Nick Danger"
bar:Cassidy text:"Steve Cassidy"
bar:Merv text:"Merv Pepler"
bar:Nik text:"Nik Nimbus"
bar:Woody text:"Woody"
bar:Gem text:"Gem Quinn"
bar:Franco text:"Franco"
bar:Nick text:"Nick Reiter"
bar:Keith text:"Keith Tha Bass"
bar:Max text:"Max Cann"
bar:Saracen text:"José Gross"
bar:Jol text:"Joleon Buchanan"
bar:Steffe text:"Steffe Sharpstrings"
bar:Bernie text:"Bernie Elliott"
bar:Deano text:"Deano Ferrari"
bar:Slim text:"Slim Verhoef"
bar:Burrows text:"Andy Burrows"
bar:Twink text:"Twink"
bar:Gavin text:"Gavin Da Blitz"
bar:Andy text:"Andy Roid"
bar:Joie text:"Joie Hinton"
bar:Gwyo text:"Gwyo Ze Pix"
bar:Mark text:"Mark Robson"
bar:Marguerita text:"Marguerita"
bar:Heley text:"Richard Heley"
bar:Suze text:"Suze Da Blooze"
bar:Drucilla text:"Drucilla"
bar:Dogend text:"Alan Dogend"
bar:Ano text:"Ano Wombat"
bar:Chris text:"Chris Kelleher"
bar:Hugh text:"Hugh"
bar:Jack text:"Jack The Sax"
bar:JC text:"J.C."

PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Kif from:15/03/1974 till:15/12/1978 color:drums
bar:Kif from:15/03/1974 till:15/12/1978 color:vocals width:3
bar:Kif from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:drums
bar:Kif from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:vocals width:3
bar:Bougie from:15/01/1979 till:15/09/1982 color:drums
bar:Peters from:15/09/1982 till:15/02/1983 color:drums
bar:Rose from:15/02/1983 till:31/01/1986 color:drums
bar:Davis from:15/10/1986 till:15/03/1991 color:drums
bar:Luckman from:15/03/1991 till:15/06/1991 color:drums
bar:Danger from:15/06/1991 till:15/09/1991 color:drums
bar:Cassidy from:15/09/1991 till:15/08/2007 color:drums
bar:Merv from:15/08/2007 till:15/05/2009 color:drums
bar:Nik from:15/09/2009 till:15/06/2013 color:drums
bar:Woody from:15/06/2013 till:15/04/2017 color:drums
bar:Gem from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:drums
bar:Gem from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
bar:Franco from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:bass
bar:Nick from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:bass
bar:Keith from:15/07/1975 till:15/03/1976 color:bass
bar:Keith from:15/09/1976 till:31/01/1986 color:bass
bar:Keith from:15/09/1976 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
bar:Keith from:15/10/1986 till:15/08/2020 color:bass
bar:Keith from:15/10/1986 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
bar:Max from:15/03/1976 till:15/09/1976 color:bass
bar:Chris from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:violin
bar:Saracen from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:guitar
bar:Saracen from:15/03/1974 till:15/10/1974 color:keys width:3
bar:Steffe from:15/07/1975 till:15/02/1981 color:guitar
bar:Steffe from:15/07/1975 till:15/02/1981 color:vocals width:3
bar:Steffe from:15/09/1991 till:15/05/2009 color:guitar
bar:Steffe from:15/09/1991 till:15/05/2009 color:vocals width:3
bar:Jol from:15/03/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:guitar
bar:Bernie from:15/01/1979 till:15/02/1980 color:guitar
bar:Deano from:15/02/1981 till:31/01/1986 color:guitar
bar:Deano from:15/02/1981 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
bar:Deano from:15/10/1986 till:15/06/1992 color:guitar
bar:Deano from:15/10/1986 till:15/06/1992 color:vocals width:3
bar:Slim from:15/09/2009 till:15/04/2017 color:guitar
bar:Burrows from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:guitar
bar:Burrows from:15/04/2017 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
bar:Twink from:15/10/1974 till:15/09/1977 color:keys
bar:Twink from:15/08/2007 till:15/09/2007 color:keys
bar:Gavin from:15/10/1977 till:31/01/1986 color:keys
bar:Gavin from:15/10/1977 till:31/01/1986 color:vocals width:3
bar:Gavin from:15/10/1986 till:15/11/1990 color:keys
bar:Gavin from:15/10/1986 till:15/11/1990 color:vocals width:3
bar:Andy from:15/09/1991 till:15/06/1997 color:keys
bar:Andy from:15/09/1991 till:15/06/1997 color:vocals width:3
bar:Andy from:15/08/2011 till:15/01/2019 color:keys
bar:Andy from:15/08/2011 till:15/01/2019 color:vocals width:3
bar:Joie from:15/04/2003 till:15/05/2009 color:keys
bar:Gwyo from:15/09/2009 till:15/03/2010 color:keys
bar:Mark from:15/02/2011 till:15/08/2020 color:keys
bar:Mark from:15/02/2011 till:15/08/2020 color:vocals width:3
bar:Marguerita from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:vocals
bar:Heley from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:vocals
bar:Suze from:15/09/1976 till:15/01/1979 color:vocals
bar:Drucilla from:15/03/1974 till:15/09/1974 color:unknown
bar:Dogend from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:unknown
bar:Ano from:15/10/1977 till:15/01/1979 color:vocals
bar:Hugh from:15/10/1974 till:15/06/1975 color:flute
bar:Jack from:15/01/1978 till:15/06/1978 color:sax
bar:JC from:15/10/1986 till:15/10/1989 color:sax

LineData =
layer:back
color:release
at:06/12/1977
at:15/06/1978
at:07/11/1979
at:15/06/1983
at:22/10/1984
at:31/01/1986
at:15/06/1995

Discography

* ''Bristol Gardens'' (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
* ''Rivington Pike '' (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
* ''Rivington Pike 2'' (Live CD, recorded 1977) (Free Love Records)
* ''Oxford Poly'' (Live CD, recorded with Daevid Allen 1977) (Free Love Records)
* '' Live Floating Anarchy 1977'' (as "Planet Gong", 1977)
* ''Give and Take'' (1978)
* ''Dog in Hell'' ( EP, 1978)
* ''What You See... Is What You Are'' (LP shared with Alternative TV, 1978) (Deptford Fun City, DLP 02)
* ''All Over the Show'' (1979)
* ''Off The Cuff'' (Live Recordings 1979 - cassette only)
* ''Stolen Moments'' (early 80's - cassette only)
* ''Fantasy Shift'' (1983)
* ''Theatre'' (1984)
* ''Been & Gone'' (1986)
* ''Standing Forever'' (EP, 1989)
* ''UFOasis'' (1995)
* ''Gospel of Free'' (recorded 1976 to 1978, released in 1999)
* ''Space and Time'' (as "Ici Maintenants") 2001/2003 (Free Love Records)
* ''Wild and Free'' (1976 line-up re-union live, released 2007) (Free Love Records)
* ''Coaxed out from Oxford'' (originally on tape, released on CD in 2009)
* ''Live in London'' (2007 concert at Dingwalls, released in 2013)

References

External links

Free Love Records

Saracen

Jose's The Recording Workshop

Planet Gong Archives: Here & Now

{{DEFAULTSORT:Here and Now (band)
English rock music groups
English space rock musical groups
Musical groups established in 1974
Counterculture festivals activists