HOUSE was born in May 1976 from the ashes of two local Guildford bands - ASYLUM and BACKHURST.
Tony Backhurst's eponymously named BACKHURST were recording some new material at the University of Surrey, and guitarist Dave Tarn asked Sev to come as a guest to the studio.
'I thought I was only going to stay for an hour or so, but I became so engrossed in the music I stayed for the whole session - 24 hours!' recalls Sev. He also contributed some backing vocals.
Sev's felt that his band, ASYLUM, had lost direction and focus, and was ready to leave.
However, ASYLUM had a month long residency at the Marquee to fulfill, and as they needed a support act, Sev invited Tony Backhurst to support them. So Tony performed at the Marquee with guitarist / bassist Dave Tarn, Sandy Henderson on flute / vocals, with Sev and Asylum drummer Greg Terry-Short joining them for the final two songs. Bass player Tim Wheatley joined the line up for the last show at the Marquee.
At the end of the residency Sev left ASYLUM and he and Tony joined forces in their new band - HOUSE.
They recruited bass player Tim Wheatley almost immediately, and performed as a 3 piece on their early gigs. Tony had a Monday night residency at The Kings Head in Guildford, which over the course of the next 2 years became THE place to be.
Drummer Greg-Terry Short (also ex ASYLUM) joined the band, and they were augmented on some occasions by Greg 'Squeaky' McGregor on sax and flute, and later by Karen Backhurst on flute.
Although they could guarantee to always play to full houses in the local area, away from Guildford it was different. Punk and new wave had made an appearance, and the more thoughtful, song based music that HOUSE played was out of step with the times.
Sev again: 'I can remember doing two gigs in a bar in Brighton, probably in 1977. The first time we supported Shakin' Stevens, and 6 weeks later The Stranglers! Neither were the right audience for us, but I seem to remember the punks had more time for us than the rockers that used to make up Shakey's audience at that time'.
Back in Guildford the pub changed hands and the residency went. By this time guitarist Dick Middleton had joined the line up, and the band's style changed from folk rock to american country rock.
The drummer's chair became a movable feast, being occupied over the next 2 years by Pete Dobson (ex Juicy Lucy), Alan Watkins and Chris 'Wheelbarrow' Brayne.
In 1979, through Dick's contact with RITCHIE BLACKMORE the band supported RAINBOW at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
Tony Backhurst became increasingly more involved in his antiques business, and Sev began to play with other acts, including HEADWAITER, DUFFO, ANY TROUBLE and MUNGO JERRY.
In 1981 they played a final gig in the garden of the pub where it all started - the Kings Head, and that was it..... almost.....
In 1997 HOUSE temporarily reformed to record one track for a CD set commemorating the life of their one time drummer, Chris Brayne, who had died at the end of '96. The three original members, Tony, Sev and Tim recorded 'Lady on the Hill'. They also played 3 songs at a celebratory gig at Chiddingfold Club, augmented on drums by Tim's son Matt.
After the gig there was talk of recording an album of all the old songs, as they had never been properly recorded. Phone calls were made to JOHN TOBLER, respected journalist and old friend (and fan) of the band, and he agreed to release the album through his record company RGF RECORDS.
The CD, aptly entitled 'Water Under The Bridge' was released in 1999.

After a 13 year gap, the band performed together at bass player Tim Wheatley's 60th birthday bash on 1st May 2010. They enjoyed the experience so much that there are plans to do some 'proper' gigs in the Guildford / Godalming area over the latter part of 2010.

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