His first proper band 16 Tambourines was a sprawling affair that played gigs as a 3 piece (the ‘angry young men’ set) up to an 8 piece with brass, percussion and on occasions a didgeridoo. The band played pubs and basement bars that usually only allowed cover bands. “We practised in the middle of town at a place called The Ministry, were the Bunnymen and Teardrops used to rehearse when they were dead famous and heard loads of great stories about them that just frustrated us. Round the corner from The Ministry was a bar called Rudi’s and we used to drink in there a lot and shout at the bands doing ‘Alright Now’ and all that. Obnoxious we were, but we felt like we were on a mission. We kept saying ‘let us play’ and they did to shut us up. “One day a lad we had seen around came up and said ‘I can get you a record deal in 6 weeks’ and we were like ‘oh go on then’ and within 6 weeks we had a deal with Arista, home of Barry Manilow. It was like a Tommy Steele film or something.” The band released their album ‘How Green is your Valley?’ and set off on tour. “They sent us off with Hue & Cry & playing stadiums with Wet Wet Wet. It was all very weird. A tour with Squeeze was great though”. The band was dropped when Arista decided to concentrate more on dance acts. A couple of weeks later the drummer joined another signed band and that was the end of it.
Steve licked his wounds and wrote songs and played in bars and one of them asked him to run a jam night. “The thought of that appalled me so I started an open mic singer-songwriter night the Acoustic Engine “. The Coral, The Zutons, Criss TT, John Smith, Tom Hingley, The Stands and Damien Rice all played it along with hundreds of great songwriters who escaped from their bedrooms onto stages.
In 2001 he put out his solo album ‘It Just Is’ on the Viper Label. The album was a mostly biographical collection of songs written during a turbulent couple of years during which Steve’s oldest friend was murdered and a member of his family was imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. Steve also got married and became a dad. Martyn Campbell of Lightning Seeds (now Richard Ashcroft) co-produced it. Mike Badger and Paul Hemmings ex the La’s played on it, as did Howie Payne from The Stands. “I then got lucky with some great gigs with the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Ian McNabb, Glen Tilbrook and Martin Stephenson. as well as my own tours. I got a number radio sessions and airplay, so I had fun going around on my own with just my guitar and spare undies.” He also ended up on Ricky Tomlinson’s album.”I played guitar on it and dueted with him on ‘Half The World Away!’” The fruits of this union can be heard, if you dare, on Ricky’s ‘Music My Arse’. “We did Parkinson and Noddy Holder was also in the band. I watched the show in a pub in the Highlands were I played a couple of days later. We stopped the gig halfway through and put the telly on. How odd.”
Steve’s latest album & ‘Shake It, Make It & Don’t Fake It’ is another largely acoustic based offering but rootsier and more melodic, combining samples, banjos, fiddles and 12 string guitars, but still recognisably classic Mersey-pop. Martyn Campbell, who co-produced ‘It Just Is’, is again present offering his melodic bass lines and vocals. Martyn also plays in Steve’s live band The Bank of England. Further assistance is given by Dan Dean guitarist with ex Probe Plus favourites The Onset, Robbie Taylor from bright new Liverpool band The Great North-western Hoboes and Brian Chin who co-wrote a number of songs on It Just Is. The album is initially available as a limited edition black vinyl style CD with picture sleeve and newspaper insert from The Acoustic Engine Record Label.
Tokyo
Steve Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am here
I am blazing lights
On your street.
I'm an upstart
Bound to cross you
I'm the hypocrite
She won't forget
And I won't forget
And no one around could tell us apart
Cause we want out something
And where something heart
I am Tokyo
I am here
I am neon signs
On your street
I'm an army
Of winter vines
Marching over your countryside
And she won't forget
And I won't forget
And no one around could tell us apart
Cause we ruined something
And where something heart.
There's never enough time
Only, only
Glove off, something bridge.
Pin prick to the heart
Can it go
I meant every spark
And no one around could tell us apart
Cause we ruined something
And where something heart.
We're burning through town
Like there's nothing to lose
Cause we something
Something by heart... oh!
The lyrics of Steve Roberts' "Tokyo" paint a vivid picture of a bustling city full of dazzling lights and energy. The first stanza sets the scene with the singer describing themselves as Tokyo - they are there, they are the sparkling lights on your street. The second stanza introduces a contrasting image - the singer is an upstart, a hypocrite by someone's side. This could suggest that the facade of energy and excitement is hiding something darker underneath.
The chorus repeats the phrase "And no one around could tell us apart," hinting at a sense of confusion or chaos that seems to be prevalent in this city. The singer is part of an army of winter vines, marching over the countryside. This could represent something invasive or out of control. The line "we ruined something and where something heart" seems to suggest regret or a sense of loss.
The final verse includes the lines "there's never enough time" and "we're burning through town like there's nothing to lose," adding to the sense of chaos and frenetic energy. However, the final line "Cause we something something by heart" leaves the listener with a sense that there is still something genuine and heartfelt driving the singer and their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I am Tokyo
The singer is identifying themselves as the city of Tokyo.
I am here
The singer is currently present and existing in the world.
I am blazing lights On your street.
The city of Tokyo has a lot of bright lights that make its street look stunning.
I'm an upstart Bound to cross you
The artist sees themselves as a new trailblazer and is ready to cross paths with others as they achieve success.
I'm the hypocrite By your side
The artist is calling themselves a hypocrite, mentioning that they are closely associated with someone else who is likely a hypocrite as well.
She won't forget And I won't forget
The singer and another person had a memorable experience that will remain in their memories for a long time to come.
And no one around could tell us apart Cause we want out something And where something heart
Their connection and similar interests make it difficult for others to tell them apart.
I'm an army Of winter vines Marching over your countryside
The metaphorical imagery used in this line is of winter vines overtaking a countryside to represent the artist's power and ability as an influencer taking over the land.
There's never enough time Only, only Glove off, something bridge.
The artist reflects on how there never seems to be enough time to take advantage of opportunities. Each decision is like removing a glove, crossing a bridge, or turning over a new leaf.
Pin prick to the heart Can it go I meant every spark
The artist feels a sudden pain in their heart, questioning whether it’s possible for their emotions to end. Additionally, they say that their feelings were genuine and not some fleeting fancy.
We're burning through town Like there's nothing to lose Cause we something Something by heart... oh!
The singer and their associates are carelessly living life as if nothing is on the line. They behave this way because they believe in something they are passionate about, burning with a passion that’s driven by their hearts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CAREY WILLETTS, JOEL POTT, STEVEN ROBERTS, TIMOTHY WANSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
blindpink
You ever thought of a Lennon tribute act ? Nice work on the piano.