RICHARD EARL

Richard Scaldwell came into the orbit of the other musicians in the Swell Maps scene in 1977, having been at school with Phones Sportsman. He lived near the Godfreys’ house, so he started jamming with Epic, Phones and Jowe in instrumental projects named The Nozels and The Himalayas. He joined Swell Maps, effectively, at the band’s first recording session, when he drove them to the studio at Cambridge as a favour, and was spontaneously recruited to sing the lead vocal on their first single’s b-side, “Black Velvet”. He took over the role of Phones, partnering Nikki as the band’s other guitarist, and became an integral member until the end.

After the band’s break-up Richard immediately started recording. He made a solo album, “The Egg Store Ilk”, using the band’s four-track TEAC tape machine. He released it on his own label, Pilot Records, in 1981. Soon afterward, he spent six months in New York making a film with some friends at the film academy on Battery Place, and they showed it at the downtown Mudd Club.

Back in London, he played music with a few different projects, mostly featuring Jerry Heslop (drummer), including one called Pull. “I sold a few things, and just set off round the world with a pal.” When he returned to the UK, he moved out of London, to rural Warwickshire. He converted a derelict barn into a workshop, in which he rebuilds vintage sports cars for clients, and gets his thrills by participating in competitive motoring events during the summer.