Music dream is back on track (From thisisoxfordshire)

Music dream is back on track

10:32am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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A COUNCIL worker is hoping his new found cult status will lead to a string of gigs in the capital and a reunion with a long-lost band member.

Tony Ecclestone is used to fielding calls from the media, but now the Cherwell District Council communications officer is making the news himself.

More than 30 years ago Mr Ecclestone, 52, of Barford St Michael, was in a band called Straightshooter for about 18 months, and in 1979 the four-piece released a single, also called Straightshooter.

The record, described as “power pop style” of music, sold about 900 copies, but did not enter the music charts.

Shortly afterwards the band — which also included brothers Dom O’Riley on guitar and Mike O’Riley on drums with Pete Luck on vocals — split up and that should have been the end of their story.

But it seems their fans had other ideas and thanks to the power of the Internet the band has built up a cult following with the single now a collectors’ item, selling on Internet auction site eBay for up to £200.

So much so, that New York based record company Sing Sing tracked down three band members to get permission to re-release the record — this time to a global audience.

Mr Ecclestone, who currently plays in three local groups, the Coyotes, Old Mettle ceilidh band and rock combo Chameleon, said it had all been a bit of a surprise.

He said: “I did an internet search on the record and came across a copy of the record on eBay which sold for £180.

“Then the owner of Sing Sing contacted me and said I’m a big fan of your record and would love to get my hands on a copy.

“I had some copies but was not sure if he was bona fide so didn’t send one.

“But then I got an email to say he had got hold of an original copy and had remastered it.”

Mr Ecclestone has no idea why the single came to be worth so much, but has put it down to vinyl music fans.

He added: “The reunion is a bit of a surprise as I’d lost contact with the others.

“I last saw Dom in about 1990. Mike the drummer continued to send me Christmas cards but as I’d lost his address I was never able to reply.

“We're all looking forward to getting back and playing again.

“We're meeting up later this month at Dom's birthday party to discuss rehearsals and booking gigs.

“We were all at school together in Hampshire (Salesian College, Farnborough) so we go back a long way.”

However, there is one person missing from the reunion, singer Mr Luck, and Mr Ecclestone is appealing for him to get in touch.

Mr Luck was last known to be living in Poole, Dorset, and had been working for the banking industry, and would be aged 49/50.

Straightshooter, written by Dom and Pete, was originally released on a 7-inch vinyl record.

The B-side was called She’s So Fine and was written by all four together.

The track was re-released in June, but Mr Eccelstone does not know how many copies have been sold.

So far, the group have received £36 each in royalties and are holding onto Mr Luck’s share.

But band members hope the move could pave the way for music gigs in London later this year and potentially festival spots in the future.

Anyone who can help should email bluecoyotes@msn.com