Alternative A achieved cult status from 1985 to 1987 with classic songs such as **** and *** **** **** *** ******** and notoriety with the hard hitting ****** and an X-rated version of ********** ********** (lack of copyright control means I am unable to mention the actual song titles). They reached their peak in 1986, culminating in their one and only gig, which I'm told went very well despite the fact that the audience failed to turn up even though I'd promised I would. This overnight success took it's usual toll on the personal life of the band members with guitarist Paul Redrobe (who went on to further success in Ireland with 'The Red Army') only being allowed to take 8 O'levels instead of the usual 9, an event which is lamented in the haunting and very moving ** *****. Yes, it's rock and roll and yes it hurts.

Vacant Death were experimental Electro pioneers from the bay area of the city, often cited by band such as Negativland and Kraftwerk. They sacrificed melody and lyric to the god Weird Shit, concentrating more on a good sound rather than a good tune. Due to the nature of their equipment they could never get the same sound twice, causing a great deal of frustration, which led one member to give up the band for a life of religion, whilst directing the other band members to produce from their tormented souls the unforgettable synth rock anthem Xylophone, which when played either forwards or backwards directed the youth of the world to burn tuned musical instruments. Paul Redrobe moved the Ireland in 1986 to take a time out and Bos accepted an offer of session work with Vacant Death, as they where desperately in need of someone who could play the organ and he needed a focus for his creativity. Within weeks they had disbanded and Maghull mourned the passing of two great bands - stars that shone in the black night , a sky that is more used to conning us with shiny milk bottles rather than giving us the genuine article.

Bos' eagerness for continued musical success waned and he instead concentrated up until the summer of 1987 on demonstrating to anyone who would listen that Marxism would work if only given the chance. This was echoed in the new material Alternative A produced during that summer when Redrobe visited his old musical partner for two weeks. Along with fuzzy guitars the new material made great use of a classic 80's percussion sequencer - the SpecDrum. Through the band's endorsement it became a favorite for all those hundreds of Alternative A wannabe bands. Bos' interest in music had been reawakened, and when he received a phone call from ex-Vacant Death members, asking if he was interested in forming a new band with them, he jumped at the chance.

Jumping all the way over to Richard Thompson's recording studio he was armed only with ideas and his SpecDrum, but that was enough. Disillusioned by the House music phenomenon that was sweeping the world, they produced their first hit that afternoon. The track was titled Jack the Fob, and it included the vocals of Thompson's grandmother complaining about the state of music at the time. In one line she states that "……. We never jacked in our day…". Well grandma, this is the 80's so move over and let the kids show you how it's done. You are now listening to the Children Of Moog!