a witness

After another European tour, Alan Brown left to pursue his solo project The Great Leap Forward, replaced by Triss King. The studio session produced some of the band's finest musical moments: the quirky "I Love You Mr Disposable Razors" - considered by many to be their finest moment - and covers of the Lennon/McCartney song "Tomorrow Never Knows" and The Doors' "Break on Through" for two Sixties compilations released by Imaginary Records on Through the Looking Glass 1966 and 1967.

The session was notable for the smooth, full sound achieved by producer Chris Nagle, an engineer on Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, who captured the easy optimistic feel of "I Love You Mr Disposable Razors". This was to be the A-side of their next single to be released in November and supported by a significant tour.

But in early October 1989, two weeks before the tour, tragedy struck. Rick Aitken was killed in an accident while climbing in the Scottish Highlands. The tour, supporting the Wedding Present, was cancelled and production of the single halted. "Disposable Razors" was finally released in late November with a discreet tribute added to Rick, who was thirty three when he died.

Band members subsequently moved onto other projects. Keith Curtis joined The Membranes as guitarist. He was later a founder member of Goldblade, playing bass. Alan Brown toured The Great Leap Forward but with the group's demise moved to Nottingham. Vince Hunt worked on the soundscape project Pure Sound before forming Marshall Smith with Alan Brown (this time on vocals and guitar) and drummer Daren Garratt.

An 18 track A Witness compilation compilation, Threaphurst Lane was released by Overground Records (OVER VPCD 88) in mid 2000.

Line-up 1984-89
Rick Aitken (guitar, slide guitar (died 11 October 1989)
Alan Brown (drums, keyboards, backing vocals)
Keith Curtis (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Vince Hunt (bass, lyrics)
Triss King (drums)
Christine Hunt (clarinet, violin)
Andy Tillison (piano)