The Reegs
Dave Fielding&Reg Smithies&Gary Lavery
Welcome to My Site!
The Reegs new double cd available the 29th June 2009. Also YEARS copies for sale
Check on 'News' for more info on upcoming Coconut DF shows!!
photo above Subject to status single cover artwork-1998
Years [1977-1979]: Chris Seddon&Dave Fielding&Reg Smithies photo by T. Skinkiss
Welcome to My Site
Reg Smithies photo by Tony Skinkiss
I have always been delighted by the sound of The Chameleons, since I hear them for the first time back then in the mid 80's in Barcelona. We would stay in a mate's club and play old vinyl from The Sound, The Cult, Echo&Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Joy Division, etc...
There were just a few of us and we didn't speak much English at all [it's so rare today to find people in Spain who still do], so it was hard to pick up on the lyrics. But we were all simultaneously both, trapped and fascinated by the music; the unique wall of sound that Dave Fielding&Reg Smithies had manage to conjure, both individually and with the band as a whole. For me personally, the guitars were absolutely my first step towards understanding the depth of this band.
It was The Hook. They certainly sounded different to me, and I strongly believe they still do.
They had top 'old school' 80's producers on their albums, like Dave Allen [The Cure] and Steve Lillywhite [U2] and toured all over Europe and America. This days its hard to find bands who can match the guitar sound Dave and Reg created. It remains vitally remarkable to this day that they were able to stand head and shoulders above the pack, undeniably influencing such notable pretenders as 'The Kitchens Of Distinction', 'Interpol', 'The Editors', 'The Departure' and a long etc.. But Dave&Reg have a unique personal trademark which is yet to be replaced.
Unmistakable proof of such would be the great 'underground' acceptance that 'The Chameleons' had
generated during their tours in Spain back on the 80's and even
when the reunion happened in 2000, more particularly in the areas of Barcelona, Valencia and up north.
Considering the lack of radio air play, the language barrier, low promotion and poor or non-existent support from the music media here, it was a rare phenomenon indeed!
This unofficial website is dedicated to Dave Fielding former guitarist of 80's English band The Chameleons UK and focused in all his solo musical projects until this days [The Reegs and Coconut DF].We hope to keep you informed of future releases and upcoming gigs with his current band Coconut DF
Cheers.
Somewhere in Arguelles, Madrid January 2006
Pedro Vila Villar
Seamonkeys
