SAHB: Accused News Article (1977)

NME

SAHB, Tubes and more November 12, 1977

Cleminson 'saboteur' slams Alex

ALEX HARVEY has been accused of "disloyalty" and "sabotage", following his shock decision to retire totally from_the rock busi-ness. A statement issued by Zal Cleminson guitarist and vocalist with the Sensa-tional Alex Harvey Band, who takes over as front man in Harvey's absence reveals the bitterness felt by the other members of the outfit towards their former leader. In his statement, Cleminson says:

"I feel it should be made crys-tal clear just how big a shock this decision was to his fellow musi-cians. I want Alex Harvey to know he has sabotaged a great band.

"SAHB had just completed 'Rock Drill', which in my opin-

NME CONTACTED Alex Harvey for his comments on Cleminson's statement. It was the first he had heard of it and, after it was read to him, his first reaction was: "How can Zal say it came as a sudden shock, in the same breath as claiming that I actually retired 12 months ago? And how can he regard 'Rock Drill' as our best album, if the past year has been musically frustrating?"

Harvey added: "I don't mind Zal saying that, and it doesn't really come as a surprise. I wanted to move on and I couldn't do it in this situation. There comes a time when you

WILL CLEMINSON

ion is the best album the band has made to date. I have always admired Alex, and he has taught me more about performance than anyone else; but where's the idealism now?

"In reality, Alex Harvey

have to move on, and I had to make a decision, though I didn't feel particularly happy about it.

"I have no complaints about the band. I have been in touch and, besides, they all know my phone number. Everybody seemed to understand at the time. A slanging match won't help and I'm not going to put anybody down. I couldn't sabot-age the band, because I really wish them luck, and I'll always be their A-1 supporter.

"Over the past year I've made suggestions to ease the situation, but they weren't really taken up. The were depending on me too much, like I was Spider Man,

retired a year ago, and the past 12 months have been totally musically frustrating. I want to play electric music, not mind games.

"I have been with Alex for five years, and I expect a hell of a lot more loyalty than he has shown. Since he decided on the spot to walk out of a rehearsal and retire, he has not been in touch with any member of his former band, either to explain or apologise, You don't treat follow members of a band this way."

Cleminson added that he is now going to form his own band, and plans to be ready to go on the road by January. "This will give me the chance to play the music I want and to control my own future", he said. It seems likely that the other remaining SAHB members will join him in the venture.

I'll be back, says Harvey

and I think this will be the best thing for them as well as for me."

Alex then refuted the sugges-tion that he had retired completely, insisting that he will return to the rock scene in due course.

He told NME: "I never said I'd never play again - I just said I didn't want to play this again. I've got a lot of stuff in my mind, and I'll be back. With what, I don't yet know."

Alex Harvey's British tour was this week cancelled offi-cially. Ticket-holders should now apply for cash refunds from the point of purchase.