Hate That Smile – Energise – 14th June 1988

Alex Vann: Drums 
Rich Waitland: Guitar/Vocals 
Paul Chambers: Bass/Vocals 
Paul Simmons: Guitar 
Shaun Hemsley: Vocals

26th Feb 2021 – Not certain about the date for this but 1988 would be correct. This was the first iteration of Hate That Smile. Rich left fairly soon after recording this as we started to want to play more shows and I think he had young kids at the time and wasn’t able to commit his time. If I remember correctly I joined the band a little later after formation and still wasn’t sure about how to sing some of Paul’s lyrics so he and Rich ended up singing their songs in the studio.

Alex, the two Paul’s and I had all played together in Atrox which disbanded after Dave Redfern and Charlie Mason went off to university. I’m not sure of the genesis of Hate That Smile anymore. I think the Paul C came up with the name though not sure what the meaning was behind it. This was the time of the rise of Acid House music and raves which adopted the smiley face symbol and I found an image that was similar but the smile had been manipulated into something a little more sinister. I got 500 stickers made up and spread them everywhere I could around my little town. I don’t think they had any impact.

I still enjoy listening to these songs and we felt part of the much larger punk scene of the time though musically sometimes it’s hard to see where we fit in. I was always critical of my vocal skills, especially as this band needed a strong singer and not so much a shouter (which I also wasn’t particularly good at anyway) but considering how badly I sing these days I think I gave it a fair shot. The music holds up as interesting and I was happy with the lyrics I was contributing.

Leprechaun – 4th July 1986

Little green man
Help me if you can
You were born
A leprechaun
Your magical powers
Makes rain showers
Makes sun shine
At any time
You’re so bright
I thought you might
Help me in this mess
Before I get obsessed
With leprechauns

5th October 2023 – When I was six or seven, the lodgers in our house, especially Paul, used to call me ‘Shaun, Shaun the leprechaun’. I hated it – but only because they were making fun. I kind of enjoyed it too. About ten years later I adapted this to make my punk name ‘Leper’ though as with anyone who chooses their own nickname, it didn’t stick.

Paul also used to joke with me that I was half an orphan and when I complained about it he told me that both his parents had already died and then I felt bad. Was it weird to grow up without a dad and as an only child. It’s hard to say when you are the one living it. Things out of your control shape our little minds.

*The Week That Was – 5th August 1985

Record of the week: (Group at Waterlooville that played for 4 hours), Hawkwind (still)

7th August 1985
Fuckin’ ace practice at Dorchester. Really good laugh.
8.5

8th August 1985
Had gig in Southampton. Fuckin’ excellent laugh though it took two and a half hours to find. Bought B.G.K. and Mornington Crescent 7″s and fanzines.
9

10th August 1985
Worked in morning. Went to Waterlooville in afternoon/evening with Paul, Nicky and Ken. Had a fuckin’ fine time.
10

11th August 1985
Came back at 9am. Crabby drove up near to Basingstoke. Quite a laugh. Went down Stocks. I got merrily drunk.
8

*The Week That Was – 29th April 1985

Record of the week: Atrox – live (yeah!), Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

29th April 1985
Working with other bloke called Ken. He’s all right.

30th April 1985
Found out tonight that I’ve been laid off until the end of the week.

1st May 1985
Paul rang up tonight. We’ve got a gig tomorrow.

2nd May 1985
Busy remembering our lyrics. Went to Bridport. Had a fuckin’ good laugh. Gig was OK. Sound wasn’t too hot. Me and Chaz had a thrashing comp. I won.

3rd May 1985
Got pissed. Perry stayed the night. I puked out of window.

4th May 1985
Woke Bennett at 7.50 am, pissed around all day.

5th May 1985
Found out not working for rest of week.

*Tube Train – 18th March 1985

Travelling on the tube train
Noise rattles your brain
Sitting on the dirty seats
Escalator takes your feet
Away
Riding on the tube train
Ride, ride, ride, ride
You’re deep inside
The underground
Taking you around
On tube trains


The Week That Was

Record of the week: False Prophets – Banana Split Republic, Husker Du – 59 Times The Pain/Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill

18th March 1985
Started work with another kiddy. It’s quite good fun. Bloke’s pretty decent as well. Working in Sandbanks. Stayed in.
6

19th March 1985
Working on my own. Down Leigh Road. Bloke used to be in the Pretty Things.
6

20th March 1985
Working same place. Others are helping too. Went to Holtwood. Pete offered an expenses-paid concert there. Can’t be bad. Went down Hinton Martell for meeting. Saw Tammy for first time. She’s OK but always talking about herself. Scott was getting off with her last I saw.
7

21st March 1985
Morning went quick. Afternoon was boring. Mr Ashby said if Atrox want he can put us in touch with someone who can get us a record out. Rung Paul, told him about gig and record deal. Maybe practice Sunday.
6

23rd March 1985
Got Conflict 7″ Flux 7″, Husker Du LP, Stupids 7″, DOA 12″

24th March 1985
Shit practice. Gonna have a break for a while.

Atrox, Disciples of the Elder, (A poet), Other Side Of The Fence – Cornwall Hotel, Dorchester, Dorset, UK – 15th March 1985

28th Aug 2022 – Disciples of the Elder, I think was Andy Andersen’s band at the time. I had tried previously to get a band together with him called Violent Rubbish or possibly Satan’s Children (which I self-tattooed on my left wrist) along with Justin Butler on bass and Simon on drums. We had one practice at Justin’s school somewhere in Hamworthy but never got it together for another as we had few transport options and all lived in different towns.

This was my first show singing with Atrox, having finally begged my way into my favourite band and convincing them that having two singers wasn’t a bad thing. It was pretty unusual at the time. I say singer but I always correct myself to say, vocalist. I was so stoked to be up on stage with my new friends and in a band that I considered far superior to Andy’s.

Other Side Of The Fence was Rich Waitland’s band I believe and a couple of years later he would play a small part in my life in another band (Hate That Smile).

My attempt at a Pete Frame family tree, showing how I was connected with ‘real’ bands!

*New Skin – 11th March 1985

Blotched and ragged
Rough and jagged
You want to trade this one in
For a new skin

Plastic and tough
And it’s flexible enough
To take everything
Your new skin


The Week That Was

Record of the week: False Prophets – Banana Split Republic, Husker Du – New Day Rising LP, Atrox – Loose (live)

11th March 1985
Got up at 11.30. Went to Careers Office, told them I’ve got a job. Couldn’t draw any more money out. Only just managed to get some fags from Gaunts. Bennett didn’t get any dope. He says it was white (?). Stayed in tonight. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot was on again. It’s still good.
6

12th March 1985
Got up at 11.45. Had a bath. Got dirty! Hah! Sorry, but I’m not gonna fill this out properly, OK?
5

13th March 1985
Signed off. Came home. Found letter. Said I wasn’t accepted for job. Careers Office rang and said it was going again so I rang back and start on Monday. Y.C. is being supervised now.
5

14th March 1985
Paul came over to stay. Had a good time. Stereo wouldn’t tape properly. Got my PEACE compilation which is so-so.
7

15th March 1985
Travelled around all day. Got Husker Du’s New Day Rising LP. Went down Dorchester. Said I could sing for Atrox. It was fuckin’ brilliant. Most fun I’ve had for ages. Charlie looked a bit shitty though. Came home same night.
9.5

16th March 1985
Can’t get over yesterday. Went to town. Went down Bournemouth. Gig didn’t look like being on so came back. Saw Burd on the bus. Went up to see Void gig instead. Came home. (Found Mothers Day card on bus)
7

17th March 1985
Went down Gaunts. Had a mud fight. Crabby got shitty. Dean got his nut cracked open. Stayed in tonight.
6

*(?), (Zen), Manitou, The Cat – Academy, Bournemouth, UK – 25th February 1985

The Week That Was

Record of the week: Atrox – Screaming At Deaf Ears demo, Manitou – Something Happened (live)

25th February 1985
Work was pretty boring. Mike’s back but I’m not talking to him and he’s getting the message. Pulled a muscle in my back. Got home, watched Grange Hill. Rode down to Bournemouth. Managed to find The Academy. Saw a Brighton group called The Cat – ok. Manitou – good (had a laser show). Sold two singles. Fucking foggy.
7

26th February 1985
Only slept 5 and a half hours last night. Cos I started talking to Mike he’s fucking following me again. He nearly started crying cos he fucked up an order. Had a good game of football. Not going to Salisbury tonight. Some timber course or something. Came home. Don’t remember what I did tonight. Went to sleep at 9.30.
5

27th February 1985
Woke up at 6.30. Decided not to go to college. Went back to sleep. Didn’t get up til 3.30. (Slept 18 hours!) Felt pretty dizzy and tired. Drum kits falling apart. Went down Youth Club. Felt like I was pissed. Had a go at Bennett cos he pissed around on my bike on Sunday. He said he didn’t but he finally admitted it, so I had another go and went and told his mum. Came home.
3

28th February 1985
Went to work today. Can’t remember a lot of what happened today. I can remember what happened tonight though. Me, Muz and Crabb had a laugh around Gaunts. Took the piss out of Jasper. Went back to Muz’s. Recorded some shit. It was as well.
5

1st March 1985
Went to work. Left at ten to go to Winton for Sales Training. Mr Andrews was there, I said I wasn’t going to be there in the afternoon. So Mr Andrews chucked me off the scheme cos I walked out. Told MJ. Went to Job Centre. Came home. Went to sleep. Made appointment for interview tomorrow. Spent an hour looking for everyone. They raided Dumpton. Jasper, the twat, nicked a fire extinguisher.
6

2nd March 1985
Got up late. Went down Gaunts. Everyone was pissed off with each other. Went home. Went to Wimborne. Had interview at 4. Sounds like good work – hope I get it. Came back after an hour. Scott was gonna get some videos but didn’t, so had a game of Spotlight. Took the piss out of Crabby. Came home. Film last night – Mean Streets.
7

3rd March 1985
Got up at 10. Rode down to Wareham. Got train to Dorchester. My singing was pretty bad so Paul said. Didn’t do a lot otherwise. Came back. Borrowed Young Ones book and Toy Dolls LP and demo. Came back. I think I stayed in this evening. Young Ones book is good too.
6

*Angels – 28th January 1985

Diana is divine
Katie is so clean
Claire is my sweet
Julie is so keen
Lovely angels, broken wings
No one told me of these things
Angela is my angel
Susan is my dream
Lisa is so lovely
But Jane just makes me scream
They’re my lovely angels, broken wings
Now I know of these things


The Week That Was

Record of the week: Husker Du – Metal Circus, Manitou – 7″, Manitou – Live (Waiting For My Girl, Something Happened, Nervous Breakdown)

28th January 1985
M: Went to work. Went to Careers at 9. Drew £70 from Building Society. Paid £5 fine. Went back to work. Rest of the morning went fairly quick.
A: Afternoon went as quick as morning. Me and Ian are swapping over next Monday. Ian’s joining Navy in March.
E: Did Postal Course stuff. Continuing doing the Void art – I hope they use it. Manitou on Thursday.
7

9th Feb 2024 – An image of Ian jumped into my memory as I was writing this today. Yesterday I wasn’t even sure who he was! He was a Weebly-looking kid, a round body and round head, no neck and freckles. He certainly had the look of someone in the Navy.

29th January 1985
M: Feeling fucking tired. This morning took a long time to get over with – especially having to count Key Terrain.
A: Afternoon was OK. Only 4 tickets to book which can’t be bad – for me at least. Got back – rung Paul up. Atrox 16th Feb. Prac. on Sunday.
E: Went to Matt’s. He said that my lyrics were good. Got records back.
5

30th January 1985
M: Got on bus.Chucked till roll out of back. Went down college. Got bored during plumbing.
A: Acid rain!? Carpentry – oh wow. Wayne wasn’t on bus. Got school bus back again.
E: Went to YC. Went to Wimborne YC. Ulterior Motive played very well. Matt passed his test.
7

31st January 1985
M: Went to work. Can’t remember what I did but it went quick anyway.
A: Afternoon went ok. Looking forward to tonight. Fuck all to do at work really.
E: Went to see Manitou – they were absolutely fucking brilliant.
8

1st February 1985
M: Decided not to go to work.
A: Woke up about 12. Stayed in just resting.
E: Went to YC. Had plenty of free games of pool. Took Lee home
6

2nd February 1985
M: Went to Wimborne. Couldn’t get DM’s. Came back. Pissed around Gaunts for a while. Sharon came down so we got on her nerves.
A: Went to gravel pits on the heath. Fucked around there for a while. Came back.
E: Went to Muz’s. Played computer til about 1.30. Left at 2.30
8

3rd February 1985
M: Went to Paul’s. Got train to Dorchester.
A: Atrox practice was pretty boring but their demo sounds quite good. Got in at 7. Had a bath.
E: Don’t feel too good. Bad back, legs, arms, chest and got a cold.
5