History / The 1980’s

Syd Kitchen’s talents as a songwriter and poet converged in the early 80’s to critical acclaim (and criticism) with two separate shows that he staged at the Hungry Hermit Vegetarian Restaurant and Supper Theatre in Hermitage Lane Durban. The first of these was  “Syd Kitchen In Concert” staged over two weekends in May 1980, which he did with Issy Fataar, Mike Mazzoni and (special guest) Pete Kitchen. Syd performed new material that he’d been writing, read his poetry wearing an executioner’s hood, and generally ruffled some feathers with his performance. The other show was “S’no good and the reasons why”, a one-man musical with serious dialogue about a guy with a death-wish who ends up in Heaven just as its closing for the weekend. This show ran nightly for two weeks in late 1980 with critics divided in their view of what Syd was trying to do. This extended to the audience. One irate patron even threatened to assault Syd, calling the show blasphemous. Ah those days! Syd did return to the Hermit in late 1982 for the show “The Essential Bob Dylan” with Vic Shultz, Ian Lindsay and Clive Rodel. This review on Dylan’s life ran for six weeks to much acclaim. Apart from this Syd performed at both the 1981 and 1982 Port Elizabeth Festivals with Richard Haslop and Mike Mazzoni.

Since he’d started working in music stores in the late 70’s, Syd had developed a solid reputation as a repairer and restorer of stringed instruments, and customers who visited him at these stores eventually convinced him that he should open up his own specialty repair shop. This he did; opening “SYD KITCHEN’S GUITAR SALOON” in 1982 in Albany Grove Durban; arguably the grooviest music store in the country. From the outset, the Art Deco décor, wild paint and stunning guitars, captured the music fraternity’s imagination.  Guitars arrived from all over SA. Additionally, Syd featured young emerging bands and artists every weekend in the store performing on a permanently installed stage; for many, their very first appearance in public. Workshops and clinics; product launches; a Friday night Jazz club; videos showing all day; free coffee and telephone calls; a private booth to view fine instruments; all contributed to the amazing ambiance of the store. By 1986, the combined reality of a SA increasingly under internationally sanctioned economic siege, a health consideration in Syd’s life and the strong desire he was feeling at the time to perform, resulted in the decision to close down “SYD KITCHEN’S GUITAR SALOON” and move on. On to THE UTENSILS!

From the very beginning with its formation in 1985, SYD KITCHEN & THE UTENSILS was a group that attempted to reflect the socio-political reality of the time. You must remember that SA in those days was a country run by despots. People were being detained for sometimes no reason what so ever; there was a general State Of Emergency prohibiting any form of gathering; the country was being squeezed by external pressure for change as well as serious internal persuasion from organizations like the United Democratic Front, Church and NGO groups et al; in short a great time to start a music group. The energy of the band, coupled with its groovy Afro/Reggae/Rock/Folk-a-delic music and a “killer” name; all ensured that THE UTENSILS rapidly gained a healthy cult following that supported them wherever they played.
  
Original members were Michael Cross as publicist, Marc Bailey on drums, Marius Botha on bass and Mike Mantle and Syd on guitars. This line-up stayed until early 1987 when Bailey and Mantle left to be replaced by drummer Kevin Gibson. The album “Waiting For The Heave” emerged from this change. The stage line-up was augmented to include Dan Chiorboli on percussion, Mark Harris and Nux Schwartz on additional guitars and Will Wallace and Dave Atkinson (THE KITCHENETTES) on backup vocals. When Kevin Gibson had to flee the country in late 1987 rather that serve in the military, he was replaced with Lulu Gontsana, beforedrummer Vinnie Pavid made the position his own.

Notable performances by THE UTENSILS include the 1986 New Year’s Eve bash in Durban’s Expo Centre with ELEMENTAL and others; the opening of the Playhouse “Cellar” and “Yazoo’s” (both in ’86); their album launch at the Playhouse “The Studio” in 1987; concerts at legendary Johannesburg club “Jameson’s” in 1987 and 1988; the Wits University “Free Peoples Concert” at Wits University in 1988. Additionally, SABC Television commissioned independent Producer Chris Marquard to film a documentary on the band “Live at Jameson’s”. The combined effects of economics, the distances needed to travel in SA in order to perform and the general size of the band, all connived to disband the group midway through 1988.

Syd now teamed up with Ken Henson and formed THE O’s; an association that produced the album “Subterrania” which was never released. The project was a vehicle for both guitarists to combine and create some very interesting acoustic instrumental music. After a trip to Port Elizabeth, they performed at the first “Guitars For Africa” staged in 1989 at the Sneddon Theatre, University of Natal in Durban, before parting ways.
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