Any Trouble

Formed by college friends and budding guitarists Clive Gregson and Chris Parks in 1974, Any Trouble started out playing covers of 1960s Americana and rock standards in pubs in the Midlands, but found success when the new wave scene started to take off a few years later. In keeping with the times, they turned their wonky, awkward pop into fast, jerky odes to adolescent angst and were inspired by the DIY punk ethos to self-release debut single Yesterday's Love in 1979. Front man and songwriter Gregson was still working in a dole office at the time, but the track was championed by Radio One DJ John Peel and they were soon signing to the great indie label Stiff Records, where they formed a kinship with Elvis Costello, Graham Parker and Nick Lowe. Albums Where Are All The Nice Girls Gone? and Wheels In Motion received a flood of good reviews and their unassuming, unpretentious tales of everyday, bumbling heartache were widely liked; but record sales were small and they were dropped by the label midway through an American tour. Two more albums for EMI again showcased their quirky storytelling style, before Gregson joined Richard Thompson's band and began performing with his partner Christine Collister and later as a solo artist. The band reformed for albums Life In Reverse in 2007 and Present Tense in 2015 and continue to perform sporadically.

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