It started in 1968 as a Jo Wright Art School band the Incas with Chris Camm guitar and Dave Coxon bass joined eventually by Keith Gotheridge on drums and Cliffe Simms on keyboards playing pop around the local pubs and clubs.  As the band moved towards the rock influences we decided to recruit vocalist Bev Staley who promised to be a good front man.  Bevs arrival was soon followed by Cliff's departure as the bands influences started to change.  With original material and a heavier rock sound it was decided a name change was called for, Pugma-Ho (kiss my arse, in Gaelic)  was born.  We started to establish ourselves on the rock circuit, playing the top London gigs like The Marquee Club, The Temple, The Roundhouse and The Greyhound.  We also played several gigs at the Liverpool Cavern rock nights, usually followed by gigs at Liverpools Mardi Gras.  In 1972  we were the midlands representatives for the MELODY MAKER National Rock Contest, playing in the finals at the Roundhouse.  By the mid 70,s the music was changing towards punk.  Athough the band continued with changes in personel and music styles, we decided to call it a day.

In 2003 Pugma-Ho got together again for the hell of it, minus Bev,  who now resides in Australia.  Steve Curzon's, Bevs replacement, immediately became part of the band, and we are once again building a reputation for playing classic rock, the way it used to be played.

Here is a section dedicated to old press clippings and photographs of the band.  If you want to share any of your own clippings, please email them here or use the form below, and we will get them online as soon as possible.  Enjoy!


December 2, 1972

City Hall, St Albans

With: Fusion Orchestra / Pugma Ho

Ad: in Melody Maker, 2/12/1972

Review: by Meredith Noel, in Melody Maker, 09/12/1972:

"The evening at Words in St Albans City Hall last Saturday turned out to be a night of rock 'n' roll. (...)
On came Velvet Underground every inch a rock 'n' roll band. A lot of material was old stuff - necessary as the band pointed out because British fans have yet to hear the new material (their most recent album hasn't been released here). Old faithfuls like "Waiting For My Man" and "Sweet Jane" harked back to the days when Lou Reed was in the band.
Half the audience were there to see a group which must be legend now. The other half were there to rave so everybody was happy. The Velvets had been jamming in the dressing room for two hours before they came on stage - they obviously like playing. The line-up nowadays is Doug Yule; Rob Norris, guitar; George Kay, bass; and Mark Nauseef, drums.