Connecting Routes

Connecting Routes came into being in autumn 1989.All the members had come from bands, which had previously, disbanded. The line up at that time was Therlow Snape (lead vocals),

Anthony ‘Skippa’ Goldburn (drums), Paul ‘Ryder’ Taylor (guitar), Kenneth ‘Toot’ Mclean (keyboards), Tony ‘Massive’ Reid (percussion) and myself Carl ‘warrior’ Nugent (bass).

We were shortly to be joined by three backing vocalists (Sisters Imani) Margaret Pollack, Sharon Jones and Loni Snape. Our management team were Colin King and Rajesh Aggarwal. Last but not least was Joseph ‘Joe’ Edwards our lighting engineer.

The formative months found us in new rehearsal rooms exploring musical avenues, all be it not always of one consent, yet still a sound and feel began to manifest amongst us. We were soon playing our first gigs on the musical circuit that most bands of the time would have done. We played gigs from Liverpool up North to Poole in Dorset down South.

It was during this period that Ryder the guitarist left the band. I remember we had just finished a gig and were returning home. We dropped him off and said our goodbyes, as you do, expecting to see him at the next rehearsal. That was the last time I saw Ryder as a member of Connecting Routes.

The music and the band missed the sound of Ryder’s licks, but being young and supple, we soon adapted the rhythm section and melodies to get by without the guitar. This was further consolidated by the arrival of a second keyboard player Neville king (Digi).

This signalled a period of steady development for the band, bringing to an end by order, a continuing musical conflict between on one side, myself and keyboardist Toot, who played with me previously in one group, and Skippa who played with Ryder previously in another. Our musical differences were often polarised. Looking back no one was wrong, but I have learnt musicians can be both selfish and uncompromising.

We built our own rehearsal room in Therlow’s back garden. This became our base for the next few years. The band settled and worked towards developing our sound. We played gigs at Oxford and Cambridge Universities during graduation periods. We also played at venues such as the Town & Country where we supported "Burning Spear". We also supported "Hawkwind" on several occasions during our formative years. This lead to a good relationship being developed between the two bands. As the music developed we realised that more time and energy was needed to maintain and improve ourselves. So we made an agreement that we would sacrifice all that is necessary for the betterment of music. Consequently I left my job so as to focus and commit more time and energy to music. We secured a European Tour with "Steel Pulse" and made ready for the work ahead.

It was October 1991 when the tour kicked off. The first gigs were in the United Kingdom, Aberdeen in Scotland being a memorable one. We worked from the north down to the south playing major cities till we crossed the channel.

Over a period of six weeks we toured various European countries and played at venues such as:

Zenith in France, The Paradiso in Holland, Shutzenhauser Switzerland, Pattamata in Italy and various other places.

Being confined to a single Decker bus as home for 10 men soon brought its problems. Frustration and dissatisfaction soon raised its head….It was hard for us all to adapt to living in such a confined space for so long, seeing the same faces morning, noon and night. Overall the tour was a memorable experience for us. For some it signalled the end of another era within the bands history.

After our return we began working on our first album ‘OUT IN THE OPEN’ it was after the completion of this album that two more members departed from the unit. They were Skippa the drummer and shortly after Massive the percussionist. I am not exactly sure what the circumstances were that lead up to Skippas departure. I know that a meeting took place in my absence, during which the spirit of erosion claimed another victim. When we next met I was told of his decision to leave.

Whatever the reasons were, have fragmented and dissipated out of my mind over the years. Massive’s reasons for leaving for me can only be summarised in one word PROGRESS. Every man must follow his heart and fulfill his dreams and often this leads us down different avenues in life. So even though we are sad, that we did not weather all the musical ups and downs together. We do understand... What happened to sisters Imani? Well motherhood came for some, and the call of corporate business for Margaret and Sharon who have since formed a highly successful theatre and education company called "Sister Tree". For a while we were graced by two vocalists Janet and Liz, but as you know seasons come and seasons go.

These episodes left myself, Therlow, Toot and Digi. We continued for a while without a drummer, focusing on writing and recording new material.

Gavin Williams and Focet Gray, drummer and guitarist respectively, were the next two candidates for this musical rollercoaster ride. By this time, due to the numerous departures we decided to hire musicians on a session basis. So the criteria was set upon which any further musical addition to the unit would comply. This approach severed the personal ties and expectations for those who were not concerned with the vision of the band, and made the music the main focus for all concerned as musicians.

The new recruits added spice and rhythm to the music. Flowing melodic licks from Fozzie, and tight rhythmic patterns from Gavin, coupled together with soulful lyrics from Therlow and the group, presented a musical gourmet for the ear.

When gig time arrived we would second members of the Israel Movements band, to enhance the sound and visual presence on stage. We give thanks to Israel Movements for their generous assistance on numerous occasions. Alwin ‘Alus’ Snape (guitar), Terry ‘Shadow’ Snape (percussion) and Rodney ‘Rod -I’ Snape (keyboards).

We rehearsed the album and a Bob Marley medley, and took it to the people. Revisiting the colleges and universities we originally played, promoting the album as we did so. During this period Fozzie the guitarist found greener pastures on the other side.

By this time we had become accustomed to the departures and arrivals, so all things were taken in our stride. Still we continued to rehearse, but we did not play many gigs. This was due to the collapse of the Distribution Company in Europe. Making the availability of the album limited to a serious degree. Therefore it was not feasible to perform since the album was not available.

This course of events reduced rehearsals to a few days a week. These rehearsals eventually ceased. A period of seeming nothingness came to pass, where a man found he had more time on his hands than he was used to. This gave rise to more personal projects and ideas being developed. For some of us the period was profitable in terms of self-development and expression within our own musical spheres. For others this was not the case.

Therlow, over the last few years predicted the erosion of the unit and we were all aware that this. The departure of ‘Toot’, one of the last three original members of the Routes surprised us all. He, we thought, would have been the last man apart from Therlow to leave the Routes. Due to his love for and creativity within the music. The final blow came in France, ‘the coup d`etat’. This time Digi and Gavin were up in arms .We had a few shows with Steel Pulse, but the level of, dare I say it, dissatisfaction expressed by them both, put the shows we had left to play in question.

This was further confounded by the mysterious cancellation of the remaining dates. That was the last gig we played together, that was the end of an era.

It seemed to some that the unit had lost its momentum and vision. I am giving an account in brief of the history of the routes .Its March 2000 and I am bearing witness to the fact that the vision, is like unto a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in due season. The fruit, which survive the ravages of the storms and are not torn off by the winds and rains, grow to maturity.

The vision is to play reggae music and fish the souls of men to the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the glory of our King ‘THE COMFORTER’ HAILE SELASSIE 1^st POWER OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

Connecting Routes is now Tsagazahab (Spiritual gift of the Father) and Gebre Maskal (Servant of the Cross-). The vision and purpose of Connecting Routes and those amongst us here today has not changed and will never diminish.

For the other brethren who have given up their time and energy to manifest something greater than themselves, namely Rajesh Aggarwal, Habtewolde formally strobe Joe and Colin King. May God grant them to see the fullness of their endeavours.

For myself, the surety in the hope and Salvation of God brought to us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ gives me strength when I have none to continue in this work to his glory.

We would like to give thanks to the following (Bart, Fikire selassie and Starkey).