I joined Savage Progress on the Thompson Twins' Into The Gap tour in 1984, and continued later that year with a short UK tour as headliners. Ironically, I had twice been to see the Twins in their house in Clapham as I knew they were looking for a keyboard player, and the second time I went they confessed they wanted a woman: as it turned out on tour, they used a backing tape for their set anyway, so we were never sure exactly what - if anything - was live (one night the tape ground to a halt and mayhem ensued!).

Savage Progress had had hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and was founded by Rik Kenton (bass and vocals, ex-Roxy Music), with Glynnis Thomas (vox), Ned Morant (perc), Carol Isaacs (keyboards/backing vox) and Andrew Edge (drums). A mixed-race group of musicians, they used traditional pop styles as well as reggae, Caribbean dance rhythms and African rhythms.

No decent tour footage was taken of the band on the Into The Gap tour, except some home video of the Hammersmith Odeon gig. The Thompson Twins were so mean on this gig they allowed minimal lighting for Savage Progress so their show could be all the more impressive. I've grabbed two clips from this recording: Etty and My Soul Unwraps Tonight. Looking back at the songs on that tour, the latter was easily the most interesting and best performed.

Savage Progress info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Progress. You Tube link to a their video My Soul Unwraps Tonight and to their album Celebration.