The band formed in 1983 with a line-up of Kevin Hand (
vocals), Mark "Chats" Chatfield (
guitar), Stu Ballantyne (
bass guitar), and Ian Hitchens (
drums). This was published only in LP and tape forms in the UK and on CD in Japan only with the bonus track "This is Not Love - Live". The group split up in 1989, but reformed in 1991. Their second album,
Short Stories, was released initially on cassette only. This was later released under the name
Big Red Kite, with a slightly different track listing (towards the end of the life of the band, a deal was struck with the German label Scout to put out the
Short Stories CD. However, as some music fans were confused by the "jazz" in title, the band became "Big Red Kite"). A CD single was released from the album entitled "April". The
April EP came out on Tubecroft Records in 1992, and also included "Rainbows" and live favourite "Lorraine & Duane". The line-up of the band at this point was Kev Hand (guitar/vocals), Chats (guitar), Stu (bass), Dave Blant (accordion / keyboards/back vocs) and Fred Hopwood (drums/whistle/harmonica). It was recorded at AbbeySound Studios in
Rugeley, Staffordshire and produced by Lee Beddow. A final CD rounding up other tracks, including the song "Rain Of Crystal Spires" for a "Felt" tribute album, was released under the name of
Songs From Biscuit Town (a reference to Uttoxeter's own Elkes biscuit factory) and was basically a round up of all their previously unreleased on CD tracks; although a couple were missed of namely "Times Change" and "Brown Eyes Show More Feeling", which were originally featured on the
Short Stories cassette. The version of "Thinking About You" is from a BBC radio session recorded at Pebble Mill, instead of the one which appeared on the
Short Stories cassette. Both
Short Stories and
Songs From Biscuit Town are still available through Smalltown Records, run by Fred Hopwood and Dave Blant. They still perform and record under various monikers based on The Vice Bishops Of Uttoxeter and their last CD included a track written by Kev Hand called "Heaven's Gate". Hand has recently led the band "Radio Mary". and more recently "Radio Murphy" ( covering classic Irish numbers) but continues to write new songs, performing in small acoustic settings, and has recently brought Yeah Jazz back together to perform at selective venues ==Discography==