old band - Automatic fine tuning

You are correct,althogh our set was ruined by the sound crew practising their parts.Didnt Ted Nugent play that day?

Good to read your remarks on the AFT album Trev.I watched you all as Glider in the Target in Reading in the 70s You,Muttley.Ronnie McQinn,Paul,Barry( then IK )& Richard.My brother Terry passed himself off as a roadie with you guys,he was affectionately known as Jock. I saw AFT at Reading in 76 and was really impressed how things had progressed,if I remember correctly you had a bit of an equipment issue there.I still have the AFT album and still enjoy digging it out from time to time. What happened to the guys from Reading,Paul etc (Dumb Blondes ?!)

Just moving this topic because the band has been in for a long time/ it's no longer a band suggestion for PA thread.  

Oh wow - I've been looking out for info on your band for decades. I saw the band I guess not long after the album was released at the Marquee in London. There was a bit of a stir 'cause Ian Anderson was in the audience. I bought the album the following weekend and been listening to it for decades. It's the only record I've converted to  mp3s.

Steve (Muttly),
When Bob moved to Devon, he and his new girlfriend (Jo) lived opposite me and because of my involvement with music, we quickly got to know each other.
Hearing he died (And now knowing it was 18 years ago), really sent a shock through me.  (I moved to Poland 20 years ago and have only been back to Devon 3-4 times)
Through Robert, I met Trev and we started working on some stuff - I brought in Brendon, but, like me, he realised there was no future in the set up - He went of to work with Elkie Brookes and is still there today -
I can't speak highly enough of either Trevor or Robert - They were top drawer musicians - But, I honestly think stuck on the aft path which was always going to lead nowhere. (I am not pissing on aft - I simply think aft needed a lot more lyrics to get the blend right -
I don't know how Robert passed away or even if he was still in Devon -
As for Trevor - He was running a sort of outdoor burger bar and was planning to move to Cornwall to do the same down there.
I heard all the stories about Glider and your involvment - but, having read your post today, Finding this news about Robert a bit of a handfull -
Did some googling and found a post by his daughter - The dates would suggest Jo was her mother, but, because both Rob and Jo were so heavily into booze nand other things, I really don't know - her post is below - Kev - btw, Steve - my email is [email protected] -
To me this is a dream come ture to hear really for the first time a part of my dads music. I am Emily Cross and my father was the guiarist Robert Cross. Unfortuntly he past away when i was just only five, 19years ago never to see him or no of his band perform. But i was told about him from his parents my Nan and Grandad and the bands groupies aswell of some of his good friends who all would tell my storys about how dad had magic fingers, how good him and his band was how that would play in the Reading Rock Festival. Only now knowing that the band A.F.T released an album in the summer of 1976, oh ya and how they choose the name A.F.T they couldn't agree on a name for it so someone shouted out "call it any f***ing thing" so they did, but it couldnt really say that on a front cover or out loud so they shortened it to A.F.T and made it into Automatic Fine Tuning so hat was that.
Anything my Dad done i am very proud of i am very lucky to have had a Dad that altough he had little time with me and my sister the time he did have of his rock younger days, the traveling the giges the friends and family which all said he live life to the full such a great man with alot of talent he had and enjoyed that life.  I would love to no more about the band and his self all my love emily x

Morning Darks, blast from the past or what? I don't remember you starting Part 1, it was always me when we played live. Still alive and still writing. I've done a make-over on the front end, which I'll send you if you give me somewhere to mail it. So sorry to hear about Bobbo. R.I.P.

Trevor! I had wondered what happened to my first serious band mates,even though I missed out on the album which Dave did brilliantly.The band I joined after you(valhalla) supported ac/dc at the Marquee for their first ever gigs in London and I still have a program also showing aft on in the same month.I suppose the punk movement put some nails in the coffin as well as the cooking by grossman ! I would like to catch up with you sometime so give me a contact e-mail.What news of paula and bobbo? Also did you know 21 Formosa street does not exist any more.I go past there often as my aunt is still living in a flat nearby,shes' 90 and has a casette copy of the album but it could kill her if played!!!!Love from the original drummer tim x

Hi Trev. At LONG last, I have been trying to find out about your band for years! Your AFT album has always been my all time fave album. Your band were also the first band I ever saw as well. I think it was late 1976? it was at the Ritz Cinema , Long Eaton in Nottingham can you recall that gig? I remember most of it like yesterday. There was a power cut and Dave Ball did a short drum solo before power was restored! I was right at the front (in front of Rob). I remember that a few of us got up to "dance" and a guy who was totally drunk fell over Rob's effects! and he just laughed and carried on! That gig will always be my fave gig and it brings back wonderful memories for me.
I have a huge list of questions but here's a few to be going on with for now.....
There was a vocalist who got up to sing who was he?
You guys played a track that "is going to be on our next album" do you recall what it was called?
Did you ever record another AFT album that didn't get issued?
i could have sworn it was Rob Cross who played with a bow and not Paul as was suggested in another post? although my memory fades! no sorry it was Paul!
I have a 1975 Rickenbacker 4001 bass that I play in my Budgie tribute band (In For The Kill), do you still have yours and what age is it?
I only got one because Chris Squire and yourself used one!
Your album and that 1st gig inspired me to take up guitar and later bass.
I did notice that Paul himself has been on here and left his email address so you can be sure i'll be emailing him with an awul lot of questions (sorry Paul)!
Thanks and best wishes Tony C.
(Tony Clark)



Edited by clarkpegasus4001 - December 21 2011 at 01:28

The silence is deafening! so I can only assume that Trev and Paul or not part of this forum anymore? No reply to my email either, mmmmm'