PHIL McCann writes: “Dear Chris, I wonder whether you can help me. I remember when we had a big music scene in St Helens in the 80s.

“I remember that you were always a stalwart at any live event, when you used to turn up with a portable tape recorder and a BIG bag of batteries!

“In view of this, I was wondering whether any of those recordings still exist?

“I was a member of a St Helens band called Conceived In Paris who later changed line up and relaunched as The Pleasure Babies.

“It is a big regret of mine that I don’t have ANY surviving recordings of either of these bands and have asked around everywhere so you are my only hope left!

“Other Bands I remember from that time were Academy of Unrest, The Evil Benghazi Brothers, In From The Storm, A Childlike Vagueness, Tallouse la Trek and who can forget The Windows, who had the best frontman in town?

“Can your readers help at all. Is there anyone out there who has any recordings of any of these local bands or others from the same era ?

“I wonder whether it’s worth putting an appeal out in the paper in case any ex-band members have any stuff ?

“By the way. The Pleasure Babies were a collaboration of Conceived in Paris and the singer from Academy of Unrest (Doug Eglin), The singer songwriters for Pleasure Babies where Chris O'Neill and Gaz Harmon, who are now founder members of The Backbeat Beatles.

Ian from the Thursday Acoustic Jam Night at the Duke of Cambridge was able to help.

He writes: “Philip McCann was asking about those 80's Bands. Well, one he mentioned was THE WINDOWS.

Unfortunately two of the members have passed away, one being Martin the Lead Singer!!

But Phil will be glad to know there are some recordings of the Band!!

“Tell him to contact my partner in crime of Jam Nights. Greg Davies(who was the Bass player with the WINDOWS). Small world isn't it!!

If Phil wants to come down to The Duke on a Thursday, I'm sure Greg will fill him in with all the info about those bands. I wouldn't be surprised if they know each other from the past.”