Stitched-Back Foot Airman

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Stitched-Back Foot Airman started in the early eighties as a side project to the Southampton UK based band Games to Avoid led by guitarist and singer Simon Vincent. “Stitched” was initially an “occasional” band Simon formed with his younger brother Robin Vincent and Mike Farmer and film maker/visual artist Crimp Beringer.

The name was taken from a headline in the Southern Evening Echo relating to a small plane pilot who had crashed and had his foot re-attached to his leg, the full headline was “Stitched-back Foot Airman on the mend”.

The band operated without boundaries, constantly swapping instruments and experimenting with many different sounds. Their first ever gig at The Kingsland Hall in Southampton (circa ‘83) has become a legendary boundary busting event. As time passed Games to Avoid and Greeting No.4 both dwindled and Stitched became the main focus.

In ‘83 or ‘84 the band migrated to London and several records were released on their own label Very Mouth including the sublime mini album Seven Egg Timing Greats, the 7” “Wouldn’t You Like to Know” and the 12” “Costa Del Sol”. They then signed to the Manchester based label In Tape and released 12” “Shake Up” and the Big Mess.

Stitched-back Foot Airman played many gigs, mainly in London in the mid-eighties and were regulars at early Club Dog and Whirly-yGig events also sharing bills with the likes of Mekons and Psychic TV, and supporting luminaries like The Smiths just before they hit the bigtime. They also played at a WOMAD festival in Carlyon Bay, Cornwall in 1988(?).