I left Sheffield several years ago and while cleaning through some old stuff the other night I found some old tapes by the band Elfin. I used to hang out with these guys a fair bit in the dim, dark past of my teens (they were friends with some of my friends from college), and always thought they were the nicest gents out there. Damn, they were a sensational band too... I'm currently trying to wear the old tapes out listening to them again. I remember tracking round to all kinds of pubs to hear them play, and always having a great time :)

These guys were one of the first live bands I ever saw. They really deserved to make it, considering all the time they spent playing here, there and everywhere (and every single Devonshire Green Festival). Does anyone know what happened to them?

MK

unfortunately i dont know what happened to them (hm did i add them to my list of late 80s / early 90s sheff bands) i saw them too and also have a cassette by em, used to know a member or two of them too :)

Blimey!

Just thought I'd have a poke around on line to see whether there was still any record of Elfin ever existing and it seems you guys still have the tapes. Nice work!

Elfin folded in about 2002 (I seem to remember) after various attempts to try new angles and ideas came to nothing. Was a great time while we were still going though. There were some top stories from that tour bus. Just sat listening to Distillation now, feeling all nostalgic...

As far as what we got up to, Daren (vocals/guitar) is still writing stuff in Sheffield, Dan (guitar) is writing his own stuff in Sheffield, Sean (bass) is a teacher in Manchester and in a band out there and I'm a photographer for The Times in London and still having pangs to get behind a kit again.

If anyone is wanting any elfin info or music, get in touch through my website leonneal.com and I'll sort you some out. At the moment, it's sat not being heard and I'd be happier knowing people were listening to it again!


Cheers for listening,

Leon

PS Everyone should praise Neeeeeeeeeek as he is a legend on all counts.

i remember elfin, although there's not much i can add, other than i might have a track or two knocking about in the archives...!

:)

Well if you get any Elfin withdrawal symptoms, let me know and I'll enhance your archive!

PS What photography do you do?

i see theres an elfin photo in the archive on your site, the band in a bubble thing with the barbed wire ........i remember the front guy, used to know him (Daren?)

im interested in some elfin stuff, as i said ive got one tape but i cant remember which one cos its in a box under a large pile of crap :P

Yep, that's Daren in there. Shot was taken just around the corner from Stonehenge, I seem to remember.

Send me a mail with your address on and I'll send you a few tracks. Don't suppose you can remember any track names of the music you had can you?

Cheers,

Leon

found it, wasnt too far under the pile (records, cds, tapes etc behind a screen in the bedroom:P)

Its called Listen and grin

1. DNA
2. Home
3. Mystery machine
4. Void

1995


:)


*looks what other demo tapes are in the box*
rituals of the macabre
3 muzzle club
1 bendy monsters
media premonition - the nitro kareoke ep
4 blind mole rat
food - toxin, threads, lull, swing, flux, intent


those are the sheffield related ones then theres the folky, reggae, punky other tapes AOS3, citizen fish, dubmerge, sam and james, spithead, the beyond etc

love to get em all onto cd :)
might do one day

Oh man! You've missed the best stuff! Send me your address and I'll sort you out.

Leon

Burnt you a disc. Will get it in the post on Monday. Enjoy!

Leon

yeah i left sheffield in about 92 / 93

prolly picked that tape up at one of the devonshire green festivals
also got the food tape from one of those
and remember a drum and bass act at one of em, cant remember the name though :(

always used to meet daren at the drop night at the city hall :)

Ahh, Drop... Was in Sheffield the other day for our lass's graduation at the City Hall and found myself in the ballroom bar where we played quite a few years ago. Memories... (Cue flashback)


L

Wow! You guys remember us?

I was the bassist in Elfin way back in the hedonistic 90s! What a time!
Seeing as though you were asking here is an update!

We are all still mates and keep in touch, here is a rundown.

I play in a band called REDROOM. Come see us at the Plug on March 22nd supporting THE THIRST. Tickets available from SLIDE BOARDSTORE on Division Street and us direct. email redroommusic@hotmail.co.uk.

Daren (singer/guitarist) is the only member to keep his dreads! He works in I.T and plays in a new band called BACK TO SEED.

Leon (drummer) is a press photographer in London.

Dan (guitarist) is a sound engineer in and around Sheffield.

I have all the elfin demos somewhere, if you want copies, chuck us a little for P&P or send us an S.A.E with a blank and i'll copy what ive got for you!

Chuffed you remember us! Come see Redroom, i reckon you will like it more!

xSEANx

Wow! You guys remember us?

I was the bassist in Elfin way back in the hedonistic 90s! What a time!
Seeing as though you were asking here is an update!

We are all still mates and keep in touch, here is a rundown.

I play in a band called REDROOM. Come see us at the Plug on March 22nd supporting THE THIRST. Tickets available from SLIDE BOARDSTORE on Division Street and us direct. email redroommusic@hotmail.co.uk.

Daren (singer/guitarist) is the only member to keep his dreads! He works in I.T and plays in a new band called BACK TO SEED.

Leon (drummer) is a press photographer in London.

Dan (guitarist) is a sound engineer in and around Sheffield.

I have all the elfin demos somewhere, if you want copies, chuck us a little for P&P or send us an S.A.E with a blank and i'll copy what ive got for you!

Chuffed you remember us! Come see Redroom, i reckon you will like it more!

xSEANx

ey up dude

always great to hear from people of bands i used to love........im interested in the other elfin demos (although...blank tape??? dont you do to cd these days? :P)
i already have the listen and grin tape
which i have upped here http://sheffieldmusic.multiply.com/music/item/77/elfin_-_listen_grin
hope you dont mind, Leon didnt (after our original misunderstanding...oops)
http://sheffieldmusic.multiply.com/photos/album/5/Elfin

anyway...ill be in touch about the demos :)

Tch! Yeah, that Sean was always a bit backwards with the old technology stuff. He just bought his first laserdisc the other day..

;)

actually darens new band are called back to the sea
you should have a listen on their myspace music page...

..........