The Scaramanga Six go hell for leather in 2003. First of all, the have a new drummer by the name of Stephen Stuffy Gilchrist. He's a long time co-hort of the band and had spent many a year playing in Boney M and Princess Diana tribute bands as well as the excellent Snipper, Quint and Stuffy/The Fuses. The band tour the UK in February 2003 to promote new release 'STRIKE! UP THE BAND' - the second album by the band. THis is the first nationally distributed release too.
Things start to get a bit sketchy from there on in. Various side lines
mean that it is impossible for the whole band to be in one place at one
time despite many of them living together. The band are re-acquainted
with JET HARRIS, this time solely on Keyboards for a few gigs, though
the mainstay of the rest of the year is spent as a four-piece: Line-up:
ARNEZ/guitar,vocals GILCHRIST/Drums
P. MORRICONE/Guitar,Vocals S. MORRICONE/bass, keyboards, vocals
After most of the year in the band, Gilchrist leaves to join Graham Coxon as well as concentrate on The Fuses. Not before putting down the basis of which would form the next album with TIM SMITH at production duties.
Stuffy is replaced by ANT SARGEANT aka 'The Pontecarlo Kid' who turns out to be every bit a beast behind the kit. Ant has a penchent for 70's rock and sweatbands. Despite this, the band march on - more resolute than ever.
December 2003 - another release. This time as part of the Wrath Supersevens split singles club. THE POISON PEN is released along with a track by the legendary BEACHBUGGY. It serves as a taster for what is to come in 2004...
