Ives, in 1987, with the use of a four-track, a broken Casio keyboard, and a Spanish guitar. After recruiting flutist Calvin Pzchortsy, drummer Mathew Collins, and bassist Wilma Bear, the band became official by the end of the year with hopes of playing out of their practice space. Tragically, Wokesley lost his life after being hit by a car in August of 1987. With the remaining members continuing on as a tribute to their former keyboard player, the band recruited keyboardist Gregory Harrison, played their first gig in 1989 and released their debut album, The Underground Cows of Mozambique, through Slating Longberry two years later. Continually playing in and around London, for the next three years, their second album, Real Life Is Not Much Like Real Fun, came out on their own Peanut Factory Records in 1994. With a near breakup in 1996 -- that was turned around with the inspiration of Collins having a supernatural encounter with Carlton Wokesley's ghost -- the lineup shuffled to Bear on keyboards, Harrison on drums, Girlschool playing bass, and Collins moving to guitar and vocals. This rearrangement debuted on the home-recorded Giraffe Album in 1997, which was followed by the Hatchet and Barrel EP (1998), and the 2000 Fortuna Pop Records release of Be My Postman. ~ Mike DaRonco