"Boys About Town was a one-off band I was in that's had a major impact on my life ever since," says Shambles/Manual Scan main man Bart Mendoza. The band formed in mid-November 1985, splitting a week later, on November 23.
The all-star lineup was put together for a single appearance at the second New Sounds festival, held at JP's in Point Loma in 1985. Consisting of British mod legends Ed Ball (the Times, Television Personalities, O-Level), Paul Bevoir (the Jetset, Small Town Parade), and Simon Smith (Merton Parkas, Mood Six), and San Diego’s Bart Mendoza (Manual Scan, the Shambles), the group was joined for the last few songs of its set by Manual Scan guitarist Kevin Donaker-Ring.
Guitarist and singer Ed Ball was one of the men involved in Creation Records/UK, while bassist and singer Paul Bevoir is a world-renowned graphic artist with dozens of album covers to his credit, from Yes to Ricky Nelson. The quartet was rounded out by drummer Simon Smith. "All were U.K. chart contenders in their day," says Mendoza.