The Bambi Slam
An ambitious UK rock dance outfit, the Bambi Slam were formed in the mid-'80s around would-be eccentric Roy Feldon (b. Lancashire, England). After a fairly inconsequential upbringing in the rosy suburb of Pickering, Toronto, Canada, the expatriate Feldon moved to California for a spell. Coming to Britain to seek his fame and fortune, he recruited Nick Maynard (drums) and Linda Mellor (cello), through an advert in the Royal Academy. Under the Bambi Slam banner they toured the country, sending demos to every dozens of record companies. The music resembled a rockier Public Image Limited. Product Inc., a subsidiary of Mute, picked up on them and released three singles, Bamp Bamp through to the stirring Happy Birthday. A tour supporting the Cult and a debut album were well under way and things were seemingly going to plan. However, Feldon suddenly underwent a period of artistic introspection resulting in the band going way over budget. This led to a split with Product Inc. and an unfinished album on which they owed a considerable amount of money. However, Rough Trade supremo Geoff Travis thought they had promise and signed them to Blanco Y Negro. There they released a flawed, eponymous debut, after which Feldon jettisoned the rest of the band.