Acting My Age ~
The Photo-sessions and Book ~
As yet, an unpublished Project

My close friend and photographic Agent in 1980 was Paul “Raggy” Davies, he contacted me as he needed Promotional Pictures of a band he was working with, so I was asked if I would like to do the job. The sessions were to be at various locations around Bath and in Crescent Studios while the band were recording their first album called Acting My Age.

I recall going around Bath in Paul’s white beetle, picking up people to go to locations I had chosen.

I took a series of photo’s at Crescent Studios, also at Royal Victoria Park, (including the Public Loos and bandstand there) as well as Beckford's Tower and Bath Spa Railway Station. I also went to the odd live gig.

I took around three hundred shots of the guys and we had fun taking the photos.

Sadly, my shots were not used as the basis for the album cover.

As is well known, afterwards Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith formed another band called Tears for Fears.

I remained friendly with members of the band across the years.

A few years ago I floated the idea of producing a small book purely for band members and those few people intimately associated with the recording of the album, producer, agent, manager, studio owner, record company execs etc.

Most people had never seen many of the photos we took together.

John Baker, now with The Korgi's was particularly encouraging and told me if I produced the book, he could re-master the album to go as an insert/companion piece. The resulting private print run of the book was a great success and everyone thought it was a great memoir of that short period of time in our lives.

Talks were then held with a publisher to mass produce the book and sell during Tears for Fears gigs as merchandise.

Those talks never came to fruition.

The book is now as rare as hens teeth and extremely collectible.

It is the size of a CD and was printed as a hard back on glossy paper. The front and back of the book are shown below.

Band: Graduate (Tears for Fears)

Venue: Locations in and around Bath and Crescent Recording Studios.

Date: 1980

Other info: Tree picture below L to R ~

Curt Smith, bass, synths vocals.

Andy Marsden, drums.

Roland Orzabal, guitar, keys, lead vocals.

John Baker, guitar backing vocals,

Steve Buck, keys and flute.

When I joined the band for a session in Crescent Studios, they were laying down finishing touches to the “Acting My Age” album. Tony Hatch (Writer of the Crossroads TV theme) was the album’s producer. I took photo’s during the recording session and the camera clicks had to be edited out a couple of times. I remember a very happy lunch at “The Bell” in Walcot Street. The band were great fun to be around and very excited about their future ~ although at the end of that year they split up after a troubled tour of Germany. That’s Rock and roll for you.

Shortly afterwards in 1981, Roland and Curt formed Tears For Fears. The rest of that story is history.

Favourite Tracks: Elvis Should Play Ska, Ever Met a Day, Acting My Age.

Photographer: Pete Minall

During a mixing session, Producer Tony Hatch and Roland at the mixing console

The boys at the Bandstand in Royal Victoria Park in Bath

Outside the Gents toilet in Royal Victoria Park, Bath

L to R ~ Steve Buck, John Baker, Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith and Steve Buck

Roland on the bandstand

at Royal Victoria Park, Bath

Andy Marsden during a break in recording at Crescent Studios, Bath

Roland and Curt hard at work during the mix of a track on the album

John Baker having a well deserved

cup of tea in Crescent Studios,

Bath

The band on location, clowning around at Bath Spa Railway station L to R Roland, Andy, Curt, Steve and John

Steve Buck at Beckford's Tower, Bath

The Graveyard at Beckford's Tower, Lansdown, Bath

L to R Andy, Roland, Curt, John and Steve

Roland Orzabal singing along to a playback at Crescent Studios, Bath

Curt Smith laying down a vocal track at Crescent Studios, Bath

Curt and Agent Paul "Raggy" Davies during

a mixing session at Crescent Studios, Bath

Glenn Tommey (Engineer) and Andy Marsden intently listening to a drum mix at Crescent Studios, Bath.

Roland is in the background

Roland and Curt hard at work during the mix of a track on the album

John Baker having a well deserved

cup of tea in Crescent Studios,

Bath

The boys fooling around on location at Bath Spa Railway Station, Bath.

L to R Roland ~ Steve ~ Curt ~ Steve ~ John

Forty-Fifth Anniversary Offer

I am excited to announce this celebratory offer marking the anniversary of the Official 45th Anniversary year of the release of Graduate’s - Acting My Age Album.

This is an official collaboration between John Baker, Pete Minall and Digital Artist, Beanhead.

Ade "Beanhead" Pridham went to school with both Roland Orzabal and John Baker which included being in the school orchestra and amateur dramatics, we all shared the same passion for music. I became a fan of Graduate after leaving school and attended several of their concerts.

This limited edition Giclee print is a celebration of Graduate on their 45th Anniversary year of Acting My Age.

The print is a limited edition run of only 50 A3 copies printed on fine art Matt board, numbered and signed by the artist.

It comes with an A4 printed copy of the original photograph and a certificate of authenticity.

This is a limited edition and once they have gone they are gone.

A unique collectible that can only increase in value.

The price is £65 each plus p&p. Worldwide delivery (unfortunately due to customs problems we cannot currently send to Southern Ireland. Sorry).

Please contact me for payment options:

Go to Facebook:

Beanhead Art

This is the newly generated Digital Artwork Piece from Beanhead

Available directly from his Facebook page

This is my original shot taken in a cubicle of the

Gents Public Loo in Royal Victoria Park, Bath

The signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity you would receive with your Giclee print

Pete Minall ~ Writer

Acting My Age ~
The Photo-sessions and Book ~
As yet, an unpublished Project

Forty-Fifth Anniversary Offer

Get in touch

Pete Minall ~ Writer

Acting My Age ~ The Photo-sessions and Book ~ As yet, an unpublished Project

Forty-Fifth Anniversary Offer

Get in touch

Acting My Age ~
The Photo-sessions and Book ~
As yet, an unpublished Project