Barry Payne
Bass Guitar and Band Leader
Barry Payne (then aged 16). Driving force and initiator of the Johnny 7 Combo, named after the 1960's plastic toy gun. Left Clacton to join ‘Wreckless Eric’s band’ at the end of 1977, recording Eric’s first LP for Stiff Records before going on to join San Francisco’s ‘Pearl Harbour & the Explosions’ and touring and working with an assortment of bands, from The Talking Heads and The B52’s to The Clash. He was a member of Chris Jagger’s band in the mid 80’s and has more recently toured and recorded with Eileen Rose, Viarosa, Simon J. Alpin and Bex Marshall.
Dean Bareham
Rhythm Guitar
Dean Bareham (then aged 16) emigrated with his parents to New Zealand where as ‘Dean Martelli’, he found notoriety with late 70’s N.Z punk bands such as, ‘Rooter’, ‘The Terrorways’, and ‘Rebel Truce’. A photo of Dean’s hand gliding across his guitar, (complete with leather studded arm band), graces the front cover of the infamous New Zealand, New Wave compilation L.P ‘AK79’.
Paul Crotty
Vocals
Paul Crotty (then aged 16) eventually switched from vocals to drums and finally guitar. He moved to London in the early 1980’s and spent a while working in the fashion industry while playing in a fledgeling band with saxophonist ‘Chris Magary’ (now of Simply Red and The Faces) and drummer ‘Bob Leith’ (of The Cardiacs). He eventually gave up music and moved to Devon in the late 1980’s where he still lives.
Adrian Coppin
Drums
Adrian Coppin at 25 was the oldest member of the band. When the Johnny 7 Combo split, Adrian remained in Clacton and continues to play drums in a variety of local bands.
Tony Lewis
Lead Guitar
Tony Lewis (then aged 17) a naturally gifted musician and guitarist, initially quit music for a while before returning in various local East Essex covers bands through to the early 00's.
Gully
Lead Guitar
Stephen ‘Gully’ Gallifent, a later addition to the band. Left Clacton in the early 80's and worked at Dave Stewarts Church Studios before going on the play guitar with the bands ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Shakespeares Sister'. Currently working with British music video director Sophie Muller