Biography
Tab-d
12th December 2025

Both German Shepherd and Half Edge Records have had a long association with Boz Hayward through his solo work, his duo with Rat called Flea, and another duo with Paul Morley called Filed Fangs. We are pleased to introduce into the mix a project that Boz has been working on since as far back as 1984 called tab-d.

Phase I of the band was formed originally by Dermot ffrench and Boz in Newbury, UK in 1984.

tab-d version II started in 1997 in Manchester with three of the four members of the then defunct post-Inca Babies band Houndgod with a Tumour. Bill Marten, king of low hung punk bass, joined Boz with drummer Rob Haynes - who also played with Gold Blade and the soon-to-reform Membranes.


This second line-up of the band released a ten track album recorded by Pete Troughton over the summers of 2005 and 2006 at his 'Studio Studio' studio in Whitworth, Lancashire. It was eventually released on Bandcamp in November 2011.


Dermot and Bill are sadly no longer with us due to cancer and mental health issues. As the acronym unfolds as There’ll Always Be Diseases it becomes clear: Disease has many forms. It is a part of life. With new viruses and diagnoses, our ways of seeing change and difference is understood and appreciated. We are always learning. Understanding is key.


February 2017 saw a single release called Russian Spy. Originally written in 1979 by Hayward this espionage punk anthem went under the radar for many years. The song gained cult status over time among the local alternative cognoscenti. It was one of two songs recorded in 1987 at Nicky James’ Stable studios in Aldbourne by Bothsides (a long term trio Boz was a part of). However, it would take another couple of decades before it was released with tab-d’s re-recorded version, now Boz was settled long-term in Manchester. Quick-reflexed punk surf guitar took the place of the balalaika, and tight, thundering bass and drums drove the song to a definitive recorded version.


Both the album and that single are now hosted under Boz’s page on the Half Edge Bandcamp Site.

And now tab-d has regenerated for the second time. Boz says : “By carrying on the tab-d name we are honouring those who have gone - including Dermot ffrench with whom I started the band in 1984 (tab-d I) as a covers duet, and Bill Marten, producing punk rock with Rob Haynes from 1997 to 2007 (tab-d II)”.


tab-d III varies from a group of two to four musicians with probably more contributing in the future.


The first release from this iteration of the group is the stunning single “Get Smarter” which is released on Bandcamp on December 12th together with an evocative video which highlights the musicians and the changing face of the cities of Manchester and Salford.


Playing on Get Smarter are


Mark Greer - slide guitar;
Boz Hayward - guitar, vocals;
Clive Mellor - Harmonica;
Andy Yates - keys, synthesiser, modulator.