Random Gender
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 in Wiltshire, England |
| Founder | Jon Cousins, Simon Cousins |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Wiltshire , England |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Random Gender was a progressive garage band originating from Wiltshire, England, established in 1982 by twin siblings Jon and Simon Cousins. Both later became members of the folk rock ensemble Ophiuchus and the indie outfit The Onset. Despite never signing with a major record label, they attracted nationwide media coverage due to their musical proficiency and strategic promotional efforts.
"Music and humour have caused some unhappy marriages... Music without humour can be equally short lived and unbearable. A mixture of the two comes as naturally to Random Gender as their capacity to fuse the 80’s beat consciousness with the more laid back aspects of the Velvet Underground era"
– Mark Ashton (Venue Magazine).
Random Gender's roots trace back to The So!, a punk group formed in 1978 by the Cousins twins alongside Andrew Hawker. Influenced by punk pioneers such as the Skids and Sex Pistols, The So! performed infrequently and left behind minimal recordings. Following school completion in 1981, Jon and Simon Cousins reassembled with Mark Dunn and Richard Pearson, shifting towards an underground garage style shaped by artists like T. Rex, David Bowie, and Lou Reed.
In spring 1982, Myke Vince joined, prompting a name change to Random Gender—an idea inspired by an Ultravox song suggested by Vince. The lineup experienced early changes before settling on Jon Cousins (guitar/vocals), Simon Cousins (bass/vocals), Myke Vince (drums/vocals), Richard Hughes (keyboards/vocals), and Pat D’Arcy (saxophone/vocals).
The band rehearsed at Sevington Farm, where they recorded their debut demo titled The Blue Set, which included "My Death," a politically motivated song reflecting on Poland's martial law during 1981/82. Later in 1982, Eddie Deedigan replaced Richard Pearson on guitar, bringing folk influences that would later shape Ophiuchus’s sound.
In 1983, keyboardist Mark Nochols briefly joined but left alongside Deedigan after their well-attended "Gig in the Barn," which drew over 400 attendees. Subsequently, Richard Hughes took over keyboard duties. John Vince—Myke Vince’s father and a lecturer at Corsham Art College—became their manager, fostering their artistic growth through media relations and visual identity development.
October 1983 saw the creation of The Foxhole Sessions demo at Foxhole Studio in Wick, featuring refreshed versions of earlier songs including "My Death." Early performances in 1984 at venues such as Richard Branson’s Goldiggers Club in Chippenham enhanced their reputation; notably, they were the first local group to headline there.
By June 1984, Random Gender recorded the demo single "Night and Day / The Journey" at Frank Aust’s Bath studio while expanding their live appearances across Bristol and Bath. The lineup was bolstered by Jane Hicks (dance/vocals/percussion) and Pat D’Arcy (saxophone). Hicks, a drama teacher, joined temporarily to obtain an Equity card; D’Arcy traveled from Stafford to perform with them.
Their July 1984 show at Bath’s St. James Wine Vaults received critical praise for its unique saxophone arrangements and stylistic variety reminiscent of The Beatles circa 1966 and Roxy Music from '72-'74. Later that month, they recorded "The Man with the Face" in Yate, featuring backing vocals by Hicks.
Simultaneously, Jon Cousins worked on a solo project inspired by Welsh Celtic legends called "The Mabinogion," involving several band members and collaborators. After Hicks secured her Equity card in August 1984, she departed, leaving Random Gender as a five-piece ensemble.
Random Gender became regular performers at Bristol’s The Thekla nightclub, attracting audiences that included actor David Rappaport. Towards the end of 1984, they supported groups like The Harpoons and Automatic Dlamini (which featured a then-unknown PJ Harvey) at Bristol’s Granary Club; they later headlined there in April 1985.
Starting early 1985, they held frequent gigs at Peewee Hunt's Real Ale Bar in Trowbridge, earning favorable press attention for their engaging performances. Their debut at Bath’s Moles Night Club in April 1985 was well-received by critics who highlighted their eclectic blend of musical influences.
Throughout the summer of 1985, Random Gender solidified their presence across regional venues. They participated in Chippenham's Live Aid mini-concert, which raised £5,000 for Ethiopia alongside acts like Bobby McVay and Loose Ends.
In late summer 1985, they recorded a third rendition of "My Death," incorporating Pat D’Arcy’s saxophone; Glen Wardle joined as sound engineer during this period. They achieved second place in September’s Wiltshire Music for Today competition behind Swindon's Calling. Rumors circulated about a possible German tour following Live Aid exposure; however, this opportunity never came to fruition.
Their only radio broadcast occurred during Swindon’s Live Aid fun day on GWR Radio in September 1985; they performed without payment to support charity efforts that raised £300.
Autumn sessions at Robert Craven’s studio produced "Chain to Break," planned as their debut single. While maintaining creative control, they obtained financial sponsorship from Wiltshire businessman John Senior Stern. Producer Pete Haycock selected "In Search of the East" and "My Death" for inclusion on the single.
In spring 1986, a photo shoot for the single’s cover took place at Sevington Farm with photographer Martin Tom Sawyer. Nonetheless, Random Gender disbanded prior to releasing the record.
The band transitioned into Ophiuchus, retaining members Jon Cousins, Pat D’Arcy, Myke Vince, Glen Wardle; Simon Cousins departed later to join The Onset. Ophiuchus released their debut single "Serpent and the Bearded King," produced by Pete Haycock in 1987.
Discography
- The Foxhole Sessions Demo EP (1983)
- "Night and Day / The Journey" Demo Single (1984)
- "The Man with the Face" Demo Single (1984)
- The Mabinogion Demo Album (1984)
- "My Death" Demo Single (1985)
- "Chain to Break" Demo Single (1985)