Mike Eastman and Paul Bonner were pupils at the same school, in Wallington, Surrey, England, and formed a band together in 1964. They were joined by brothers Martin and Robert Godbold to complete the band's first line-up. Whilst playing at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London in 1966, they were spotted by record producer and songwriter, Tokenam Aw, who was born in Hawaii and later became their manager. They were signed to the Fontana Records label, and released their first single, "Major Catastrophe" / " Hold Me " . Both songs were written by Aw and produced by Harry Roberts, and recorded at Olympic Studios London in September 1966, and released in October the same year.
In June 1967 Robert Godbold left the band and was replaced by Paul Clifton. With this new line-up, the band recorded their second single on the Fontana Records Label, "Makin' My Mind Up" / "While We're Friends", released in October 1967. During this period they were regular support artists to many bands of the era, including The Small Faces, the Alan Price Set, The Animals, and more.
In November 1967 they turned full time professional, and went on their first Continental Tour with the Psychedelic 'La Fenétre Rose' package show supporting bands, Keith West and Tomorrow, Cat Stevens, Zoot Money and Dantalions Chariot, Spencer Davis Group, and The Soft Machine.
On return from this tour they made their first B.B.C Radio One recording at Maida Vale Studios for the ''David Symonds Show '' in December 1967. The first record release of 1968 was "'The Worlds Getting Smaller" / "Don't Bother", released in April 1968. Once again the songs were written by Tokenam Aw, the 'A' side arranged by Rex Morris, and the 'B' side by Arthur Greenslade, from the BBC Band, 'Arthur Greenslade and the G Men'.They became regular performers on sessions for BBC Radio One including, The ''Jimmy Young Show'' ''Joe Loss Pop Show'', “Dave Cash Show”, “Terry Wogan Show” etc.
Their next recording was their first Long Playing record on the Budget Label Saga Records, entitled ''Its Soft Rock and Allsorts, It's Katch 22'', it was recorded at Regent Sound Studios, and for the first time featured some songs written by the band themselves, particularly Martin Godbold, who wrote under the name of Martin Wayne, Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman. Released in May 1968, went on to sell somewhere in the region of 75000 copies, and became the BBC Radio One ' LP of the Week', on the ''David Symonds Show'', leading to the band becoming one of the most regular 'session bands' on many programmes from the time.
During 1968, 'Katch 22' continued to play as support band to many 'chart' bands of the time including, 'The Kinks', 'Bay City Rollers', 'Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders', etc., but were gradually gaining main band status in their own right, where they would have a support band. They also became session singers for other artistes in the Fontana stable, the first of which was backing vocals for 'Wayne Fontana', on his record "Never An Everyday Thing" / "Waiting For a Break In The Clouds", with musical arrangement by Mike Vickers of 'Manfred Mann'.May 1968. First ever Television Recording. ''Late Night Line-Up / Colour Me Pop'' BBC 2 TV. recorded at BBC Studio B White City, Shepherds Bush, London. One of the first ever television shows recorded in colour. The show was screened on Saturday May 18th.
Due to the Radio popularity of the LP, 'Katch 22' were approached to play themselves in a discotheque scene in the Michael Klinger, film 'Baby Love', starring 'Diana Dors', 'Anne Lynn', 'Linda Hayden', 'Keith Barron', 'Dick Emery'. To coincide with the film and featured in it, were two Tokenam Aw penned songs "Baby Love"/ "Out Of My Life" with musical arrangement by the band themselves.
They continued to record many BBC Radio One Sessions for the many shows that featured 'live' music, mostly at the B.B.C's Maida Vale Studio, London W9, but also at the London 'Paris Studio', and 'Aeolian Hall'. They were also further in demand as session players, for many artistes, including the '''Hughie Greens, Christmas LP'''.
Their own next single was entitled "Pumpkin Mini" / "100,000 Years", released in November 1968 with musical arrangement by Richard Hartley originally from the group Fire. Richard went on to write and arrange many film scores.
January - February 1969, 'Katch 22' were resident at the famous Star Club in Hamburg, following in the footsteps of the 'Beatles' and many other bands before them.
At the end of March 1969 Paul Clifton ( Bass Guitar ), left to join 'Cliff Bennet and the Rebel Rousers', and later that year in April 1969, Martin Godbold, (now calling himself Martin Wayne) left also to form a progressive rock band calling themselves 'Nimbus'. Paul was replaced by ex Portsmouth based band 'Cherry Smash' Bass Guitarist, John Curtis. 'Cherry Smash' were in the same management stable as 'Katch 22'. Martin was replaced by Keith Wilford, ex Newcastle-Upon-Tyne band, 'Sefton Wall'.
The influence of Keith's guitar playing and Johns driving bass style bought a new more contemporary sound to the band, and the new line-up played their first BBC Radio session in April 1969 for the "Dave Cash Live Show.''.
In November 1969, they changed record labels to CBS Records and released a new single entitled "It's The Sunshine", written by Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman, and a 'B' side written by Lally Stott called "Mrs. Jones". John Curtis left in December 1969, to join 'Gary Moore', and was immediately replaced by Bryan Jackson.
The group also continued to tour extensively, playing on the University, and RAF and Naval base circuits. In January 1970, the band released a record under the pseudonym 'Westland Steamboat', entitled "Born Under A Bad Sign" / "Missouri Train". The two songs were written by Mike Eastman / Paul Bonner / and Stephen Shane, and the record was produced by Stephen Shane.
In December 1970 Brian Jackson left the band, and Mike Eastman changed over from Guitar to Bass Guitar, and 'Katch 22' continued as a three piece with the line-up:- Mike Eastman Bass Guitar / Piano / Vocals, Paul Bonner Drums / Vocals, and Keith Wilford, Lead Guitar / Vocals. By this time Tokenam Aw had gone back to Hawaii and management and agency were taken over by ex Radio London DJ /Agent John Edward. In May 1971, they recorded their first BBC Radio One Session with the new three piece line-up, playing for ''The Jimmy Young Show'''. They played their last show as 'Katch 22' on February 5th 1972. The three remaining members went on to work with Harry Vanda and George Young, (ex 'The Easybeats' ), and later formed a new band called 'Paintbox'
After the success of the Cherry Red Album released in 2011, during 2014, original members Paul Bonner and Mike Eastman, got together again, writing new music and songs together. An album entitled "Classical Soft Rock" was the result, with eleven new songs released in January 2015..
They continue to compose together to this day, and in July 2015, the 1970 single "It's The Sunshine", was re-launched by Radio Mi-Amigo on the "Tony Currie Show", during the Pirate Radio Week in Harwich, and a new song was also written specially for the occasion called "Sing Me An Old Song ( Pirate Radio Memories )".
February 2016. A new album was released on their own label Rookwood Records, entitled "Drifting". The title track of the same name, was originally written in 1970 as the next single for CBS Records, but was never released. A further 10 new songs completed the album, including "Sing Me An Old Song". In August 2016. 'Katch 22' were recorded live in an interview on the 'Tony Currie Show' Radio Mi Amigo, in Harwich, during which they played four songs.
In November 2016. A live interview and performance was recorded for the 'Keith Skues Show' at the BBC Radio Norfolk studio in Norwich. The programme was broadcast on Keith's show in December 2016. The interview lasted an hour and a quarter and featured archive BBC Radio Club Live recordings plus music from their newer albums.
Many of the singles, are regularly featured on compilation CD Box - Sets, from the RPM label, and others, and are very collectable.
JimDo
Tracks
1. Major Catastrophe (Tokenam Aw) - 2:28
2. Hold Me (Tokenam Aw) - 2:04
3. Makin' My Mind Up (Jack Dalton, Gary Montgomery) - 2:33
4. While We're Friends (Tokenam Aw) - 3:03
5. The World's Getting Smaller (Tokenam Aw) - 2:15
6. Don't Bother (Tokenam Aw) - 1:58
7. Pumpkin Mini (Tokenam Aw) - 2:31
8. 100,000 Years (Tokenam Aw) - 2:40
9. Out Of My Life (Tokenam Aw) - 2:28
10.Baby Love (Tokenam Aw) - 2:08
11.You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Bob Dylan) - 3:16
12.Fakin' It (Paul Simon) - 2:58
13.Pumpkin Mini (Tokenam Aw) - 2:38
14.Too Young To Be One (Eric Eismer) - 1:56
15.Walk Away Renee (Mike Brown, Rob Calilli, Tony Sansome) - 2:52
16.There Ain't No Use In Hangin' In (Thomas McAleese, William Campbell) - 2:09
17.Seldom (Tokenam Aw) - 2:42
18.Groovy Summertime (Keith Colley, Tom Bahler) - 2:37
19.Don't Listen (Martin Wayne, Paul Bonner) - 1:50
20.59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) (Paul Simon) - 1:59
21.Windy (Ruthann Friedman) - 2:31
22.Open Up Your Eyes (Martin Wayne, Paul Bonner) - 2:22
23.Thoughts On A Rainy Day (Martin Wayne, Paul Bonner) - 1:54
24.Go And Say Goodbye (Stephen Stills) - 2:21
25.You've Got Somethin' (Tokenam Aw) - 2:36
26.Wishin' (Martin Wayne, Mike Eastman) - 3:20
Tracks 15-26 from "It's Soft Rock And All Sorts, It's Katch 22" released 1968
Katch 22
*Mike Eastman - Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
*Paul Bonner - Drums
*Keith Wilford - Lead Guitar, (1969-72)
*John Curtis - Bass, (1969)
*Martin Wayne (Martyn Godbold) - Lead Guitar, (1964-69)
*Robert Godbold - Bass, (1964-67)
*Paul Clifton - Bass, (1967-69)
*Bryan Jackson - Bass, (1969-70)