# Passion Spent > The very famous... ## Posts - [Passion Spent History 9: the creatures set their sights](https://passionspent.com/?p=556): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 9: ‘the creatures set their sights‘ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 |  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Readers who have a more immediate familiarity with the band’s history (who were perhaps following events as they unfolded—in real time, so to speak) will be able to point to the sketchy nature of this history. So, in this section, I’ll try to pull together a few strands to set things up for events and incidents yet to be discussed. In the early days, […] - [Passion Spent History 8: Make making it your intention](https://passionspent.com/?p=454): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 8: ‘Make making it your intention’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 |  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | With Gav’s departure to join local rivals China Garden in April 1985, Passion Spent placed a Classified Ad. in the Hull Daily Mail (which at that time was still a broadsheet: the format wasn’t changed to tabloid until 29 September the following year). Based on the high standard of inexperienced musicians who had previously joined the band, there was consensus among the band’s members […] - [Passion Spent History 7: used to be's don't count anymore](https://passionspent.com/?p=330): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 7: ‘‘used to be’s don’t count anymore’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 |  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Sometime in early 1985, Passion Spent were invited to take part in an outdoor gig at the Drum & Cymbals pub, off Anlaby Park Road in West Hull. I’ve been unable to identify the precise date of the gig, but the invitation was extended to the band by professional Hull outfit, China Garden, who had organised this outdoor event. As the tale was […] - [Passion Spent History 6: Pride or ego?](https://passionspent.com/?p=272): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 6: ‘Pride or ego?’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 |  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | With the solid, newly-forged, rhythmic foundation of the Lourie/Carey partnership, every member of Passion Spent could sense a marked change in mood and confidence. This was also apparent in the responses of both venue owners and the audiences who frequented those venues. It was clear that Passion Spent were building a new and genuine, grass-roots following, and that local music lovers were choosing to go out […] - [Passion Spent History 5: A rose by any other name](https://passionspent.com/?p=240): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 5: ‘A rose by any other name’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 |  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rio became Passion Spent on Monday 6 February 1984. While the enthusiasm of new drummer Rick was evident for all to see, the arrival of the fastidious Ben Lourie on bass revealed deeper structural problems concerning the rhythmic timings and pacing of the most recent material included in the band’s set lists, and the band remained unsettled. Having played his first gig as […] - [Passion Spent History 4: Nothing seems right in cars](https://passionspent.com/?p=28): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 4: ‘Nothing seems right in cars’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | The seventeen-year-old Dave Rushby was eking out a teenage living holding down a job at the Hull (Prospect Centre) branch of Boots the chemist. Unable at the time to drive, he had been driven to and from gigs and rehearsals by his dad. After an initial tentative period in which members of the band became more familiar with each other’s personalities and characters, Brian […] - [Passion Spent History 3: ...it's a holi-holiday !](https://passionspent.com/?p=21): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 3: ‘… it’s a holi-holiday!’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Mick Douthwaite and Brian Wrigglesworth were the experienced old troopers of the band. Both had been involved with various local bands for aeons, and had a wealth of experience playing with other musicians. They had something with which to compare the way things were going with the recently formed RIO. On the other hand, Dave, Ian and Jim were, to all intents and purposes, band virgins; […] - [Passion Spent History 2: Hoorah for our founder!](https://passionspent.com/?p=15): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 2: ‘Hoorah for our founder!’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | In those early days, Mick Douthwaite was the driving force behind the band. It was Mick who did all the organizing, and contacting venues to arrange gigs. It’s a good job he took control, because Brian (Wrigglesworth), the bass player at the time, was so laid-back he was almost horizontal; and Dave and Ian—both seventeen-year-olds—were just out of short pants and could just about organize […] - [Passion Spent History 1: In the beginning](https://passionspent.com/?p=1): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) PART 1: ‘In the beginning’ Go to part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | This was not the beginning—and I wasn’t around to record all the shenanigans—but one Sunday in the early 80s (Ok, I know exactly when it was: Sunday 9 January, 1983 – at 12.00 noon!)—at the old Paragon Toolmakers offices in National Avenue, Hull—Dave, Ian, Mick Douthwaite and Brian Wrigglesworth held auditions for a singer. The story goes like this: one of those auditioning was so scary […] - [Steve Sanderson (Bass)](https://passionspent.com/?p=147): Steve Sanderson was the longest serving bass player Passion Spent ever had – by a long way! Steve was recommended to the band by Tim Keech – musician and teacher extraordinaire – and was first choice for bass when the band reformed in 2006 to play the MND charity gig. However, due to some inexplicable disturbances in his thought processes at the time, he decided not to be involved. Since making that decision, Steve has existed in a penumbral state of regret and denial. - [Ian Sunderland (Keys)](https://passionspent.com/?p=139): Ian Sunderland is the other member of the band (along with Dave) afflicted with Rushberland Syndrome. Ian is one of the old-school of keyboard players (as opposed to piano players) who learned to create their own sounds with oscillators, and frequency and amplitude controllers. Another equipment and sound aficionado, the list of equipment he’s loved and lost is buried somewhere under the footprints of Indiana Jones, in the Temple of Doom! - [Dave Rushby (guitars)](https://passionspent.com/?p=137): Dave Rushby is the Rock influence in the band. He’s experimented with a number of guitars and amps – and a variety of pedals and rack gear – over the years. Sadly, he’ll spend hours tweaking knobs, dials and sliders to get the sound he wants; then he’ll decide that he could perhaps do a little better – perhaps he’ll buy some more equipment – and twiddle a few more controls: the defining characteristics of Rushberland Syndrome – a term yet to be medically acknowledged but remember, you heard it here first! - [Jim Orwin (Vocals)](https://passionspent.com/?p=132): Jim Orwin auditioned for the band when it was in the process of being formed by Ian and Dave (with Mick Douthwaite and Brian Wrigglesworth). Dave says Jim was voted in because he was the least psychotic of those auditioning. (Jim has always hidden this very well !) At that point the band didn’t have a name, but it was soon to be christened Rio. Of course, even then Jim was an old man (24, as opposed to Dave and Ian as youthful 17-year-olds) - [Mark Johnson (Drums)](https://passionspent.com/?p=129): Mark Johnson was sixteen years old when he auditioned for the band – back in 1985! He played his first gig with Passion Spent, at the Barham, on Friday 12 April of that year and, apart from the two gigs the band played at the end of 2006 (don’t ask ! We don’t talk about it – the aberration !), he’s played every gig since then. Mark, like Ben and Ian, did play with other bands during the time Passion Spent were inactive, but spiritually he’s always been part of the Passion Spent family. There is no escape… ## Pages - [Gig List](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=385): The table embedded below the various Passion Spent band members, provides a list of every gig played by RIO and Passion Spent, from the first RIO gig at the Endyke Hotel on 6 March 1983, to the final Passion Spent gig (a private party to celebrate the 50th birthday of Steve Snaith) at the Hull Rugby Union Football Club, Wadsworth Avenue, Hull, on 11 November 2006. If you think we’ve missed any, please get in touch using the form on our Contact Us page. For further information abut who played for the band at each gig, we have produced a […] - [Music](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=171): Passion Spent on SoundCloud. For those interested, on 3 July 2025 we uploaded to our SoundCloud channel, two historic Passion Spent interviews: Tuesday 11 November 1986 interview with Radio Humberside’s Steve Parkes, with Jim and Dave representing the band on the eve of their appearance at The Ritz (Manchester) for a nationwide talent competition. The legendary (almost) 5 March 1987 Passion Spent interview with Viking Radio’s Diana Luke, when Jim, Dave, Ian and Mark went into the Viking studios and had a fantastic time.   Pride or Ego on Spotify Selected Essays (original 4-track cassette 1985) on Spotify Tales from […] - [Simon's story](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=161): SIMON’S STORY How did it start? I was in the last weeks of pre-season, training six days a week. Running and cycling and gym work. It was my final season after twenty years of dedication. I represented Yorkshire and was fortunate to have been paid to play a sport I love. I had a pain in my left shoulder and when I was out and about I kept tripping. When I trained I had trouble catching the ball and coordination in general was worsening. I had an MRI scan on my neck: nothing showed. I was told about motor neurone […] - [The MND page](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=157): Simon Smith was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) – also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – in early 2005, but continued to inspire others, with his bizarre mix of realism, determination and humour. His drive to produce something positive from a disease that he knew would eventually kill him inspired one Passion Spent band member, Carrie Martin, to persuade the other members of the band to agree to play a couple of gigs to help Simon to raise as much money as possible for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. For those who know very little about MND – […] - [10 Facts about Passion Spent](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=150): 1. The name Passion Spent was taken from a novel by Victoria Mary (Vita) Sackville-West called All Passion Spent. First published in 1931, the book is about the secret burning desire of a seventeen-year-old (Lady Slane) to become an artist. 2. Dave Rushby, Ian Sunderland and Jim Orwin – the founder members of Passion Spent – first met when Jim auditioned for RIO, the band Dave and Ian were forming (with Mick Douthwaite and Brian Wrigglesworth) in 1983. Through the various incarnations of Passion Spent, Dave, Ian and Jim have been constant from the beginning. 3. During a Passion Spent […] - [Mark Johnson (Drums)](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=125): Mark (Drums) was sixteen years old when he auditioned for the band – back in 1985! He played his first gig with Passion Spent, at The Barham, on Friday 12 April of that year and, apart from the two gigs the band played at the end of 2006 (don’t ask ! We don’t talk about it – the aberration !), he’s played every gig since then. Mark, like Ben and Ian, did play with other bands during the time Passion Spent were inactive, but spiritually he’s always been part of the Passion Spent family. There is no escape… - [History/Chronology](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=109): The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot) The History The primary source of the information that constitutes this History is the set of Passion Spent scrapbooks created and maintained by Julie Orwin; but additional information has been gleaned from band photographs, cassettes, recordings, videos and other documentation. As a parrot, I’m not infallible (it would be pointless and taxonomically incorrect for me to say ‘I’m only human’)—so I apologise in advance for any errors. This band history was amended and extended in the summer of 2025, following the discovery of further Passion Spent archive material. I’m hopeful […] - [Home](https://passionspent.com/): The original content of this website was taken from the first Passion Spent website, here. (Last updated: 12 April 2012)   Welcome to the first PASSION SPENT website, which was originally created in August 2006 to publicise the charity gig the band undertook (at the request of Sue and Simon Smith) to raise funds for The Motor Neurone Disease Association.   Over the course of the band’s history, the line-up changed on several occasions. We’d like to acknowledge the contributions and the participation of the following musicians: Brian Wrigglesworth, Mick Douthwaite, Rick Wilkinson, Gavin Carey, Andy Bowering, Pete Sherwood, Dominic Lourie, Ben […] - [Gallery](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=69): [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”6″ gal_title=”PS images”] - [Contact Us](https://passionspent.com/?page_id=11) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)