The Woodentops began 1983 with Rolo McGinty, Simon Mawby, Alice Thompson, and Paul Hookham. Known to busk and perform at South London art house warehouse type venues/parties . Rehearsing at Panni Bahrti's (then Charrington) warehouse at Clapham Junction, where the band worked until 1988. This was a hotbed of experimental film and graphic design, Panni desgining the bands vinyl / cd artwork / film and stage show. The band progressed to conventional venues.