Aceboy started as an idea in about 1983, with my brother Owen Critchley and me writing songs together in Bermuda, where we lived at the time. In 1985 we took our demo tapes to Toronto, where we formed the band, played showcase gigs in clubs for about a year, and then got signed to a worldwide music publishing contract with Warner-Chappell Music. Joining us were fellow Bermudian Michael Spencer-Arscott, plus Torontonians John Whynot and Tamara Silvera. Aceboy was a great, promising group that was hot for about five minutes (OK, a couple of years) and then went poof into the mists of music history.
Below is an excerpt of a song I wrote that never got released, but which I’ve always liked, called “Crooked House.” The photo shows the band playing at the Diamond Club in Toronto. From left: Tamara, me, Owen, John. Not seen: Michael on drums.