Three decades of Hovercraft history, preserved in photographs, press clippings, handwritten lyrics, and personal memories. From live performances in 1995–96 to the ongoing search for our missing songwriter and bandmate Charlie Pepper.

These photo collections document not just a band, but a friendship that continues to this day through our AI reconstruction project.

Band & Performance

Live Band (10 photos)

Live performance shots from Hovercraft’s brief but intense 1995–96 period. Capturing the energy and raw power that local press called “cataclysmic rock ’n’ roll of the most intense order.”

A sepia-toned photograph shows a three-member band performing with guitars and drums.Two musicians are playing instruments, with one on a bass guitar and the other on a drum set.A musician wearing sunglasses plays an electric guitar and sings into a microphone in a vintage setting.A person is playing an electric bass guitar next to a drum set in a sepia-toned setting.A person wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt is playing an electric guitar in a vintage-style setting.A band is performing on stage, with musicians playing electric guitars and drums.A musician passionately sings into a microphone while playing an electric guitar on stage.A musician is playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone.A person is playing a bass guitar with closed eyes in a sepia-toned photograph.A person is playing the drums, wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic print and sitting behind cymbals and a drum set.

Press & Archive

Press Releases (3 photos)

Official press releases and promotional materials from Hovercraft’s original run. Professional documentation of a band with serious ambitions.

A press release from June 1996 announces the formation and upcoming performances of the band Hovercraft, led by Charlie Pepper, known for playing music influenced by classic bands.Four men are posing against a light blue background, with one wearing sunglasses.A flyer introduces the British R&B band Hovercraft, outlining its members and showcasing reviews and contact information.

Newspaper Clips (3 photos)

Local press coverage including their chart success and reviews. Evidence of Hovercraft’s impact on the Grimsby music scene.

A black-and-white newspaper clipping advertises a new band named Hovercraft, featuring an image of the band members with additional text.A list showcasing the Demo Top Ten with band names and song titles, accompanied by a brief introduction.A handwritten letter describes events related to the Grimsby music scene, mentioning people like Peppa and Piers Wildman.

Band Members

Personal photos of the individual band members, documenting the friendships that formed Hovercraft and continue to drive the reconstruction project today.

Piers “Charlie Pepper” Wildman (5 photos)

Photos of our missing songwriter and friend. These images are part of our ongoing search to reconnect with Pepper, last known to be in the Bournemouth area.

A musician passionately sings into a microphone while playing an electric guitar on stage.A musician is playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone.A black and white portrait of a man with short dark hair, wearing a jacket, and looking slightly to the side.A man with short dark hair and a calm expression is looking slightly to the side against a blue background.A person wearing a jacket with a crest on it is looking at the camera in a sepia-toned photograph.

David “Golly God” Marsden (5 photos)

Lead guitarist and co-founder of the AI reconstruction project. The technical mind behind bringing Hovercraft’s lost catalogue back to life.

A musician wearing sunglasses plays an electric guitar and sings into a microphone in a vintage setting.A person wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt is playing an electric guitar in a vintage-style setting.A person is wearing dark sunglasses and a collared shirt, with short hair.A person wearing sunglasses is playing a black electric guitar.A man wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt with a blazer is captured in an orange-tinted photo.

Aaron “Ron Nasty” Downing (5 photos)

Bass player and co-conspirator in the reconstruction project. The rhythmic foundation of both the original band and today’s AI experiments.

A person with a piercing on their eyebrow and ear is looking slightly to the side against a dark background.A person with short dark hair is looking to the side, with their shadow cast on a textured yellow wall.A person with short hair and an earring holds a copy of Melody Maker featuring the Sex Pistols on the cover.Two men are sitting on a couch, with one playing an electric bass guitar.A person with long hair wearing a hat is blowing smoke rings.

Dan “Mr Shimble” Downing (4 photos)

Drummer and fourth member of the original Hovercraft lineup. Part of the creative chemistry that made the band’s brief existence so intense.

Two musicians are playing instruments, with one on a bass guitar and the other on a drum set.A person is playing the drums, wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic print and sitting behind cymbals and a drum set.A person with medium-length hair is making a surprised or excited facial expression.Two young individuals are seated indoors, with one holding a magazine and the other sitting back in a chair.

Creative Archive

The creative minds behind Hovercraft drew from a rich tapestry of cultural influences – from Bill Hicks and Fugazi to Timothy Leary and Syd Barrett. This word collage and archive capture the intellectual and artistic zeitgeist that informed the band’s worldview and continues to drive the reconstruction project today.

Cultural DNA

Word collage and visual influences from the Hovercraft era.

Cultural influences word collage from Hovercraft era

Song Sheets (13 photos)

Original handwritten song sheets and chord progressions – the musical DNA that forms the foundation for our AI reconstructions.

A handwritten music sheet on lined paper titled Mr. Tooting Brown details chord progressions for various song sections like intro, verse, and mid sections.A piece of lined paper contains handwritten musical notes and chord progressions divided into sections labeled verse, chorus, and instrumental.Notebook paper with handwritten notes, chord progressions, and several sketches of the word HOVERCRAFT in different styles.Handwritten musical notes and symbols are organized on a lined sheet of paper, labeled KILLER BLUES, with chord progressions and instrumental sections indicated.A sheet of lined paper with handwritten musical chords and notes, including symbols like Em, G, C, and D.A handwritten sheet of music notes and song structure details titled Take It or Leave It is displayed on lined paper.A sheet of paper contains hand-written music chords, song structure notes, and scribbles.A handwritten sheet of music chords titled Me and Mary Jane includes sections labeled Intro, Vs, Mid, and Playout.Handwritten lyrics and chords are scribbled on lined paper, detailing the structure of a song titled ANGEL with sections like intro, chorus, and instrumental.A handwritten sheet of music chords and notes is organized into verses and sections, with annotations and instructions.A handwritten music chart on lined paper details song sections, chords, and instrumentation notes.Handwritten music notes and chords are arranged on lined paper, labeled SUPERMAN, detailing various sections and verses.A handwritten music chord progression notation includes verses and choruses, featuring chords such as Em, A7, D, and C.

Set Lists & Lyrics (13 photos)

Handwritten set lists from live performances and lyrical fragments – the performance evolution and poetic heart of Hovercraft’s music.

A handwritten list of song titles includes In the Midnight Hour, Cool Jerk, White Limousine, Oh Yeah, New Pink Overcoat, I Love (I Don't Want You to Die), Crazy, and Shake Your Moneymaker.A handwritten setlist includes song titles like In the Midnight Hour and Season of the Witch, with additional titles written in a different ink at the bottom.A handwritten music setlist features titles like Killer Blues, Indie Kid, and Superman, with Cool Jerk crossed out.A handwritten list of seemingly random phrases or titles, some of which are crossed out, is presented on a piece of white paper.A hand-written list of songs or phrases is organized into four groups on a sheet of paper.A handwritten list with song titles, separated by red horizontal lines.A handwritten setlist on paper features song titles in red with additional notes in blue ink.A handwritten list on lined paper mentions various songs and albums, including titles like Superman, Misty Tooting Brown, and Concrete Hill.A handwritten note on lined paper outlines an album tracklist with song titles and musical arrangement instructions.
A handwritten piece of paper features lyrics with crossed-out words, titled Chorus.A handwritten page contains lyrics with some crossed out sections and phrases about being crazy and running in the sun.Handwritten notes on a piece of paper express thoughts about wanting change and resisting settling down.Handwritten song lyrics titled Killer Blues are written on a piece of lined paper.

Piers’s Drawings (8 photos)

Artistic works by Piers “Charlie Pepper” Wildman, showing the creative mind behind Hovercraft’s songwriting. Visual art that complements his musical vision.

A hand-drawn, colorful creature features a wide, toothy grin, prominent eyes, and a shiny, golden top with a horn-like protrusion.A sketch depicts the side profile of a stylized face with long hair and rectangular glasses.A sketch depicts a contemplative figure with a jacket and stars in the background, showcasing dynamic lines and shading.A person wearing a green coat and blue shirt is sketched riding a pink scooter on lined paper.Two sketches on lined paper depict a person in blue with long hair wearing a coat and a person in red with short hair.A sketch depicts a person with a somber expression, holding a drink, with another smaller figure gesturing in the background.A sketch shows a person standing near a column with a cymbal and another person's face drawn in the foreground.A pencil sketch depicts a surreal face with exaggerated features emerging from a box, accompanied by two abstract plants.

Miscellaneous & Hovercraft (10+ photos)

Additional photos, documents, and artifacts from the Hovercraft archive, plus photos of actual British hovercraft with the iconic blue/red logo that inspired the band name and visual identity.

A black and white graphic shows a hovercraft with text above asking Have You Ever Flown In A Hovercraft? and referencing Area 51 in the Nevada desert.There are six instances of a name card for Mr. Tooting Brown, associated with hovercraft and featuring contact details for Shaun.A handwritten note lists song titles, timings, and cassette tape details, dated May 29, 1996.A promotional poster advertises a live music event called Fourplay at the Cartersgate Rooms, showcasing artists Spectral Noise, Lithium Joe, Hovercraft, and Curl, with details about ticket sales and timings.A handwritten note discusses the financial and logistical benefits of trading in a car for a van or camper, highlighting costs and flexibility.A torn poster advertises a performance or event by HOVERCRAFT, encouraging people to SUCK 'em and SEE, with blank spaces for venue, date, and time.A handwritten page lists different film scenes with their timings and brief descriptions, titled WIRED and EASY RIDER.
A large hovercraft with red and white colors is displayed in front of a building with hovercraft museum written on it.A hovercraft is moving across a surface, with the word welcome written in blue in the sky above it.A white hovercraft with the words HOVERCRAFT is gliding on a paved surface with its propellers in motion.

“Every photograph tells part of the story – from the intensity of live performance to the quiet moments of friendship that defined Hovercraft.”

Recognise Anyone?

If you recognise Piers “Charlie Pepper” Wildman in any of these photos or have information about his whereabouts, please contact us.

Every memory shared helps us piece together the complete Hovercraft story.