Through extensive rehearsals (later described by Thoms as "the most outrageous misuse of drugs I've ever done while playing music") the band compiled a set of songs heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones, The Faces and The Sex Pistols. The Horns became a more serious band in mid/late 1977 when Took recruited Thoms and Ghisio-Erba to the band and signed a management contract with Tony Landau, a friend of Turner's since adolescence and stepfather to Took's young son Luke. The name came from a horned pendant which Took frequently wore. īy 1976, Took had returned to London from a lengthy sojourn in the Kent towns of Canterbury and Margate and was loosely rehearsing as Steve Took's Horns with a succession of musicians. A 1972 management deal with Tony Secunda and 'seed money' grant from Warner Brothers failed to result in any record releases, although home demos recorded in the basement flat of Secunda's office were released in 1995 by Cleopatra Records. In this capacity Took had become a staple of the underground benefit concerts circuit, been the subject of various articles and interviews for the UK music press and performed a set on the BBC Radio London show Breakthrough (hosted by Steve Bradshaw). The group had recorded electric and acoustic demos and played at the Phun City festival before dwindling down into a solo acoustic act by Took.
Since leaving Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1969, Took had formed his own band Shagrat with guitarist Larry Wallis. 2.3 New recordings made late 2002 for CD release.2.2 Live performance at Nik Turner's Bohemian Love-In, The Roundhouse 18 June 1978.