MISSION POSSIBLE, 1986
February 27th 1986 is a date that Adam Stevenson isn’t likely to forget. Then a relative newcomer to the company’s team, he was about to dive into the deep end, and become initiated into the mad world of The Mission at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town.
Following their departure from The Sisters Of Mercy, Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams quickly established The Mission, hitting the ground running with two independent singles topping the UK alternative charts, before signing a worldwide deal with Phonogram.
Entec’s valued relationship with the band is one of many behind the success and longevity of the company. Back in the mid-’80s, the working bond between the two parties was aided in no small way by Adam’s presence. Over the years, he has worked for the band in various guises – from designing and operating lights on tours to being the fourth person on original LD Phil Wiffin’s crew.
The Mission’s frontman, Wayne Hussey recalls: “Adam had joined Entec straight from school a year before we formed the band. He was about 17 or 18 and he arrived wearing a clean white shirt, which looked so out of place, but at the same time he was a breath of fresh air.
“We were all quite seasoned and a bit cynical, and there was young, innocent Adam coming along to make us smile. He stayed with us for a quite a few years on all our tours and festivals, travelling around the world and sharing our experiences. I consider him to be a very good friend, first and foremost.”
APPRECIATION
In common with most start-up bands, The Mission’s live presentation was minimal on their initial tours, due to lack of finance. That changed as soon as Phonogram allocated a workable budget with which to finance their World Crusade tour of 1987-88.
From the start, however, Wayne had both an eye for production and an appreciation of those who made a valuable contribution. “With anybody that I work with, I like them to be able to express themselves,” he explains.
“Phil Wiffen was onboard early on as our lighting designer – we brought him in from The Sisters Of Mercy – and, aided by the label’s finance, Phil had free rein to come up with bigger ideas and we would give our feedback, mostly based on what was affordable. That said, I’ve always known what I do and don’t like – in fact, I’ve always had an opinion about everything, and that includes all things creative.
“Whether it’s a record or a live show, I like to think we have delivered the best we can give within our means and, looking back, Entec really helped us step up a gear and create a good production as soon as we had some money.”
The relationship remains as solid as ever, says Wayne: “As a band, we’ve had plenty of ups and downs, but Entec and Adam have been permanent fixtures all the way. Invariably, he’s my first port of call whenever we are preparing for a tour and, naturally, Noreen is also involved.
“I’m not going anywhere else; it wouldn’t make any sense. Entec are always fair with us on costs, the equipment is the best you can get and so is the service. They’re part of our family.”
