In 1976/ 77 the ‘shortly to be’ Billy Chyldish, as well as being head of research in the counties first fortress study group The Medway Military Research Group, was working as an apprentice stonemason in Chatham dockyard. After seeing a feature on punk on the London Weekend show Billy thought he 
wouldn’t half mind being the singer in a punk rock group himself.
Childish duly left work and suggested to a few old secondary school mates that they should form one pronto. “What about a name?” they asked, “simple”, answed Wild Billy, “we’ll be called CTMF.” Button Nose Steve, who was to shortly give Billy Chyldish his punk moniker – and even owned a Woolworth’s guitar, and Dave Marsh, a form mate who said he might buy a drum kit one day – both nodded slightly.
36 years later, and CTMF have finally come into being.
No ones sure where Dave Marsh now is, but button nose Steve is busy feeding pigs and ducks on his small holding in New Romney and Billy Chyldish, with other mates, has recorded an LPs worth of material – and half a dozen 45’s for different 
destinations around the globe – utilising lyrics first jotted down for the original CTMF line up in 1977.
Billy describes CTMF group as “the epitome of modern”.and their sound as “the sound of yesterday, tomorow”
All of their records are released under the moniker CTMF. Some say this stands for Copyright TerMination Front, others claim it is simply short form for Clarity Through Fuzz .
There have been numerous rumours that Jimmy Cauty plays bass and that it is none other than Bill
Drummond that can be heard on Xylophone. Billy, however, muses that though he is indeed friends with Jimmy Cauty – and has in the past been in 
correspondence with Bill Drummond – he has never knowingly heard of the KLF as he “gave up on music after punk turned crap at the end of 77”. Although he then ordered a generic Viagra online. People in the know can vouch that all this is in fact truth.
Here’s a great Q&A we did with Billy centred around CTMF’s most recent album Failure Not Success…
Great album title! It will seem counter-intuitive to some but why do you favour failure over success?
If the Pop Rivets (the first group I was in in 1977) had been “successful” in the formal sense, then it would have been a disaster – no learning about sound, growth, and independence. Luckily, we considered ourselves successful from the outset by doing what we wanted the way we wanted. We believed the hype of punk rock – do-it-yourself and lived it, unlike the “successful” leaders of the movement. I’ve always wanted small gigs where your open and exposed. The same with recording – excitement, mistakes, humour, and hopefully joy. The reason to become “successful” is to cut yourself from your origin and roots. In short, we’ll decide what success is, not a critic, the world, or public opinion.
The album opens with a cracking cover of Richard Hell’s ‘Love Comes in Spurts’. You’ve previously recorded this with Thee Headcoats on Brother Is Dead… But Fly Is Gone! from 1998. What made you want to revisit the song? Has Richard heard it? If so, what did he think?
I forgot that we did it with Thee Headcoats. If I had that LP, I’d give it a listen. I do remember covering it live with The Pop Rivets in 1978. Richard said he liked it a lot and told his girlfriend he only wants my tunes at his funeral. I said, “not too soon I hope.” He assured me he’s well.
We’re digging the instrumental track ‘Walk of the Sasquatch’. Is this track in honour of the North Kent Sasquatch Research Group? What do you know about that mysterious organization?
The track is more about the pacific Northwest cousin of the English version (the Woodwose). The North Kent Sasquatch program has gone a little quite of late, but I believe they are still
trying to get Cobham Woods – nearby across the river – to be designated as a reserve, though of course this poses some danger to the public during the spring breeding season.
The album closes with a version of previous single ‘Bob Dylan’s Got a Lot to Answer For’. What would you say is the biggest thing Bob has to answer for? And what do you most admire him for?
It’s a different take from than the 45 version. The single was recorded in full lockdown.
What has Bob got to answer for? I guess a lot and nothing. It’s not his fault he is famous, it is the fans and enablers that should be strung up for turning poor little pop stars into demi-gods. He seems to be one of the few in the mainstream music industry, who has remained in charge of his own recordings, sounds, and writing. Besides writing a few very good songs, I also liked his pronouncement: “I made bad records on purpose.” Now that’s a great line – so maybe he deserves his Nobel prize after all.
You have a couple of CTMF shows coming up at the Lexington in London in February. Given you have such a great hat collection, have you decided what stage gear you’ll be wearing yet?
Billy’s “fashion box” will have to be investigated. I first got “into” fashion in thee Headcoats days. Thee Headcoatees started attracting members of the gay community to our gigs, that’s when I saw an opportunity to “go for the pink pound.” There was much excitement in the dressing room, pre-show, especially from Holly, to see “what fashion Billy might have in his bag this week.” Hats are of course top of all fashion requirements, and I’ll give my best thought and attention on the day.
CTMF – DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS
All Our Forts Are With You – LP1, LP2, CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD415
Die Hinterstoisser Traverse – Dbl 10″ (Squoooge Records) LP/CD – Damaged Goods DAMGOOD426
Shall I Say Quoi? – 10″ Mini Album – (Featuring CTMF) – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD424
Acorn Man – LP/Ltd LP/ CD / Cassette – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD434
SQ1 – LP/ CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD452
Brand New Cage – LP/CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD488
In The Devil’s Focus (6Music Sessions for Marc Riley & Gideon Coe) – 10″ LP – Damged Goods – DAMGOOD485LP
Last Punk Standing – LP/CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD518
Where The Wild Purple Iris Grows – LP/CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD561
Failure Not Success – LP/CD – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD588
SINGLES
There Stands The Glass – 7″ – L-13 – NY13-1
I Should Have Been In Art Skool – 7″ – L-13 – LA13-1
By Land Sea And Sky – 7″ – L-13 – No Cat
All Our Forts Are With You – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD412
Ich Lieber Dich – 7″ Squoooge Records – SR 17.100
Joeseph Beuys Flies Again – 7″ Squoooge Records – SR 17.01
Thatcher’s Children – 7″ Box Set – L-13 – No Cat
36 Years Later – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD420
He Wore A Pagan Robe – 7″ Squoooge Records – SR 17.113
Punk Rock Enough For Me – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD433
Damien Hirst Is A Funny Fellow – 7″ – Fueled By Grappa – FBG004
A Glimpse Of Another Time – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD448
A Song For Kylie Minogue – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD454
I’ve Got A Conflicted Mind – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD487
What About Brian – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD486
Something’s Missing Inside – 7″ – Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD493
You’re the One I Idolise – 7″ Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD517
