BEING KARNAL
BEING KARNAL was born in 1982 and comprised of Heilco Van der Ploeug and Andrew Kötting. They ‘performed music’ in the early 80’s and were based in a ramshackle abode above Penfold Motors in Lee Green, South London.
Leila McMillan projected super 8 films at the live events and also ‘starred’ in some of the early works. Van der Ploeug would sing beautifully whilst Kötting would join in by shouting accordingly.
Under this guise they presented their 'performance-happening-carry-on-shenanigans' in venues across London, culminating in a support slot to the Weather Girls (It's raining men) at The Fridge in Brixton.
The group eventually added a bass player (Andy Newcombe and also a guitarist Matthew Graham) as well as a brass section that consisted of a trumpet and a trombone. By the time the rhythm guitarist and backing singers arrived Kötting knew that his time was up. He went on to audition as a sax player for King Kurt but was rejected out of hand.
