Matarka were a Nottingham group formed in early 1974 who played a progressive heavy rock until 1977 when they split up.

Matarka was the brain child of Chris Price and Paul Simons who recruited a drummer and a three piece band was formed. Simon Lester then replaced the original drummer and they became a quartet when guitarist Paul Arnall was added.

1974

*1
Chris Price: Bass guitar, Lead vocals
Paul Simons: Keyboards, Vocals
Unknown drummer

*2
Chris Price: Bass guitar, Lead vocals
Paul Simons: Keyboards, Vocals
Simon Lester: Drums

The first solid line up of Matarka was:

*3
Chris Price: Bass guitar, Lead vocals
Paul Simons: Keyboards, Vocals
Paul Arnall: Guitar
Simon Lester: Drums

Chris Price (20) lived in Edwalton.
Paul Simons (20) lived in West Bridgford.
Simon Lester (18) was from East Bridgford
Paul Arnall (18) was from Edwalton.

Simon Lester had previously been in a group called “Hippo”. You can read a little about them here.

They rehearsed at the West Bridgford social club and starting gigging locally with an early big gig being the end of term summer ball at Brackenhurst College near Southwell.

1975

In 1975 Bob Harrison replaced Chris Price on Bass guitar, Keyboard player Paul Simons built his own Moog synthesiser and they found a manager in Tony Langham. Wrting their own numbers they took influence from and sounded like Pink Floyd, Yes and Caravan. They played the Unity club in Beeston, the Boat club and secured residency’s at the Test Match in West Bridgford on a Monday night and at the Horse and Jockey in Mansfield. They played further afield gigging at Fforde Greene and the Staging Post in Leeds. They contacted Richard Williams at Island Records who complimented on their talent. Richard had been in the sixties Nottingham group the “Junco Partners“.

*4
Paul Simons: Keyboards, Vocals
Paul Arnall: Guitar
Simon Lester: Drums
Bob Harrison: Bass guitar, Lead vocals

1976

Matarka were playing regularly and after writing some new material were recorded by Radio Trent later in the year.

1977

Matarka played into 1977 but then split up. The recorded output I am aware of is:

Radio Nottingham session, Oct 1974
Radio Trent live recording Nov 1976

Guitarist Paul Arnall (I think) as Frankie Deepe and drummer Simon Lester as Percy Cute joined London Based power pop group “The Secret” in 1977 and toured with XTC in late 77 early 78 playing one gig in their home town of Nottingham at the University on Feb 10th 1978. Simon Lester stayed with The Secret recording singles and an album. Paul Arnall returned to Nottingham and formed The Fatal Charm in 1979.