The drummer turns Japanese mayor Guildford

Craig Buchan

BBC News, South East

Former steam drummer Howard Smith is now Guilford Mayor and Deputy Deputy Jane Tyson

The former drummer of Steam said it was "excellent" to be elected as Guilford Mayor.

Howard Smith, who grew up in Surrey Town, will take over as Sallie Barker until May 2026.

The primary responsibility of the labor MP in the post is to attend the town's VE Day event on Wednesday.

“It’s really exciting to be the mayor of your hometown,” he said.

Smith was the drummer of steam, when their songs turned Japanese ranked third on the UK singles chart in 1980.

The song became No. 1 in Australia and the band also performed several US tours.

Steam also toured with Surrey rock band The Jam.

"It's been a great experience and I'm proud of what we have achieved as a band," Smith told the BBC.

The band chose the name of the American spelling, partly because it attracted American audiences, but Smith reflected the name "there is a little cache we won't impose on the British spelling".

“There’s a lot to do, and it’s obviously for us,” he said.

In 1980, Steam's songs became Japanese and ranked third on the British singles chart

Getty image of four young men, two of whom were wearing steam t-shirts. A man is yawning. The image is black and white. — In 1980, Steam's songs became Japanese and ranked third on the British singles chart

The drummer continued to work for the nonprofit Performance Rights Association while living in London, now known as Music.

He returned to the Guildford area nearly 20 years ago and ran a record store in the town for eight years.

Although the store has been closed, Smith said he still bought "too many records" and continued to promote the performances in the area.

Eventually, he accepted politics, volunteered for the Labor Party’s flyer and then participated in the 2017 general election, being the party’s Guildford candidate.

He ranks third, but was elected to the Westboro Ward Borough Councilor in 2023.

"Like most people, you see what's going on in the country politically, and sometimes you find yourself yelling on TV or something," Smith said.

As mayor, he decided to support theatre group Guilford Shakespeare Company and Phyllis Tuckerwell Hospice Charity.

He is also promoting Cheryl King Trust, a local music class bursary charity that has a “special resonance.”

"Since I was a kid watching pop music, music has been all about me."

The steam re-formed in 2016, but Smith had a "very good" relationship with his former bandmates, but Smith chose not to join because it "will be too much" to balance political career and family life.

His musical career is “one of the things that obviously will always be with me,” he said. “It will be what I’m known for.”