The Nightingales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Nightingales are a British punk/alternative band formed in November, 1979 in Birmingham. Original members were Robert Lloyd (vocals) and Joe 'Motivator' Crow on guitar, both formerly of The Prefects, with Andy Lloyd on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums. The band, before splitting up, played more sessions on John Peel's Radio 1 show than any other band excluding The Fall.

1 1979-86
2 Post-Nightingales
3 The Nightingales re-form
4 Trivia
5 Discography
- 5.1 Albums
- 5.2 Singles

[edit] 1979-86

Debut single, "Idiot Strength" was released in 1981. Three more singles followed before debut album "Pigs On Purpose" was issued in late 1982. John Nestor replaced Crow on bass before next release, the "Urban Ospreys" single. Pete Byrchmore replaced Duffy in time for second album, "Hysterics" (1983), Nestor then departed to be replaced by Nick Beales for third album "Just The Job". Beales left to form Pig Bros, the band recruiting Howard Jenner as a replacement. This line-up issued two singles in 1985. Further changes then ensued with Andy Lloyd and Paul Apperley leaving, to be replaced by Maria Collins and Ron Collins. After a further album, "In The Good Old Country Way", the band split.

[edit] Post-Nightingales

After the split, Maria and Pete formed The Capitols (Maria was also a member of Rumblefish), while Robert Lloyd formed a new band, Robert Lloyd & The New Four Seasons, who after a few releases on In Tape were signed by Virgin Records. They split in 1990.

[edit] The Nightingales re-form

The band reunited to issue four 7-inch singles in 2004, and their first three albums were reissued in 2005. Recent live appearances include a radio session for Marc Riley's Rocket Science on BBC 6 Music, on 10 June 2006, in addition to a number of gigs around England.

The band also played American music festival South By Southwest in March 2005, alongside dates in Chicago and New York City. The band's first American dates ever.

After several line up changes since reforming, the group now comprises of Robert Lloyd (vocals), Alan Apperley (guitar), ex Pram drummer Daren Garratt, "teenage guitar sensation" Matt Wood and Ste Lowe (bass).

The Nightingales released their first studio album for 20 years in early October 2006; Out of True on Birmingham record label Iron Man Records, and followed with a tour of the United Kingdom. The band also played several dates in mainland Europe in August 2006.

[edit] Trivia

Alan Apperley is often described as the 'overtly and often innappropriately sensual' genius behind the sounds of Robert Lloyd, the 'Telford Elvis'.

'Drummer' Daren Garratt can often be sighted in the Black Country locale, laughing dementedly as he repeatedly plays James Brown's 'Cold Sweat'; an activity which has lead some to label him the 'Dudley Cackler'.

Ste Lowe is said to spend his spare time working as a Marc Almond impersonator in Stourbridge.

Teen Guitar Sensation Matt Wood of The Nightingales has been rated 'five out of five' in the national press, on at least one occasion. His hobbies include eschewing hair gel and text messaging, and devoting his school years to learning the interlocking guitar stylings of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.