The Nightingales
Encyclopedia
The Nightingales are a British
punk/alternative band formed in 1979 in Birmingham
, England
. Original members were Robert Lloyd
(vocals), Joe Crow on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums, all formerly of The Prefects
. The band, before splitting up, played more sessions on John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show than any other band excluding The Fall.
, following which Crow and Duffy were replaced by Andy Lloyd and Nick Beales on guitars and Steve Hawkins on bass.
The band signed to Cherry Red Records and released three more singles before debut album "Pigs On Purpose" (Produced by Richard Strange
) was issued in late 1982. John Nester replaced Hawkins on bass before next release, the "Urban Ospreys" single.
Pete Byrchmore replaced Beales (who went on to form Pig Bros) in time for second album, "Hysterics" (1983), Nester then departed to be replaced by Howard Jenner. The new line-up issued two singles in 1985. Further changes then ensued with Andy Lloyd and Paul Apperley leaving, to be replaced by Maria Smith and Ron Collins.
The group continued to release singles, record Peel sessions and tour northern Europe but after the third album, "In The Good Old Country Way", the band split.
. Lloyd recorded one solo album for Virgin, "Me And My Mouth".
Lloyd is currently active in the reformed Nightingales. Pete Byrchmore plays guitar for Goldblade
, Gorgeous and the UK Subs
. Eamonn Duffy plays bass for Dave Kusworth and Gorgeous. Joe Crow is currently performing solo, but in the process of getting a band together. Nick Beales is in Church Of Elvis, and Andy Lloyd is in Little Red Schoolhouse. Ron Collins is still making music in and around Birmingham.
Paul Apperley is now a firefighter. John Nester runs a successful fruit and veg business. Howard Jenner was last heard of working for Help The Aged
. Maria Harvey (formerly Smith) still lives and works in Birmingham. Steve Hawkins whereabouts are unknown.
. This line-up released four 7-inch singles in 2004/5 before Townshend was replaced by Aaron Moore of Volcano The Bear
.
Their first three albums were reissued in 2005.
Live appearances include radio sessions for Marc Riley
's Rocket Science on BBC 6 Music
, John Kennedy's XFM
show, Terre T's Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU
(USA) and Another Nice Mess (NL) in addition to 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. Since then they have also played at the Klangbad festival in Germany, organised by Jochen Irmler of Faust
, and undertaken a second US tour in March 2007.
After several line up changes since reforming, the group line-up settled as Robert Lloyd (vocals), Alan Apperley (guitar), ex-Pram
drummer Daren Garratt, "teenage guitar sensation" Matt Wood, and Stephen 'The Night' Lowe (bass). For a brief July–August 2007 UK and European tour (including a return to the Klangbad Festival on August 4), Nick Blakey of the Boston, Massachusetts band The In Out substituted for Lowe on bass.
The Nightingales released their first studio album for 20 years in early October 2006; Out of True
on Birmingham
independent record label Iron Man Records. A new mini album, "What's Not To Love?" was released by Caroline True Records on 30 April 2007.
In late 2007 Lowe left the band and was replaced by John Roberts.
After dates in New York and Boston in March 2008, the group traveled to Faust Studio, Scheer, Germany to record a new album for Jochen Irmler's Klangbad label. During recording bassist John Roberts left the group. The band played dates in Germany, Switzerland and in Amsterdam, with Christy Edwards of Christy and Emily on bass. Teen Guitar Sensation Matt Wood left following these dates. As a parting gesture he created a life size chocolate replica of Robert Lloyd.
In June 2009, The Nightingales played a prestigious slot on the John Peel Stage at the Glastonbury Festival
in the UK.
On the road, the group are accompanied by Dave 'David from Oxford' Wasall and Mark 'Professor Porn' Jones. Dave Wasall is notable for his hilarious 'cheeky pranks'. He is currently writing a book on the subject.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
punk/alternative band formed in 1979 in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Original members were Robert Lloyd
Robert Lloyd (Nightingales)
Robert Lloyd is the lead singer with The Nightingales and formerly with The Prefects. When The Nightingales split in 1986, Lloyd embarked on a solo career, initially signing to In-Tape before signing to Virgin Records in 1989 and releasing the album Me and My Mouth...
(vocals), Joe Crow on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums, all formerly of The Prefects
The Prefects
The Prefects were a punk band from Birmingham, United Kingdom, with members that would later form The Nightingales.-History:In 1976 singer Robert Lloyd, with guitarist/drummer brothers Alan and Paul Apperley formed after an advert was placed by the Apperley brothers in the Birmingham Evening Mail....
. The band, before splitting up, played more sessions on John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show than any other band excluding The Fall.
1979-86
The debut single, "Idiot Strength" was released in 1981 on Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, following which Crow and Duffy were replaced by Andy Lloyd and Nick Beales on guitars and Steve Hawkins on bass.
The band signed to Cherry Red Records and released three more singles before debut album "Pigs On Purpose" (Produced by Richard Strange
Richard Strange
For the Jesuit, see Richard Strange Richard "Kid" Strange is an English writer, actor, musician, curator, teacher, adventurer, and the founder and front man of seminal mid-seventies protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness.-Music:Strange's first band was Doctors of Madness, formed in 1975,...
) was issued in late 1982. John Nester replaced Hawkins on bass before next release, the "Urban Ospreys" single.
Pete Byrchmore replaced Beales (who went on to form Pig Bros) in time for second album, "Hysterics" (1983), Nester then departed to be replaced by Howard Jenner. The new line-up issued two singles in 1985. Further changes then ensued with Andy Lloyd and Paul Apperley leaving, to be replaced by Maria Smith and Ron Collins.
The group continued to release singles, record Peel sessions and tour northern Europe but after the third album, "In The Good Old Country Way", the band split.
Post-Nightingales
After the split, Maria and Pete formed The Capitols, later known as The Rotten Swines (Maria was also a member of Rumblefish), Ron Collins joined The Noseflutes, 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 RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Lloyd recorded one solo album for Virgin, "Me And My Mouth".
Lloyd is currently active in the reformed Nightingales. Pete Byrchmore plays guitar for Goldblade
Goldblade
Goldblade are an English punk rock band from Manchester, England. The band formed in early 1995 when ex Membranes frontman, John Robb, put the band together with Wayne Simmons and former A Witness vocalist Keith Curtis on bass, Rob Haynes on drums and Jay Taylor on guitar.The band signed to...
, Gorgeous and the UK Subs
UK Subs
The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
. Eamonn Duffy plays bass for Dave Kusworth and Gorgeous. Joe Crow is currently performing solo, but in the process of getting a band together. Nick Beales is in Church Of Elvis, and Andy Lloyd is in Little Red Schoolhouse. Ron Collins is still making music in and around Birmingham.
Paul Apperley is now a firefighter. John Nester runs a successful fruit and veg business. Howard Jenner was last heard of working for Help The Aged
Help the Aged
Help the Aged was a United Kingdom based, international charity, founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. It merged with Age Concern in 2009 to form Age UK.-Organisation and campaigns:...
. Maria Harvey (formerly Smith) still lives and works in Birmingham. Steve Hawkins whereabouts are unknown.
The Nightingales re-form
The band reunited in 2004 featuring mainstay/band leader Lloyd, original Prefects guitarist Alan Apperley, ex-Nightingales Byrchmore and Duffy, plus former PWEI drummer Robert "Fuzz" TownshendRobert "Fuzz" Townshend
Richard "Fuzz" Townshend is a British drummer.- Biography :Drumming from the age of 10, Townshend found some success with both General Public and Pop Will Eat Itself, with whom he played from 1991 onwards...
. This line-up released four 7-inch singles in 2004/5 before Townshend was replaced by Aaron Moore of Volcano The Bear
Volcano The Bear
Volcano the Bear are an improvisational/experimental English band formed in Leicester in 1995. The group's members are Aaron Moore , Nick Mott , Clarence Manuelo and Daniel Padden...
.
Their first three albums were reissued in 2005.
Live appearances include radio sessions for Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
's Rocket Science on BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
, John Kennedy's XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
show, Terre T's Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
(USA) and Another Nice Mess (NL) in addition to gigs around England.
The band also played American music festival South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
in March 2005, alongside dates in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The band's first American dates ever. Since then they have also played at the Klangbad festival in Germany, organised by Jochen Irmler of Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
, and undertaken a second US tour in March 2007.
After several line up changes since reforming, the group line-up settled as Robert Lloyd (vocals), Alan Apperley (guitar), ex-Pram
Pram (band)
Pram are an experimental band who formed in the Balsall Heath/Moseley area of Birmingham, England in 1990.-History:Originally from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Rosie Cuckston and Matt Eaton went to school together. They moved to Birmingham in the late 80s, schoolfriend Andy Weir keeping in touch...
drummer Daren Garratt, "teenage guitar sensation" Matt Wood, and Stephen 'The Night' Lowe (bass). For a brief July–August 2007 UK and European tour (including a return to the Klangbad Festival on August 4), Nick Blakey of the Boston, Massachusetts band The In Out substituted for Lowe on bass.
The Nightingales released their first studio album for 20 years in early October 2006; Out of True
Out of True
Out of True is the fourth studio album by British band The Nightingales. Released in the United Kingdom on 2 October 2006, the album is the bands first since 1986's 'In The Good Old Country Way'. The album was recorded and produced completely in June 2006 in Birmingham...
on Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
independent record label Iron Man Records. A new mini album, "What's Not To Love?" was released by Caroline True Records on 30 April 2007.
In late 2007 Lowe left the band and was replaced by John Roberts.
After dates in New York and Boston in March 2008, the group traveled to Faust Studio, Scheer, Germany to record a new album for Jochen Irmler's Klangbad label. During recording bassist John Roberts left the group. The band played dates in Germany, Switzerland and in Amsterdam, with Christy Edwards of Christy and Emily on bass. Teen Guitar Sensation Matt Wood left following these dates. As a parting gesture he created a life size chocolate replica of Robert Lloyd.
In June 2009, The Nightingales played a prestigious slot on the John Peel Stage at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in the UK.
On the road, the group are accompanied by Dave 'David from Oxford' Wasall and Mark 'Professor Porn' Jones. Dave Wasall is notable for his hilarious 'cheeky pranks'. He is currently writing a book on the subject.
Albums
- Pigs on Purpose (Cherry Red LP) 1982, CD reissue 2004 (#15)
- Pillows & PrayersPillows & PrayersPillows & Prayers is compilation album released Christmas 1982 featuring artists on the Cherry Red record label at the suggestion of A&R head Mike Alway...
(Cherry Red LP) 1982-1983 (#16) - Hysterics (Ink/Red Flame LP) 1983, CD reissue (Cherry Red) 2005 (#20)
- Just The Job compilation (Vindaloo LP) 1984
- In The Good Old Country Way (Vindaloo LP) 1986, CD reissue (Caroline True) 2005 (#8)
- What A Scream (1980–1986) compilation (Mau Mau/Demon CD) 1991
- Pissed & Potless - The Definitive Nightingales Collection compilation (Cherry Red CD) 2001
- Out of TrueOut of TrueOut of True is the fourth studio album by British band The Nightingales. Released in the United Kingdom on 2 October 2006, the album is the bands first since 1986's 'In The Good Old Country Way'. The album was recorded and produced completely in June 2006 in Birmingham...
(Iron Man CD) 2006 - What's Not To Love? (Caroline True CD) 2007
- Live In Paris (Big Print CD) 2008
- Insult To Injury (Klangbad CD) 2008
Singles
- "Idiot Strength" 1981 (Rough Trade/Vindaloo)
- "Use Your Loaf" 1982 (Cherry Red)
- "Paraffin Brain" 1982 (Cherry Red) (#39)
- "Peel Session EP" 1982 (Cherry Red) (#34)
- "Urban Osprey" 1983 (Cherry Red) (#26)
- "Crafty Fag" 1983 (Ink/Red Flame) (#27)
- "The Crunch EP" 1984 (Vindaloo) (#27)
- "It's a Cracker" 1985 (Vindaloo) (#16)
- "What a Carry On EP" 1985 (Vindaloo) (#26)
- "Peel Session EP" 1988 (Strange Fruit)
- "Black Country" 2004 (Big Print)
- "Workshy Wunderkind" 2004 (Big Print)
- "EFL" (Sex And God Knows What)" 2004 (Big Print)
- "Devil In The Detail" 2005 (Big Print)
- "Let's Think About Living" 2006 (Fake Product)