The Nightingales

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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 BBC 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

The intro section above should read - The Nightingales are a British punk/alternative band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England. Original members were Robert Lloyd (vocals) and Joe Crow on guitar, Eamonn Duffy on bass and Paul Apperley on drums, all former members of The Prefects. The band recorded three albums, many singles and EPs and, before splitting up, played more sessions on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show than any other band excluding The Fall.

The debut single, "Idiot Strength" was released in 1981 on Rough Trade Records, 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.

[edit] Post-Nightingales

After the split, Maria and Pete formed The Capitols (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 Records. Lloyd recorded one solo album for Virgin, "Me And My Mouth".

Lloyd is currently active in the reformed Nightingales. Pete Byrchmore plays guitar for Gold Blade, 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.

[edit] 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 Fuzz Townshend. 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 USA tour in March 07.

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 Stephen 'The Night' Lowe (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?" is released by Caroline True Records on 30 April 2007.

[edit] Trivia

Alan Apperley is often described as the 'overtly and, often innappropriately, sensual' genius behind The Sounds of Robert Lloyd - the 'Telford Elvis'. Alan holds a masters degree in Grapehoundery. He is a keen gardener and in 2005 won a Gold medal in the courgette section of the Staffordshire Allotment festival.

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, text messaging, defrauding myspace chicks, stamp collecting and devoting his school years to learning the guitar stylings of Bert Weedon.

Stephen Lowe has been a feature of several articles, which denote him as having 'Something of the night about him' and being 'The fella I get the bus to work with'. In his spare time Stephen likes to squeal like a pig.

Daren Garratt's hobbies include Guinness, giggling, ferret trousering, Little Richard, and shouting. He also conducts a clandestine life as the Other Mark E. Smith (OMES) and has made at least three Fall CDs in this guise, without the public suspecting anything. The Dazzler, as he is known to his numerous friends, likes to hang out with showbiz stars.

Robert Lloyd has been described as THE Robert Lloyd. He likes spurning opportunities. Between the Virgin album and the Nightingales reformation Lloyd was stable jockey for the Derby winning Sir Michael Stoute stable. He likes Bovril and tea with two sugars.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Pigs on Purpose (Cherry Red LP) 1982, CD reissue 2004
Hysterics (Ink/Red Flame LP) 1983, CD reissue (Cherry Red) 2005
Just The Job compilation (Vindaloo LP) 1984
In The Good Old Country Way (Vindaloo LP) 1986, CD reissue (Caroline True) 2005
What A Scream (1980-1986) compilation (Mau Mau/Demon CD) 1991
Pissed & Potless - The Definitive Nightingales Collection compilation (Cherry Red CD) 2001
Out of True (Iron Man CD) 2006
What's Not To Love? (Caroline True CD) 2007