Idol Fret
Idol Fret was a rock band from Oldham, England, formed in the late 70s and mostly known for playing in clubs and pubs around the east of Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham. The band's only official release was Bad Boy, a single released around 1980. This was followed up with an album-length cassette called 'Fretwork'.
The original band, called Idle Fret, formed around 1976/77 in Manchester and played at Deeply Vale Free Festival in 1976 or 77, and recorded four songs as a demo tape. Founder members of Idle Fret were John Stewart (guitar and vocals), Gary Burke (drums), Ian Reynolds (vocals), Rob Barlow ( guitar) and Paul Bangash (bass guitar). When the band split, Ian Reynolds and Gary Burke formed Geneva BRA and Paul Bangash went on to play with Sam Brown's band.
John Stewart formed a new band renamed Idol Fret with the members listed below in 1978. Line-up remained until 1985.
Band members
- John Stewart (founder member; rhythm guitar and vocals)
- Ian Jenkins (keyboard vocals and percussion)
- Martyn Lucas (bass guitar)
- Alan Lever (lead guitar)
- Jim Weir (drums, percussion)
- Mick Malone (vocals)
- Al Marland (vocals, replaced Mick Malone c. 1982)
- Dave Turnbull (saxophone, joined c 1984)