The Nightingales in session to start the week. Recorded for John Peel at BBC Radio 1 on June 30, 1982 and broadcast on July 28th of that year.
Nightingales (a.k.a. The Nightingales) are a UK post-punk/alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Birmingham, England by four members of Birmingham’s original punk group The Prefects who had been part of The Clash’s ‘White Riot Tour’, recorded a couple of Peel Sessions, released a 45 on Rough Trade and, years after splitting up, had a retrospective CD released by New York indie label Acute Records.
Described in John Robb’s definitive book on ‘post punk’ Death To Trad Rock as “The misfits’ misfits” and comprising an ever-fluctuating line up, based around lyricist/singer Robert Lloyd, the Nightingales enjoyed cult status in the early ’80s as darlings of the credible music scene and were championed by John Peel, who said of them – “Their performances will serve to confirm their excellence when we are far enough distanced from the 1980s to look at the period rationally and other, infinitely better known, bands stand revealed as charlatans”.
The original members were Robert Lloyd on vocals, 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 and Half Man Half Biscuit.
In the late Eighties the Nightingales stopped working but, following the occasional gig between times, they re-grouped in 2004, with Lloyd being joined by original Prefects guitarist Alan Apperley.
The current line up features Robert Lloyd, James Smith, Andreas Schmid on bass and ex-Violet Violet drummer Fliss Kitson.
Since restarting the group have been more productive than ever – releasing five 7″ vinyl singles, a 10″ EP and six studio albums (plus two live albums), touring England, mainland Europe and USA numerous times, recording many radio sessions along the way. They have been invited to play various festivals in Europe and the States, including Glastonbury and SXSW. Their “Let’s Think About Living” 45 was ‘Single of the Week’ on BBC 6 and they have continued to receive regular rave reviews for their records and live shows.
For a reminder of their first incarnation – here is their second session for John Peel from June/July 1982.
