The Lonely's Page

The Lonely were formed in 1979 and played their first gig supporting The Soft Boys in Cambridge on Strawberry Fair day, June 1979, playing at the then Cambridge Technical College main canteen hall... The band lineup was Rob Kelly (The Waves) on guitar and vocals, Ted Koehorst on vocals and guitar, Ian Newman on bass www.myspace.com/iancnewman, and Martin Scott on drums. This first line up recorded 'The Somewhere in England' sessions and various live recordings at the famous Cambridge Sound Cellars in late 1979 and throughout 1980. The band lasted over a year in this line up and played extensively in and around Cambridge.

With Ian and Rob leaving to form The Rank Amateurs the band carried on with various members based around Martin and Ted recording material. After awhile with various members of Telephone Bill and the Smooth Operators playing in the band Martin Bond came in on vocals and guitar and Mike Lewis on bass. Martin had been in EMI band Cops in the 70s and provided lead vocals and guitar and was the vocalist on the Cambridge vinyl album 'Honey for Tea' sessions recorded at the legendary Cambridge Spaceward Studios. This album was made up of various Cambridge bands at the time and featured Boo Hewerdine when he was a member of the The Great Divide. Mike Lewis played bass on The Spaceward sessions and he had previously been with popular Cambridge bands Good Biz and Out of the Blue that featured Nick France (later with Dave Gilmour) and Chico on percussion. In the early 80s Bob Jakins joined on bass shortly and then was part of the original Katrina and the Waves line up and then later rejoined the Lonely along with Marc Noel Johnson on guitar (another ex member of Cops) and Bob did the lead vocals and bass on 'The Beethoven Street Sessions' in London.

In 1989 Ian Docherty joined from Cambridge Rock Competition winners Spirit Walk who had one Ezio (of Ezio and Bugga) on guitar. It was then that Kimberley Rew (of The Soft Boys and Katrina and The Waves) joined the band as a full time/part time member, i.e. when he wasn't touring he did the gigs with us and appears on the albums Underground (Ian Docherty Vocals), Cynthia, Rarer Gifts, Live 2000 and continues to get up and do the odd song with us if he's passing. Kim had already been playing with the band under the guise of The Cambridge Mountain Rescue and that carried on into The lonely.

When Ian departed Tom Dalpra from the legendary Soham band Nutmeg joined and recorded Rarer Gifts, Live 2000, Cynthia and Live at The Haymakers. Nutmeg were a fine band with a large fan base that toured nationally and recorded the much loved and rare album Electric Putty. The Lonely still do the odd gig with Tom on vocals. ..

When Tom left to pursue his own career Graham Buxton came in from The Sun Kings, whose fine album had created a buzz in various musical industry circles. Graham had already sung backing vocals on the album Rarer Gifts and lead on the track 'I'll be there' so had a connection with the band. New material is progressing with an album out hopefully in 2009.

The Lonely have had a great group of people play and pass through their ranks such as Andy Metcalf (Soft Boys, Squeeze, Telephone Bill & the Smooth Operators), Richard Lee (Telephone Bill & the Smooth Operators, Bowles brothers, Royal Court), Jerry Hale (Telephone Bill, Uncle Bill, Gerry Hale's Innocent Bystanders) and Nick Barraclough (Telephone Bill & the Smooth Operators) and Ben Pringle keyboards. See the Cambridge Band family tree at http://www.geocities.com/happysurfer1/

MOJO Magazine
Review of Rarer Gifts
And I’m glad to say it’s been well worth the wait. Like other Cantab bands with whom they’ve shared personnel (Katrina and The Waves, The Soft Boys) this bunch base their sound on warm-hearted, warp driven guitars and vocals ranging from stacked, gossamer harmonies to tough-laryxed rock’nroll. It’s all motivated by a record collection running from “55 to ‘75- Little Walter to Little Feat via Little Stevie Marriott. Unlike many pretenders, the Anglo-American make-up of the ensemble means that these influences are lightly worn: the Small Faces-esque White Lightning hangs easily next to Talking to Elvis, an à la mode satire on rednecks. This is a knowledgeable and passionate album.

BUCKETFUL of BRAINS Nick West
Review of Rarer Gifts
It’s lifted to a higher plain by the quality of their playing (consider the piano throughout, the acoustic guitar on Burning in the South, the west coast trumpets on Airplane), the continual inventiveness of their song construction, and their ability to combine elements of a whole series of influences without them being overpowering. They can move effortlessly between psychedelic pop (white Lightning), R&B (Oh Yeah), Australian Jangle (Take This Message), and much more that many more prominent must envy. The great thing that over a long album, 16 tracks, seventy odd minutes, there’s no sense of padding or longer, and each song stands by itself.

Cambridge Evening News David Crozier
“Rarer gifts is a real eye opener... the album sounds as contemporary as anything you’re likely to hear anywhere...Tracks like the superb epic ‘Airplane Position’ and ‘Burning in the South’ may not be throwaway lyrics but they’re certainly catchy songs... my favourites seem to change every time I hear it - and that’s the sign of a great album. And I believe all those who have enjoyed The Lonely will find much to savor ...“

Cambridge Town Crier Mathew White
to compare the Lonely with other bands does an injustice to their fresh, contemporary and unique sound, exemplified on what is for me, the outstanding track on ‘Rarer Gifts’ - the fantastic ‘Airplane Position’...

Cambridge Evening News
Review of Underground
My favourite is Five minute warning, a great rock track complete with irresistible hook and harmonies which dare you not to join in...

EMAP METRO Mark Ellen
“bits of it sound rather like Warren Zevon - which certainly suits me.”

Sticks Magazine
“...but in truth there’s not a dud to be found anywhere - This is an accomplished debut and the Lonely deserve any success which is sure to come their way.”