A Nottingham jazz rock band circa 1973/74

Moonlight Drive came together in the autumn of 1973. They were:

Nigel Holten: Eleectric Piano
Darryl Hunt: Bass Guitar
Simon Bladen: Drums
Richard Booth: Guitar
Jan Kopinski: Saxophone

First called “Moon” they changed their name to “Moonlight Drive. They played in the Nottingham area and recorded a piece for the 1974 Nottingham Castle Rock album called “Changes”. Described on that album as “loose, jazzy instrumental trips, highlighted by some fine electric piano textures and a sound rhythm section“. They also composed their own material. By the autumn of 1974 they had become Glyder with the addition of Harry Stephenson from “The Brothel Creepers” and the departure of Jan Kopinski who would forge his own career in free jazz with “Pinski Zoo” and under his own name. Glyder would change their name to “Plummet Airlines” in 1975, who along with Gaffa, were a prominent and well liked band in mid seventies Nottingham.

Jan 1974

Feb 1974

March 1974

Moonlight Drive supported Brinsley Schwartz in March 1974. Named after their guitarist they had roots in sixties group “Kippington Lodge” and had in their ranks Nick Lowe who would be better remembered for his single “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass” in 1978.

June 1974

The Nottingham Castle Rock album is released and this review appears in the Evening Post.

September 1974

Harry Stephenson had joined the band and they were changing their musical direction towards an earthy pub rock sound. Mentioning The B.C.s (Brothel Creepers) and Moonlight Drive they went out as “Brainiac and the Genes”.

Oct 1974

The last mention of Moonlight Drive and other band names as “Glyder” finally play out under their new name.