Nottingham group circa 1975/76

Stepping out was a 5-piece, comprising
Len Reiwck (vocals)
Trevor Green (Lead Guitar)
Ian Shellard (Second lead and slide guitar)
Roger Banks (bass)
Brian Pearson (drums)  

They did mostly standard rock stuff by the likes of Bad Company, Derek and The Dominos, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Steve Miller, etc.

Ian Shellard remembers:

“When Brian and Roger left Stepping Out (which was the cause of it splitting up) they asked me if I wanted to form a new band with them doing all original material in a funk-jazz-rock style.  So the prototype of the later “Nightlife/Outward Band” was a three piece (provisionally called “RIB” for Roger, Ian and Brian). That’s what got me into “pedals”, because the other two always wanted a sound like a sax or a sound like a synth or something. (I don’t really use any these days.)”  

Ian Shellard remembers Tatum as good friends.

“This ticket must have been 1975. Tatum were good friends of ours, who lived in adjacent flats up near Sherwood Rise. When Stepping Out started, and we were short of gear, Tatum kindly lent us some of theirs, especially when we supported them. Tatum was Broz Woolwyn – vocals and acoustic guitar, Martin “Haggis” McGillivray – piano, bass and vocals, Neil Tatum – lead guitar, Dougie Gyte – guitar, bass, backing vocals, and “Snuff” on drums. I never learned Snuff’s real name. By a co-incidence, I was in Music Inn on Alfreton Rd in 1991 looking for a Stratocaster, after mine was stolen in a burglary (I got it back two weeks later, thanks to smart work by the Leicestershire Police). Dougie Gyte’s 1961 Strat, which was in pretty much perfect original nick except for having been stripped back to natural finish, and which I’d done a minor repair on back in the 70s, was up for sale for £1500. That was way out of my league at the time. Now wish I’d borrowed the money – a good 1961 Strat can fetch at least £10k now, even more down South”.

RIB, with the addition of Tony Ward, would become “Nightlife” who in turn became “Outward Band” in 1977 adding Joy Astley.