Nottingham band circa early 80’s.

Line up:
Becky Morley (Vocals)
Mike Bresnen (drums)
Tony Ward (keys)
Mick Parker (bass)
Mick Hart (gtr)
Ian (Doc) Shellard (gtr)

The Stumble – Money – 1983 – Radio Trent Session
Hear a song from Nottingham’s “The Stumble” from the “Radio Trent Castle Rock with Graham Neal”, Band of The Week session,1983 on YouTube here.

Ian (Doc) Shellard and Tony Ward had been together in bands since 1976 with Nightlife/Outward Band & Token Gesture. After the short lived Token Gesture they joined a new group “The Stumble” (not to be confused with “The Legendary Stumble Brothers”.

“The Stumble was together for around 3 years. We played all over Nottingham, including The Hearty, The Admiral Duncan, The Trent Bridge Inn, The Greyhound at Beeston, others I can’t recall, plus several University gigs at the Portland Building and various Halls of Residence, and sometimes up Mansfield way.  After we split, I think in about 1984 time, Becky and I carried in doing an acoustic duo for a while, then she formed a new band and I went through a succession of short-lived (but fun) bands as well as joining up with Colin Staples full-time when Breadline split.  I can’t recall the date, but it must have been before I moved down to Leicestershire in 1987, because I used to drive up here for gigs with Colin after that.  The only one of the 1984-1987 interim bands that might be of interest was National Debt, which was Mark Makin (ex-Great Eastern and Slip Hazard) on guitar and lead vocals, Andy Davison, from Leeds, on bass and me on guitar and second vocal.  We were an acoustic blues trio, with Mark and I mainly using his National steel body guitars, hence the name. (Although on the only photos of the band I’m playing a Gibson Southern Jumbo.)  Mark and I played Bracknell with Michael Messer and Ed Glennis, both as a support duo and in a jam with Mike and Ed at the end of their set.  I also played with Michael again, and Woody Mann, at an impromptu spot at the 2006 Stamford Guitar Festival”.