The Kidda Band - The early days

	*The Kidda Band -The early days*
(Photos from the fist live show photo are to follow)		The Kidda Band ?? xxxxx 1976 The first ever live show of the Kidda Band featured the following line up: Alan Hammonds on Vocals, Kidder Hammonds on second vocals, Gordon "Charlie" Smith on bass guitar, Dean xxxxx on lead guitar and Les xxxxx on drums. The gig took place at Les' birthday party and was a very nervous affair for every one involved.	(Photos from the fist live show photo are to follow)
		The Kidda Band 18 September 1976 The line up of the Kidda Band as most people know it was starting to come together following the departure of Dean ????? on lead guitar after the first live gig. "The Friary Live Rock" show featured Gordon "Charlie" Smith on bass guitar, Dave Lister, having replaced Dean, on lead guitar with Kidder and Alan continuing with the vocal duties as before. The missing drummer from this shot was Les ???????, whose time with the band was to be short lived as, unbeknown to most members of the band, discussion were already underway between Alan and Kidder and two members of rival local band Vertigo as to their willingness to join the band.
		Vertigo 18 September 1976 Support act for "The Friary Live Rock" show were rival local band Vertigo. Vertigo featured Ian "Ash" Ashby on vocals, John Rollason on guitar (top left), some other geezer on bass and finally Chris Statham on drums (see right). Alan and Kidder had already held discussions with John about joining the Kidda Band to take on rhythm guitar duties, and they were also looking for Chris to take over from Les on drums. They both did so shortly after. Chris Stathams stay in the band was also short lived, finally being replaced by Graham "Dick Millington (see left).
16th April 1978			The main Kidda Band line up was now in place and live shows became a regular part of everyday life which had a big impact on the day job. During the day Alan worked for Sketchley Dry Cleaners (the inspiration for the song Don't take me to the cleaners) along with Johnny, Kidder worked as an underground electrician at the National Coal Board, Dick worked at the local newspaper in Nuneaton (The Evening Tribune), Dave was a long distance lorry driver and Les was unemployed. Eventually the band gave up work and concentrated on the music. Dick left at this time to be replaced on drums by Paul Gardner.