Read about: The Band :: Nikki :: John :: Paul :: Sammi :: Jon :: Tom

Solitude are a successful function band but unlike many function bands play a good few pub & club gigs as well meaning you can come along and enojy a show before you book them for your function. Why not contact them to see if they can play at your party or wedding reception!

History
Solitude was formed at the beginning of 2004 by Nikki Wilcockson (vocals), Jon Rudd (bass), Tom West (drums) and John McLean (guitar). I say Solitude was formed, at that time they didn't have a name; in fact it wasn't until the end of July 2004 that Jon spurted out the name during an evening of manic name thinking.

Nikki, Jon and Tom had all been in a band together six years before, and Tom had since been in another band both of which had played many, many gigs, John had performed at a fair few gigs during his time at university so there was lot of experience from the outset in this new band.
For their first two gigs Nikki’s sister Sammi helped out with backing vocals and it was decided that she would become a semi-permanent feature of the band in the future. The first gigs were functions, well, family members of the band’s birthday parties, and this set them on their mission to become a function band (‘it’s where the money is you know’) as well as playing the usual pub gigs.

Once the name, and more importantly, a logo, had been decided upon, a second guitarist was sought to give the band a fuller sound and allow John to play keyboards once in a while. After a few weeks of searching they found Ian Morris who could play guitar and sing so was very useful indeed.

Sadly in September 2005 Ian left the band to study at uni... after many audtions and some gigs with stand-in guitarist Ben McDonnell, Charlie Avis was found and joined the whole shindig in January 2006. Sorted, well until July 2006 when various matters led to Charlie leaving the band.

At the end of 2007 a rather handy chap called Paul Howard was discovered who could play keyboards and guitar, so he was enlisted straight away. It was also decided that Sammi should become a permanent feature of the band. With the new line up, Solitude were able to perform a much wider variety of music.