Wally Nightingale

Few other details of his life are known; in fact, some doubt that Nightingale ever existed. However, in the film The Filth And The Fury , drummer Paul Cook says "''I think it was Wally, the famous Wally Nightingale, who had said 'Well, let's start a band' ''," accompained by pictures presumably showing the early band (which was Nightingale on guitar, Steve Jones on bass and vocals, and himself (Cook) on drums.

No name for the band is given in the film, but other sources indicate that it was called The Strand (after a song by Roxy Music ). They apparently rehearsed quite a lot, and may have played a few gigs in the area.

However, McLaren thought Nightingale was "too nice", and by 1975 he and Jones were in disagreement over the direction the band should take. Having been after McLaren to manage them for some time because of his connections in the music business, Cook and Jones eventually decided to take his advice. Jones switched to guitar, a new bass player found, and the band continued on as The Swankers, without founder Wally.

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Wally Nightingale