History
The Lightning were formed in 2006 by Steve Shepherd and Terry Campbell.
The band came together quite by accident, as bands sometimes do. Steve and Terry had known each for a long time through work in the jewellery trade and through sessions, music etc. They jammed together for nearly three years at the local studio, and then decided to find a singer and a bass player. Andy Evans was doing similar things, jamming with a friend in a garage, but really wanted more. Word of mouth prompted him to come down and a very close friendship formed. The band decided to go with a single guitar format.
Finding a bass player was more difficult. The band tried a couple unsuccessfully, before finding Tom Brown, who stayed with them for two years. Tom decided to retire from the band in 2010, and Steve got in touch with Mike Fleming, a bassist he had been in a couple of bands with before. Mike joined up to help the band to more success.
Next in the personnel changes, Mike's wife Kaz Fleming was recruited for vocal duties. Originally brought in to help out while Andy dealt with some real life problems, she subsequently took over as permanent vocalist following Andy's departure from the band.
Another line-up change saw Terry departing in search of some rest, and Mike's colleague Rob Watkins being recruited to fill the drum stool. Rob is a drummer who took a few years out to do family things, and had resumed drumming before he completely seized up.
The final founder member, Steve, then decided to leave as a career change left him with little time to pursue music. Another colleague, Carl Davies, volunteered his services as guitarist and was eagerly recruited.
Shortly afterwards, Rob decided to pursue a different course with a band rather closer to home. After a rather fraught time seeking a replacement, Gary Patching was persuaded into the band.
At the end of 2015, Gary also decided to leave, to return to a former band playing more soul-orientated music, leaving the band with yet another quest for a replacement drummer. Several auditions later, a former band-mate of Mike's, Dave Robins, joined up.
