IN THE BEGINNING
Katrina Rainbow (vocals) and Gary Very (bass) were members of successful Lakeland folk rock band Story Teller. Along with growing frustrated at not being allowed to use more of Rainbow's songs, Very was feeling increasingly drawn towards playing guitar rather than the bass. A bogus record contract divided the band; Gary and Katrina could see it was a con, but the other three members were convinced it was genuine. The pair had been working on a version of Katrina's composition 'Beyond The Lights', and played it to the rest of the group expecting positive feedback. When the reaction was frosty, it was the last straw, and they knew it was time to leave.
Katrina and Gary decided to create their own band with their own unique style, drawing on their personal influences and musical preferences. Gary began experimenting with the music for a song, and impressed with his tune, Katrina started noting down some lyrics about 'following the sun', and 'being here to have some fun'. Unbeknownst to them at the time, this early song was very soon to metamorphosize into 'Different Ways', and later on become their anthem. The writing partnership of Rainbow/Very had begun.
GETTING STARTED April - July 1995
Armed with a handful of Rainbow's songs ('So Many People'; 'There's A Time'; 'Young, Foolish And Lonely'), Gary and Katrina decided to literally follow the sun down to Brighton for a couple of months to see what was going on, and it was there, in May, that they came up with the concept of GRASP . With the Britpop scene in full swing, they continued to write songs ('You Are The Firm'; 'This Is Your Life' and the completion of 'Different Ways') as well as busking a fine array of Bob Dylan classics including 'All Along The Watchtower', 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' and 'The Mighty Quinn'.
An advert for band members did not produce much fruit; just one girl drummer who was more interested in chatting to her mates than talking about music! Even at this early stage, Katrina and Gary had their sights set higher than this, so after just one meeting, they elected not to offer this clearly unsuitable candidate an audition. Undeterred, they decided to return to the Lake District with the dream of transforming GRASP into a gigging and recording band by the end of the summer.
MORE FROM THIS RETROSPECTIVE TO COME....
