Reno
by Pete Clemons
Reno were a Coventry/Nuneaton based group who performed around the Midlands. I particularly remember them from the crazy evenings at the Ryton Bridge Hotel which had an outdoor stage and swimming pool. Inevitably, some folk would end up in that pool.
The band had only been formed a few weeks before they auditioned to appear on the New Faces show. Their first ever performance of their American West Coast sound certainly impressed the producer of the show, Albert Stevenson. It only took him a matter of minutes to spot the quality of the group and their audition, announcing ‘we’ll have you on the show.’
At the time of their audition the group were, Mick Broadhurst (bass), Don Ker (guitar), Dave Simpson (drums), Paul Price (guitar) and Pete Brazil (guitar), who were all no strangers to Coventry’s music scene. They had all played with local groups, including The Sorrows, Patsy Powell and Staveley Makepiece before forming Reno.
Another gig was during 1977 when the group were invited to Warwick University by courtesy of the country and western society. This despite the fact that they were far from a country and western act. By the time of this gig Pete Oliver had replaced Don Ker.
The closest that Reno came to being country and western was in their version of 'New Kid in Town' by the Eagles. Wary of being type cast for their performance for Eagles' numbers Reno tended to broaden out into a much wider field ranging from 50's rock n roll to modern day rock music.
Reno wrote their own material and earned themselves a number of bookings across the UK for the summer of 1977 and regularly appeared at The New Phoenix, Fletchamstead Highway, Coventry throughout that year. In 1978 they were still playing live shows and were also perfecting their own original sound in a recording studio with their music was being plugged by two Radio One DJs, Dave Lee Travis and David ‘Kid’ Jensen.
The band bought an expensive sound system, used in their live performances, from their good friends the Electric Light Orchestra, and it served them well in their new venue at the Ryton Bridge Hotel, Coventry. They had also signed a publishing deal with United Artists for their original songs, written by Paul Price and Pete Brazil, but all were reluctant to give up their full-time jobs until they had a firm chance of becoming a successful group.
A report about the uni gig mentioned that 'Although the group played to a mere 130 people, all who were present thoroughly enjoyed a sparkling performance. Musically the group were faultless. Hopefully after the group has appeared on DLT's show and also In Concert in the spring more people will turn up to their next visit here next year'.
It continued 'The variety of talent in Reno can be appreciated by studying a round up of the group. Mick Broadhurst bass guitar and lead vocals, Pete Brazil, lead guitar, accordion, vocals and songwriter, Paul Price, steel, acoustic and Spanish guitars, electric banjo, mandolin, violin, and backing vocals-not bad eh! Pete Oliver, acoustic guitar and backing vocals and Dave Simpson, drums, harmonica and vocals. Here is a group of tremendous versatility both vocally and musically as you can see from the variety of instruments played'.
Reno held a reunion during 2016 and again during 2018.
More on the Coventry bands 1960's to Now
West of Midnight - Reno
Devil's Window Reno
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