Gas Mark 5

This group formed following the demise of the UK folk dance band Flowers And Frolics. The initial line-up featured Dan Quinn (b. 11 October 1949, Grimsby, South Humberside, England; melodeon), Nick Havell (b. Nicholas George Havell, 7 January 1951, Stratford, London, England; bass trombone/piano), Trevor Bennett (b. 4 August 1945, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England; tenor and alto trombones, wind synthesiser, keyboards), Rob Gifford (b. 1 March 1955, Wanstead, London, England; drums/percussion), and Chris Taylor (mouth organs/melodeon/guitar) got together in 1985. Taylor had formerly been with the Oyster Band. Quinn left in November 1989, and his place was taken by Terry Mann (b. 6 October 1963, Barking, London, England; guitar/soprano saxophone/melodeons/bass/wind synthesizer). The final line-up, between 1993 and 1996, featured Bennett, Gifford, Taylor, Michael Davidson (bass/guitar) and Dave Blackmore (saxophone/keyboards). Regularly seen at folk festivals, and essentially a dance band, the group drew their material from both the British Isles and elsewhere, unlike their predecessors, Flowers And Frolics, who specialized in English country dance.