The Nosebleeds

Ed Banger and Vini Reilly both left the group.

2nd version of The Nosebleeds
In late 1977 Billy Duffy replaced Vini Reilly and Morrissey replaced Ed Banger and subsequently they shortened the group's name to The Nosebleeeds. Ed Banger ended up in a later incarnation of Slaughter And The Dogs while Vini Reilly formed Durutti Column. Pete Crooks and Toby Toman continued on as The Nosebleeds.

"Billy knew this guy Morrissey, who ran the New York Dolls Fan Club and wrote lyrics - and got him to join The Nosebleeds, although he had never sung before. The pair of them dumped all the group's old songs and wrote an entirely new set like “I Get Nervous,” “(I Think) I’m Ready For The Electric Chair,” “The Living Jukebox” and “Peppermint Heaven.” The audience was perplexed; it was a strange band!" -Pete Frame, 1989. However, in his autobiography Morrissey denied ever being a member of The Nosebleeds. He claims that Duffy recruited him after the break up of The Nosebleeds and they wrote songs together. For their live performances they hadn't decided on a band name. They roped in the rhythm section of The Nosebleeds and Paul Morley used this name for a live review.


The Nosebleeds did two gigs one at the Ritz [support to Magazine] 15th April 1978 and a Rabid Records benefit at the Manchester Polytechnic 08th May 1978 before dissolving in May 1978.
After the group split up Morrissey went on to form The Smiths, Toby joined Blue Orchids, and Pete Crooks joined up with Vini Reilly in The Durutti Column.