(c’75-’79) Chris Brayne (drums), Mick “Bloodhound” Hogsden / Bryant (keyboards / vocals); Tony Leach (keyboards / vocals); Dick Middleton (guitar); and Eddie Quinn (bass).
This Guildford group were a regular feature of the local scene and around the country. Brayne, who had been in Stormville Shakers and Nashville Teens, was at some point replaced by Colin Garrett and then Dave Bidwell (ex-Chicken Shack and Mungo Jerry) on drums. Mungo Jerry was a common thread: Middleton, who owned a music shop in Guildford, had previously supported Gene Vincent, Johnny Halliday, had been in Mungo Jerry too; and Quinn was in the Mungo Jerry line-up in June ’78, the first Western rock group to play in Bulgaria.
On 23 November ’75, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea was hosting Osibisa with The Famous Rondini Brothers and Quadraphonia Road Show in support. Almost a month later, on 20 December ’75, the band supported Stallion at the Hastings’ Pier Pavilion, along with Sounds.
The Famous Rondini Brothers disbanded in late ’77 or ’78.
Middleton went on to play in House, and with Leach they both played in Headwaiter. Brayne was also in Mungo Jerry and House as well as Backhurst and Poker. Sadly, Bidwell left us in ’77.
They reformed for a one-off gig at Stoke Hotel, Guildford on 11 November ’79 with Quinn, who had just been kicked out of Mungo Jerry, on bass; and Dave Ramsey taking Bidwell’s drumming stool. Ramsey had previously stood in for Bidwell at the Marquee, supporting a Italian fusion rock outfit, possibly NME favorites Nova or Agora; with John Coghlan, the original drummer with Status Quo, and Jackie Lynton in the audience.
Hogsden / Bryant sadly passed away in 2018, as did Quinn a few years prior. Garrett, who joined Crosswinds, is currently banging skins with Spriggan Mist and Guildford band Nick of Time; and has also performed and recorded with Keith James.
Gallery:
Our Soundscene 
Wow what a blast xxx Dave Ramsey here,so glad I found out about the full story what happened to the (Rondini brothers) l spent most of my career doing deps, went on to do many mini tours with H., Chocolate , Love affair,David Soul, kojac etc etc,,and loads more over in Europe .
. The iceing on the cake was being asked in 1979 to making a album with the late great Tommy Morrison,( PLACE YOUR BETS), WITH bass player out of the John Miles set, Kumo ,James Honeyman Scott and Pete Best, late of the Pretenders
(The icing on the cake was Paul Rodgers (FREE AND BAD COMPANY)semi producing, and playing guitar ,can’t off hand remember all the musicians involved, but of all the recordings I’ve been involved in over the years that was a magic album to be involved in and most of it was recorded at the famous Olympics studio in Barnes,s w 13. And opened many door’s for me personally Many thanks for the Rondini information as that has filled in many blanks that I had long forgotten .
Kind regards.
D.M.R (Jaz) boogiemillion@gmail.com
(Gu5 9re )
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Hi there.. are you dave who used to live in Shere…..keith purnell was asking after you not long ago.
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Hardest hitting drummer I’ve ever seen xxx
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