BANDWIDTH: The Velocettes on Second Chances, Supporting Their Heroes and Championing Derby’s Live Music Scene

The Velocettes’ story stretches from teenage punk bands and cassette demos to unexpected support slots with some of the artists they grew up admiring. Based around Derby and Burton upon Trent, the band features Mark Herrington on drums, Quinny on bass and backing vocals, Roger on lead guitar and vocals, and Helen Tilley on vocals. Former drummer Steve Sellers also occasionally joins them on harmonica.

After playing together in various forms when they were younger, life pulled the original members away from music during the late 1990s. More than two decades later, repeated questions about whether the band was still going convinced them to start again, this time without the pressure of trying to become famous.

Since returning as The Velocettes, they have supported Space, A Flock of Seagulls, Toploader, Spear of Destiny, The Skids and The Courettes, played shows in London and released their single ‘Interzone’. At the heart of it all, however, remains their friendship and commitment to the grassroots venues that gave them another chance.

We caught up with The Velocettes to discuss their unlikely return, their difficult-to-define sound and why supporting your local music scene involves much more than asking for a gig.

Where are you based, and how has your local scene shaped the band?

We are a Derby-based band. Quinny, our bass guitarist, and Mark, our drummer, are both based in Derby, while Roger, who handles lead vocals and lead guitar, and Helen Tilley are from Burton upon Trent.

We made Derby our base when we started getting the band going and began rehearsing at Abbey Lane Studios. We were unexpectedly offered our first gig at The Hairy Dog, so that gave us the inspiration we needed to put together a strong 30-minute set.

The gig was a real success and helped us build a great relationship with everyone at The Hairy Dog. It also helped us give the set more structure and learn from the feedback we received.

Through the rehearsal studios, we began building a local network that gave us a platform to establish our name. That led to shows at The Victoria in Coalville, The Victoria Inn, Dubrek Studios, The Church and several other local venues and bars.

That local platform also helped us build our social media presence and connect with other musicians, bands, venues and promoters. From there, we secured shows in Blackpool, London, Sheffield and elsewhere across the Midlands, as well as HMV performances, festivals and some major support slots.

How did you all end up making music together? Give us the full story.

Quinny, Roger and our original drummer, Steve Sellers, all went to school together in Burton upon Trent. We played in different punk bands as kids before forming our own band, EastanWay, after leaving school.

That band continued for years as we experimented with different styles and musicians. We played venues including The Victoria Inn in Derby and The Charlotte in Leicester, and released old-school demos while trying to become famous. Despite the various changes, the three of us always remained at its core.

Towards the end of the 1990s, life got in the way and we gave the band a break. We remained close friends and continued to be huge supporters of live music, with Quinny and Steve eventually moving to Derby.

Around 2019, people kept asking us whether the band was still going. It happened so often that we decided to give it another go, although this time the aim was purely to enjoy ourselves and put music out for people to hear. We had never been particularly comfortable as a recording band because we always preferred playing live, so that became the focus of the new project.

The arrival of Covid actually came at a useful time for the new band because it gave us the opportunity to work on original songs. We came up with the name The Velocettes and concentrated on creating a short set that would be worthy of a support slot.

Then we were offered the chance to support Noasis at The Hairy Dog, which proved to be a booming success. The songs matured and the opportunities grew. We went on to support Space, A Flock of Seagulls, Toploader, Spear of Destiny, The Skids and The Courettes.

We also finally played in London, appearing at The Marquis in Covent Garden and supporting Regency, featuring Dean Mumford of The Rifles and Suggs’ live band, at shows at Covent Garden Studios and The Camden Club. Alongside those gigs, we played festivals and released an EP.

Steve eventually had to stop drumming for health reasons, so another old school friend, Rob Forman, joined us. Rob helped the band continue to improve and contributed to the writing of our first proper single, ‘Interzone’, which is available across the major streaming services.

For that song, we brought in the incredible vocal talents of Helen Tilley. ‘Interzone’ proved such a hit live that we began incorporating Helen’s vocals alongside Roger’s on several more songs. She soon became a fully fledged member of the band.

In January 2026, following a phenomenal gig at QUAD in Derby, Rob decided to call time on his spell behind the drums and bowed out in style.

We had been rehearsing at Abbey Lane Studios for several years, which is owned by Quinny’s former workmate and friend Mark Herrington. Mark had previously played drums in several local bands, most notably Derby’s The Enemy. As Mark was already a good friend of the band, we asked if he would like to join. The answer was an immediate yes.

Mark has since become a stalwart of The Velocettes, providing a solid and powerful rhythmic base for our constantly evolving sound. The current line-up is Mark on drums, Quinny on bass and backing vocals, Roger on lead vocals and lead guitar, and Helen on lead vocals. Our old comrade Steve still joins us occasionally on harmonica too.

If someone had never heard you before, how would you describe your sound?

That is a funny question because we are often asked which genre we belong to and we can never quite put our finger on it. We do not really want to be labelled as one particular genre because our music crosses several different styles. That also helps us as a support band because we are not tied to one particular sound.

People have come to watch us and said, “I can’t quite put my finger on it.” What you hear is a mixture of all our musical tastes, combined with what we jokingly describe as the limitations of our talents.

We have been compared to Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure, The Jam and The Cult. We have even been described as a good mod band, whatever that might mean.

There are swirling psychedelic guitar lines, harmonious vocals, gritty bass and strong, hard-hitting drums. Have a listen and make of it what you will.

What influences does each member bring to the band?

Having all grown up in the same era, because yes, we are old, we have had the honour of experiencing a huge range of music. Our influences stretch from punk, post-punk and 1980s and 1990s indie to metal, ska, pop-punk and almost anything else.

We are all huge supporters of live music and regularly attend gigs around the UK. We also spend plenty of time at local venues including The Hairy Dog, The Victoria Inn and Dubrek Studios.

We believe supporting a venue means more than playing there or buying a ticket for a gig. It also means going in, speaking to the staff and buying a few drinks. That regular support is part of what keeps these places going.

What is your songwriting process like?

We used to stand in a rehearsal room and begin with a drumbeat, guitar riff, bassline or vocal idea. Nine times out of ten, we would eventually scrap the song and move on to something else.

We have now found a process that works much better. Quinny and Roger get together first and create the foundations of a song using riffs and basslines they have developed. We then take that basic idea into rehearsals, where we can add the drums, change different sections, introduce more vocals and build a more solid structure.

Our single ‘Interzone’ is a perfect example. It started with Quinny and Roger before growing into the finished song that people hear now, and it is something we are very proud of.

Where do you usually write and rehearse?

Quinny and Roger normally start by putting simple ideas together at one of their houses. We then bring those ideas into the rehearsal room, where everything moves to another level. Hearing the power and volume of the full band can completely change a song.

Once we are around 80 per cent happy with it, Helen comes in to see what she can add and suggest any improvements. The songs always remain open to further evolution, which is what makes the process fun.

We rehearse as a full band at Abbey Lane Studios in Derby, which happens to be owned by our drummer, Mark. A big plug for Abbey Lane is always appreciated.

What have been your biggest moments so far?

When we were a young band in the 1980s, our biggest dream was to play in London. We never managed it in those days, so finally getting to perform there three times, particularly alongside some established names, has been a dream come true.

When you are young and trying to become a successful band, you look up to the artists who influence you. There is little that could make us prouder than spending the last five years sharing stages with bands we grew up wanting to be like.

Supporting Space, A Flock of Seagulls, Spear of Destiny and The Skids has been astonishing. It is something we never imagined would happen.

We are equally proud of the relationships we have built with local venues, artists, bands and pubs, as well as the live following that has developed around us. We now have people with established names in music who we can genuinely call friends, and that is difficult to put into words.

We have received advice from people including Richard Johnson, Kirk Brandon, Craig Adams, Darron Connett and Dean Mumford, as well as our friends and families. We could not have wished for a better community around The Velocettes.

The Hairy Dog deserves a special thank you. Without the venue offering us that first gig and continuing to provide amazing opportunities, none of this would have been possible. Getting that first foot on the live ladder was incredibly important and is something we will never forget. It is also why we try to be ambassadors for Derby’s live music venues and give them our full support.

Are there any venues or recent shows people should know about?

We love playing any gig because simply being asked to perform is special, regardless of how big or small the show might be.

People should know about every live venue. The bigger shows are amazing, but the smaller gigs, including the ones where very few people turn up, are just as important to us.

We recently played a mini-festival at The Kensington Tavern in Derby, which was a massive success and great fun. If any bands are offered the chance to play there, they should take it. Supporting a local business in that way gave the event an especially positive feeling.

We also played Belper’s Nailed It Festival, a free annual festival presenting original bands across eight venues. Any new band or music fan who has not experienced it should go next year or apply to perform. It is brilliant, supports numerous local businesses and provides artists with a strong platform for sharing their music.

Another recent highlight was Luminote at The Victoria Inn. It was a brilliant local band day with a good crowd, so anyone looking for a platform for their music should get in touch with the venue.

What has been the hardest part of being in a band?

We have never found it particularly difficult because we are all good friends and always have been. It was harder when we were younger and trying to evolve because finding the right people to join the band could be painful. That is why we always ended up returning to the same core trio.

Apart from the changes behind the drums, the basic structure of the band has remained consistent. We do not play every week and probably average around 12 gigs per year, which gives us a good balance between the band and the rest of our lives.

The hardest experience is playing a three-band show where only five people turn up. You feel for everyone involved who has put the work into making the event happen. That is why local venues and businesses need as much support as people can give them.

How do you settle disagreements?

There are probably a few people waiting for this answer, but the truth is that we very rarely disagree.

If someone points something out or has something they want to say, we listen and respond positively. That probably comes from being older, understanding one another and playing music with friends.

We do this purely for the enjoyment, so it is always supposed to be fun. Any debates that do arise are usually judged and settled by Quinny or Helen.

What inspires your music?

At this stage of our musical lives, we are inspired by our experiences. That can include bands we have seen, music we have heard, films we have watched, books we have read and everything we have been through. There are probably enough stories between us to fill a book.

Our songs are musical stories about us as a group of people. Some lyrics have a deeper meaning, while others are simply good words that sound cool and happen to rhyme. We do not look too deeply into everything we write.

One of our mottos is that if we would not listen to it, we are not going to play it. We only perform songs we would choose to hear ourselves.

We are also inspired by making an impact on a venue or another artist. Helping other people within the industry is an inspiration in itself.

How have you changed since you first started?

We have grown up, and not simply in terms of age. The way we write songs has developed, and having a more mature and clearer outlook has made the entire experience of playing music more enjoyable.

We used to try to follow a particular style or imitate a specific band. Now we write and produce whatever comes naturally, and it is much more fun as a result.

What are you working on, and what comes next?

We have spent much of the past six months bedding Mark into the band and helping him get used to playing the live set. He has done brilliantly, and we have already performed together at several local venues and festivals.

The next stage is to continue developing the set and reach the point where Mark completely owns the songs. Later in the year, we plan to write new material with his input and return to the studio to record more music.

Our remaining announced 2026 shows include The Kensington Tavern in Derby on Saturday 29 August and Invention Festival on Saturday 19 September. We also have a couple of other shows in the pipeline that will be announced soon.

We want to finish the year by creating and recording new material before heading into 2027 in style. We hope it will be our best year yet, although that will be difficult considering how fortunate we have been with gig offers over the past few years.

Where can people listen to your music and follow the band?

Our music is available across the major streaming services. Search for The Velocettes or The Velocette’s Band.

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, although that one is still a struggle, and YouTube. All our music and social links can be found through The Velocettes’ Linktree.

Finally, what advice would you give to a band just starting out?

Be yourselves. Take inspiration from other people’s music, but make it your own and do not simply copy what somebody else has already done.

Do not expect venues and promoters to put you on if you never support what they are doing. Buy tickets for shows, go into the venues for a drink, speak to the bar staff and get to know the promoters and owners. Let them get to know you too.

Do not expect people to come to you. Go out, earn their respect and listen to advice.

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