Kim Cheshire: The Back Story 1
Kim Cheshire penned his first songs for a school band called The Daize in Norfolk circa 1965, chiefly inspired by Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
He went pro in 1971 when he moved to London with
Nimbus, a
band that morphed from early '60s soul covers, via punishing
tours of American air bases in Morocco, to knocking off
disposable studio hits for London pop svengali Chris Andrews
(Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw).
By 1973 Nimbus was sharing the bill with Thin Lizzy, Budgie, Man and following in the wake of UK pub rock pioneers Brinsley Schwartz. A meeting with Dave Robinson: publican of Islington's Hope & Anchor Hotel and future founder of new wave cornerstone, Stiff Records led to the recording of the bands debut album.
Nimbus was under the influence of American country-rock (Gram Parsons, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, CSN) on their sole album, Halfway To Paradise, recorded in Wales with Brinsley guitarist Ian Gomm in 1976. Sadly, the punk revolution made such heartfelt roots endeavours unfashionable overnight.