Derrero are...

ANDY FUNG		ASHLEY COOKE		MARY WYCHERLEY		DAVID HIRST
DRUMS VOCALS GUITAR		VOCALS GUITAR		KEYBOARDS VOCALS		BASS GUITAR

Once upon a time in Falmouth Art School, there were 2 songwriters. They were Andy Fung and Ashley Cooke. One day they met a keyboard player, Mary Wycherley and bassist Dave Hirst. Thus, Derrero was born.

Their courses ended in 1996 and Derreo wondered where to venture next. They headed off to Cardiff because it looked interesting, and while there they released a 7" single, "Dipstick", on Size 8 records during the spring of '97.

Around that time there was a drummer called Greg Haver, who co-ran a label called Big Noise. He liked how Derrero sounded and they talked about releasing something else. In June 1997 Derrero's first album, "Derrero", containing their early material, was released.

On Big Noise, three more EP's followed the album, each demonstrating a steady musical progression. Each new EP was met with more substantial critical and commercail acclaim. They were "Small Pocket Machine" EP - later in 1997, the very popular "Radar Intruder" EP in 1998, and then the"Unstraightforwardtune" EP in 1999.

Each of these releases have featured heavily on both regional and national radio, including daytime airplay on BBC Radio 1. Derrero became a favourite band of the evening gurus Steve Lamacq and John Peel. The track "Radar Intruder" also featured in John Peel's Christmas-time "Festive Fifty" in 1998 and the "Peelenium" in 2000, after the "Radar Intruder" EP was re-released in May 2000.

Also in May 2000 Derrero hosted a month-long art exhibition in Cardiff entitled "Hybrids", consisted of work by all band members plus special guests including Pete Fowler (Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, etc.) and Elfyn Lewis (Catatonia, Big Leaves, etc.).The opening night evolved into a precious one off sonic initiation with stunning accoustic and electronic performances from the likes of Andy and Ashley along with Gruff (Super Furry Animals) and Euros, Megan and Richard (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci).

On the LIVE front, Derrero have toured with many well known bands, including Super Furry Animals, Catatonia, Sebadoh, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, and Grandaddy. Over the last 2 years they have also recieved some excellent reviews in Melody Maker and the N.M.E. These tour support slots, especially with Super Furry Animals and Grandaddy in 2000 proved to be the perfect environment in which they could unveil the new material material from their "Fixation with Long Journeys" live to receptive audiences.

The year 2000 began with Derrero being tipped for great things by publications including Melody Maker and Select. Derrero also performed the John Cale classic "Buffalo Ballet" in Cale's movie "Beautiful Mistake", with the Godfather of Punk himself guesting on keyboards and vocals.

In the beginning of 2001 things went a bit weird. Their label, Big Noise had dissolved and curiously morphed into what is now the Boobytrap Singles Club. Derrero found themselves looking for a label. Also around this time Sylem, the label run by the band Melys was looking for a band. The bands had worked together before and had gelled really well. They met up in Cardiff around a pub table and had a chat about it. The timing was great for both, and the rest is history.

During the particularly balmy August of 2001 Derrero headed off to Sylem Studios where they recorded "Comb the Breaks", with a little bit of help from Geriant Jones (Gez). Featureing Owain Arwel on trombone and John Lawrence in pedal steel, "Comb the Breaks" has been described as being warmer, emotionally, than some of their previous material by BBC Radio Wales presenter, Adam Walton.

"Comb the Breaks" was released on Sylem during the spring of 2002, and is a beautiful album - an album to be proud of.

Derrero Interview - Virtual Cardiff, 1 August 1998

Derrero Interview - Slampiece, Issue 6

Derrero Interview - Welsh Bands Weekly, Issue 1

Derrero Doodle for Buzz Magazine, April 2000

Derrero Interview -Adam Walton's Musical Mystery Tour, BBC Radio Wales (Transcript)

Derrero Interview - Honk, Issue 16, July 2002