The Richards was a Baltimore/D.C. based alternative rock band formed by ex-Noise Patrol member Don Velli (aka Johnny England) from 1989 to 1991. The band consisted of Don Velli on vocals/guitar, Greg Breazeale (ex-Beaver’s Cleavers) on vocals/bass, Ken Pfieffer (ex-Beaver’s Cleavers) on vocals/guitar and Jeff Childress (ex-Strange Desire) on drums. The band blended punk, folk and pop and played mainly original songs such as “King,” “Guarded,” “Don’t Take Me for Lost,” “Band in the Box” and “Capitalism A-Go-Go.” They also played covers including a punked-up version of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy.
The Richards played venues such as the Grog and Tankard, Max’s on Broadway, and the Calvert Street Cafe. Keyboardist Tim Stang also performed with the band on and off. Greg and Ken would later go on to form Digger. In 1993 Don Velli would begin working on his “WHIRL” band project.
News from Don: “Some of Greg Breazeale’s Richards’ songs were released on the Digger CD “Slam on the Brakes” and my Richards songs will be part of a WHIRL CD that will cover several band members over several years with most originals and some new songs by me. Some of these songs will be released on YouTube but all of them will be available soon on a CD or download (on TNP Records).”
Bio and photo courtesy of Don Velli July 2015
