Grethel

The forerunner of Cold Sweat was a band called (yuk) "Grethel" and it was Russ Godfrey, (me) drums/ vocals, Bill Kempster, bass/vocals and Dave Holloway, guitar/vocals. How that awful name came about is beyond me except as a heavier band, we were probably looking for a "Goth" kind of name and we may have gotten it from an old German Fairy tale book….I vaguely recall that. We were a power trio with pretty good vocals actually, considering all 3 of us sang leads. We were all from Sidney/Royal Oak area. We played Sancha Hall, school gigs around the peninsula area and I think we actually opened for Moxie a few times. I left for reasons I can't recall and the next thing I knew I was seeing them at the Oak Bay Tea Party with a newer, much improved name (Dave told me it came from Bill after seeing Black Saabath in Seattle and his reaction to them) and Don Sheppard on vocals and Keith Baker on drums. That band blew me away with their sheer power - awesome! They covered bands like Wild Turkey, Saabath, Bull Durham and the like. Don stalked the stage with his piercing blues eyes, just glaring out at you, very menacing. They definitely had an attitude and the chops, to boot. And I never get tired of watching Keith on drums. Bill and Dave were evenly matched with duel bass/guitar in sync and the band was an inspiration to those of us wanting their music a tad heavier. Dave really could sizzle and his tone was just awesome. He really had it down. So started one of the longest running bands in Victoria.

Submitted by Russ Godfrey February 2007