MEET THE BAND
GRAHAM FIRTH
Vocals/Guitar
Graham started out in a band called His Wooden Fish in 1988. A 3 piece acoustic band that featured fellow True Deceiver, Dee Coley on drums and played a brand of music they liked to term as “Swivel Rock”. Following 4 years away at University Graham teamed up with His Wooden Fish bass player Richard Steer to form the originally named Two Wooden Fish, a popular folk duo who recorded one album, Time & Numbers. A year in New Zealand saw Graham record under the name of Not yet Baloo before returning to England to form Plenty with 3 members of the disbanded Eat The Sofa. After a couple of personnel changes Plenty settled into the line up that saw them take their indie-rock sound to 3 Guildford Festivals and to London venues such as The Rock Garden. Plenty also recorded an EP titled Look At You Now. Having played solo support for The Blazing Homesteads on several occasions Graham finally teamed up with Nick and Mark in 2003 to form The True Deceivers.
NICK BLISS
Guitar/Mandolin/Banjo/Harmonica/Vocals
Back in the 1980’s Nick was guitarist with Surrey’s cult rock and roll heroes Buddy & the Bloodsuckers, and in 1989 was a founder member of the Blazing Homesteads, who appeared at ten successive Guildford Festivals up to 2003, as well as Cropredy, Cambridge Folk Festival and other illustrious venues such as the 100 Club.
Nick has twice been a semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition. His main influences are Steve Earle, The Band, Neil Young and Malbec.
RUPERT LEWIS
Fiddle
Rupert was classically trained and has played Irish fiddle as half of the Tullamore Duo on the Isle of Man, gypsy jazz with the Three Amigos in South Wales, soul with Soul Commotion, rock with the Parker B band in Hong Kong and covers with Simple Chaos in Devon. He’s has also played country fiddle with Willie Nininger on his UK tours, and has guested for Slaid Cleaves and Jonny Mars, (and briefly during a sound system failure with Isaac Guilllory). He played with the Blazing Homesteads, touring internationally as far afield as Belgium in the bands big green fun bus (not big, green, or fun). Having played fiddle on The True Deceivers second album, Hell or High Water, and standing in live for Chris “Spud” Edwards on numerous occasions, Rupert joined the band full time in 2017.
RICHARD "DECK" MIGUDA
Bass
Richard "Deck" Miguda started out playing a Casio VL-Tone in about 1982, and then picked up the bass a couple of years later - partly because it required the use of only one more finger than the VL-Tone, and partly because none of the other band members would. He went on to play at such events as Expo '92 in Seville and Hendon Rugby Club. Following a Stella Artois-fuelled audition, Deck joined Plenty in 1997 and enjoyed 4 years with the band alongside Graham, Jay, and Duncan "Sigg" Siggers. After a brief playing hiatus of about 12 years, he joined local band The Ribs, who have played at a range of festivals and venues across Surrey.
JAY WILLIAMSON
Drums
Jay started out making very loud tuneless music with Three Legged Snail before joining Graham and Deck in Plenty in 1997. After leaving Plenty to go travelling Jay joined rock band Vanton and a few hectic years of recording and touring ensued . After Vanton split, Jay joined The Farleys and played with them at numerous summer festivals as well as touring with Al Murray (including an appearance at The Royal Albert Hall). Jay left The Farleys after 12 years in 2022 and joins The True Deceivers having filled in for Jamie on several occasions over the years.
JAMIE LEGG
Drums
Jamie started playing in bands in 1976 and has featured on drums for Innocent Bystanders, Luxury Glasstown, Eat The Sofa, Plenty and Jonson. A festival and recording regular with these bands Jamie has also worked with some top producers such as Martin Rushent and Mick Glossip. Jamie has appeared on TV and Capital Radio and also on stage at Earls Court. Jamie has taken a back seat from playing full time from 2022 with Jay Williamson stepping in on drums.
DEE COLEY 1965-2022
Bass
Dee started out playing drums in various punk bands before getting together with Graham and Richard Steer in His Wooden Fish in 1988. He continued drumming duties for country outfit The Hometown Boys before switching to bass when they rebranded as Eat The Sofa with Jamie drafted in on drums. He teamed up with Jamie and Graham for one gig with Plenty before joining Nick and Mark in The Blazing Homesteads. Dee replaced The True Deceivers original bass player, Dave Neale, in 2006.
Dee passed away after a short illness on 8th March 2022. He will always be in our hearts and our music and we will never forget him. He is, and always will be, a True Deceiver.
MARK MITCHELL 1957-2009
Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Mark learnt classical violin at an early age but gladly gave it up to play guitar with various ska and punk bands in the early 80s. A drunken trip to Ireland and a bet that he couldn’t remember how to play it prompted him to pick up the fiddle again, plus it was lighter to carry to gigs than a guitar. He played many years with The Blazing Homesteads before forming The True Deceivers with fellow Homesteader Nick. Mark’s main influences were AC/DC, Bulmers Cider and Hank Williams but not necessarily in that order. Mark also appeared on Bap Kennedy’s album Hillbilly Shakespeare.
Mark died suddenly on 19th March 2009. He will always be in our hearts and our music and we will never forget him. He is, and always will be, a True Deceiver.