The Nosebleeds

Punk band formed in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England in 1976 under the name of Wild Ram. Changed their name to Ed Banger And The Nosebleeds in early 1977 with the following line-up: Edmund 'Ed Banger' Garrity (vocals), Vincent 'Vini' Reilly (guitar), Phillip 'Toby' Tomanov (drums), and Pete Crooks (bass). In late 1977 Billy Duffy replaced Vini Reilly and Morrissey replaced Ed Banger and subsequently they shortened the group's name to The Nosebleeeds. Ed Banger ended up in a later incarnation of Slaughter And The Dogs while Vini Reilly formed Durutti Column. Pete Crooks and Toby Toman continued on as The Nosebleeds. 

 

However, in his autobiography Morrissey denied ever being a member of The Nosebleeds. He claims that Duffy recruited him after the break up of The Nosebleeds and they wrote songs together. For their live performances they hadn't decided on a band name. They roped in the rhythm section of The Nosebleeds and Paul Morley used this name for a live review. The Nosebleeds did two gigs; one at the Ritz (support to Magazine) on 15th April 1978 and a Rabid Records benefit at the Manchester Polytechnic on 8th May 1978 before dissolving in May 1978. After the group split up Morrissey went on to form The Smiths, Toby joined Blue Orchids, and Pete Crooks joined up with Vini Reilly in The Durutti Column.