Tony met Rob and John in 1972 at a Folk Club in Stockport which was held in an upstairs room above the Mersey Tavern.
Tony soon became a regular at the Monday night club where Rob played as part of the resident trio Hanging Ditch, and it wasn't long before Rob asked if he could accompany Tony on some of his songs.
As well as the Folk involvement Rob and John were part of a blues band "Stormcrow" and played on a regular basis at The Mersey Tavern blues night and also supported a lot of the top bands that visited the club "Stoneground"
A few years later Rob and John Carroll formed a four piece folk band with John Knight and Tim Kik called "Gentlemen Soldier" who became one of the most sought after bands on the northern folk scene.
During this time Tony was still playing solo and travelling further a field.
In 1987 Tony asked Rob and John Carroll if they would lend their expertise on the recording of an album, this was the start of the three guys playing and gigging together for the next 20 years.
It was in the mid 1980's Tony met Chris Cole and Ash Latham and subsequently became a regular member of "Gorton Tank" which in turn involved him with "The Gorton Morris" and the sadly missed "Gorton Rushcart".
A chance meeting with Pat and Jamie Knowles resulted in the reforming of "The Tom Shepley's Band" along with whistle player Nick Dennerley, the band worked various clubs and festivals throughout the UK.
The trio took the name "Tony Nyland and The Bilious Brothers".
Mike Billington, a good mate of ours hosted the GMR Folk Radio Programme and would have us perform live on air on a regular basis, Mike also put together the "Children in Need" album, for which the trio recorded
a song "This Town" written by Tony Nyland.