Once upon a time, Neil Hamilton (42), who was once a guitarist, but had noticed that there was a serious shortage of bass guitarists in the industry, called Miles Fisher (42), a boyhood friend and guitarist, and asked him, “how’s about a jam session?”
Several months later, in March in 2005, they finally got together.
This was the humble beginning of what was to become the favourite hobby of their lives.
They enjoyed it so much that they decided to do it again the next week, and the next but they found it a little tasteless without drums, so Miles pulled out his drum machine, which they quickly dubbed Kevin after a mutual drummer friend of theirs, which they were too lazy to programme.
So this was a band, if with a few unimaginative drum beats.
At some stage, Neil invited his baby brother Alasdair (Al, 36), who was once a guitarist, but had noticed that there was a serious shortage of drummers in the industry, to play drums on an ageing kit which another mutual friend, Richard, had magnanimously bought some time before, thereby replacing the electronic variety.
Thus the band was officially born.
There was no name for the first few months of the infant band, until one day Neil had been listening to New Order’s track “Regret”.
While he was out at the shop and humming it to himself, he texted Miles to suggest that “Regret” be the name of the fledgling band.
Miles agreed, and, negative connotations intact, the band “Regret” was born.
In 2006, the three-piece played regularly as Regret in various places which didn’t suit their musical style, since punk and metal is not their genre.
Several years later, once they had made more of a name for themselves around the pub and live venue circuits in and around Johannesburg, they decided to shed the negative connotations surrounding the name and rebranded themselves as “No Regret”.
This name became synonymous with their oft-times sarcastic gigs, always self-deprecating and genuinely fun.
Al is the drummer: he’s an unreformed metalhead, who likes to ride his bike to gigs, leaving his fellow band mates to carry the drum hardware for him.
He is punished by having to set the whole rig up himself when he gets to said gig.
He is influenced by Metallica, among other metal bands.
Miles is the guitarist and vocalist: he’s a mild-mannered auditor during the day, which belies the fact that he can be just as mild-mannered on stage.
His influences include The Sisters of Mercy and Depeche Mode.
Neil is the bassist & vocalist: he’s an engineer during the day, and sometimes sleeps at night.
His influences include Red Hot Chili Peppers and Placebo.
They rock.
Their catchphrase is “Long Live The NR”, usually followed by the hashtag #RockOn.
Come to a show, and enjoy old-school rock at its best.
Facebook :www.facebook.com/bandnoregret
Twitter: @bandnoregret
