Oh the wacky world of rock 'n' roll!

Even Blondel, a band with musicians of a mature vintage, is prone to the odd wild moment. The Keighley outfit has taken on a drummer who goes by the delightful monicker Johnny Knocking Box.

Mr Box will make music alongside Roger Kirby and Dale Kitson, veterans of almost two decades' on the Keighley scene, and singer Jenny Kitson.

But he won't be driving the van, demanding royalties for the songs or buying a round down the pub after rehearsals. You won't find him in our picture either, for our photographer believes the only pop stars worth snapping are human.

Johnny is a drum machine, and Roger says he's more reliable than the twin-legged stick bashers the band has had to deal with in the past. Roger adds: "He's a complex bit of kit that takes Dale hours to program, keeps time better than me and doesn't take up all the room on stage."

Blondel plays covers for "fun and a bit of cash", following years of Roger and Dale playing original material around the college circuit. The set includes songs by The Corrs, Bryan Adams, Van Morrison, Texas, The Primitives, The Beatles, The Tourists and the Bare Naked Ladies.

Roger came to Blondel after drumming in the 80s and early 90s for Keighley bands Single File, Llama Parlour and Talking To Myself. He was told by his doctor to stop drumming to protect his knee, and now instead plays bass guitar.

Dale started out in The Quick with Big Bang member Steve Wilson, and progressed to popular 80s bands Teenage and the Wildlife and The Lively Arts. He first played with Roger in Talking to Myself, and continues playing guitar because he "gets withdrawal symptoms when he tries stopping".

Roger says Jenny, Dale's wife, "sings a mean lead vocal with a touch of blues class". The band's name comes from Jenny's time as a teenager on the semi-pro circuit with sister Tracy as The Blondel Sisters.

Blondel can be seen on November 10 at the Craven, Skipton, November 17 at the Royal British Legion, and Keighley Gas Club (December 1), Silsden's Punch (19) and Keighley's Three Horses (29).