The Tirith has a long history. The band originally formed as Minas Tirith in September 1971 in Loughborough Leic’s, the original line-up comprising Tim Cox (guitar and vocals), Dick Cory (bass and vocals) , Andy Cowan (electric violin and guitar) and Bruce Mason (drums). At the time Dick and Andy were still pupils at Loughborough Grammar School (LGS), although Tim had left the previous year. Initially it was a group of schoolboys from LGS. Tim and Dicks musical association goes way back beyond this though to a time when Tim was a boarder at the school, playing during breaks and lunchtimes on guitars, practising around Dick’s house on a Sunday afternoons, and playing at various concerts around the school.
The band was kick started by Andy Cowan's mother who funded the initial purchase of equipment. The band were joined by Bruce Mason on drums from Loughborough College School and this was the lineup that undertook the first gig at Loughborough Grammar School on 15th December 1971. Incidentally the other school band on the bill that day was Doctor Dog which included in its lineup Bruce Woolley of “Video Kille the Radio Star” and “Slave to the Rhythm" fame.
This lineup continued until April 1972 when the more experienced Paul Williams replaced Bruce Mason on drums. Most of the gigs listed below were undertaken by the lineup of Tim Cox, Dick Cory, Andy Cowan and Paul Williams.
Recordings of the band in this era are rare. There was the infamous tape recorded in Andy Cowan's living room over the Easter holidays which subsequently disappeared. However the whole of the band's set at Loughborough University on 19th May 1972 was recorded and that is the only audio record of Minas Tirith in existence. It is of very poor quality though so don’t expect any of it to be posted here.
Dick Cory went to University in Sheffield in October 1972 and played his final gig with Minas Tirith in Loughborough on 19th Dec 1972. The 60 miles between Sheffield and Loughborough at the time was considered too far a distance to be in a band in Loughborough so he was replaced for the remaining gigs by Taff Williams on bass.
Minas Tirith played their final gig at Loughborough University on 22nd April 1973 and subsequently split up.
There then followed a long sabbatical of 37 years until in October 2010 when the band reformed as The Tirith, with the lineup of Tim Cox (guitars), Dick Cory (bass and Vocals) and Paul Williams (drums).
Personnel changes since the Tirith reformed have been as follows; Carl Nightingale replaced Paul Williams on drums in March 2012. Paolo Iannatonne joined the band on keyboards in Feb 2016 but left in Jan 2018. Paul Williams rejoined the band in July 2020
Gigs undertaken during the period 1971 to 1973 by Minas Tirith, the previous incarnation of the band. Minas Tirith comprised, Tim Cox (guitars and vocals), Dick Cory (bass and vocals), Andy Cowan (electric violin and guitar) and Paul Williams (drums).
22nd April 1973 $ Loughborough University Set List
16th April 1973 $ Railway Hotel, Coalville Set List
19th December 1972 Loughborough Technical College Set List
14th July 1972 Karen Lumbers party, Rothley Set List
3rd June 1972 Penny Farthing Club, Leicester Set List
2nd June 1972 Loughborough College School Set List
20th May 1972 Huttoft Village Hall Set List
19th May 1972 Loughborough University (Rutherford Hall) Set List
13th May 1972 Cottons Social Club, Loughborough Set List
12th May 1972 Trinity Youth Club, Loughborough Set List
30th March 1972 * Loughborough College School Set List
1st March 1972 * Portland Training College, Mansfield Set List
1st January 1972 * Sue Clark's party Set List
17th December 1971 * Birstall Youth Centre, Leicester Set List
15th December 1971 * Loughborough Grammar School Set List
* gigs prior to 12th May 1972 featured Bruce Mason on drums
$ 1973 gigs featured Taff Williams on bass