History

The Beginning...

Michael was playing with his father Basil in a duo called BILLY & THE KID. They were the resident-band at the Rottnest Island Lodge Resort on Rottnest Island (near Perth) in the early nineties.


A feature of the show was to invite popular musicians from the mainland to join the duo on their famous Wednesday Blues Nights. Basil had known Ric for many years and he was one of the first to be invited. This was Ric's and Michael's first meeting.


It wasn't until 1994 that the two would cross paths again. It was in the band POWERSHIFT in which Ric occasionally filled in on drums and eventually became the permanent drummer. Not long after, Roy Daniel joined on bass and one of Australia's most formidable rhythm sections (DAVE HOLE BAND, MATT TAYLOR and PHIL MANNING BAND, FATTY LUMKIN) was reunited.


As it became more difficult to survive as a five piece band, Michael, Ric and Roy went out on their own to form the trio VDELLI.
Since that time there have been different members come and go but Michael and Ric have always remained the nucleus of the band.

Michael on the "Name"...

"Having the band called VDELLI is a pretty heavy thing to wear. When Ric suggested the idea he had all the answers. I'd say - "come on man, you can't call it that , give me a break...". and he'd say - "It's unique.. nobody's got that word... it's your name... it's original...it's identifiable."

And to add to this we were going from a five piece band with two guitars and three vocals to a three piece with only me out the front. At that time I didn't think I could do it -particularly the guitar. But I did and gradually I gained confidence and power to the point that it is now second nature to me.

Initially it was strange when somebody would ask what the band was called and I'd say VDELLI. Usually they would say "What - the deli?". But now the response is more like " Oh yeah I've heard of you guys". When I hear people say the name now it sounds more normal. You hear it in coversation and see it in print a lot and you get used to it. It's become a lot easier lately, it's more of a word now and not something I take super personally."