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The Odds - a band that rocked the UK from 1978 to 1981
![Left to right: Bill McKeown (bass), Keiran Moses (Vocal and guitar), Jonathan [Twig] Leafe (guitar)](http://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/f29d2a48-f4af-41f4-aeb6-edd8ed8e1231/Walkington%201%20light.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:4.02%25,w:91.95%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:605,cg:true)
![Left to right: Simon [Sam] Leyland, Bill McKeown, Stuart Matthewman](http://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/f29d2a48-f4af-41f4-aeb6-edd8ed8e1231/Odds%20Sam%2003.JPG/:/cr=t:0.58%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:33.36%25/rs=w:1201,h:601,cg:true)
The Odds embodied the spirit of punk, pop and rock mashed in a passionate mix with 60s covers along with self-penned high energy catchy songs, always presented in their own unique way. Formed in 1978 by Bill McKeown (Bass) and Sam Leyland (Vocals), recruiting Colin Brockwell on Drums and Stuart Matthewman on Saxophone: the band went through several guitarist changes before finally settling with Keiran Moses. Keiran would later replace Sam as vocalist and Twig Leafe would take over from Keiran on guitar.
The Odds quickly built a strong following by playing at iconic music venues across the UK including Wardour Street’s Marquee Club, 101 Club, Fulham Greyhound, Dudley JB’s, Retford Porterhouse, Twisted Wheel Carlisle, The Welly (Wellington) Club, Hull City Hall as well as universities such as Oxford, Durham, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Stockholm. They played alongside legendary bands like The Damned, The Skids, The Tourists, The Selector, Q Tips, Fischer Z, The Headboys, The Bishops and The Directions amongst others, once even supported by The Ronnie Scott Band.
Their first single, "Saturday Night", released in 1979, was an instant hit and shot up the indie charts, selling all the initial 2,000 pressed 7” vinyl singles.
Following their success, they released "Yesterday Man", a Ska arrangement of the Chris Andrews' classic, which was well-received and made it to the Radio 1 play-list, but didn't quite match the success of "Saturday Night".
Sam left to pursue a solo “Odds” project and it was at this point that Keiran took over Vocals with Twig picking up Guitar at just 17 years old.
As the new sound developed, The Odds attracted the attention of Steve Mather of MHE who landed them a string of dates across the UK as well as a hugely successful tour of Sweden and Germany in the January of 1981 to promote their third and final single “Fool in the Crowd” on Concert Music Records.
The Odds disbanded in the autumn of 1981 due to a mix of poor choices, personal circumstances and management disputes, but their legacy lived on as Stuart went on to enjoy a hugely successful career with 'Sade'.
In late 1981, keen to create a more current sound, The Odds morphed into Moscow with a brand-new, more mature and melancholic agenda. That’s another story…