Faith

Dogs Without Collars formed a few years ago when one of the band suggested to the others that they get all together and play at a Clergy conference.

Says Rev Geoff Boland, vicar in Canford Magna: "Laurie [Clow, vicar at Hampreston] knew several frustrated rock stars like myself, and as we started rehearsing we realised we really enjoyed it, and now people ask us to play parties etc."

The band is Clive Thomas (vicar of Shaston) on drums, Graham Perryman (rector of the Melbury Team) on keyboards, Geoff Boland (vicar in Canford Magna) on guitar/vocals, Laurie Clow (Vicar at Hampreston) on bass guitar and Tim Storey (Rector of Blandford Forum) on guitar and vocals. 

But where did the band name come from? Tim Storey explains: "The name Dogs Without Collars came from a member of the parish.

'Totally Incensed'?

"We sat down one day and thought of all possible names, we thought of Five Priests and a Piano, Totally Incensed or something like that, and then Dogs Without Collars just came tumbling out and it seemed to fit."

The band members realise that vicars who play rock music might be a surprise to some people.

Says Tim: "It's always comes as a bit of a surprise to people when they see or hear us for the first time particularly those who have a caricature of a vicar as a Rowan Atkinson type character.

"They expect us to be plummy, or they expect us to play nice folk songs, but actually, playing rock songs is something we feel is really good fun because we enjoy it and it's the sort of music we love."

"We just love doing it."