Duffy, Anthony "Tony" Richard (dad) Tony was Nick's and Stephen's dad. He had been a telephone engineer, did National Service in the Royal Signals and later worked in a GPO office. He married Norma, Nick's and Stephen's mom, when he was 24. Music played an important part in his life: he played the flute in the civil service orchestra and the guitar in the church youth club skiffle group. Tony taught Nick and Stephen to play the guitar and was a strong musical influence. But, as Nick pointed out once, they influenced him too. It is rumoured that he played the tin whistle at one of the Bait concerts. Tony's father took Stephen to Villa Park, home of Aston Villa FC and is therefore to "blame" for a fondness that exists to this very day. Sadly Tony passed away unexpectedly and untimely in 1994.
	Duffy, Melvin (sometimes spelt Melvyn) (slide guitar, pedal steel guitar) Melvin Duffy aka "The Wonderhorse" is not related to Stephen and Nick. The BBC said about him that he is "probably the finest young pedal steel guitar player in Britain, his credits include Jimmy Nail, Leo Sayer, and Deana Carter." In 2003 he toured with Robbie Williams and is part of Los Pacaminos, a "Tex-Mex outfit" that is led by British vocalist Paul Young. Together with his brother Adrian he forms the acoustic pop duo Brothernature. According to Nick "Melvyin's generally busy doing his pedal steel thing". He performed slide guitar and pedal steel guitar on the last four Lilac Time albums "Looking For A Day In The Night", "Lilac6" and "Keep Going" and "Runout Groove".
	Duffy, Nicholas "Nick" John (accordion, banjo and all sorts of other stringed things) Nick was born June 24th, 1956 and is Stephen's elder brother. In 1986 he co-founded The Lilac Time and contributed some lovely instrumentals to all of their albums apart from Astronauts. When The Lilac Time temporarily split up in 1991 Nick, who had previously worked as an artist and illustrator, return to his old profession. You can see some of his work in the archive section of his website. He also pursued some musical solo projects: Bait, Eagle Ombina and Zsa Zsa Zsa and has recently recorded with Brittlestar. Since August 1st, 2006 Nick is also the proud proprietor of the duffyshop, where beautiful Lilac Time t-shirts can be purchased and a tuneshop. For those of you, who like trivia: Nick is a vegetarian and - being one herself - Sabine is happy to say that he has confirmed not to have eaten fish or meat in some time.
	Duffy, Norma Gillian (mom) Norma is Nick's and Stephen's mom. She married Tony Duffy at the age of 19 and it was the joining of two people who loved music: Tony played the flute and the guitar, Norma plays the piano. Her father had been a drummer in his spare time and her brother Maurice still is. Let’s face it: their two sons really never had a chance to get a „normal“ job. They were destined to be musicians. Apart from music, there is a "medical pattern" in her life. In an interview with LaShonda Fontanelle (we still haven’t seen proof she exists!) Nick recalled: "She [Norma] used to read us pagan folk legends as bedtime stories. She sold herbal remedies in the neighbourhood. It wasn’t easy getting ingredients in Alum Rock. She had to go to Tipton to get sassafrass." And in the 1950s she used to work at Brown the chemist and – as Stephen noted once – spent the money she earned on Beatles records. And in a full circle, we are back to the music. For many years Norma has been the heart and soul of PO Box 2, sorting fan mail and keeping address lists for The Lilac Times and other official communication. With the dawning of the cyberspace age, PO Box 2 may have seen less incoming and outgoing mail, but Norma is still interested in the things her sons' fans come up with. She sent us this lovely picture of her for the who's who and another one, which we have put in the gallery. No disrespect, but... we think she rocks.
	Duffy, Stephen Anthony James (vocals, guitar,...) Stephen was born May 30th, 1960 in Birmingham (England). At Birmingham Polytechnic he met John Taylor. Together with John's friend Nick Rhodes they formed a new romantic band and called it Duran Duran. Stephen left in 1979 (or - as Nick Rhodes put it - he went on the longest cigarette break in history). After being in other bands (The Hawks, TinTin), Stephen went solo and in 1985 he had his only major chart success with a track called "Kiss Me". The follow-up singles and albums didn't do too well and artistically Stephen wanted to move into a different direction. Together with his elder brother Nick and a friend called Michael Weston he founded The Lilac Time in 1986. Since then he has recorded numerous albums either with the band or solo and has co-written songs for The Barenaked Ladies and Robbie Williams. You can find many more details about Stephen and The Lilac Time in the introductory notes to each era in the discography. Again for those of you, who like trivia: he is a pesco-vegetarian. Fish beware! He is married to Claire Worrall, who is also a member of The Lilac Time.