THE quarter-finals of The Horn's Battle of the Bands starts this week with Watford mob The Secrets up againstin a Henman vs Rusedski-style clash.

Well, it's nothing like a Henman vs Rusedski style clash, but we can say what we like.

Since October 32 bands have been strutting their stuff at the St Albans venue and now there are only a few left. It truly is a competition for the ordinary man. On battle nights audience members are given a voting slip and the best band is chosen. Simple as that.

Quiver are obviously not quivering in their boots at the prospect of a head-to-head with The Secrets.

Pat Halton, Quiver's singer/songwriter said: "It's a good crack. Of course everyone wants to win, but it's also a good laugh competing." We don't believe you, Pat.

Here is a Mr Weston And The Ironing update: Lead singer Wilf Weston said: "Kim Wilde. I was vaguely aquainted with her pre-fame when she was known as Kim Smith. She seemed quite a pleasant person.

"A mutual friend who had heard a pre-release demo of Kids in America about the same time heard a demo we'd made and thought ours was better.

"I must admit that on reflection 17 years later, they were probably wrong, but it was quite flattering."

Thanks Wilf ... anyone who can name any other Kim Wilde single of note, wins a small rodent basted in barbecue sauce.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.