Formed in 1989, the Holy Toledos attracted a lot of attention. The release of the Forget And Forgive LP showcased them nationwide, not least to major record label Sony Music, who on the strength of this LP approached the band for a major deal. Regardless of the resulting melee this album stands as an excellent example of the band's melodic ability and judging by critical reaction to their first Sony release this album may stand alone as a record of the band's artistic ability and song writing skills, pre corporate integration. Forget And Forgive showcases ten slices of well crafted, melodic pop.

About The Album
The album was recorded over the 1990 - 1991 period using a mobile recording facility, and the engineering and production skill of Rob Mayes (Avalanche LP, Throw, Dolphin).
Highlights on the album include live favourites "I'd Say It's Too Late" and "We Just Talked About The Weather", which together with the dynamic "Anything" and "He's Not There" make for standout tracks .

About The Band
Formed in early 1989 as a group of school friends with a common love for melodic guitar-based pop songs, Reviews have likened songwriter / singer / guitarist Micheal Gregg's songs and approach to that of Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame; that is, they share a passion for pure pop with chiming guitars and reflective, yearning vocals, "a soulful almost gospel approach". However, the band's three guitar line up gives them a sound which is uniquely their own - Chris Mitchell's delicate finger-picking technique, together with Chris O'Connell's dense, overdriven textures, Micheal Gregg's chiming rhythm chords and the solid but inventive backbone of bassist Adam Gallagher and drummer Brendan Gregg helping complete the "concise but fluid punch" of this five piece. Micheal Gregg's polished, emotive singing, adds to the band's power and diversity.

The bands Failsafe releases received excellent reviews and radio play on student as well as commercial radio. Most reviewers gave the album 8 out of ten or more and the single "I Confess" regularly entered the listeners Top Ten polls often in the Number One spot.

1992 saw substantial line-up changes to the one that completed this LP with the sacking of guitarists O'Connell and Mitchell, and replacement by ex-Strangelove Tom Mahon.

The subsequent signing to the Sony label created a messy situation for the Failsafe label with Sony asking that The Toledos cease any promotion or connection with their previous label, leaving Failsafe holding the recently released "Baby" without promotional support from the band. Stylistic changes to the band's sound coupled with their recent signing to the Mega Music Corporation may have seen this LP stand as a lone testament to the sincerity and potential of the original line-up.

The Toledos also operated an Irish covers band the Finnagans as their income-earning outfit. Both bands were managed by the Gregg brothers father Tom. The Finnagans recorded an album of material which was released on Ode records and featured the band in white crewnecked sweaters. The Toledos also sported rather nerdy outfits, notably a liking for waistcoats. One wonders if this is the result of having your Dad manage your band.

The band went on to record a successful album Blood with Sony using Crowded House's drummer as producer on a few tracks, even drumming on a couple of the singles.

The band eventually hit problems with the label when the record didn't sell in quantities the label had hoped for. They ended up dropping the band and offering Brendan Gregg a solo deal, which he reportedly took without notifying the rest of the group.
The news apparently dropped just before the band's Finnagans line-up were about to take the stage at their Christchurch residency slot at the Loft, a bar managed by the band and Tom Gregg.
Brother Micheal was apparently so pissed at his brother he refused to take the stage, or so the story goes.

Since then the brothers have spent some time going their separate ways but in 1997 recorded and released an album of folk-tinged material together as the Gregg Brothers. Brendan also has a band 'B' based in Christchurch

Reviewer's Comments
"In lead singer and main songwriter Micheal Gregg the Christchurch five piece have an incredible force. Such an evocative voice, conveying the pain, anger or sadness of the lyrics with frighteningly genuine emotion". -Jill Graham (Auckland Evening Herald).

"An amazingly confident debut that seems to have come from nowhere" - Tony Green (The Christchurch Press) .

"An excellent debut album that deserves extensive airplay, both commercial and alternative".
- Tony Miller (Craccum)

"Forget And Forgive is a mesmerising collection of dazzling pop songs by a highly innovative young band" - Grant McDougall (Critic)