How it all started

	Betty Donelly was still in high school when she wanted to be in a band so much, 
	she always went to see the high school's band rehearse, and sometimes even 
	got to play a few notes on the synthesiser, a real novelty back in the early eighties.
	
	So one day she scraped her courage together and asked the guitar player if they could 
	play together sometime ... Teuk promptly created a bass guitar out of an old Spanish
	guitar and some bass strings ... it worked ... 
	
	Immediately putting her melodic skills into practice, THE FEAR started improvising 
	double melodies at first, and later of course full blown songs, which we all recorded 
	on numerous cassettes, still available in Betty Donelly's private collection.
	
	While the new duo, which eventually evolved into a trio whith a drummer, 
	was turning into a mean instrumental songwriting machine, the lyrics were mainly written 
	by Betty's first girlfriend, which resulted in the extreme funny situation of Teuk 
	singing about the love and heartaches of Betty's relationship in a direct "i to you" 
	form, from the point of view from her then girlfriend !
	
	After being in THE FEAR, it became obvious that Betty Donelly was determined to follow 
	in the footsteps of her biggest hero, Robert Smith from THE CURE, by taking on the 
	vocals and guitar .. she formed THE ELEPHANTS, a four piece band.
	
	Betty says: "During those days we would never miss a concert of THE CURE. Once me 
	and still another girlfriend of mine went to the Brussels Royal Windsor Hotel 
	just to meet them .. it was surreal ! .. It was one of those life-defining and 
	life-changing moments ..
	
	As i was very shy at the time, i didn't speak to him then but i did manage 
	to ask Simon Gallup, THE CURE's bass player, if they would take us along in their 
	tour bus for a ride to their next destination, Amsterdam .. He gently declined
	though, saying the insurance wouldn't cover us .. i was eighteen and so much in awe !
	
	I still remember Robert Smith standing behind the tour bus' door and staring at me 
	through the door window .. this short moment was pure bliss !
	
	This and other such wonderful CURE-moments have greatly helped me in overcoming 
	certain issues and in starting to pursue my own dreams of being a successful musician
	
	I strongly believe i have earned my spot in the BIG MUSICAL TREE, and i might add that 
	i am so proud to stem from that branch on the TREE, which leads me from THE CURE and 
	David Bowie, straight to the Beatles and the big ROCK GENRE"

	 
	

Copyright 2010 Betty Donelly
All rights reserved