Following the motorway accident that had killed Martin Lamble, the band were left without a drummer. After the release of "Unhalfbricking," Dave Mattacks took over the role. Having previously been a drummer at Mecca Ballrooms, he had to "learn a whole new style of drumming." The virtuoso fiddle and mandolin player Dave Swarbrick, a little older than the rest of the band, had already been in a successful duo with guitarist Martin Carthy. After his appearance on "Unhalfbricking", he too joined Fairport full-time.