Leaving STATUS QUO in late 1981 drummer John Coghlan concentrated on his DIESEL project, which had been running as a side venture to the QUO since 1976. DIESEL seemed content on good time low key club gigs, but did record a still unreleased album with ex-PRETTY THINGS vocalist Phil May and WHITESNAKE guitarist MICKY MOODY. DIESEL included Charlie McCracken on bass, a veteran of the RORY GALLAGHER band and who would later play with FASTWAY, CAMEL keyboard player Mike Simmonds and erstwhile HIGHWAY and FRANKIE MILLER guitarist Ray Minhinnit in its time and vocalist Phil May was later superseded by ex-RAGE vocalist Dave Lloyd.

Minhinnit later joined PHOENIX.

In 1990 Coghlan relocated to Australia to join his erstwhile STATUS QUO cohort Alan Lancaster to tour with his act THE BOMBERS. In 1994 Coghlan and Lancaster teamed up once more for a Scandinavian tour under the title of LANCASTER BOMBERS. 1998 found the drummer performing on the UK club circuit in a short-lived, yet high profile, band unit dubbed THE REDDING, COGHLAN AND BELL BAND involving ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist Eric Bell and bassist Noel Redding from the JIMI HENDRIX band. Minhinnit and Moody reunited in 1999 for a band project.