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Those Handsome Devils

Country: Ireland Genre: Rockabilly

Sean Foy: vocals/lead guitar Frank Rynne: rhythm guitar Pat Harte: double bass. Leo Regan: drums

Discography Hep Bop/Boy Meets Girls – 7” – Souterrain Records – 1984 Don’t Bring Me Down / What I Say – 7” – Solid Records – 1987

Those Handsome Devils formed in 1983, first playing inder the name of Crazy Times. At first they were just Foy and Harte busking in the streets of Dublin. Then they were joined by drummer Leo O’Regan who left after a few gigs to be replaced by Johnny Bonnie. At the same time a rhythm guitar player, Frank Rynne, was added. By the time the band recorded its first single Bonnie had left to be replaced by Leo Regan. The single was recorded at the famous Windmill Lane studios with producer P.J. Curtis. It was very well received and was made “single of the week”. Some other songs were recorded but never released at the time like the classic Johnny Cynic, an original later covered by Sharkbait (their version can be heard on the Live At the Klub Foot album) and Scared Stiff. In 1986 the band switched to electric bass and opted for a more garage sound and released their second single but disbanded soon after. They reformed in 2007 for a one off gig in Dublin.

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Powerdog

Country: Holland Genre: Neo-rockabilly / Psychobilly

Wim Van Der Heiden - guitar, lead vocals Marcel Verbaas - upright bass Robert Van Driesten - drums

Discography: Powerdog - Count OrlockR.O.C.K.13-C.O.C.K.13 [1992]

In 1988 Marcel Verbaas and Wim Van Der Heiden met on the streets after not having seen each other for about 3 years. They both knew each other from Jailhouse, a famous clubhouse in Rotterdam where lots of dedicated rock-and-roll and rockabilly fans used to meet each other during the weekends. They decided to put up a band and rehearsed for almost a year with different kinds of line-up, playing only covers. But from the moment Robert van Driesten joined the band in 1989, Marcel started to do the lead vocals and writing the band's own material. They took the name of Powerdog. The typical Powerdog-sound has it's origin in the neo-billy sound of the early eighties, combined with Marcel's experience as a rhythm-guitarist on heavy-metal music. Hence the use of the so called heavy chords but with the clean cut sound of a tube amplifier. Two major highlights of Powerdog were the cd/lp release in 1992 by Count Orlok Music and once being the support act of Stray Cats in Paradiso Amsterdam, during their Murphy Tour. Powerdog split up in 1994.

Infos taken from the band's website

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The Poker Dots

Country: UK Genre: Rockabilly, Swing, Jive

John O'Malley: Vocals/Lead Guitarist Spencer Lingwood: drums and vocals Zac Zdravkovic: doublebass and vocals

Discography: Cocktail Swing - Vinyl Japan

The Poker Dotsgot together in Spring 2002 when John O'Malley (Nitro's, Rabbit Action), Zac Zdravkovic and Spencer Lingwod were playing for Good Rockin' Tonight. They were influenced by The Platters,The Crew Cuts,The Chestnuts and The Keytones to name but a few. Other influences stretch as far back as Django Reinhardt and Nat King Cole. Having piled themselves into Zacs studio,they were let loose to rejuvinate some of their favourite tunes adding the Poker Dot flavour and having a ball while doing it. The result was cool, crisp and slick with sweet harmonies to give it that retro sound for this first cd. All three members are currently working with different outfits, John O'Malley has remained playing lead guitar for Good Rockin..Tonight, Zac Zdravkovic went on to form top jive band The Jive Romeros, this time on lead guitar and Spencer Lingwood is now hitting the skins for the Rock'n'Roll stage show Rockin’ On Heaven’s Door.

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Louisiana Hayride

Genre: Neo-rockabilly Country: UK

Johnny Dumper: vocals/rhythm guitar Paul Maitland: double bass Dave Walker: lead guitar Paul Moxam: drums

Louisiana Hayride formed in the mid 80's. They played self penned tunes as well as covers including "Stormy Weather", "Bad Moon Rising" and "Wild Wild Lover".

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The Joint Jumpers

Country: UK Genre: Tockabilly, Rock'n'Roll

  A rockin' band from Bristol featuring Kevin Haynes who later formed Torment with Simon Brand. Their bassist - Sean Holder briefly played with Torment too.

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Crackle Rattle Bash

Country: Holland Genre: Psychobilly/Rockabillly

Aris de Vries: Vocals, Guitar Frank Bayer: Solo Guitar, Ukelele Kay Kesting: Double Bass, T-bass Richard Weydert: Washboard / Drums Paul van de Groen.. - Drums (after Richard left

Crackle Rattle Bash.. started around 1986 when Kay and Aris performed in a squater's building in Arnhem. Kay played his T-bass and Aris played guitar and sang. Afterwards they regularly played the streets of Amsterdam and one day Richard passed by and joined them on washboard. Much later they were asked to perform on the Cool Cat Go Ape album. Frank Bayer joined the band and in July 1987 they recorded their first on only album on the Count Orlok label. The washboard was switched for drums and the T-bass was dropped for the Double Bass. After many gigs in Holland, a short tour with Batmobile in Germany, and a change of drummer, Crackle Rattle Bash split around 1990.

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White Lightnin'

Country: UK Genre: Rockabilly

Stuart Warburton: vocals, rhythm guitar, tenor saxophone, harmonica Paul Murphy: lead guitar/steel guitar Phil Morris: double bass Gary Leach: drums

This British rockabilly quartet formed in the early 80's. They had two tracks (House Of The Rising Sun and You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That) scheduled for release by Hot Rock Records but were dropped at last minute though some test pressings exist. They changed their name for the Rhythmaires when Big Dave Machin joined the band in late 1982 then split before reforming in late 1983/early 84 with a more jump/jive sound. Paul Murphy later joined the Crawdads. The album The Rhythmaires - Tenth Anniversary Album (Raucous RAUCD006) features 10 demo tracks by White Lightnin'.

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The Crazy Tones

Country: Holland Genre: Neo-rockabilly

Rémi Groot: Guitar/ vocals Jacco Buchholz: double bass/ vocals. Beer Lutgens: drums (untill '88) Ritchie Adams: drums (after '88). Rémi Groot: Guitar/ vocals.

Remi Groot met Jacoco Buchholz in 1985 during a concert of The Keytones. They got along well and decided to form a Rock’n’roll band. Buccholz knew a drummer, "Beerke", and they started to rehearse on a hot summer day in. After sometime and a small repetoire they played some gigs at Remi’s school, later on in bars and festivals. In July 1986 they recorded in a small studio in Venlo their first demo "Gene's gone" and "I feel the blues". A year later after doing a lot of gigs together with The Keytones, The Chevy Cats, Restless etc. they recorded "Rockabilly Party" and "Let's make some love" for Disky-records under supervision of Boz Boorer of The Polecats. It was on a compilation album with 6 other Rockabilly bands from the Netherlands. The release and presentation was at the Paradiso, Amsterdam. After Beerke left the band in 1988, Remy had to do his militairy duty, but kept on rockin'on with The Crazy Tones. Ritchie Adams then joined the band on drums. In 1989 they recorded for Tombstone records their first (and unique) album "She's got what it takes", a little masterpiece of neo-rockabilly. This album resulted in a lot of gigs arround Holland, Germany and Belgium. They also won the contest "the small-price of Utrecht" in 1990. The price: a track on a CD on the culty Kelt-records company. It was "If you wanna be the 1-4-me". The Crazy Tones splitted-up in 1992 after a Good-bye-party at The Paradox, Boxtel, the Netherlands.

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The Slingshots

Country : Australia Genre : Neo-rockabilly

Pony Gleeson: vocals, guitar Tyron Shaw : double bass Dan Nosovich: guitar Geoff Townsley: guitar

When Phil Adams left the Psyclones in 1994, the decision was then made to change direction slightly. Their psychobilly obsession morphed into traditional and neo-rockabilly, swamp rock and dirty rhythm & blues, and that’s how The Slingshots were born. After 5 or 6 lead guitarist changes over a period of six years or so the band recruited Dan Nosovich, who made his debut in the Slingshots. Dan became their final, and possibly their most suited, guitarist until the band’s final shows at the end of 1999 when Tyron eventually moved to Melbourne early 2000. During this time The Slingshots had included three interstate tours, released a debut EP/CD-Rom that included a film clip (one of the few bands to do such a release). Other milestones included performing on the 1999 Warped Tour and supporting Southern Culture on The Skids in 1998 during the Nitrobilly tour. The Slingshots performed a reunion show in 2002 at Wintersun with Doug Wilshire filling in on lead guitar.

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Stage Frite

Country: UK Genre: Psychobilly

Clive Perchard: vocals, double bass Dave Rounce: guitar Stevie Death: drums

Stage Frite began their relatively short career as a rockabilly band in 1988 but soon opted for a more agressive sound and Psychobilly. They supported bands like the Griswalds, Skitzo and the Frantic Flintstones and developped a friendship with Chuck Harvey who at that time was scouting band for Link. The result was two tracks recorded for the compilation album "Kats Keep Rockin'". This gave them a wider exposition and audience and it wasn't long before Link proposed them to record a full album. Thus, in August 1988, they found themselves in studio with Mark Hunt (who at that time recorded most of the Frantic Flintstones albums) to cut their debut album "Island Of Lost Souls". "Island..." is not a masterpiece but it's a good album. They have good originals like the title track, Black Magic or the Ripper.But the final result  is somehow wasted by the covers that are not very convincing (to say the least). Produced and engineered by Marc Hunt, it’s not a surprise to hear some ressemblance with late 80’s albums of the gang of Chuck Harvey. It sold relatively well and as a result they played bigger gigs and appeared on the bill of a few all-dayers. But when the band was working on a possible second album they split in the Spring of 1991, each member having different ideas about the style they should play. They remained active musically, Rounce later joined the Roswell Invaders, Stevie drummed for punk outfits and Perchard played bass for the East Coast Bluegrass band and the Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo.

Adapted from the liner notes of the CD reissue of Island Of Lost Souls (Anagram-CDM Psycho 48) written by Alan Wilson.

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The Tom Cat Rebels

Country: Finland Genre: Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Garage

Reverend West: vocals Mikko Takala: vocals, guitar Jimmy Cowboy: vocals, guitar Mongo Guitar: vocals, tr (?) Kimmo 'Ed Coffin' Haapea: bass Hank Coffin: vocals, harmonica Cat Rebies: drums

Discography EP's Fundamental Party Bop (1988) Jesus Shakes My Nerves& rattles my Brain (1989) Great! (1990)

Album Tom-A-Bility - TIK-8 (1992)

A very good band, though largely unknown today, from Finland. They formed around 1986 and were active in the late 80's. Their singer /guitarist came from Tex and the Dixie Rebels a Teddy Boy band. Their sound mixed early psychobilly with garage rock. They also played unusual covers like Talking Head's Psycho Killer, Motorhead's Overkill, The Cure's Lovecats and The Human League's Dont You Want Me.

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The Pussykillers

Country : France Genre : Psychobilly

Bill : vocals Kub : doublebass / b-vox Erick : guitar / b-vox V : drums / b-vox

The Pussykillers played  heavy psychobilly influenced by the Meteors and the early Coffin Nails. Actually, their singer shouted more than he sang.They released one single in 1989 (David Vincent les a vu /Zombie Rockers). They made some gigs with Thierry Petel (Happy Drivers) on drums but they split in the early 90’s. It seems that their guitar player comitted suicide.

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Scam

Country : Holland Genre : Psychobilly / Neo-rockabilly

 Marcel van den Berg: vocals,guitar Arie Versteeg: double bass Raymond Fitsch: drums

Discography Gamblin’ Fever – Count Orlock – ROCK V (1988) Infant Years – Tombstone – Tomb-disc 679 (1990) A Million Dollar Scam – Rockhouse - lp9114 (1991)

Scam, formed around 1986. They recorded their first demo in the winter of that same year which caught the attention of Eddie and Johnny of Count Orlock. In October 1988, they recorded « Gamblin’ Fever » their debut album which is very representative of the sound of the day: light drums, slap bass and a clean electric guitar, influenced by Restless and fellow Dutchmen Batmobile. The sound is good though a bit thin at places. They have solid original (Hangover, Captain Caveman, Ready Willing & Able) but the long distance (12 songs) tends to disadvantage the band and the album sounds a bit repetitive, they could have reduced it to eight solid songs. The album was well received and the band found itself supporting big acts, playing bigger gigs and festivals (the Rockhouse Psychobilly meeting, Night of the longknives) and doing national radio performances. They soon received demand for a second album. Not having enough material for a new album they decided to re record old songs from the first demo together with some covers.The mini album called "Infant Years"was released on Tombstone Records in 1990. Despite an ugly cover, this mini lp shows an improvement. There's not a big departure in term of sound but the band is tighter and the songs less repetitive.

Their last album (to date) came in 1991. Released on Rockhouse, A Million Dollar Scam marks a new step for the band. They add a good dose of rockin' blues with harp, saxophone and slide guitar to their usual brand of light psychobilly/neo-rockabilly,. The set is varied and the song inspired. A guest singer is present on a couple of tracks. A very good album that shows the evolution and the maturity of the band. The cd version contains four bonus tracks.

They kept on playing but disbanded around 1993. Marcel remained active on the music scene. playing with the Penguin (Batmobile's bassplayer side project) and can now be found in 69Beavershot, Triple Dynamite and Dee Ann & The Nightcaptains. In 2005 they did a one of reunion show in original line up. A new album was announced but nothing materialized untill now.

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The Stringbusters

Country: Australia Genre: Rockabilly

Dave Cantrell: vocals, guitar Peter Baylor: guitar Steve Purcell: doublebass Ed Colbourne: drums

The Stringbusters were a Rockabilly band from the region of Melbourne and were active during the mid-80's. They released one ep on Preston records (Let's Go Boppin' Tonight) in 1985. They eventually split but reformed in the late 90's with Andrew Lindsay on drums and released a long play (Diggin' A Hole), still on Preston, in 2002.

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The Niteshift Trio

Country: UK Genre: Neo-rockabilly

Steve Lovett: vocals, guitar Gary Ven: vocals, doublebass Keith Bailey: drums

Discography: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Fury Records F3006 - 1989

Gary Venn started to learn double bass in the early 1980s. His teacher was Boz Boorer from the legendary Polecats. He soon teamed up with a school friend called Steve on guitar and they started to practice in his mum and dads garage. It all seemed to fall into place and they quickly found their own sound. Their drummer at that time was a guy called Carl. Things went well and the trio played lots of gigs at various rockin’ clubs around the country.They gained a good reputation and one evening after a gig they met Dell Richardson from Fury records who asked them to do some recordings for him on a couple of compilation albums (Gipsy Girl, I Love My Car, She’s Just Rockin’, Taken By Force). Then Carl left to emigrate to California. By chance they knew a fan of the band that also played drums. He was proposed the place that he accepted. This line-up recorded their unique album “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” still for Fury. It is a typical 80's neo-rockabilly album with light guitar and snare and slap bass to the fore. Using the lp as a card the Niteshift Trio gained more gigs abroad, including Germany which they toured twice with the Guana Batz, Demented Are Go, the Deltas and various other top name. Unfortunately Steve decided to quit the band to become a solo country and western singer, which he still does now. Gary went on to form a new band called Loveless, a wild rock n roll band doing various rock n roll with a trashy sound, for which he switched from double bass to guitar and vocals enjoying playing and writing songs. Loveless toured Germany and went down a storm and it remains like a great experience for Gary. "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” has recently been re released on cd by Raucous including the compilation tracks as a bonus.

Today he no longer plays music and has moved from London to West Wales with his four daughters and a farmhouse by the sea and is still in contact with Steve and Carl.

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The Tigermen

Country: Belgium Genre: Rockabilly / Neo-rockabilly

Michel Texier aka Texas : vocals / guitar Thierry Dupuis : doublebass Saki : guitar Gilbert : drums

The Tigermen formed in the second half of the 80’s in Belgium with well known name on the local scene coming from the Red Monkeys and the Swampy’s. They record one album (“Tigermen”) for Kix4u. It consists of a majority of up-tempo neo rockabillies with clean electric guitar, slap bass to the fore and light drums. If not very always original (half of the songs are covers and many of the 16 titles have similar tempo which is a bit monotonous) and despite a limited voice the result is rather pleasant. Highlights are "Johnny Was A Bad Boy", a slow bluesy-jazz number with harp that sounds like a cross between Restless, the Wild Ones and Vaya Con Dios, "Tiger Stomp" an instrumental in the vein of Crazy Cavan's "Crazy Rhythm",the melancholic "Gone Gone Gone" and the almost psychobilly "Love In A Coffin" that reminds of the Long Tall Texans. Too bad some covers are just fillers (My Babe, Shake Your Money Maker, Tiger Man...) and reduce the quality of the final result. In the early 90’s Texas moved to Bruxelles and left the band. They carried on with a new singer, Fabrisio, and a new drummer Jean but split around 1992.  They evolved into The Raggin’ Stuff to play White Rock.

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The Rockats

Country: Holland Genre: Psychobilly

Martijn Spanteren: guitar, vocals Arjan de Witt: electric bass, vocals Jottum: drums Remko Visser: drums

Discography The First Take Off - Tombstone TOMB-DISC 671 (1988) Keep On Turning - Tombstone TOMB-DISC 675 (1989) The Last Crusade - TombstoneTOMB-DISC 687(1992)

The Rockats, not to be confused with the famous American neo-rockabilly band, were a psychobilly trio from Amsterdam. They formed in November 1987 and in May of the following year they recorded their first album "The first Take Off" for Tombstone Records. It contains some good songs but the global sound is a bit "young". One year later they released "Keep On Turning", still on Tombstone, with their new drummer Remko Visser. "The Last Crusade", their third and last album appeared in 1992 showing a slight change in the sound with more agressive melodies and a guitar flirting with hard rock. After the band split, Remko Visser remained active, playing with Asmodeus.