Heavily inspired by DR FEELGOOD, the band formed in 1977, becoming regulars at the Thomas A'Becket pub on the Old Kent Road. Building their profile through hard gigging, they signed to A&M records to release their debut Live At The Marquee in 1980, stealing the show at the Reading Festival and appearing in a memorable episode of BBC's The Young Ones. They split in '82 with frontman/guitarist Dennis Greaves forming the more mod-influenced THE TRUTH and harp-player Mark Feltham enjoying a successful career as a session player. They reformed in 1990 and have continued with various line-ups, notably including former RORY GALLAGHER bassist Gerry McAvoy.
The new album 13 Shades Of Blue features the band's classic line-up - including drummer Mickey 'Stix' Burkey and bassist Brian Bethell - as well as a host of guest musicians, including Glenn Tilbrook of SQUEEZE and noted boogie-woogie pianist Ben Waters.
13 Shades Of Blue is released digitally on 30 September and on CD on 7 October. It's available to pre-order here.
The band will be embarking on a lengthy tour in support of the album, from the end of September until well into 2017. Full dates are below....
30th Sept - Banbury Mill, Banbury
1st Oct - Pizza Express, Maidstone
2nd Oct - Pizza Express, Maidstone
7th Oct - West End Centre, Aldershot
8th Oct - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
14th Oct - Exeter Phoenix, Exeter
15th Oct - Bristol Bierkeller, Bristol
21st Oct - Brudnell Social Club, Leeds
22nd Oct - The Arc, Stockton on Tees
29th Oct - Bubble Club, Whistable
4th Nov - Under The Bridge, London
10th Nov - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
11th Nov - The Concorde, Brighton
19th Nov - Ruby Lounge, Manchester
26th Nov - The Elms, Nottinghamshire
2nd Dec - The Electric Palace, Bridport
3rd Dec - The Globe, Cardiff
8th Dec - The Junction, Cambridge
9th Dec - Greystones, Sheffield
10th Dec - The Musician, Leicester
17th Dec - ripley Blues Club, Ripley
27th Jan - The Mirren at The Towngate, Basildon
24th Feb - The Flowerpot, Derby
3rd Mar - The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Minster
4th Mar - The Stables, Milton Keynes
10th Mar - The Robin 2, Wolverhampton
11th Mar - Windelsham Theatre, Windelsham
17th Mar - The Bullingdon, Oxford
18th Mar - The Citidal, St Helens
24th Mar - The Cluny, Newcastle
25th Mar - King Tuts, Glasgow
Tickets are available here.
More pub rock action in the current edition of Vive Le Rock!
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