The Bandits consist of Bad Bob Bates on geetar and most vox, Brad Dolphin (the feral boy of dussledorf) on drumkit and Whalebone Pete on bass and vox. We've also got Sid Sparks on equipment/sound/lights/transport/beer/junk food.
Proper stripped down rock'n'roll with a sound as big as a six piece.
Oil City Confidential - proper Canvey Island r+b like it should be. www.myspace.com/oilcity . Oil Slick Mick on vox and harp, Johnny B Crude on bass, Billy Hunt on kit and yours truly on geetar and backing vox.
Influences
Mick Green, Wilko Johnson, Lee Brilleaux, Dr Feelgood, The Pirates, The Rezillos, Billy Gibbons, George Thoroughgood, Rose Tattoo, Dan Baird and his various crackin bands, The Damned, The Buzzcocks, The Ruts, Tom Petty, Grady and a wide range of good guitar based music, including an increasing amount of Americana.
I also like the way Pete Townsend plays and reckon hearing The Who on the radio playing I can see for miles as a kid made a big difference to me. I also loved Quo's early 70s stuff - the Pye years - through to Piledriver and Quo albums - vastly under rated blues rock IMHO!
My guitar style is mostly Mick Green/Wilko Johnson influenced for the fast stuff, then George Thoroughgood and Billy Gibbons for the rest of my style. I'm hoping I have some individuality in there too! You might even get some Fast Eddie Clark and Hawkwind coming in as well!
Sounds Like
70s Dr Feelgood with a rocket up their ar*se, Grady, fast ZZ Top, The Yayhoos and some of Dan Baird's other stuff and that sort of thing.
Oil City Connection at Benton Blues Club September 2009
Been in all sorts of bands over the years but for the last 16 or so I've been fronting The Bandits, the North East's unsung heroes of tight, gritty, hard edged pub rock and bike rallies.
Oil City Confidential nopw up and running and reviving the Canvey Island punk/blues sound. Mind I'm still a Bandit through and through!
I like playing teles and SGs, although I've recently got hold of a lovely Duesenberg D-Caster.
I make a lot of my own guitars too, like the ones below. Anyone want to buy one? They tend to be Fender relic replicas (all with great parts!). Just drop me a message and I'll see what I can do for you!
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