When ex-Help Yourself members Sean Tyla and Ken Whaley joined up with Martin Belmont in Summer 1972, the band that would become Ducks Deluxe was born. Nick Garvey, replaced Whaley at start of 1973, shortly after drummer, Tim Roper had joined the fledgling crew. It was bare bones, Americana rock in it’s most raw and violent form.
The band then spent the rest of 1973 turning the burgeoning ‘Pub-Rock’ scene on it’s head and by early 1974 had signed to RCA and released their first single - the Sean Tyla/Nick Garvey signature anthem, 'Coast To Coast'. Banned by the BBC for it's lyrical reference to drugs, the single became Capital Radio's 'People's Choice', racking up 164 spins in a week but failed to chart as RCA ran out of records! The self-titled, debut album, 'Ducks Deluxe' successfully captured the fire and excitement of the Ducks' live act, including the evergreen Tyla-penned classics, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Daddy Put The Bomp’ and was well received on both sides of the Atlantic.
Later that year, having added keyboard player Andy McMaster to the line-up, the Ducks
recorded a second album, 'Taxi To The Terminal Zone' at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth
with Dave Edmunds producing. Taking its title from a line in Chuck Berry's "Promised Land," the album contained more classic songs in Tyla’s 'Paris 9', ‘It Don’t Matter Tonite’, ‘Rio Grande’ and Nick Garvey’s, 'My My Music'. The Garvey/McMaster pop-flavoured ditty, 'Love's Melody', a major musical diversion for the band was the sole single released from the set and would ultimately cause a disastrous rift within the ranks.
After ‘Taxi’, Garvey and McMaster left, eventually forming the Motors while Tyla, Belmont
and Roper carried on, recruiting bassist Micky Groome, late of the Nashville Teens.
However, RCA had become wholly unsupportive by this time and the Ducks switched to the rampant French indie, Skydog, releasing the ‘Jumpin’ EP to support a sell-out tour of France; a territory where the band had achieved major ‘cult’ status, thanks to the unstinting support and faith of their European manager and Skydog boss, the legendary rock impresario, Marc Zermati.
At the beginning of 1975, Tim Roper jumped ship and former Brinsley Schwarz drummer
Billy Rankin filled the void. Later, Brinsley himself joined, adding a third guitar, tenor sax and keyboards to the mix. The Ducks finally called it a day in the summer of 1975. The Duck’s final gig, at the 100 Club in London was on July 1st 1975, where they were joined on stage by friends, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Lee Brilleaux and Martin Stone.
Sean Tyla went on to form The Tyla Gang and initially signed to Stiff records [his "Texas
Chainsaw Massacre Boogie" being the label's fourth release] and later to US-Based indie,
Beserkley. The Tyla Gang toured solidly through the US and Europe for three years,
releasing two critically acclaimed albums and achieving ‘cult’ status in France after their
show-stopping performance at the 1977 International Punk Festival in Mont de Marsan.
Sean then moved on, signing a solo contract with Polydor US, racking up three Top Ten
singles and two Top Ten albums in Germany, where he eventually based himself until his
retirement in 1986. He recently returned to the studio to record his ninth album, ‘Back In The Saddle’ which was released on his own Hawkhead Records label in September 2008.
Martin Belmont and Brinsley Schwartz later became founder members of the Rumour,
behind Graham Parker, racking up six albums, umpteen tours of Britain, Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan as well as recording three LP’s in their own right. Martin’s razor sharp guitar breaks and solid chunky rhythm playing were one the musical highlights of a band overflowing with musical riches. Playing on Nick Lowe’s ‘Jesus of Cool’ album further enhanced Belmont’s reputation, and he toured with Elvis Costello and the Attractions on more than one occasion.
After the Rumour had run its course, Martin became one of Carlene Carter’s ‘CC Riders’,
playing on her Blue Nun album and constantly touring Europe and the USA. From 1982 to 1987, Martin worked solidly with Nick Lowe as part of the latter’s ‘Noise To Go’ and ‘Cowboy Outfit’ backing bands. He played on all of Lowe’s albums of that period as well as touring the US, Europe and Australia with him. Since 1987, Martin has worked regularly with Hank Wangford, the Pistoleros and the Tex Pistols. He is about to release his second solo CD in 2009.
In October 2008, American businessman and life-long fan, Mike Halpern offered to promote a one-off show at the 100 Club in London, UK to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the band’s 1973 formation date. Billy Rankin was persuaded out of retirement for the event after thirty years of inactivity and Martin and Sean were also joined by Mickey Groome on bass. Fans travelled from all over Europe and the UK and the show was a huge success.
Once the word was out that the band had reformed, albeit for a single show, offers of more work from the UK and Europe started to come in and Martin and Sean decided to reform the band on a permanent basis. With Billy Rankin now running a full time business and Mickey Groome fully committed elsewhere, the duo turned to drummer Jim Russell, (Stretch, Inmates, Scotty Moore Trio, Los Pacaminos) who plays regularily with Martin in rockabilly outfit, Los Pistoleros and another Belmont collaborator, bass player and backing vocalist, Kevin Foster, (Hank Wangford & the Lost Cowboys, Los Pisterleros) to complete the new line-up.
This re-vitalised Ducks outfit have spent 2009 playing concerts and festivals in France, Spain, the UK and in 2009 will play more UK dates plus a Spring tour of Sweden with further tours in Spain, Italy and Greece due to be confirmed. The Ducks also hope to release a new CD in 2009 as a follow-up to their 2008 ‘John Peel Sessions’ release.
Captain Storm en apéro acoustique, concert dînatoire aux Tontons Flambeurs
Le mercredi 25 novembre 2009 de 18 h 30 à 21 h
8, rue de la Main-d'Or,
75011 Paris
01 45 05 37 17
“Lights Of My Town” et “If I Could” Salle des Fêtes de la Place des Fêtes !!!!
Bonjour à tous! Avec Laurence et Nicolas on a la joie et le
privilège de donner un coup de main sur scène à une légende vivante:
Henri-Paul. Il a fait le tour du monde avec Johnny Thunders,
poussé le riff dans les Maniacs, Little Bob Story, les Mavericks (avec
Jean-Paul Crunchy Prieur), côtoyé les Sex Pistols, Thin Lizzy, les Only
Ones, les Hot Rods, Sean Tyla, Willy Deville et plein que
j’oublie Venez mercredi, il se fera une joie de vous raconter
tout ça autour d’une bonne bière après le
concert!!!
Concert HENRI PAUL MAVERICKS
au Gambetta, mercredi 30 septembre 2009 à 20 h 104,
rue de Bagnolet 75020 Paris Métro Gambetta ou
Alexandre-Dumas PAF : 5
euros
Captain Storm Country Club à la Fête de l’Huma le 12 septembre à 16 h sur le stand de la ville de Choisy…
Captain Storm en concert au O’Gradys le 10 octobre 2009 à 21h…
35, bd jean-Jaurès à Saint-Ouen (Entrée libre, métro Mairie-Saint-Ouen)
Captain Storm en concert samedi 28 mars 19h au Bal Perdu 2, rue Charles-Graindorge A Bagnolet (93) en face de la mairie Entrée libre Métro Gallieni Et samedi 11 avril à 20 h au Bar du Cirque 108, rue Amelot - 75011 Paris Métro Filles du Calvaire ou Oberkampf
Cool new recordings! These are good news Regards Jean-Marc
Captain Storm au O’Gradys samedi 14 mars 2009 De 21h01 à 23h59 - Entrée libre 35, bd Jean-Jaurès 93400 Saint-Ouen Tél. 01 40 11 48 52 - M° Mairie-Saint-Ouen Et samedi 21 mars, aux Pierres qui roulent 20 h – entrée libre 25, avenue Corentin-Cariou – Paris 19 Métro Porte de la Villette
Samedi 20 décembre 20 h Captain Storm en concert aux “Pierres qui roulent” 25, avenue Corentin-Cariou 75019 Paris, métro Porte de la Villette Entrée libre
This takes me back - I used to go down the Holloway Road to hear you guys play when I was a wee 'un. Great to see (and hear) that you're up and running come to sunny Boston why don'cha?
Online!
