Long John Thomas and the Duffs

Bio:

On sale now! on Wormtone records ... our official release "Presenting ... Long John Thomas & The Duffs" Formed in the spring of 2004, Merseybeat / freakbeat revivalists LONG JOHN THOMAS AND THE DUFFS have become a fixture on the St. Louis underground music scene. The band has attracted an increasingly loyal following, due in large part to the strength and energy of their live shows (which almost always end with a full-throttle, nitro-burnin' cover of the Lonnie Donnegan skiffle classic, "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?")

What do the Duffs sound like? Well, imagine the soundtrack that played over the radio whilst your parents shagged in the backseat of a Mini. Ok, now take that, mix it up in a martini shaker with a surf beat and a little Sun Records twang, and thats pretty much what they sound like. The trio were nominated by St. Louis' biggest independent newspaper, The Riverfront Times (RFT), as "Best New Artists" for 2005, and in May 2006 were nominated in the "Best Garage/Punk Band" category for the 1st Annual KDHX FM / PlaybackSTL Music Awards. In September 2006, the Duffs were named BEST GARAGE BAND in the "Best Of St. Louis" poll run by the RFT. LJT & the Duffs finished recording their first LP, "PRESENTING... Long John Thomas and the Duffs", in late 2005; it was picked up Wormtone Records of Denver, CO, and should be released in late August/early September 2006.

Meet the lads: Velvety-throated teen sensation Ray Rough was formerly with The Neanderthals, The Cripplers, and Tomorrow's Caveman; he sings and plays the guitar. The whiskey-fueled Randall Van Wanker was once in The Neanderthals with Ray, and formerly played bass for Missouri garage punk legends The Cripplers. The legendary beat maker Nigel X will be sorely missed. The british bushman Hank Belvedere III the Ringo Moon of Blackpool, has filled the gap.

FOR BOOKING INFORMATION: please dial 314-504-3199. Cheers.

"Listening to Long John Thomas and the Duffs (who self-identify as St. Louis' only Merseybeat revivalists) is a lot like stumbling upon a stash of really great and really obscure 45s from the 1960s. Hot licks informed by proto-rockers such as Link Wray and the surf-twang of the Ventures create shimmying tunes perfect for a late night downing pints in trendy 'Swinging London' clubs." - Annie Zaleski, Music Editor, Riverfront Times. Runner up for best garage band Riverfront Times 2007. It sounds like Long John Thomas and the Duffs took the title of Chuck Berry's St Louis to Liverpool to heart. This trio takes the mod/garage revival to its logical conclusion by playing Mersey-Beat-era songs and like-sounding originals with British accents and twangy, Duane Eddy-inspired guitars. This year's 'Presenting...' found the Duffs completing the ..

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Member Since:

November 12, 2004

Members:

Ray Rough - Guitar and Lead Vocals
Randall Wanker - Bass and Vocals
Hank Belvedere III - Drums

Influences:

British beat from the late '50s & early '60s (Hamburg-era Beatles, Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Emile Ford & the Checkmates, Dave Clark Five, Billy Fury, Simon Scott); Rockabilly and American instro/surf from the same era (Elvis, Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Billy Lee Riley, Eddie Cochran, Ricky Nelson, The Ventures, The Surfaris, Link Wray); Merseybeat / mod revival bands (The Kaisers, The Rapiers, Fabienne Delsol and The Bristols).

Sounds Like:

Lo-fi Merseybeat =Raunchy British Rhythm n blues pre 1965

Record Label:

Wormtone Records

Label Type:

Indie