"Life's A Bowl Of Cherries" according to the king of the saxophone
Rudy Jones & we all agree!
Blending hypnotic Ska & Reggae rhythms with infectious Gaelic
Soul, Rhythm & Blues and World Roots, The Trojans legacy spans over
twenty years of good time partying.
Formed in late 1986 by front man Gaz Mayall, son of Bluesbreaker legend
John Mayall, with help from "Lucky" Pete Lambert, Crispin Gill, Andrew
"Big Arn" Crawford & the mighty horns of Troy AKA Rudy Jones &
Colin Humphries, The Trojans set the eighties London Ska scene alight
with debut album "Ala-Ska" released on Gaz's homegrown label Gaz's Rockin'
Records.
Several more albums followed on Gaz's label including the highly popular
"Spirit of Adventure" in 1988 which secured a licensing deal with Sony
records in Japan featuring the anthemic single "Lumpi" which won critical
acclaim & exposure on BBC television. Also around this time The Trojans
were invited to record sessions at the BBC's studios for the late, great,
John Peel & the lineup was augmented by percussionist Mark Hamilton.
Tours of Europe & Japan followed the large exposure the band was
now getting & things were hotting up until a cruel turn of fate resulted
in the death of the Trojans bassist Big Arn. Although a huge blow to the
band & to his then girlfriend Jenny from the Bellestars, the band
carried The Trojan spirit on & recruited Rick Baxendale to inherit
the bass playing duties.
1992 saw the release of the album "Wild & Free" & hugely successful
tours to Germany & later Japan with The very best bag piper in town
Anton Ban O' Dochairtaigh.
Line up changes occurred through the mid '90's & out went Rick, Crispin
& Pete & in came Ben Mayall, Chris Compton & Mark Hamilton
on Bass, Guitar & Drums respectively, Mark having joined the band
as percussionist several years previously. |
