Bazooka Joe (band)
Encyclopedia
Bazooka Joe or Bazooka Joe and the Lillets was a British pub rock
band formed by John Ellis
and Danny Kleinman
in 1970. It featured Stuart Goddard, who would later change his name to "Adam Ant
". Both Ellis and Goddard would go on to find success with The Vibrators
and Adam and the Ants
, respectively. Besides the later fame of its members, Bazooka Joe is primarily known as the band that headlined when the Sex Pistols
played their first concert on 6 November 1975 at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
. The band's line-up was Danny Kleinman, Chris Duffy, Bill Smith, Robin Chapekar and Mark Tanner.
Another band member was Dan Barson. His brother (Mike Barson
) gained fame as the keyboardist for Madness
. Pat Collier was also in the group for a while. He joined Ellis in The Vibrators and later became a record producer
for The Wonder Stuff
and Katrina and the Waves
.
A 1974 poster dated Saturday December 7 had Bazooka Joe supporting Crazy Cavern at Camden Town Hall, their full name that night was "Bazooka Joe and his Rythum Hot Shots" (sic).
The British comedian, Arabella Weir
, claimed in a 2008 taping of the BBC Radio 4
programme, Chain Reaction, that she was one of the "Lillets" or backing singers to the band. This is verified in Adam Ant's autobiography
Stand and Deliver.
Madness
covered the Bazooka Joe song "Rockin' in A♭" on their debut album
, One Step Beyond...
. The song was also a mainstay of Madness' live set for several years.
Pub rock (UK)
Pub rock was a rock music genre that developed in the mid 1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, pub rock was a reaction against progressive and glam rock. Although short-lived, pub rock was notable for rejecting stadium venues and for returning live rock to the small pubs and...
band formed by John Ellis
John Ellis (guitarist)
John Ellis is an English guitarist and songwriter.-Career:He was a co-founder of the pub rock band Bazooka Joe in 1970 and a founding member of the punk rock band The Vibrators. Ellis formed The Vibrators in 1974 while still at art school studying illustration. The Vibrators released two albums...
and Danny Kleinman
Daniel Kleinman
Daniel Kleinman is a British television commercial and music video director who was title sequence designer for the James Bond series of films from 1995's GoldenEye until he was replaced by MK12 for 2008's Quantum of Solace....
in 1970. It featured Stuart Goddard, who would later change his name to "Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
". Both Ellis and Goddard would go on to find success with The Vibrators
The Vibrators
- Early career:The Vibrators were founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his...
and Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
, respectively. Besides the later fame of its members, Bazooka Joe is primarily known as the band that headlined when the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
played their first concert on 6 November 1975 at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
. The band's line-up was Danny Kleinman, Chris Duffy, Bill Smith, Robin Chapekar and Mark Tanner.
Another band member was Dan Barson. His brother (Mike Barson
Mike Barson
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
) gained fame as the keyboardist for Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
. Pat Collier was also in the group for a while. He joined Ellis in The Vibrators and later became a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
and Katrina and the Waves
Katrina and the Waves
Katrina and the Waves was an English pop rock band, best known for their 1985 hit "Walking on Sunshine" and their 1997 Eurovision Song Contest victory with the song "Love Shine a Light".-Pre-history: The Waves and Mama's Cookin' :...
.
A 1974 poster dated Saturday December 7 had Bazooka Joe supporting Crazy Cavern at Camden Town Hall, their full name that night was "Bazooka Joe and his Rythum Hot Shots" (sic).
The British comedian, Arabella Weir
Arabella Weir
Arabella Weir is a British comedian, actress and writer.The daughter of former British ambassador Sir Michael Weir, she is best known for her roles in The Fast Show and for writing several books including the international best seller Does My Bum Look Big In This? Arabella Weir (born 6 December...
, claimed in a 2008 taping of the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
programme, Chain Reaction, that she was one of the "Lillets" or backing singers to the band. This is verified in Adam Ant's autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Stand and Deliver.
Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
covered the Bazooka Joe song "Rockin' in A♭" on their debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond...
One Step Beyond... is the 1979 debut album by the British ska group Madness. It was ranked 90th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. The album peaked at number 2 and remained in the British record charts for over a year. One Step...
. The song was also a mainstay of Madness' live set for several years.