William Hector 'Billy' Rankin III (born in 1951) was an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

 and rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 active in the 1960s and 1970s

He joined Kippington Lodge in 1968 and remained with them when they evolved into Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge.-Formation:...

 in 1969. He played on all Brinsley Schwarz's albums, and whilst with them, also drummed on albums for Ernie Graham

Ernie Graham

Ernie Graham was a singer, guitarist and songwriter, active from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s-Early life:...

, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr...

, Colin Scot and Frankie Miller

Frankie Miller

Frankie Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter, who had his biggest success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Cathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. Miller attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel...

.

After Brinsley Schwarz's demise in 1974, Rankin briefly joined Ducks Deluxe

Ducks Deluxe

Ducks Deluxe were an English pub rock band of the 1970s, who have recently reformed. Usually called "The Ducks" by their fans, they were known for up-tempo, energetic performances, and the successful careers of their members, after they disbanded.-History:...

  for their final tours, and played on their final album Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band, recorded at London's 100 Club

100 Club

The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....

 on 1 July 1975. He briefly joined Terraplane

Terraplane (band)

Terraplane were a 1980s pop rock band from London, England. Five musicians, they released two studio albums before disbanding in 1988. The band featured three musicians who would go on to form the hard rock act, Thunder.-Biography:...

 but did not record with them, and also appeared on two albums for Dave Edmunds

Dave Edmunds

David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...

. He joined Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger

Big Jim Sullivan

Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...

 with whom he recorded two albums, before retiring from the music industry

In October 2007 Tyla, Belmont, Groome and Rankin reformed Ducks Deluxe, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their formation, and performed at the 100 Club, the venue of their final performance in 1975.,

Discography

With Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge.-Formation:...

Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz (album)

Brinsley Schwarz is the eponymous debut album by pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz, released in April 1970.Recorded shortly after the band had changed its name from Kippington Lodge, the album was released just after the ill-fated "Brinsley Schwarz Hype"...

Despite It All

Despite It All

Despite It All is an album by Pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1970.-Track listing:All songs are written by Nick Lowe except where specified# "Country Girl" – 3:10# "The Slow One" – 5:33# "Funk Angel" – 4:21...

Nervous on the Road

Nervous on the Road

Nervous on the Road is a pub rock album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1972.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Nick Lowe; except where indicated# "It's Been So Long" – 2:07# "Happy Doing What We're Doing" – 4:43...

Silver Pistol

Silver Pistol

Silver Pistol is a pub rock album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1972 . With songwriters Ian Gomm and Nick Lowe, Silver Pistol became an underground hit and launched the British pub rock trend of the mid-1970s...

Please Don't Ever Change

Please Don't Ever Change

Please Don't Ever Change is a pub rock album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1973, named after the featured Goffin/King song, also covered by The Crickets and The Beatles.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Nick Lowe; except where indicated...

Original Golden Greats

Unknown Numbers (bootleg)

What IS So Funny About Peace Love & Understanding?

Cruel to Be Kind

The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz

The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz

The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz is the final studio album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1974, produced by Dave Edmunds.-Track listing:#" Peace, Love, and Understanding" – 3:34...

With Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr...

Kings of the Robot Rhythm

With Colin Scot
Colin Scot

With Dave Edmunds

Dave Edmunds

David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...

Subtle as a Flying Mallet

Subtle as a Flying Mallet

Subtle as a Flying Mallet was the second solo album by Dave Edmunds, principally focused on sound-alike remakes of late 1950s and early 1960s hits. All of the vocals are by Edmunds, and many of the songs are true solo efforts in that Edmunds also plays all the instruments...

Get It

With Ducks Deluxe

Ducks Deluxe

Ducks Deluxe were an English pub rock band of the 1970s, who have recently reformed. Usually called "The Ducks" by their fans, they were known for up-tempo, energetic performances, and the successful careers of their members, after they disbanded.-History:...

Last Night of a Pub Rock Band

With Ernie Graham

Ernie Graham

Ernie Graham was a singer, guitarist and songwriter, active from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s-Early life:...

Ernie Graham

With Frankie Miller

Frankie Miller

Frankie Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter, who had his biggest success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Cathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. Miller attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel...

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon (Frankie Miller album)

Once In A Blue Moon is the debut solo album by Frankie Miller, utilising Brinsley Schwarz as his backing band, showcases Miller's skills as a singer and songwriter...

With Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe

Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...

Jesus of Cool

Jesus of Cool

Jesus of Cool is the 1978 solo debut album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe who left Brinsley Schwarz in 1974. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by Radar Records in the UK...

(Bonus tracks only)

Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe

Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe

Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe is a 49 track career spanning collection of songs written by British songwriter Nick Lowe. As well as his solo work, it also features many of his collaborations with the likes of Rockpile, Brinsley Schwarz, Paul Carrack and Little Village. The compilation...

With Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger

Big Jim Sullivan

Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...

Tiger

Going Down Laughing