The Bandits
Encyclopedia
The Bandits were an English
blues rock band from Liverpool
. They are most notable for the singles "Take it and Run" and "2 Step Rock", which both reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart
.
with future Zutons
frontman Dave McCabe. The band then brought in Swee on drums, and throughout 2002 auditioned for a lead guitarist and recruited Ritchie, who lived in Wallasey
at the time.
The Bandits signed a record deal with Warners
and released a succession of singles throughout 2002 and 2003, before releasing their only album 'And They Walked Away'.
The Bandits also ran their own club night in Liverpool, The Bandwagon
, which became relatively popular and helped launched the careers of The Coral
, The Zutons
, The Hokum Clones
, The Stands
, Tramp Attack
and the band themselves. The club night was known for its wild west style posters and stickers, designed by Scott. Bandwagon
nights, usually held at The Zanzibar Club on Seel Street often sold out, and featured some of the days' most prominent bands, including The Libertines
and others.
Following months of rumours, the band's split was confirmed in July 2004, with rhythm guitarist Gary stating "I really do believe that we'll record something again in the future. We're all just doing different things at the moment".
John Robinson co-wrote and played on the song "I Am the Rain" from Pete Doherty's solo album Grace/Wastelands
(2008) and Robinson and Murphy joined Doherty on stage during his solo tour in 2008-9, most notably during Doherty's Glastonbury festival slot.
Gary Murphy went on to work at Starwood Management (home to The Kooks
and The Ordinary Boys
and run by former Mansun
and Cast
manager Rob Swerdlow), and was involved in the early career of Candie Payne
. In 2011, Gary Murphy played a series of stripped back shows with Lee Mavers of The La's, with Murphy accompanying on bass.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
blues rock band from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. They are most notable for the singles "Take it and Run" and "2 Step Rock", which both reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
History
The band's first appeared on the Honey Records' 2001 "Beatin Planks" compilation album, which featured early versions of two songs: "Take It An Run" and "Free Me Rain". The line up at the time consisted of John, Gary, Scott and Tony, with Neil Crosbie on drums. Scott Dulson and Tony Dunne had previously been in Tramp AttackTramp Attack
Tramp Attack are an English rock band from Liverpool.-History:Tramp Attack formed in Liverpool at the turn of the century, and the original lineup included the future leader of The Zutons Dave McCabe; as well as Hollyoaks and Brookside actor Kristian Ealey....
with future Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
frontman Dave McCabe. The band then brought in Swee on drums, and throughout 2002 auditioned for a lead guitarist and recruited Ritchie, who lived in Wallasey
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
at the time.
The Bandits signed a record deal with Warners
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
and released a succession of singles throughout 2002 and 2003, before releasing their only album 'And They Walked Away'.
The Bandits also ran their own club night in Liverpool, The Bandwagon
The bandwagon club
The Bandwagon was a club night held on the first Saturday of every month at the Zanzibar club on Seel Street, Liverpool from 2001 to 2005. The Bandwagon night was run by John Robinson and Gary Murphy, members of the now defunct Liverpool band The Bandits....
, which became relatively popular and helped launched the careers of The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
, The Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
, The Hokum Clones
The Hokum Clones
The Hokum Clones was a blues rock acoustic guitar duo from Liverpool, England, and considered by most to be the Greatest band in the entire history of western culture.-History:...
, The Stands
The Stands
The Stands were an English band from Liverpool.-Biography:The Stands were formed by Howie Payne in 2002. There was no fixed line up in the band originally and local musicians Martyn Campbell Sean Payne Russel Pritchard and Robby Stevenson all contributed to early shows...
, Tramp Attack
Tramp Attack
Tramp Attack are an English rock band from Liverpool.-History:Tramp Attack formed in Liverpool at the turn of the century, and the original lineup included the future leader of The Zutons Dave McCabe; as well as Hollyoaks and Brookside actor Kristian Ealey....
and the band themselves. The club night was known for its wild west style posters and stickers, designed by Scott. Bandwagon
The bandwagon club
The Bandwagon was a club night held on the first Saturday of every month at the Zanzibar club on Seel Street, Liverpool from 2001 to 2005. The Bandwagon night was run by John Robinson and Gary Murphy, members of the now defunct Liverpool band The Bandits....
nights, usually held at The Zanzibar Club on Seel Street often sold out, and featured some of the days' most prominent bands, including The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
and others.
Following months of rumours, the band's split was confirmed in July 2004, with rhythm guitarist Gary stating "I really do believe that we'll record something again in the future. We're all just doing different things at the moment".
Post-split
John Robinson, Gary Murphy and Scott Dulson played a handful of gigs, doing reggae covers as The Bum Notes with Nick Miniski (ex-The La's, later of Free Peace) on drums. Robinson, Dulson and Miniski then went on to form The Pedantics with Stu Gimblett (also later of Free Peace with Edgar Jones and Miniski)John Robinson co-wrote and played on the song "I Am the Rain" from Pete Doherty's solo album Grace/Wastelands
Grace/Wastelands
Grace/Wastelands is the debut solo album from Babyshambles frontman/The Libertines co-frontman Peter Doherty. It was released in the UK on 16 March 2009, with the single "Last of the English Roses" preceding it by one week...
(2008) and Robinson and Murphy joined Doherty on stage during his solo tour in 2008-9, most notably during Doherty's Glastonbury festival slot.
Gary Murphy went on to work at Starwood Management (home to The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
and The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys are an English indie rock band from Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Originally named Next in Line, they were influenced by mod revival and Britpop music, as well as the bands Madness, The Specials, The Kinks and The Smiths...
and run by former Mansun
Mansun
Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
and Cast
Cast (band)
Cast are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split...
manager Rob Swerdlow), and was involved in the early career of Candie Payne
Candie Payne
Candice "Candie" Payne is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool. She released her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band The Stands and Sean Payne, the drummer of The...
. In 2011, Gary Murphy played a series of stripped back shows with Lee Mavers of The La's, with Murphy accompanying on bass.
Members
- John Robinson – vocals (2001–2004)
- Gary Murphy – rhythm guitar (2001–2004)
- Scott Dulson – bass guitar (2001–2004)
- Tony Dunn – keyboards (2001–2004)
- Neil Crosby – drums (2001)
- Dave Sweeny – drums (2002–2004)
- Ritchie Taylor – lead guitar (2002–2004)
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| 2002 | "The Warning" | - |
| "Once upon a Time" | - | |
| 2003 | "Take It and Run" | 32 |
| "2 Step Rock" | 35 |