Guana Batz
| Guana Batz | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Psychobilly |
| founding | 1983 |
| Website | http://myspace.com/guanabatz |
| Founding members | |
| Pip Hancox | |
| Stuart Osbourne | |
| Dave "Diddle" Turner (until 1987) | |
| Mick Wigfall (until?) | |
| Current occupation | |
singing |
Pip Hancox |
guitar |
Stuart Osbourne |
Bass , drums |
Johnny Bowler (from 1987) , Paul "Choppy" Lambourne (double bass from 2010) |
Drums |
John Buck (ex?) |
| former members | |
bass |
Mick White (? -?) |
double bass |
Sam Sardi (? -?) |
| Mark Bancroft (? -?) | |
The Guana Batz are a British psychobilly band that was founded in Feltham , Middlesex in 1983 and was part of the first wave of psychobilly bands. Especially through their appearances in the legendary club Foot , the band achieved great fame.
Band history
The founding members of the Guana Batz were Pip Hancox ( vocals ), Stuart Osbourne ( guitar ), Dave "Diddle" Turner ( drums ) and Mick Wigfall ( double bass ). Wigfall was removed from the band early on by Osbourne because he preferred an electric bass player to the double bass player . This electric bass player was quickly found in Mick White. In 1984, however, the Guana Batz changed their minds and hired a double bass player in Sam Sardi.
When the touring stress became too much for the drummer "Diddle" in May 1987, he left the band to have more time for his girlfriend and his job in the construction industry. He was replaced by former Get Smarter drummer Johnny Bowler. When bassist Sardi also left the band, Bowler switched from drums to bass. The now free drums were occupied by John Buck.
In 1990 the band broke up, but reunited in 1996. Although no new albums are planned, the Guana Batz are still touring internationally today. Osbourne still lives in London and also plays for the band "The Unknowns". Hancox and Bowler now live in San Diego , California . From time to time they appear there with former members of the Stray Cats under the pseudonym "Guana Cats".
In the summer of 2001, Dave "Diddle" Turner suddenly died of a stroke .
Paul "Choppy" Lambourne has been playing the double bass since 2010.
Band name
Guano is colloquially shit, so it is more like bat droppings and bats are bats - the two together make something like Guana Batz. The rehearsal room was then in a castle in a London suburb and not only woodworms lived there, but also bats. Due to uncontrolled digestion, bat droppings often got into the hair of the band members and it was precisely this experience that led to the naming.
This and that
Hancox ' Staffordshire - Terrier "Pig Dog" was jokingly often referred to as "the fifth member of the band". When the dog was run over by a car and killed, Hancox 'new dog "Muttley" took his place and later graced the covers of four Guana Batz albums . "Muttley" has also passed away.
Discography
Albums
- 1985: Held down to vinyl ... at last
- 1986: Loan sharks
- 1987: Live over London
- 1988: Rough edges
- 1990: Electra Glide in Blue
- 1994: Get around (Posthumous demos)
- 1995: Undercover (Compilation)
- 1996: Powder Keg (compilation)
- 1998: The Peel Sessions
- 1998: Guana Batz 1985-1990
- 1999: Can't take the pressure
- 2001: The very best Of The Guana Batz
- 2004: Best of the Batz
- 2004: Stomping at the Klub Foot
- 2018: Back To The Jungle
Singles
- 1983: You're so fine / Rock 'n' in my coffin
- 1984: The Cave
- 1986: See through
- 1986: I'm on fire
- 1987: Rock this town
- 2017: Burning Up