Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Encyclopedia
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates were an English
rock 'n' roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including the rock & roll classics 'Shakin' All Over' and 'Please Don't Touch', but their influence far outshines their chart performance.
Their stage act was theatrical in a way which anticipated theatrical rockers of the 1970s such as Alice Cooper
(while echoing that of their contemporaries Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
) and included full pirate costumes, complete with eye-patches and cutlasses.
More importantly, and unusually for bands of the time, they had only one guitarist (not two), alongside a bassist and a drummer. Kidd did not play any instruments on stage. This was very influential on the rock bands of the 1970s — Led Zeppelin
had such a line-up and tapes exist of them covering many Johnny Kidd songs in rehearsal, and it was after seeing Johnny Kidd & the Pirates that The Who
decided that their singer Roger Daltrey
should abandon playing guitar on stage.
known as Headgirl
.
After this initial success the band was reorganised to streamline the sound and visual appeal. Kidd would naturally take centre-stage at the front, but with Clem Cattini
(drums
) directly behind. Flanking Kidd on either side would be Alan Caddy
(guitar
) and Brian Gregg (born 31 January 1939, in London
) (bass
); and Kidd would high-kick in time to the beat. In an attempt to re-create the feel of his recordings Kidd employed the use of an echo unit on his vocals, one of the first UK
rock acts to attempt this on stage.
When Johny Kidd & the Pirates appeared on Saturday Club between 1959 and 1961,they had two other members who shared the vocals. They were Mike West and Tom Brown.
", which features memorable opening guitars and solo from Joe Moretti
(born Joseph Edward Moretti, 10 May 1938, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland), (who also featured on the follow-up "Restless"), and reached number one in the UK singles charts in 1960. The song and the group's proto-power trio
line-up both made a strong impression on The Who
, who would cover it in their 1970 album Live at Leeds
, whose CD liner notes proclaim the original to be the UK's best pre-Beatles rock single. Music critics Roy Carr and Tony Tyler would later write that "Shakin' All Over" was the second-ever genuine British rock classic, following Cliff Richard
's "Move It".
The distinctive 'Shakin' effect on the track, was created by Joe Moretti sliding Brian Gregg's cigarette lighter
very fast up and down the guitar strings.
Despite some interesting cuts the hits tailed away in the shadow of "Shakin'". The swansong
recording of this line-up in 1961, the b-side of "Please Don't Let Me Down" turned out to be a minor UK rock 'n' roll classic. The follow-up "So What" featured a racy piano
solo from Thunderclap Jones. Some of The Pirates, namely (Clem Cattini
, Alan Caddy and later Brian Gregg) decided to jump ship, and went on to join Joe Meek
's The Tornados
. Kidd cut a "solo" single backed by a bigger band sound. "Hurry On Back To Love" was more bluesy than anything Kidd had previously attempted and indicated a possible new path for him.
A new Pirate trio was recruited, Johnny Spence (bass) (born John Spencer Holliday, 26 January 1942, in Birmingham
, Warwickshire
), Frank Farley (drums) (born Frank William Farley, 18 February 1942, in Belgaum
, India
) and Johnny Patto (lead guitar), whom had recently backed Cuddly Dudley
as "The Redcaps". Patto soon left and was replaced by Mick Green
(lead guitar), who had also backed Dudley. The new line-up's first single with Kidd, "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues" (coupled with "I Can Tell") was way ahead of the game, but only managed to enter the lower reaches of the charts toward the end of 1962.
Over time, a very visual show had developed. The group would deck out in 19th century Pirate costume in front of a huge backcloth of a pirate galleon, Kidd toying with a cutlass
to great effect. Many a wooden stage received scarring from this prop until insurance cover could not be obtained for it. The group's German
tours tightened their sound, as it did with many Liverpool combos who also made the trip. A projected single in keeping with the new sound, "Some Other Guy" was left unreleased in early 1963, allowing The Big Three
to score their first chart entry.
The explosive rise of the 'beat groups' outshone the slow-burning R&B scene, and Kidd opted for the safety of Merseybeat with "I'll Never Get Over You", which reached number 4 on the charts in the summer of 1963. The recording session for the follow-up, "Hungry For Love", which also broke into the top twenty saw the Pirates record their own single
. Both sides, "My Babe" and "I Can Tell", were powerhouse R&B that put many of the Liverpool bands in the shade, with both tracks being recorded in one take. Green left to join Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas in 1964, and was replaced by John Weider
. They also added organist Vic Cooper (born Victor Cooper, 13 December 1942, in Oxford
, Oxfordshire
).
and losing ground, Kidd abandoned dual-tracking his voice and switched back to R&B, with mixed results. Green left to join Billy J. Kramer
with The Dakotas to form a twin lead guitar line-up, alongside Mike Maxfield. Eventually the group and singer parted company. The Pirates recorded one single, "Shades of Blue", for Polydor
before calling it a day.
Kidd kept recording. His single "It's Got To Be You", and an unreleased version of Otis Redding
's "I Can't Turn You Loose
", showed that a mix of R&B
and soul
may have been where Kidd's future lay.
When Kidd was on the verge of a comeback with a promising 'New Pirates' group — Mick Stewart (lead guitar), Nick Simper
(bass), Ray Soaper (organ) and Roger Truth (drums) — on returning from a cancelled gig, he was killed in a motor car accident in Bury
, Lancashire on 7 October 1966, with companion Nick Simper being injured.
The single "Send For That Girl" was released posthumously in November but failed to chart. This line-up of The Pirates (with John Kerrison replacing Truth) carried on in tribute until mid-1967, although there were no further recordings.
, Johnny Spence and Frank Farley, reformed in 1976, surprising everyone with their powerful brand of R&B. They played at 'Front Row Festival', a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor, Islington
in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band's inclusion, alongside the likes of Wilko Johnson
, The Only Ones
, the Saints
, The Stranglers
, X-Ray Spex
, and XTC
, on a hit double album
of recordings from the festival
. The Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
compilation LP (March 1978) reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
.
Although officially quitting in the mid 1980s, the band still performed occasionally until 2010, although due to ill-health Frank Farley was sometimes deputised for and was replaced by Mike Roberts (former drummer for indie band Minifish). They recorded a number of reunion albums since 1978's well-received Out of Our Skulls and still performed "Shakin' All Over" in their set. The band dissolved on the death of Mick Green in January 2010.
Another set of Pirates — with Joe Moretti (guitar), and re-uniting original Pirates, Brian Gregg (bass) and Clem Cattini (drums) — has also played occasional gigs in recent years. A little-known fact is that Joe Moretti actually played on "Shakin' All Over" and its follow-up "Restless", and went on to play on countless hit records as a session musician
, including "It's Not Unusual
", "Don't Sleep in the Subway
" etc. However in this Pirates line-up it is Joe Moretti's son — also called Joe Moretti — on guitar.
to Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' 1964 single "Always and Ever" was a cover of "Dr Feel-Good", by the American
blues
pianist and singer Willie Perryman
(also known as "Piano Red") who recorded the song as "Dr Feelgood & The Interns". The name of the song is slang
for heroin. The band Dr. Feelgood
took their name from the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates recording.
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...
rock 'n' roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including the rock & roll classics 'Shakin' All Over' and 'Please Don't Touch', but their influence far outshines their chart performance.
Their stage act was theatrical in a way which anticipated theatrical rockers of the 1970s such as Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
(while echoing that of their contemporaries Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
) and included full pirate costumes, complete with eye-patches and cutlasses.
More importantly, and unusually for bands of the time, they had only one guitarist (not two), alongside a bassist and a drummer. Kidd did not play any instruments on stage. This was very influential on the rock bands of the 1970s — Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
had such a line-up and tapes exist of them covering many Johnny Kidd songs in rehearsal, and it was after seeing Johnny Kidd & the Pirates that The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
decided that their singer Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
should abandon playing guitar on stage.
Early days
The original group was signed to HMV in 1959 under the auspices of Walter J. Ridley. Their first single was the raw "Please Don't Touch". This became a minor hit reaching number 25 on the UK singles charts in 1959. The song has since been covered many times, most successfully by the team of Motörhead and GirlschoolGirlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
known as Headgirl
Headgirl
Headgirl was a collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool in 1980, the result being the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP, though the groups were credited as MotörheadGirlschool on the EP....
.
After this initial success the band was reorganised to streamline the sound and visual appeal. Kidd would naturally take centre-stage at the front, but with Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini , is an English rock and roll drummer who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician...
(drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) directly behind. Flanking Kidd on either side would be Alan Caddy
Alan Caddy
Alan Caddy was a guitarist, arranger, record producer and session musician.He was born in Chelsea, London and educated at Emanuel School, and the Royal Academy of Music...
(guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Brian Gregg (born 31 January 1939, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
); and Kidd would high-kick in time to the beat. In an attempt to re-create the feel of his recordings Kidd employed the use of an echo unit on his vocals, one of the first UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock acts to attempt this on stage.
When Johny Kidd & the Pirates appeared on Saturday Club between 1959 and 1961,they had two other members who shared the vocals. They were Mike West and Tom Brown.
Shakin' All Over
Kidd and the Pirates' finest moment might have been the powerful song "Shakin' All OverShakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. It was written by frontman Johnny Kidd and reached #1 in the United Kingdom in August 1960...
", which features memorable opening guitars and solo from Joe Moretti
Joe Moretti
Joe Moretti is a British guitarist renowned for his work on seminal UK rock n' roll records such as Vince Taylor's "Brand New Cadillac" and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' "Shakin' All Over"...
(born Joseph Edward Moretti, 10 May 1938, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland), (who also featured on the follow-up "Restless"), and reached number one in the UK singles charts in 1960. The song and the group's proto-power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
line-up both made a strong impression on The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, who would cover it in their 1970 album Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
, whose CD liner notes proclaim the original to be the UK's best pre-Beatles rock single. Music critics Roy Carr and Tony Tyler would later write that "Shakin' All Over" was the second-ever genuine British rock classic, following Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
's "Move It".
The distinctive 'Shakin' effect on the track, was created by Joe Moretti sliding Brian Gregg's cigarette lighter
Lighter
A lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
very fast up and down the guitar strings.
Despite some interesting cuts the hits tailed away in the shadow of "Shakin'". The swansong
Swansong
Swansong is the final studio album by the British extreme metal band Carcass. It was released on June 10, 1996 in the UK by Earache Records. It is the only album to feature guitarist Carlo Regadas...
recording of this line-up in 1961, the b-side of "Please Don't Let Me Down" turned out to be a minor UK rock 'n' roll classic. The follow-up "So What" featured a racy piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
solo from Thunderclap Jones. Some of The Pirates, namely (Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini , is an English rock and roll drummer who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician...
, Alan Caddy and later Brian Gregg) decided to jump ship, and went on to join Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
's The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
. Kidd cut a "solo" single backed by a bigger band sound. "Hurry On Back To Love" was more bluesy than anything Kidd had previously attempted and indicated a possible new path for him.
A new Pirate trio was recruited, Johnny Spence (bass) (born John Spencer Holliday, 26 January 1942, in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
), Frank Farley (drums) (born Frank William Farley, 18 February 1942, in Belgaum
Belgaum
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) and Johnny Patto (lead guitar), whom had recently backed Cuddly Dudley
Cuddly Dudley (singer)
Cuddly Dudley was an English rock & roll singer, and actor, who came to fame on the Oh Boy! TV series, and is noted for being “Britain's first black rock & roller”.-Early career:...
as "The Redcaps". Patto soon left and was replaced by Mick Green
Mick Green
Michael Robert "Mick" Green was an English rock and roll guitarist who played with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.-Biography:He was born Michael Robert Green, in Matlock, Derbyshire...
(lead guitar), who had also backed Dudley. The new line-up's first single with Kidd, "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues" (coupled with "I Can Tell") was way ahead of the game, but only managed to enter the lower reaches of the charts toward the end of 1962.
Over time, a very visual show had developed. The group would deck out in 19th century Pirate costume in front of a huge backcloth of a pirate galleon, Kidd toying with a cutlass
Cutlass
A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket shaped guard...
to great effect. Many a wooden stage received scarring from this prop until insurance cover could not be obtained for it. The group's German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
tours tightened their sound, as it did with many Liverpool combos who also made the trip. A projected single in keeping with the new sound, "Some Other Guy" was left unreleased in early 1963, allowing The Big Three
The Big Three (musical group)
The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy".-Career:The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass & The Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by Brian Casser as a trio comprising Casser , Adrian Barber The Big Three were a...
to score their first chart entry.
The explosive rise of the 'beat groups' outshone the slow-burning R&B scene, and Kidd opted for the safety of Merseybeat with "I'll Never Get Over You", which reached number 4 on the charts in the summer of 1963. The recording session for the follow-up, "Hungry For Love", which also broke into the top twenty saw the Pirates record their own single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. Both sides, "My Babe" and "I Can Tell", were powerhouse R&B that put many of the Liverpool bands in the shade, with both tracks being recorded in one take. Green left to join Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas in 1964, and was replaced by John Weider
John Weider
John Weider is a rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin. He is best known as the bass player for the British band, Family from 1969 to 1971.-Biography:...
. They also added organist Vic Cooper (born Victor Cooper, 13 December 1942, in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
).
The later days
The hits again tailed away and the long-awaited debut album, featuring the expanded line-up with Vic Cooper on organ/piano duties, was never mastered for release. One step behind The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and losing ground, Kidd abandoned dual-tracking his voice and switched back to R&B, with mixed results. Green left to join Billy J. Kramer
Billy J. Kramer
Billy J. Kramer is a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer. In the 1960s he was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, and he recorded several original Lennon and McCartney compositions.-Early life and career:He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of...
with The Dakotas to form a twin lead guitar line-up, alongside Mike Maxfield. Eventually the group and singer parted company. The Pirates recorded one single, "Shades of Blue", for Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
before calling it a day.
Kidd kept recording. His single "It's Got To Be You", and an unreleased version of Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
's "I Can't Turn You Loose
I Can't Turn You Loose
"I Can't Turn You Loose" is a song written and first recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released as the B-side to his 1965 single "Just One More Day"...
", showed that a mix of R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
may have been where Kidd's future lay.
When Kidd was on the verge of a comeback with a promising 'New Pirates' group — Mick Stewart (lead guitar), Nick Simper
Nick Simper
Nicholas John Simper is a bass guitarist, best known as a founding member of Deep Purple.-Biography:...
(bass), Ray Soaper (organ) and Roger Truth (drums) — on returning from a cancelled gig, he was killed in a motor car accident in Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire on 7 October 1966, with companion Nick Simper being injured.
The single "Send For That Girl" was released posthumously in November but failed to chart. This line-up of The Pirates (with John Kerrison replacing Truth) carried on in tribute until mid-1967, although there were no further recordings.
Post Kidd
The best-known line-up of The Pirates, Mick GreenMick Green
Michael Robert "Mick" Green was an English rock and roll guitarist who played with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.-Biography:He was born Michael Robert Green, in Matlock, Derbyshire...
, Johnny Spence and Frank Farley, reformed in 1976, surprising everyone with their powerful brand of R&B. They played at 'Front Row Festival', a three-week event at the Hope and Anchor, Islington
Hope and Anchor, Islington
The Hope and Anchor is a public house on Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. During the mid-1970s it was one of the first pubs to embrace the emergent, but brief, phenomenon of pub rock...
in late November and early December 1977. This resulted in the band's inclusion, alongside the likes of Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson
Wilko Johnson is an English guitarist and songwriter, particularly associated with the UK rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s.-Career:...
, The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The Only Ones are an English rock band. They were initially active in the late 1970s and were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia...
, the Saints
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
, The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
, X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album...
, and XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
, on a hit double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
of recordings from the festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
. The Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival
Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival is a hit double-LP of live recordings taken from various bands – mainly Power pop, Pub rock, Punk, and New wave groups - that played the Front Row Festival at Hope and Anchor, Islington between Tuesday 22 November and Thursday 15 December 1977...
compilation LP (March 1978) reached number 28 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Although officially quitting in the mid 1980s, the band still performed occasionally until 2010, although due to ill-health Frank Farley was sometimes deputised for and was replaced by Mike Roberts (former drummer for indie band Minifish). They recorded a number of reunion albums since 1978's well-received Out of Our Skulls and still performed "Shakin' All Over" in their set. The band dissolved on the death of Mick Green in January 2010.
Another set of Pirates — with Joe Moretti (guitar), and re-uniting original Pirates, Brian Gregg (bass) and Clem Cattini (drums) — has also played occasional gigs in recent years. A little-known fact is that Joe Moretti actually played on "Shakin' All Over" and its follow-up "Restless", and went on to play on countless hit records as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, including "It's Not Unusual
It's Not Unusual
"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones after having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the...
", "Don't Sleep in the Subway
Don't Sleep in the Subway
"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and recorded by Petula Clark. Released in April 1967, it peaked at #5 on the US charts that June. It was Clark's final US top-ten single and the second of two #1 hits on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, following "I...
" etc. However in this Pirates line-up it is Joe Moretti's son — also called Joe Moretti — on guitar.
Legacy
The b-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' 1964 single "Always and Ever" was a cover of "Dr Feel-Good", by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
pianist and singer Willie Perryman
Piano Red
William "Willie" Lee Perryman , usually known professionally as Piano Red and later in life as Dr. Feelgood, was an American blues musician, the first to hit the pop music charts. He was a self-taught pianist who played in the barrelhouse blues style...
(also known as "Piano Red") who recorded the song as "Dr Feelgood & The Interns". The name of the song is slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for heroin. The band Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
took their name from the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates recording.
Former members
- Johnny Kidd - vocals (1959-66)
- Alan CaddyAlan CaddyAlan Caddy was a guitarist, arranger, record producer and session musician.He was born in Chelsea, London and educated at Emanuel School, and the Royal Academy of Music...
- lead guitar (1959-61) - Brian Gregg - bass (1959-61)
- Clem CattiniClem CattiniClem Cattini , is an English rock and roll drummer who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician...
- drums (1959-61) - Frank Farley - drums (1961-66; 1976-2005)
- Johnny Spence - bass (1961-66, 1966; 1976-2010)
- Mick GreenMick GreenMichael Robert "Mick" Green was an English rock and roll guitarist who played with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.-Biography:He was born Michael Robert Green, in Matlock, Derbyshire...
- guitar (1961-64; 1976-2010) - Johnny Patto - guitar (1962)
- Vic Cooper - piano/organ (1964-66; 1966)
- John WeiderJohn WeiderJohn Weider is a rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin. He is best known as the bass player for the British band, Family from 1969 to 1971.-Biography:...
- guitar (1964-65) - John Moreshead - guitar (1965-66)
- Mick Stewart - guitar/vocals (1966-67)
- Roger "Truth" Pinner - drums (1966)
- Ray Soaper - piano/organ (1966)
- Nick SimperNick SimperNicholas John Simper is a bass guitarist, best known as a founding member of Deep Purple.-Biography:...
- bass/vocals (1966; 1966-1967) - Johnny CarrollJohnny CarrollJohnny Carroll was an American rockabilly musician.-Biography:Born John Lewis Carrell , Carroll began recording for Decca Records in the middle of the 1950s. He released several singles, but none of them saw significant success, though they are now critically acclaimed...
- keyboards/vocals (1966-1967) - John Kerrison - drums (1966-1967)
- Mike RobertsMike RobertsMike Roberts may refer to:*Mike Roberts , of KKOB-AM in Albuquerque*Mike Roberts , Wales international rugby union player* Mike Roberts , rugby union wing for Connacht Rugby...
- drums (2005-2010)
The (New) Pirates (1976)
- Nick Simper - bass/vocals (1976)
- Roger "Truth" Pinner - drums (1976)
Kidd Kane & The Pirates (2005)
- Kidd Kane - vocals (2005)
- Joe Moretti jnr - guitar (2005)
- Brian Gregg - bass (2005; original Pirates' member)
- Clem Cattini - drums (2005); original Pirates' member)
Current members
- Johnny Spence - vocals (2009-present; original Pirates' member)
- Teppo "Teddy Bear" Nättilä - bass/vocals (1998-present)
- Arto "Lil' Archie/Grande-Archie" Hämäläinen - guitar (1998-present)
- Kimmo "Mighty Man" Oikarinen - drums (2007-present)
Former members
- Timppa "Madman" Väätäinen - drums (1998-2003)
- Kaj Erik Ensio Takamäki - harmonica (2002-2006)
- Harri "Dirty Harry" Tuominen - drums (2003-2007)
Singles
- "Please Don't TouchPlease Don't Touch (song)Please Don't Touch is the debut single by English rock and roll group Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, released in 1959 reaching number 25 on the UK singles charts.-Personnel:*Johnny Kidd – vocals*Mike West, Tom Brown – backing vocals*Alan Caddy – lead guitar...
"/"Growl" (May 1959) - "If You Were the Only Girl in the World"/"Feelin'" (1959)
- "You Got What It Takes"/"Longin' Lips" (1960)
- "Shakin' All OverShakin' All Over"Shakin' All Over" is a rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. It was written by frontman Johnny Kidd and reached #1 in the United Kingdom in August 1960...
"/"Yes Sir, That's my Baby" (June 1960) - "Restless"/"Magic of Love" (September 1960)
- "Linda Lu"/"Let's Talk About Us" (March 1961)
- "Please Don't Bring Me Down"/"So What" (September 1961)
- "Hurry On Back to Love"/"I Want That" (January 1962)
- "A Shot of Rhythm and BluesA Shot of Rhythm and Blues"A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" is a song written by Terry Thompson and first recorded by US soul singer Arthur Alexander. It was originally released in the USA in 1961, and in the United Kingdom the following year, as the b-side of You Better Move On....
" b/w "I Can Tell" (November 1962) - "I'll Never Get Over You"/"Then I Got Everything" (June 1963)
- "Hungry for Love"/"Ecstasy" (November 1963)
- "Always and Ever"/"Dr. Feelgood" (April 1964)
- "Jealous Girl"/"Shop Around" (June 1964)
- "Whole Lotta Woman"/"Your Cheatin' Heart" (October 1964)
- "The Birds and the Bees"/"Don't Make the Same Mistake I Did" (February 1965)
- "Shakin' All Over '65"/"I Gotta Travel On" (May 1965)
- "It's Gotta Be You"/"I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" (April 1966)
- "The Fool"/"Send for that Girl" (posthumously) (November 1966)