THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND

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 WHO ARE 

THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND ?

 

Introducing the musicians.....

COLIN EARL    ELECTRIC  PIANO, AND BACKING VOCALS.

Co-founder of MUNGO JERRY, Colin left to work with Dave Kelly, Pic Withers and John Dummer. Played briefly with Graham Bond before going to the States to work with FOGHAT who toured extensively in the USA.   Listen to the piano on their recording of "Maybelline" and wonder why Colin's fingers didn't catch fire !   On returning to the UK he reformed the KING EARL BOOGIE BAND and has been touring ever since.
He recently (2008) guested with FOGHAT while visiting the USA and proved live on stage that he could still hack Maybelline !

JOHN COGHLAN    DRUMS

John is one of the best known drummers in the Country, having been the powerhouse of the legendary rock band  STATUS QUO for twenty years.  He has played on 15 of their albums, including 11 consecutive titles achieving Gold or Platinum status.   After leaving STATUS QUO, John formed  THE DIESEL BAND with Micky Moody and Jackie Lynton. He now brings his drive and energy to the KING EARL BOOGIE BAND.  John also performs with his own band, JOHN COGHLAN'S QUO.


 Thanks to Susie Q for Info and photo

DAVE PEABODY     LEAD VOCALS,  ELECTRIC  GUITAR AND SLIDE GUITAR

Dave has been performing variations of the Blues, Jug Band music and R&B, in many settings since the mid 60’s.  He has worked solo, in duos, and with both electric and acoustic bands. 
Dave has toured and worked with many leading US Blues men and has recorded prolifically, appearing on more than 40 recordings, including 9 solo albums.   His most recent triumphs have been accompanying DAVID "HONEYBOY" EDWARDS and CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE on their 2008 UK tours

Dave has THREE TIMES been voted Acoustic Blues Artiste of the Year. First in 1995 and then again in 2001 and 2002.   Eric Clapton only managed to earn it once, in 1996.

GORDON VAUGHAN    LEAD GUITAR  

Gordon is an eloquent guitarist with a real soul feel for his Stratocaster.   He is "depping" for Ian Campbell while Ian convalesces following a serious car accident.
GEORGE (LESLIE) CALVERT     BASS GUITAR AND VOCALS

Few people would argue that George Leslie Calvert ranks as one of the best bass players in the Country, he was a founder member of MIKE COOPER'S MACHINE GUN COMPANY and has played in many bands including ALEXIS KORNER, JONAH LOUIS, EDWIN STARR'S BAND and he spent an impressive 18 years with Ray Dorset's MUNGO JERRY BAND before joining the KEBB in 2000.   He also moonlights with  JASON MANNERS and joins  Ian Campbell in both CHEQUES IN THE POST and  THE IAN CAMPBELL BLUES BAND.

 
   

IAN CAMPBELL    LEAD GUITAR AND BACKING VOCALS

Ian unfortunately suffered serious injuries in a car accident in October 2009 and is currently recuperating. During his convalescence Gordon Vaughan is "depping" on lead guitar.

Ian is an amazing lead guitarist who's work is eloquent and soulful.  He has played with many bands including LEVEE CAMP MOAN, ARTHUR BROWNS BAND, and THE NASHVILLE TEENS. He has depped with THIN LIZZY; and moonlights with both CHEQUES IN THE POST and his own band THE IAN CAMPBELL  BAND. He has had many recording and TV sessions, including 4 albums with SKELETON CREW.

WHAT ARE 

THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND ?

THIS BAND IS THE PRODUCT OF OVER FORTY YEARS OF MUSICAL CROSS BREEDING, WHICH HAS PRODUCED A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY  "SUPERGROUP".  THE LONG, PROUD AND VARIED HERITAGE OF THE MUSICIANS BRINGS TOGETHER THE MUSIC OF SEVERAL GENRES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY TO CREATE A TRUE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY BLEND OF "BOOGIE WOOGIE RHYTHM AND BLUES".

The KEBB originally made their mark with A COUPLE OF seminal records - Trouble At Mill and The Mill Is Gone  were two collectors pieces; and their first single, Plastic Jesus, is remembered by many. It was famously banned by the BBC who thought from the title that it must be profane - although of course it isn't.  Their first major blow came when dave lambert left to join the strawbs - but they recovered and went on. Over the years The Band also traded as "Skeleton Crew" at various stages of it's development.  There have been periods of intense activity and periods when virtually nothing happened (not least because Colin Earl spent some time in the USA helping his brother Roger Earl establish FOGHAT - a band in the style of Roger's previous team - The Savoy Brown Blues Band.  Both bands enjoyed a huge American following.)

The music style - always influenced strongly by Paul's folk/rock tastes and Colin Earls Country Blues passion - developed a boogie woogie mind of it's own and AS THE YEARS PASSED IT became a very distinct Boogie R&B offering. over the years a number of musicians have perfromed in the band, notably jeff ward, mike piggott, denny laine, steve holly, jamie moses, dave rose, and the late great grahame white. eventually the mix settled down with  Ian Campbell bringing his particular style of electric blues guitar to the band when he joined from The Nashville Teens; and then when Colin Pattenden (ex Manfred Mann's Earth Band) joined the band his tastes for Mississippi blues and Ragtime Jazz drove yet another subtle change in the style - WHICH BY NOW HAD A DEFINITE BOOGIE WOOGIE RHYTHM AND BLUES BEAT TO IT.

Eventually, in 1996, Paul King "retired" and moved to Cornwall but still the KEBB wouldn't lay down and die !   Paul graciously allowed the band to continue to use his name.  To add to the drive the band recruited DAVE PEABODY - ONE OF BRITAIN'S LEADING BLUES EXPONENTS - TO FRONT THE BAND; AND MAL DANN - A NOTED JUG BAND PERCUSSIONIST - TO PROVIDE A BEAT.

NEXT IT WAS COLIN PATTENDEN'S TURN TO MOVE ON, AND HIS BOOTS WERE FILLED BY GEORGE LESLIE CALVERT; A BASS GUITARIST WITH A HERITAGE WHICH INCLUDES ALEXIS KORNER, MIKE KOOPER, JONAH LOUIS AND - COINCIDENTALLY - EIGHTEEN YEARS WITH RAY DORSET'S MUNGO JERRY.  LES'S ARRIVAL BROUGHT A TASTE OF OLD FASHIONED ROCK - AND SAW THE INTRODUCTION OF CHUCK BERRY NUMBERS TO THE ALREADY TASTY BLUES/BOOGIE STRUCTURE WHICH THE KEBB HAD DEVELOPED.

THE FINAL ADDITION TO THE EVOLUTIONARY MIX CAME IN 2006 WHEN JOHN COGHLAN TOOK OVER THE PERCUSSION SECTION FROM MAL. JOHN'S HERITAGE WITH STATUS QUO AND DIESEL ADDED A DRIVING BEAT WHICH TRANSFORMED THE BAND INTO IT'S CURRENT EXCELLENT SHAPE.

THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND TODAY IS A SPECTACULAR FUSION OF SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC TALENT IN THE COUNTRY - IF YOU CAN GET TO SEE THEM - DO SO. THEY'RE MAGIC.
 


HOW CAN I BOOK THE BAND ?

There is no sole agency for the band - they can be booked through a variety of agents, or directly by contacting us at this website:  click on the letterbox symbol on the top left of any of these pages).

Charges are - as always - negotiable, but essentially depend on proximity to London and the type of performance required.

 

last validated and updated 25/07/10