Editing Ducks Deluxe

{{Short description|English pub rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Ducks Deluxe
| image                 = 
| caption            = 
| image_size            = 
| alias               = 
| origin              =[[London]]
| genre               ={{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Pub rock (United Kingdom)|pub rock]]|[[roots rock]]<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/11/three-punk-sophisticates-helped-invent-new-wave|title=Angry Young Men Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=November 19, 2022|access-date=February 18, 2023}}</ref>}}
| years_active        ={{hlist|1972–1975|2007–present}}
| label               =RCA/Skydog/Hawkhead
| associated_acts     ={{flatlist|
* [[The Motors]] 
* [[Sean Tyla#Tyla Gang|The Tyla Gang]]
* [[Graham Parker & the Rumour]]
* [[Help Yourself (band)|Help Yourself]]
}}
 | website                 =[https://web.archive.org/web/20131224164143/http://www.ducksdeluxe.net/ Official site]
| current_members     = 
* [[Martin Belmont]]
* Kevin Foster
* Jim Russell
| past_members        =
* [[Sean Tyla]]
* Nick Garvey
* [[Micky Groome]]
* [[Andrew McMaster (songwriter)|Andy McMaster]]
* [[Billy Rankin (drummer)|Billy Rankin]]
* [[Tim Roper]]
* [[Brinsley Schwarz (musician)|Brinsley Schwarz]]
* [[Ken Whaley]]
}}

'''Ducks Deluxe''' are an [[English people|English]] [[Pub rock (United Kingdom)|pub rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]] of the 1970s, who continue to tour and record new material.  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==
The band formed in February 1972, with ex [[Brinsley Schwarz]] roadie [[Martin Belmont]] on guitar, former [[Help Yourself (band)|Help Yourself]] collaborator [[Sean Tyla]], also on guitar, ex Help Yourself bassist [[Ken Whaley]], and Magic Michael (Michael Cousins) on percussion.<ref name="NSTCI">{{cite book
| first= Will
| last= Birch
| year= 2003
| title= No Sleep Till Canvey Island - The Great Pub Rock Revolution
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Virgin Books Ltd.
| location= London
| pages= [https://archive.org/details/nosleeptillcanve00birc/page/137 137–138]
| isbn= 0-7535-0740-4
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/nosleeptillcanve00birc/page/137
}}</ref> They named themselves after a slot machine at the [[Severn View services|Severn Bridge Service Station]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=June 2015|first=Will Birch12|title=The Booze Brothers: Ducks Deluxe and the rise of pub rock|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-booze-brothers-ducks-deluxe-and-the-rise-of-pub-rock|access-date=2020-07-26|website=Classic Rock Magazine|date=12 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Cousins was soon replaced by drummer [[Tim Roper]] and former [[Flamin' Groovies]] roadie, Nick Garvey, also joined.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=741}}</ref> Playing more energetic music than most others on the London pub-rock circuit, the Ducks soon had a twice weekly booking at the Tally Ho in Kentish Town,<ref name="MBA-DD">[http://www.manband-archive.com/evolution/history-roots-ducks-deluxe.php Ducks Deluxe - The Manband Archive] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714025519/http://www.manband-archive.com/evolution/history-roots-ducks-deluxe.php |date=14 July 2011 }} retrieved 13 November 2008</ref> and a manager, Dai Davies.<ref name="NSTCI"/>

Whaley left, and later rejoined Help Yourself, and in December 1972, the Ducks recorded two tracks at [[Man (band)|Man]]'s Christmas party, one of which,"Boogaloo Babe", was released on a double 10" album ''[[Christmas at the Patti]]'', their first appearance on a record.<ref name="BigU">[http://www.biguntidy.com/Articles/Ducks.pdf Biguntidy Article on Ducks Deluxe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205010407/http://www.biguntidy.com/Articles/Ducks.pdf |date=5 December 2008 }} retrieved 13 November 2008</ref>

In 1973, the band signed to RCA and released their first single, "Coast to Coast", written by Sean Tyla and Nick Garvey, though Tyla is not credited on the track, because he was trying to untangle himself from a previous publishing deal. They also appeared in BBC TV ''[[Play for Today]]'' called ''Blooming Youth''.<ref name="BigU"/>  Their eponymous debut album ''Ducks Deluxe'' was released in early 1974, and "captures something of the fire and excitement that the Ducks' live act generated".<ref name="MBA-DD"/>  Keyboard and bass player [[Andrew McMaster (songwriter)|Andy McMaster]] joined from The Sabres, to record a second album, ''Taxi To The Terminal Zone'', but this was regarded as disappointing and McMaster left.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> The band recorded its first [[Peel Session]] in April 1974,<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/d/ducksdeluxe/ BBC Peel Sessions - Ducks Deluxe] retrieved 13 November 2008</ref> after which Garvey left and bassist Micky Groome joined.<ref name="LarkinGE"/>  Despite recording a second Peel Session in March 1975, RCA dropped the band, so they were reduced to issuing an EP, ''Jumpin'' on the French label [[Skydog Records|Skydog]]. 
Tim Roper left so former [[Brinsley Schwarz]] members [[Brinsley Schwarz (musician)|Brinsley Schwarz]] and [[Billy Rankin (drummer)|Billy Rankin]] played on the final tour,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> with the final gig being at the [[100 Club]] in London on 1 July 1975.<ref name="MBA-DD"/>

In 1978, RCA Victor released the compilation album ''Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite'', featuring six songs from the band's debut LP, three from ''Taxi to the Terminal Zone'' (unavailable in the US at the time), and a few non-album singles. Reviewing the compilation in ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981), [[Robert Christgau]] wrote: "The music is pure rock and roll, maybe too pure, combining [[the Rumour]]'s spirited intensity and [[the Motors]]' cheerful manipulation at a more primitive stage. Fans of the [[Tyla Gang]] will dig it."<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: T|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=T&bk=70|accessdate=March 17, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>

==Later careers==
Nick Garvey and [[Andrew McMaster (songwriter)|Andy McMaster]] formed [[The Motors]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> with Rob Hendry (later replaced by [[Bram Tchaikovsky]]) and drummer Ricky Slaughter.

Sean Tyla formed "[[Sean Tyla#Tyla Gang|The Tyla Gang]]", which would later include Ken Whaley,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> who had joined [[Man (band)|Man]] after Help Yourself broke up. The Tyla Gang featured Canadian Bruce Irvinere and the former Winkies rhythm section of Brian Turrington on bass and Mike Desmarais on drums. They released two albums, ''Yachtless'' and ''Moonproof'' on the US-based, Beserkley label before the label's UK operation went bankrupt in 1978 and the band disbanded.  Tyla embarked on a solo career and released three albums, ''Just Popped Out'', ''Redneck In Babylon'' and ''Rhythm Of The Swing'', the first of which produced Tyla's first Top ten single, "Breakfast In Marin", in Germany in 1980. Tyla and Micky Groome along with drummer, Paul Simmons then joined Man's [[Deke Leonard]] to form "The Force", until Tyla decided to retire from the music business completely, due to ill health. Groome stayed with Leonard to reform "Deke Leonard's Iceberg".<ref name="MBA-DD"/>

Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont joined Brinsley's former keyboard player Bob Andrews to support Graham Parker as [[Graham Parker & the Rumour]], as well as appearing without Parker, as "The Rumour". Belmont later played in [[Carlene Carter|Carlene Carter's CC Riders]] and [[Nick Lowe|Nick Lowe's Cowboy Outfit]].

Roper, the original drummer, moved to [[Norwich]], where he became a well-known figure in local bands. He died in February 2003 from alcohol-related symptoms, following a [[nervous breakdown]].

The first [[album]], ''Ducks Deluxe'', achieved moderate commercial success after the band broke up, because the members had gone on to greater fame in Graham Parker & the Rumour, The Tyla Gang and The Motors.

==Reunion==
The band reformed to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their original formation. This was at the 100 Club in [[London]] on 9 October 2007.<ref name="BigU"/> The line-up was Martin Belmont, Sean Tyla, Micky Groome and Billy Rankin. A further [[concert|gig]] took place on 9 November at The Musician in [[Leicester]]. On 26 January 2008, they played Centre Culturel de Paul Baillart, [[Massy, Essonne|Massy]], near [[Paris]], France. On 20 September 2008, they played the PopXiria Festival in [[Carballo]], near [[A Coruña]] in Spain, headlining the final night of the event.

In 2009, Ducks Deluxe toured Sweden from 29 March to 13 April. The band consisted of Sean Tyla, [[singing|vocals]] and [[guitar]];  Martin Belmont, guitar and vocals; Kevin Foster (of Hank Wangford & the Lost Cowboys and Los Pisteleros fame) [[bass guitar]] and [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]]; and Jim Russell, (ex [[Stretch (band)|Stretch]], [[Wild Angels (band)|Wild Angels]], and [[The Inmates]]) on [[drum]]s.<ref>[http://hawkheadrecords.com Hawkhead Records]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118223944/http://hawkheadrecords.com/ |date=18 November 2008 }} retrieved 21 April 2009</ref> They released their first new material, a mini [[Compact disc|CD]] ''Box Of Shorts'' on 18 May 2009, comprising six new studio tracks, produced by [[Paul Riley (musician)|Paul 'Bassman' Riley]].

A new full album, ''Side Tracks And Smokers'', was released in June 2010 with artwork by famous [[Stiff Records]] designer Tobbe Stuhre, and tracks including some recently found and remastered raw mixes of tracks from the early albums, and also some brand new Ducks Deluxe recordings. It was followed in 2011 by a lo-fi live recording, ''Riviera Shuffle'' on Jungle Records which was only available through mail order.

The band completed a 40th Anniversary Tour in early 2012, featuring Brinsley Schwarz back in the line-up after a 37-year absence. Later that year the group recorded a live album in London, ''Rockin' at the Moon'', which was released in 2013.

==Members==
*Sean Tyla - Vocals, guitar
*Martin Belmont - Guitar, vocals
*Brinsley Schwarz - Guitar, vocals
*Kevin Foster - Bass guitar, vocals
*Jim Russell - Drums

Previous members:

*Ken Whaley - Bass, vocals
*Nick Garvey - Guitars, Bass, vocals
*Tim Roper - Drums
* [[Andrew McMaster (songwriter)|Andy McMaster]] - Keyboards, vocals
*Micky Groome - Bass, vocals
*Billy Rankin - Drums
*Brinsley Schwarz - Guitar, vocals, saxophone

==Discography==
===Singles===
*"Coast To Coast" / "Bring Back That Packard Car" (1973) [[RCA Records|RCA]] 2438
*"Please, Please, Please" / "Please, Please, Please" (1974) RCA DJH0-0297
*"Fireball" / "Saratoga Suzie" (1974) RCA LPBO 5019
*"Love's Melody" / "Two Time Twister" (1974) RCA 2477
*"[[I Fought The Law]]" / "Cherry Pie" (1975) RCA 2531

===EP===
*''Jumpin''' EP (1975) Skydog EP-005

===Albums===
*''Ducks Deluxe'' LP (1974) RCA LPLI 5008: 8-track cassette (1974) RCA LPSI 5008
*''Taxi To The Terminal Zone'' LP (1975) RCA SF 8402
*''Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite'' (Compilation & Bonus tracks) (1978) - RCA NL 71153
*''Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band'' LP (Holland) (1979) Dynamite - BMLP 001 (bootleg)
*''Last Performance Dynamite'' - TAKE DYR 3505 (UK [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]] of ''Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band'')
*''All Too Much'' - Teichiku TECP-25358
*''Ducks Deluxe'' / ''Taxi To The Terminal Zone'' CD (1992) BMG/Demon/MAU MAU CD 610 and BGO BGOCD539
*''Bonesteak Á La Carte'' - Ten Dollar TDR 065 (bootleg)
*''The John Peel Sessions'' - Hux Records HUX086 (3 [[BBC Radio 1]] Sessions from 1973, 1974 and 1975)
*''All Too Much'' / ''Blow You Out'' - Jungle (combines a Ducks Deluxe and a Tyla Gang album)
*''Live at the 100 Club - 9 October 2007'' (bootleg)
*''Christmas At The Patti'' (only one Ducks Deluxe track) LP (1973) United Artists: CD (1997) Point PNTVP110CD: CD Re-mix (2007) Esoteric ECLEC 2018
*''Box Of Shorts'' Mini CD (released on 18 May 2009)
*''Side Tracks And Smokers'' (released on 5 April 2010)
*''Riviera Shuffle'' (released on 7 May 2011)
*''Rockin' At the Moon'' (2013) Mystic Records MYS CD 214

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131224164143/http://www.ducksdeluxe.net/ Official site]
*[http://www.myspace.com/ducksdeluxe MySpace]
*[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17163|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Biography]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007015855/http://biguntidy.com/articles Alright are you ready .. ready for some rock n roll?] An independent article on the history of Ducks Deluxe

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1972 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1975 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:English protopunk groups]]
[[Category:English pub rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1972]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1975]]