Bandit (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums |
Bandit was a British rock group active between 1976 and 1979, unrelated to the American band of the same name that released an album under ABC Records in 1975.
Background
During their career, Bandit issued two albums featuring different personnel. Their first release, titled Bandit, came out in late 1976 through Arista Records. The lineup included lead singer Jim Diamond, guitarist Danny McIntosh, bassist Cliff Williams who later joined AC/DC, guitarist and harmonica player James Litherland, and drummer Graham Broad. All members except Williams were involved in composing songs, with Diamond responsible for roughly half of the tracks. The single "Ohio," penned by Diamond, did not achieve chart success amid the growing popularity of punk rock, which contributed to the group's initial disbandment. Following this, Diamond became part of PhD, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "I Won't Let You Down," and later attained solo acclaim with two additional top ten hits.
The band later regrouped with Danny McIntosh as the only remaining original member. They brought in vocalist Gerry Trew, drummer Theodore Thunder (real name John Dentith), and bassist Tony Lester, who took on the role of chief songwriter. Their sophomore album, Partners in Crime, was released in 1978 via Ariola Records and produced by Matthew Fisher from Procol Harum. The track "One Way Love," authored by Lester, reached number 76 on the US Billboard charts.
A third album was recorded featuring guitarist Mick Grabham from Procol Harum replacing McIntosh but was never officially issued; nevertheless, a five-track EP from these sessions surfaced in 2016 under the title Bandit3 EP. The band's final tour occurred in 1979 as support for John Miles, with a lineup consisting of Trew, Lester, Grabham, and Thunder.
Both Bandit's full-length albums are currently out of print. Danny McIntosh continues his work as a guitarist and is married to singer-songwriter Kate Bush.