Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Screamin' Count Dracula and the Vampires, The Sundogs |
| Founded | 1970 in Newport, South Wales, Wales |
| Founder | Cavan Grogan, Lyndon Needs, Terry Walley |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Fate | Disbanded following the death of lead vocalist Cavan Grogan |
| Headquarters | Newport , Wales, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Europe |
Key people | Cavan Grogan (lead vocalist), Lyndon Needs (lead guitar), Terry Walley (rhythm guitar), Brian Thomas (piano), Don Kinsella (bass), Mike Coffey (drums) |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Number of employees | 6 (band members) |
| Website | www |
Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers—also referred to as Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers or simply Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers—were a Welsh rockabilly group closely associated with the Teddy Boy subculture. Established in 1970, the band continued to perform and record music until the passing of lead vocalist Cavan Grogan in 2020.
They featured in the 1980 documentary film Blue Suede Shoes, which explored the resurgence of 1950s rock and roll music.
History
The ensemble began its journey in Newport, South Wales, in 1964 under the name "Screamin' Count Dracula and the Vampires," with founding members Cavan Grogan on vocals, Lyndon Needs handling lead guitar, and Terry Walley playing rhythm guitar.
By 1968, after incorporating Brian Thomas on piano and Don Kinsella on bass, they adopted the name "The Sundogs," a nod to Alan Freed’s "Moondog" moniker and their admiration for Sun Records. The lineup expanded in 1970 with drummer Mike Coffey joining, at which point they settled on the name "Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers," which they retained throughout their career.
In 1973, they initiated their own record label, Crazy Rhythm Records, debuting with the single "Teddy Boy Boogie" backed by "Bop Little Baby." Their first full-length album, Crazy Rhythm, was released in 1975 via Dutch label Rockhouse. The following year, after signing with UK-based Charly Records, they issued their sophomore album Rockability. The band sustained live performances for decades, culminating in their final appearance at the Annual Rockers Reunion held in Reading on January 18, 2020.
Cavan Grogan died on February 15, 2020, aged 70, survived by three children and three grandchildren.
LPs
| Year | Album | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Crazy Rhythm | Rockhouse | Reissued by Charly in 1981 |
| 1976 | Rockability | Charly | |
| 1977 | Our Own Way of Rockin' | Charly | |
| 1978 | Live at the Rainbow | Charly | |
| 1979 | Red Hot 'N' Rockabilly | Charly | |
| 1979 | Still Crazy | Crazy Rhythm | Re-released as Mr. Cool by Charly in 1981 |
| 1981 | Cool and Crazy Rock-a-billy | Big Beat/Polarvox | |
| 1981 | Teddy Jive | Charly | |
| 1982 | Hey Teenager! | Big Beat | |
| 1983 | Live at Pickett's Lock | Charly | CD reissue by Teddy Boy Power in 2003 |
| 1984 | Rollin' Through The Night | Big Beat/Virgin | CD re-release by Crazy Rhythm in 1999 |
| 1989 | Rough Tough 'N' Ready | Crazy Rhythm | Available on CD as well |
| 1990 | Crazy Times | Instant | Also released on CD |
| 1996 | It's Wild, It's Weird, It's Crazy | Crazy Rhythm | CD edition available |
| 2012 | Rollin 'n' Rockin | Goofin | CD version issued by Crazy Rhythm |
CDs
| Year | CD | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Rhythm Rockin' Blues (featuring Linda Gail Lewis) | Crazy Rhythm Records |
| 2008 | C'mon, Let's F***in' Rock | Crazy Rhythm Records |
| 2015 | The Real Deal | Crazy Rhythm |
Contemporary influences
- The band Zombie Ghost Train recorded a cover of "Teddy Boy Boogie" for their album Dealing The Death Card.
- Sparky Phillips, vocalist of Demented Are Go, collaborated with Hillbilly Moon Explosion to produce a rendition of "Teddy Boy Flick Knife Rock'n'Roll," citing early inspiration from Crazy Cavan.
- The Klingonz included a cover of "Trouble Trouble" on their album Still Stompin.
Further reading
- Ferris, Ray; Lord, Julian. Teddy Boys: A Concise History. Milo Books, 2012.
External links
- Official Crazy Cavan Website
- Fan Club for Crazy Cavan
- [Archived Rockabilly Hall of Fame Profile]
- [YouTube: Crazy Cavan Performance from 1979]