King Kurt

King Kurt

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981
Defunct	1988 (initial disbandment)
Fate	Intermittent reunions since 1988
Key people	Jef Harvey (vocals), John Reddington (guitar), Bert Boustead (bass), Alan "Maggot" Power (saxophone), Rory Lyons (drums), Gary "The Smeg" Cayton (vocals)
Products	Music albums and singles

King Kurt is a British rock and roll group established in 1981, initially disbanded in 1988, and has reunited intermittently since then, including a comeback show in 2010 and a performance at the 2024 Psychobilly Meeting held in Spain. Their most notable track is the 1983 single "Destination Zululand."

Formation

The band began under the name Rockin' Kurt and his Sauer Krauts in 1981, featuring Jef Harvey on vocals, John Reddington playing guitar, Bert Boustead on bass, Alan "Maggot" Power handling saxophone duties, and Rory Lyons on drums. Guitarist Paul "Thwack" Laventhol joined during their third live appearance, and by the end of that year, the group shortened their name to King Kurt.

Rise to Fame

Following Harvey's exit in 1982, Gary "The Smeg" Cayton took over as lead singer. The band became known for their dramatic stage performances that incorporated audience interaction, food fights, and props such as "The Wheel of Misfortune." Their shows often featured themed nights like "Kurt Skirts," requiring male attendees to wear skirts for admission, as well as elaborately costumed Easter events.

Albums

In 1983, King Kurt signed with Stiff Records and released the album Ooh Wallah Wallah, produced by Dave Edmunds. They attained moderate UK chart success with singles including "Zulu Beat," "Mack the Knife," and "Banana Banana," with their biggest hit being "Destination Zululand," which reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1983.

Their follow-up album, Big Cock, came out in 1986 under Polydor Records, with production by Phil Wainman.

Later Years

The band dissolved in 1988; however, between 1992 and 1996 three founding members continued performing live. John Reddington transitioned into a career as a solicitor and trademark attorney for over twenty years. Meanwhile, Smeg performed under the moniker 'I Can't Believe It's Not King Kurt.' A compilation album was issued in 2009, followed by a reunion concert in March 2010. In 2012, King Kurt appeared at Olympia 1 and 2 during the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool alongside acts such as Conflict, Subhumans, and Stiff Little Fingers. The band also planned several northern UK shows in 2017.

Singles

Year	Month	A-side	B-side	UK	Record Label
1982	N/K	"Zulu Beat"	"Rockin' Kurt"	#153	Thin Sliced Records
1983	October	"Destination Zululand"	"She's as Hairy"	#36	Stiff Records
1984	April	"Mack the Knife"	"Wreck a Party Rock"	#55	Stiff Records
1984	August	"Banana Banana"	"Bo Diddley Goes East"	#54	Stiff Records
1985	June	"Billy"	"Back on the Dole"	#81	Stiff Records
1985	September	"Road to Rack n Ruin"	"Poppa Wobbler"	#94	Stiff Records
1985	November	"Slammers"	"Ape Hour"	#102	Stiff Records
1986	November	"America"	"High and Mighty"	#73	Polydor
1987	May	"Land of Ring Dang Do" / "Zulu Beat"	"Horatio" / "Gather Your Limbs"	#67	Polydor
1988	February	"Bye Bye Baby"	"Prussian Stomp" – (as 'The Kurts')	#135	GWR

Albums

Year	Album Title	UK Chart Position	Label
1983	Ooh Wallah Wallah	#99	Stiff Records
1986	Big Cock	#50	Stiff Records
1988	'The Last Will & Testicle'	did not chart	GWR
1994	'Poor Man's Dream'	did not chart	Demon Music Group
2021	Best of Live	did not chart	Secret Records Limited

Compilation albums

Year	Compilation Title	Record Label
1985	Road to Rack and Ruin	Ralph Records (United States); Stiff Records (Japan)
1989	Live & Rockin
1990	Destination Demoland
2001	Alcoholic Rat
	Live and Unreleased
2009	Ooh Wallah Wallah (CD/DVD)	Jungle Records
2012	Zulu Beat (CD/DVD)	Secret Records