The Kursaal Flyers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 in Southend-on-Sea, England |
| Headquarters | Southend-on-Sea , England |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Kursaal Flyers emerged as a British pop ensemble originating from Southend-on-Sea in 1973, gaining recognition primarily for their 1976 single "Little Does She Know," which reached the UK top 20, as well as a BBC documentary that documented their 1975 tour.
Original members
- Paul Shuttleworth (lead vocals)
- Richie Bull (banjo, bass guitar)
- Graeme Douglas (lead guitar), subsequently succeeded by Barry Martin
- Will Birch (drums)
- Vic Collins (pedal steel guitar)
- Dave Hatfield (bass guitar; departed in 1974)
Career
Established in October 1973 by musicians from the local scene, the group derived their name from Southend’s former Kursaal amusement hall, now closed. Their first performances took place in February 1974, initially covering country rock songs before shifting their focus to original compositions.
Through associations with Dr. Feelgood, the band secured opening slots in London venues and inked a deal with Jonathan King's UK Records in early 1975. Despite receiving some radio exposure, their initial albums Chocs Away and The Great Artiste did not achieve commercial success. Nevertheless, they developed a solid reputation performing live across London’s pub rock venues, largely propelled by Shuttleworth’s engaging stage charisma.
In 1976, the band signed with CBS and recorded The Golden Mile under producer Mike Batt. Their single "Little Does She Know," characterized by a Phil Spector-inspired sound, was featured on BBC's Top of the Pops and climbed to number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. Amid concerns about industry pressures for commercial hits, Douglas exited to join Eddie and the Hot Rods and was replaced by Barry Martin.
Despite extensive touring and releasing the live album Five Live Kursaals, the band was unable to replicate chart success. Following several personnel changes, they disbanded toward the end of 1977.
After the breakup, Shuttleworth embarked on solo ventures, Douglas achieved recognition with Eddie and the Hot Rods, and Birch went on to establish the Records. The Kursaal Flyers reunited briefly for tours in 1985 and 1988 before reforming more permanently in 2001. By 2009, Collins was managing Southend-based act Back To Square One. In 2003, Shuttleworth and Collins collaborated to form the country rock group Ugly Guys alongside former Jerry the Ferret guitarist Steve Oliver and others.
Studio albums
- Chocs Away! (1975, UK Records)
- The Great Artiste (1976, UK Records)
- Golden Mile (1976, CBS)
- A Former Tour de Force is Forced to Tour (1988, Waterfront Records)
Live albums
- Five Live Kursaals (1977, CBS)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK | ||
| 1975 | "Speedway" | - |
| "Hit Records" | - | |
| 1976 | "Cruisin' for Love" | - |
| "Little Does She Know" | 14 | |
| 1977 | "Radio Romance" | - |
| "The Sky's Falling in on Our Love" | - | |
| "T.V. Dinners" (Promo) | - | |
| "Television Generation" | - | |
| 1983 | "Radio Romance" (Germany-only re-release) | - |
| 1985 | "Monster-in-Law" | - |
See also
- Canvey Island
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of Peel sessions
- Fairport's Cropredy Convention Appearances
External links
- [ Biography] at AllMusic