The Vipers Skiffle Group
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Wally Whyton, Johnny Martyn, Jean Van den Bosch |
| Defunct | 1960 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The Vipers Skiffle Group, later shortened to The Vipers, stood out as a prominent British ensemble throughout the mid-to-late 1950s skiffle era. They played a significant role in shaping the careers of notable figures such as presenter Wally Whyton, coffee bar proprietor Johnny Martyn, salesman Jean Van den Bosch, instrument technician Tony Tolhurst, journalist John Pilgrim, producer George Martin, and future members of The Shadows.
History
Originating in spring 1956 in central London, the group initially consisted of three singer-guitarists: Whyton, Johnny Martyn (born John Martyn Booker, 1934–2007), and Jean Van den Bosch, who was replaced by Freddy Lloyd in 1958. That summer, the lineup expanded with the addition of Tony Tolhurst on bass and John Pilgrim on washboard. They secured a residency at Soho's 2i's Coffee Bar and collaborated with jazz artist Mike Pratt and vocalist Tommy Hicks (who later became known as Tommy Steele). In September 1956, after an audition with George Martin at Parlophone Records, they earned a recording contract.
Their follow-up single, "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O," produced by Martin, climbed to number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1957. Although officially attributed to Whyton, the track is a variation of the traditional folk tune "Sail Away Ladies," originally recorded by Uncle Dave Macon during the 1920s. That same year saw the release of "Maggie May," which faced a ban from BBC Radio due to its suggestive content despite attempts to modify the lyrics.
The Vipers found themselves in direct competition with Lonnie Donegan of Pye Records, who adapted Whyton’s arrangements but achieved greater commercial success with hits like "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and "Cumberland Gap." Nevertheless, The Vipers’ rendition of "Cumberland Gap" reached the UK Top 10, followed by their last charting single, "Streamline Train." Producer Martin reflected that working with The Vipers offered valuable insight into managing a passionate yet informally trained band.
As recording artists, The Vipers maintained their status as one of Britain's leading live acts during the skiffle craze, second only to Donegan. Whyton and Booker released an album in the United States titled The Original Soho Skiffle Group, which featured traditional folk and blues numbers accompanied by sleeve notes from Nat Hentoff. By 1958, as interest in skiffle waned, they removed "Skiffle Group" from their official name.
During their tenure as The Vipers, the band briefly included Hank Marvin, Jet Harris, and Tony Meehan—musicians who would later join The Shadows. The group dissolved following the conclusion of their recording contract in 1960. Afterward, Whyton embarked on a successful career in radio and television.
In 1999, Paul McCartney paid tribute to The Vipers by covering their song "No Other Baby" on his album of covers titled Run Devil Run.
External links
- [Allmusic entry]