Thee Headcoats
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Chatham, Kent, England |
| Defunct | May 12, 2000 |
| Headquarters | Chatham , England |
| Products | Garage rock music, albums |
Thee Headcoats is a band established in 1989 in Chatham, Kent, England, recognized for its distinctive garage rock style. Their music was issued through several labels, including Billy Childish's own Hangman Records, Damaged Goods, and Sub Pop.
The group's final performance took place on 12 May 2000 at the Dirty Water Club.[1][2] Following this, Childish pursued additional ventures such as The Buff Medways (1999–2006) and The Musicians of The British Empire (2007–2011).
Lineup
The ensemble featured Billy Childish handling guitar and lead vocals, Bruce Brand on drums with backing vocals, and Johnny 'Tub' Johnson playing bass.[3] This band represents the most extensive output among Childish's projects, having released fourteen full-length albums.
Among the initial bass players were Allan Crockford (formerly of The Prisoners), credited as Crojack on their debut LP, Headcoats Down, followed by John Agnew (ex-Thee Mighty Caesars) and Ollie Dolat (who co-founded The Squares and established Mr Zero) prior to Johnson’s arrival.
Frequently performing live alongside Thee Headcoats was Thee Headcoatees, an all-female vocal group including Holly Golightly, Kyra LaRubia, Ludella Black, and until 1999, Bongo Debbie. They also collaborated on several LPs with Thee Headcoats serving as their backing band. Additionally, the band recorded two albums under the name Thee Headcoats Sect with members from The Downliners Sect.
Career
Emerging from the British punk movement of the 1970s, Thee Headcoats included Billy and Bruce who had previously been part of The Pop Rivets and The Milkshakes. Under the alias Thee Stash, they produced covers of songs by The Clash and created tribute albums honoring Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed. Their first album featured reinterpretations of Son House tracks such as "John the Revelator" and "Child's Death Letter," which were subsequently covered by The White Stripes.
Reputation
Described by the New York Times as 'the king of garage rock,' Thee Headcoats have earned recognition from notable admirers including musician Jack White.
Studio albums
- Headcoats Down! (1989) [mini LP]
- The Earls of Suavedom (1990)
- The Kids Are All Square- This Is Hip! (1990)
- Beach Bums Must Die (1990)
- Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even! It’s Thee Headcoats! (Already) (1990)
- W.O.AH! Bo in Thee Garage (1991) [Bo Diddley tribute]
- Headcoatitude (1991)
- The Good Times Are Killing Me (1993)
- Thee Headcoats Conundrum (1994)
- In Tweed We Trust (1996)
- Deerstalking Men (1996) [as Thee Headcoats Sect]
- Knights of the Baskervilles (1996)
- The Jimmy Reed Experience (1997) [10" mini LP; Jimmy Reed tribute]
- The Messerschmitt Pilot's Severed Hand (1998)
- Brother is Dead… But Fly is Gone! (1998)
- 17% - Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician (1998)
- Ready Sect Go! (1999) [as Thee Headcoats Sect]
- I Am the Object of Your Desire (2000)
- Irregularis (The Great Hiatus) (2023)
Live recordings and compilations
- The Wurst is Yet to Come (1993) [Live]
- Live at the Wild Western Room (1994) [with Thee Headcoatees]
- The Sounds of the Baskervilles (1995) [with Thee Headcoatees]
- Thee Headcoats Best: Sherlock Holmes Meets the Punkenstein Monster (1998) [Compilation released in Japan]
- Thee English Gentlemen of Rock & Roll: Thee Headcoats Best Vol. II (1999) [Japanese compilation]
- Elementary Headcoats – Thee Singles 1990-1999 (2001)
- Live at the Dirty Water Club (2001)
See also
External links
- Official website of Billy Childish
- Discography of Thee Headcoats on Discogs
- Thee Headcoats singles catalog on 45cat
- ↑ Erik Hage. "Thee Headcoats | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
- ↑ "Thee Headcoats on Sub Pop Records". Subpop.com. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
- ↑ "Thee Headcoats". Damaged Goods. Retrieved 2016-07-31.