The Bad Shepherds
The Bad Shepherds | |
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![]() The Bad Shepherds performing at Birmingham Town Hall in 2011 | |
Background information | |
Genres | Folk punk |
Years active | 2008–2016 |
Labels | Monsoon Music |
Past members |
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Website | thebadshepherds |
The Bad Shepherds were an English folk band, formed by the comedian Adrian Edmondson in 2008.[1] They played folk punk songs with traditional folk instruments. The band primarily consisted of Edmondson (vocals, mandolins, mandola) and Troy Donockley (uilleann pipes, cittern, whistles, vocals).
History
After "accidentally" buying a mandolin,[2] Edmondson taught himself to play a few chords and he began to play a few punk songs on it. After playing for two days with Donockley, a virtuoso uilleann pipes player and multi-instrumentalist, they had arranged eight songs.[2] After some initial experimentation, they enlisted Dinan, winner of the All-Ireland Fiddle Championship, and the band was formed.[3] Essentially a folk band, the band's repertoire is taken from punk and new wave hits from 1978 to 1985. They re-interpret songs, inserting traditional reels and jigs.[3][4][5]
After touring the United Kingdom during 2008, the Bad Shepherds released their debut album, Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (which translates from an ancient Cumbrian dialect as One, Two, Three, Four!)[2] in May 2009. The band released their second album, By Hook or By Crook, with former Steeleye Span member Tim Harries playing double bass, in 2010.[6] The Bad Shepherds also headlined the first Looe Music Festival in 2011.[7]
At the start of 2013, after a year long hiatus the band announced they were getting back together to release a new album and undertake a 24-date UK tour, along with a six-date tour of Australia. Both of which were entitled Mud, Blood and Beer.[1] The album was released on 19 August 2013, and included both cover versions of punk and new wave tracks, plus their own material.[8]
Adrian Edmondson announced the band's end on his Facebook page on 31 October 2016.[9][10]
Awards
The Bad Shepherds were nominated for the Best Live Act award at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[11]
In 2012, the band won the Spiral Earth Award for best live act. The organisation celebrates a wide range of music, however their roots are mainly focused in the folk music genre.[12]
Band members
Final line-up
- Adrian Edmondson – vocals, mandolin, mandola
- Troy Donockley – uilleann pipes, cittern, whistles, vocals
Former
- Terl Bryant – percussion
- Andy Dinan – fiddle
- Carol Dawson – fiddle
- Eimear Bradley – fiddle
- Keith Angel – percussion
- Mark Woolley – percussion
- Maartin Allcock – bass
- Brad Lang – bass
- Tim Harries – bass
Discography
Year | Album details | Track listing |
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2009 | Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera!
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2010 | By Hook or By Crook
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2013 | Mud, Blood and Beer'[1][13][14]
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References
- ^ a b c "Ade Edmondson announces return of The Bad Shepherds with new album and UK tour". Louderthanwar.com. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "Biogs". The Bad Shepherds. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Punk flock from Ade's Shepherds". Western Morning News. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Damian Whitworth. "Adrian Edmondson: 'I was a year ahead: then she overtook me and shot off'". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ Emma Hartley. "Cropredy Festival: Yusuf Islam, Fairport Convention – review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "The Bad Shepherds". The Bad Shepherds. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Looe Music Festival: Line Up". Looemusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "'Mud, Blood & Beer' New Bad Shepherds album". SpiralEarth. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "A message from Adrian (originally posted... – The Bad Shepherds". Facebook. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Adrian Edmondson on Falling Apart, The Bad Shepherds and Star Wars". BBC News. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "Radio 2 -Folk Awards 2010 – Nominees". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Spiral Awards 2012". spiralearth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Mud Blood & Beer – The Bad Shepherds | Releases". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Mud, Blood & Beer: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
External links
- Official website