The Bad Shepherds
The Bad Shepherds | |
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Adrian Edmondson performing as part of the Bad Shepherds at the 2009 Fairport's Cropredy Convention. | |
Background information | |
Genres | Folk punk |
Years active | 2008–2016 |
Labels | Monsoon Music |
Associated acts | The Idiot Bastard Band |
Website |
www |
Past members |
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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 October 31, 2016.[9]
Awards
The Bad Shepherds were nominated for the Best Live Act award at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[10]
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.[11]
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
- Martin 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][12][13] |
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References
- 1 2 3 "Ade Edmondson announces return of The Bad Shepherds with new album and UK tour". Louderthanwar.com. 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- 1 2 3 "Biogs". The Bad Shepherds. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- 1 2 "Punk flock from Ade's Shepherds". Western Morning News. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ↑ Damian Whitworth. "Adrian Edmondson: 'I was a year ahead: then she overtook me and shot off'". The Times. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ Emma Hartley. "Cropredy Festival: Yusuf Islam, Fairport Convention - review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "The Bad Shepherds". The Bad Shepherds. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Looe Music Festival: Line Up". Looemusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "'Mud, Blood & Beer' New Bad Shepherds album". SpiralEarth. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ http://www.facebook.com/thebadshepherds/photos/a.275686142467819.59846.157560444280390/1125911624111929/?type=3&permPage=1
- ↑ "Radio 2 -Folk Awards 2010 - Nominees". BBC. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Spiral Awards 2012". spiralearth.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Mud Blood & Beer - The Bad Shepherds | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Mud, Blood & Beer: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-28.