King Pleasure

Big Bear Music present …
KING PLEASURE
&
THE BISCUIT BOYS
THE BAND
King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys are more than just the world’s greatest
swing & R&B band, they are an institution! The band have been on the road
for almost three decades playing every European country as well as touring the
USA, Russia and the MiddleEast, recording ten CDs.
Dazzling musicianship, riveting stage performances, more than 50 TV
appearances (including, somewhat bizarrely, five episodes of Teletubbies) and 75
radio broadcasts have established them as the Kings of Swing.
LINE-UP
Big John “Boysey” Battrum
As well as 14 years with the Biscuit Boys I’ve played with many varied
different artists including: Roy Wood, Tony Christie, The Foundations, Big Jay
McNeely, Steel Pulse (with Stevie Wonder), Ginger Pig Band Tuba Fats, Status Quo,
Andy Fairweather-Lowe, Gary Booker, Michael Roach, Mad Professor, Kim Wilde,
Bernie Marsden, Clive Bunker, Ian Paice, Peter Grant, Joey DeFrancesco, Rebecca
Poole, George Chisholm, and Grace Kennedy. Growing up with a modern
jazz/swing loving mother, a Trad loving Father, Jazz loving Uncle and pub piano
playing Grandfather certainly made for a massive early influence. Older sisters
having friends who were engineers working in sound and lighting - with such bands
as The Who, Genesis, The Police - kept the music bug going and with not only the
guest tickets to huge amazing gigs, but listening to the friends amazing record
collections. After initially playing drums and some drumming lessons from Jim
Marshall (Marshall amps) I was asked at school if I fancied learning Sax. That was it!
End of interest and participation in sports teams and just blowing sax at every
possible free moment. A Charlie Parker record lent by an older cousin, whom
unfortunately died the next evening, changed all. Grief was dealt with by learning to
play the album note for note. The practising continued with many other influences,
eventually finding my niche of ‘honkin n hollerin’ in the style of the great Texas
Tenors.
Bullmoose « K » Shirley
1980: Aged 13, I received my first “real” guitar (…came with a first “real” girlfriend).
The neck was as wide as a cricket bat, the body had a very strange shape and the
“action” was terrible, the guitar was ok.
1981: Teeth cutting, never-ending rehearsals in pubs, garages, bedrooms, backrooms …etc, notably “The Balloon” public house in Bilston (now a fine fish & chip
shop, …but not as fine as “The Majors” chip shop down the road a bit). My hands
didn’t bleed anymore, I could look people dead in the eye and I could fight! I was
ready for the big time.
1982: Disappeared into the Black Country’s “Chitlin” circuit with a wandering
minstrel called Ray Humpage and a plan to make a trio, Ray, his alcoholism and me.
Had many successful evenings at “The Galaxy Club” in Tipton.
1983: Emerged triumphant as “Johnny Rondo &The Kid”. There was a slight
problem, I was wearing skin-tight denim, Cowboy boots, and an overly high,
rhinestone Stetson hat. Johnny was also talking about a sequinned cape for me.
Time to go!
1984: A fellow guitarist and mutual friend Royston Jones introduced me to King
Pleasure, aka: Scratch, aka: Swerving Skirving, aka: Mark Skirving, aka: Tony, and
also fondly referred to in his youth as “Sludge-guts” by his mother. The rest, as they
say …is ongoing
Mighty Matt Foundling
Joined in 2006
Ever since hearing the opening bars to Ray Charles’ ‘Messaround’ I was
hooked on boogie woogie piano. Started tinkling the ivories at the age of 12 and
began having lessons from former Biscuit Boy Ivory Dan McCormack. Was
introduced to the band via Dan and even stood in for said tutor at Ronnie Scott’s for
a two week period at the age of 16. Turned professional at seventeen and started
playing with various blues, jive and swing bands up and down the country. Spent a
few years touring the UK and Europe with Otis Grand and his Big Blues Band and
was in the Kings of Rhythm House Band at the Rhythm Riot for 5 years. Whilst
playing in the house band we backed artists such as Lloyd Price, The Five Keys, Big
Jay McNeely, Young Jessie, Clarence Henry, Lil Gizzelle and Nick Curran.
It was at the Rhythm Riot where I once again bumped into King Pleasure who was a
compere at the festival and was asked to join the band. After readily accepting I’m
now heading into my seventh year as a Biscuit Boy. As well as playing good old rock
n roll I’ve also also been involved in projects of my own, including composing for
theatre, arranging, music production, teaching and more recently pop band The
Musgraves. The pop band has appeared on national radio and The Graeme Norton
Show and has recently signed a deal with an independent label.
Check Matt's website out http://mattfoundling.com/
Shark Van Schtoop
Played with NYJO at 16 (had a jam with guitarist John Williams) -I couldn’t
read the music properly so I stopped going and they were all too square anyway.
Went to New York and just turned up at record company offices and played our
guitars and bass live to them unannounced and got a record deal with RCA New
York with singer songwriter Andy Halsey (played in the studio Elvis used in NY),
then when the advance arrived I got paid off! Bought my own studio and made an
ambient house album and got a record deal with Sony in Australia. The album was
nominated for the Oz equivalent of a mercury prize ---didn’t win though.
Also had various small record deals with dance music labels producing rave tunes
Did session work for lots of Sony artists, one remix was on a number 1 in Oz!
Toured Australia. Did a remix of 'addicted to bass', which went to number 1 in Oz
and also did very well in UK too (the tune not the remix that is).
Also did a remix for Bobby McFerrin. Joined Indie band "The house of Love’ with Guy
Chadwick and toured Japan, Europe and the UK, also producing many studio
sessions for Chadwick. Played with Clam Curtis and the foundations, Jimmy James
and the Vagabonds, Jocelyn Brown and supported Dionne Warwick
I’ve been the general roadie/dogs body for The Bay City Rollers Les McKeown on a
few occasions, then joined KP in 2000. I enjoy history, especially Iron Age history.
I like Dub Step, Drum & Bass, Deep Hous , Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Bulgarian folk
music, John Coltrain and Murcof to name but a few.
Gary 'The Enforcer' Barber
Started gigging at about 18 playing local pubs and clubs with blues rock band
Regalia, playing original songs and standard covers, then played with ska/calypso
singer Laurel Aitken in clubs locally and further afield, after that I joined a pop
covers band, Axis, where we played mainly military bases performing the disco
sounds of the day, then a gritty blues band called Flatliner, playing blues tracks in
pubs & clubs around the midlands, and into the studio to record an EP. Moved to
London in 97’ joined an originals pop four piece-Pout, doing the popular venues in
London for several years, we had management, did some studio recordings, and did
a short tour of New York. Joined a gospel band called Inspiration, performed in
churches, festivals and the odd Bible school. Moved up north for some fresh air, did
function work with Mamaroux, at holiday camps and corporate events etc. also
depping for western swing band The Swing Commanders, then onto Tipitina - jazz
clubs, festivals etc, recorded album. Joined KP 2007 where I’m enjoying exploring
and recreating the beats of yesteryear! Previously interspersed with drum
teaching/college music workshops and running a wine shop.
King Pleasure
My school was in first rehearsals for our new musical 'Daniel in The Lion's
Den' and at the age of eight I had the lead role simply due to having the loudest
voice! Mrs Jevans and Mr Davies sat down at the piano and with four hands played
what I was later to know as Boogie Woogie. I couldn't stop giggling because I was so
excited. It was the most joyous sound I'd ever heard and was to shape the rest of my
life. The first single I ever bought with my pocket money was the theme tune from
Top Cat. What a corker and a real swinger. Records became all I wanted and every
Christmas and Birthday brought me classics from the greats of 50's rock n roll such
as Fats Domino and Little Richard. Keyboard lessons started aged ten, but had to
wait six years for my first audition. It was playing piano for 'The Demons' with local
Darlaston guitar hero Johnny Satan. I didn't get the job!
The following year myself and a bunch of mates formed 'The Psyclones' a punk
rockabilly four piece with many a pig's head to throw around. I played bass guitar
and was in charge of the giblets! 1986 saw the formation of busking duo 'Some like
it hot' with Mr Shirley. With crowd stopping success, this soon grew into a band and
after winning a competition held by Birmingham markets, we joined forces with one
of the judges and local music mogul Jim Simpson. With Big Bear Music now getting
us a string of gigs and our first recording, we changed our name to 'King Pleasure
and The Biscuit Boys' and the rest is a book my friend!
TECHNICAL SHEET
PIANO:
Grand Piano or Yamaha Clavinola
GUITAR:
Fender Twin or Fender Reverb
BASS:
Ampeg or Trace Elliot
DRUMS:
Ludwig
Bass Drum 24” or 22”
Snare 14”
Rack Tom 13”
Floor Tom 16”
+ Snare Stand, Hi Hat stand, 2x Boom
+ 1x Straight Cymbal stands
DOUBLE BASS
Professional Standard
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us
0044 (0) 121 454 7020
STAGE PLAN
SOME RECORDS
PRESS REVIEWS