Ode & the Bebops
Established in 1986 as a fun band by John McCarthy, Gareth Hamley and Andy Sloan- "Bone" with band practice once a week.
Bone on tea-chest bass; John on banjo & vocals and
Gareth on guitar & vocals.
Andy Ody - "Ode" started to attend for a
pint and play along on the moraccas! The idea evolved to acquire a washboard
(which Ode played) and turn it into a skiffle group, called Bone & the
Bebops. After a few months practice, confidence was acquired, and full of
enthusiasm they went in for a regional talent contest held at theVictoria, Old
Town, Swindon. They made the final and much to their surprise - they WON!!
This provided the kick start to do the rounds of local pubs and clubs, injecting a refreshing new sound from the usual aggressive and over amplified rock bands!
1989 and Bone parted from the band, so friend to the band Tim 'Sid' Dobson took on the job of the tea chest player. 1992 saw the band change its bass player once again - Gary 'Doris' Durnford, who began just setting up the equipment and monitoring the sound, took over and the line up was complete.
At all gigs audience participation is encouraged by handing out home made instruments! The style of music is a jazz mix that ranges from cotton plantation blues through ballards to Rock 'n' Roll Swing. Skiffle has been associated with railways since the American depression of the 1920's and it is appropriate that Swindon is an old railway town.The BeBops have produced a record, a video, met Lonnie Donnegan and won another competition - The Arkells Brewery 1995 Starsearch!
2004 saw the band being approached by Raucous Records, they were recording a cd of skiffle & asked if we would submit some songs. We sent them 3 songs, Too Many People - Ode to Ode - Cumberland Gap. Two appear on the album 'Skiffle Revival'
Visit www.raucousrecords.com and you can purchase it on line