The Guana Batz are an English psychobilly band that was formed in 1982 in Feltham, West London, known for their frequent appearances at the Klub Foot, an early psychobilly club. The original group members were Pip Hancox (vocals), Stuart Osborne (guitar), Dave "Diddle" Turner (drums) and Mick Wigfall (upright bass). By 1984, the Guana Batz decided to again feature an upright bassist, and replaced Mick White (ex Meteors) with Sam Sardi.
The band broke up in 1990, but reunited in 1996.
(Read more at Wikipedia).
Links To Peel[]
Peel regularly played early releases by the Guano Batz, including both sides of debut single 'You're So Fine / Rockin' In My Coffin' on the Big Beat label of Ace Records in late 1983. Four sessions also followed in the next two years, taking in cover versions of vintage JP favourites such as 'Endless Sleep' by Jody Reynolds.
Although the DJ largely seemed to lose interest in the band after debut album 'Held Down To Vinyl... At Last!' (1985), the psychobilly stars continued to rack up hits in the UK Indie Charts through the rest of the decade.[1]
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
Guana Batz - Peel Session 1984
Four sessions. Official releases:
- The Peel Sessions, CD, 1998 (Vinyl Japan – JRCD36).
- Original Albums And Peel Sessions Collection, 4 x CD box set, 2014 (Cherry Red CDPSYCHBOX80).
1. Recorded 1984-01-24. First broadcast 01 February 1984. Repeated 20 February 1984, 22 March 1984.
- Zombie Walk / Jungle Rumble / Train Kept A Rollin' / The Cave
2. Recorded 1984-04-24. First broadcast 02 May 1984. Repeated 22 May 1984, 05 July 1984, 19 December 1984.
- No Particular Place To Go / Nightwatch / King Rat / The Overture
3. Recorded 1984-09-30. First broadcast 10 October 1984. Repeated 29 October 1984.
- Dynamite / Brand New Cadillac / Rockin' In The Graveyard / Nightmare Fantasy / Rocking In My Coffin
4. Recorded: 1985-04-23. First broadcast 07 May 1985. Repeated 04 June 1985.
- Endless Sleep / Goofing Around / Can't Take The Pressure / Got No Money
Other Shows Played[]
- 1983
- 24 November 1983: You're So Fine (7" EP - Guana Batz) Big Beat
- 19 December 1983 (BBC World Service): Jungle Rumble (7" - Guana Batz) Big Beat
- 21 December 1983 (BFBS): Rockin' In My Coffin (7" EP - Guana Batz) Big Beat
- 1984
- 04 January 1984 (BFBS): Jungle Rumble (7" - Guana Batz) Big Beat
- 17 April 1984: The Cave (7") Big Beat
- 30 April 1984: The Cave (7") Big Beat
- 02 May 1984 (BFBS): The Cave (7") Big Beat
- 02 May 1984 (BFBS): Werewolf Blues (7" - The Cave) Big Beat
- 02 July 1984: Just Love Me (v/a album - Rockabilly Psychosis And The Garage Disease) Big Beat
- 07 July 1984 (BFBS): Just Love Me (v/a album - Rockabilly Psychosis And The Garage Disease) Big Beat
- 09 July 1984 (BBC World Service): Just Love Me (v/a album - Rockabilly Psychosis And The Garage Disease) Big Beat
- 10 July 1984: Just Love Me (v/a album - Rockabilly Psychosis And The Garage Disease) Big Beat
- 19 August 1984 (BFBS): The Cave (7") Big Beat
- 16 October 1984: Werewolf Blues [v/a LP - Revenge Of The Killer Pussies (Blood On The Cats II)] Anagram
- 24 December 1984 (BBC World Service): Train Kept A'Rollin' (v/a album - Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC ABCLP 3
- 24 December 1984 (BBC World Service): Please Gimme Something (v/a album - Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC ABCLP 3
- 24 December 1984 (BBC World Service): Devil's Guitar (v/a album - Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC ABCLP 3
- 1985
- 09 January 1985: Train Kept A Rollin’ (LP – Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC
- 09 January 1985: Please Gimme Something (LP – Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC
- 09 January 1985: Devil’s Guitar (LP – Stomping At The Klub Foot) ABC
- August 1985 (VPRO): You're My Baby (LP-Held Down To Vinyl....At Last!) I.D. (JP: 'Brian our engineer just said, "Hey that's good, isn't it!" They're all good, all the records on these programmes, all terrific. Everything that's played on VPRO, fantastic!')
- 05 August 1985: You're My Baby (LP - Held Down To Vinyl ... At Last!) I.D.
- 12 August 1985: Can’t Take The Pressure (LP – Held Down To Vinyl … At Last) ID
- 12 August 1985 (BBC World Service): Can't Take The Pressure (LP - Held Down To Vinyl .... At Last!) I.D.
- 12 August 1985 (BFBS): Can't Take The Pressure (album - Held Down To Vinyl .... At Last!) I.D.
- 14 August 1985: You're My Baby (LP - Held Down To Vinyl... At Last!) I.D.
- 19 August 1985: King Rat (LP - Held Down To Vinyl .... At Last!) I.D.
- 19 August 1985 (BBC World Service): Nightmare Fantasy (LP - Held Down To Vinyl .... At Last!) I.D.
- 19 August 1985 (BFBS): You're My Baby (LP - Held Down To Vinyl ... At Last!) I.D
- 21 August 1985: Got No Money (LP - Held Down To Vinyl .... At Last!) I.D.
- 26 August 1985: Got No Money (LP-Held Down To Vinyl....At Last!) I.D.
- 03 September 1985: Nightmare Fantasy (LP: Held Down To Vinyl At Last!) I.D.
- 1986
- 01 March 1986 (BFBS): Seethrough (12") I.D. Records
- 03 March 1986: Seethrough (12") I.D. Records
- 1989
- 20 March 1989: The Cave (7") Big Beat
- 1991
- 15 June 1991: Werewolf Blues (LP - Revenge of the Killer Pussies) Anagram