Ducks Deluxe

When ex-Help Yourself members Sean Tyla and Ken Whaley joined up with Martin Belmont, Nick Garvey and Tim Roper in early 1972, Ducks Deluxe were in at the start of the London pub rock scene of the seventies. Stripping the music down to its bare essentials the Ducks helped to define the moment. A hard-working 1973 ended with the band signing to RCA and releasing their first single, Sean Tyla and Nick Garvey's 'Coast To Coast' which was followed in early 1974 by the debut album 'Ducks Deluxe'. The recording successfully captured the fire and excitement that the Ducks' live act generated, including the evergreen Tyla-penned classics, ‘Fireball’ and ‘Daddy Put The Bomp’. The album was well received on both sides of the Atlantic. With the addition of keyboard player Andy McMaster, to fill out the sound they recorded a second album, 1975's 'Taxi To The Terminal Zone' at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth with Dave Edmunds producing. Taking its title from a line in Chuck Berry's "Promised Land," the album contained more classic songs in Tyla’s 'Paris 9' and ‘Rio Grande’, Nick Garvey’s, 'My My Music' and the Garvey/McMaster’s pop-flavoured ditty, 'Love's Melody'. After ‘Taxi’, Garvey and McMaster left and Tyla, Belmont and Roper carried on with the addition of bassist Micky Groome, late of the Nashville Teens. Disheartened by RCA’s ‘lack of vision’, the Ducks switched to the rampant French indie, Skydog, releasing the ‘Jumpin’ EP to support a sell-out tour of France, a territory where the band had achieved ‘cult’ status, thanks to the unstinting support and faith of their European manager and Skydog boss, the legendary rock impresario, Marc Zermati. Tim Roper abandoned ship on the eve of the band's farewell tour and in the final few months former Brinsley Schwarz members, Brinsley Schwarz and Billy Rankin provided the guitar, sax and drums in support of stalwarts Sean Tyla and Martin Belmont. They finally called it a day in the summer of 1975. The Duck’s final gig, at the 100 Club in London was on July 1st 1975, where they were joined on stage by friends, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Lee Brilleaux and Martin Stone. Sean Tyla went on to form The Tyla Gang and initially signed to Stiff records [his "Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie" being the label's fourth release] and later to US-Based indie, Beserkley. The Tyla Gang toured solidly through the US and Europe for three years, releasing two critically acclaimed albums. Sean then moved on, signing a solo contract with Polydor US, racking up three Top Ten singles and two Top Ten albums in Germany, where he eventually based himself until his retirement in 1985. He recently returned to the studio to record his ninth album, which will be released in September ’07. Martin Belmont and Brinsley Schwartz later emerged as two-fifths of the Rumour behind Graham Parker racking up six albums, umpteen tours of Britain, Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan as well as recording three LP’s in their own right. Martin’s razor sharp guitar breaks and solid chunky rhythm playing were one the musical highlights of a band overflowing with musical riches. Playing on Nick Lowe’s Jesus of Cool, album further enhanced Belmont’s reputation, and he toured with Elvis Costello and the Attractions on more than one occasion. After the Rumour had run its course, Martin became one of Carlene Carters CC Riders, playing on her Blue Nun album and constantly touring Europe and the USA. From 1982 to 1987, Martin worked solidly with Nick Lowe as part of the latter’s Noise To Go and Cowboy Outfit backing bands. He played on all of Lowe’s albums of that period as well as touring the US, Europe and Australia with him. From 1987 to the present Martin regularly works live and in the studio with Hank Wangford, the Pistoleros and the Tex Pistols. He is currently finishing his second solo CD.   Reformation Lineup: Sean Tyla (Guitars, vocals), Martin Belmont (Guitars, vocals), Kevin Foster (Bass, vocals), Jim Russell (Drums).