Artists

They won’t ever admit it, but SOHO DUKES are having a whale of a time.

For a start, they should all be in prison. Alarmingly, they’re still very much at large, using the same pubs and bus stops as you and me. And, no. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’ve checked.

SOHO DUKES actually started life as a nineteenth-century drinking club, when – on a crawl around the taverns of London’s West End – BOMBER (bass) and JOHNNY BARRACUDA (vocals n’ that) crossed the weaving paths of COL ‘THE DUKE’ FOSTER (rhythm guitar) and AGE BLACKWELL (drums).

Sadly, rocketing beer prices and the admission to the club of two new worthy and indispensable members – SI LEACH (lead guitar) and the enigmatic SWERVE (keys) – raised the cost of a round to unsustainable levels. Something had to give. Col threw a guitar strap over his shoulder and the band was born. And, no. There’s still absolutely nothing you can do about it. I’ve checked that too.

Glowing reviews of both albums and the Dukes’ boisterous live gigs have drawn comparisons with Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Heavy Metal Kids, Madness, Dr Feelgood, Mott The Hoople, Ian Dury and many others – even the Sex Pistols. Such a varied list of luminaries suggests there’s something truly original going on here. So why not grab yourself an earful and join the fun. What’s the worst that can happen?