Rockin' Rocket 88 are a British rock'n'roll outfit.
1.So tired of... 2.I want your love 3.Please don't touch 4.High heel booted baby 5.Crazy 'bout her automobile 6.Behind every book 7.Right now 8.Remember me 9.Find out what's happenin'(#1) 10.The day 11.Gone outta here 12.Put 'em in the oven 13.Do what I do 14.I'm coming home 15.I'm a roustabout 16.Find out what's happenin' (#2).
Rockin' Rocket 88
Rocket 88 was created by a group of friends living in the Maidstone area of Kent with an interest in music of 1950's. Rocket 88 quickly created a covers band playing Rockabilly, Rock'n'Roll and Rockin Blues from the 50's and early 60's. Rockin' Rocket 88 had many personnel changes throughout the late 80's and at one point were a seven piece with a fiddle player, harmonica player and two electric guitars, with a total of three lead guitarist changes. However, this did not stop the band playing all over Europe (France, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic) and all on the major Rock'n'Roll events in the UK, including three appearances at the Hemsby Weekender, with approx. 4,000 people attending. During this time, Rockin' Rocket 88 also released a six track EP, an LP and numerous one-off tracks on compilation LPs and made a TV appearance on the ITV telethon. Much of the band's material was by now original. At the end of 1990, Ashley Kingman (who took over from Tom Hayes) decided to emigrate to LA join a full time professional band – Big Sandy & the Fly Rite Boys. This caused Rockin' Rocket 88 to split. As a result of this Leroy and Steve joined another band (Jump Cat Jump) and Nick helped form a band called the Rockets, which Tom later joined and then they changed to become The Flytes. Since then, these bands have helped each other out by covering gigs or member holidays and kept in regular contact. Numerous LPs and CDs have been released and the band has continued to play at the major festivals including the USA, including the Viva Las Vegas event, where Steve played drums with the Folsom Four. Nick has also played bass on many of these gigs. Rockin' Rocket 88 now came back together for a gig at London's Canary Wharf (May 2002) for only the second time in twelve years, and also played an excellent live session on Del Richardson's 'Good Rockin' Tonight' show on Radio Caroline in 2003. adapted from band website
"Back in the 80's, whilst Rock n'Roll in the UK was recovering from the heady days of the 1970's Rock'n'Roll revival, Rockin' Rocket 88 were one of the top five bands in the country. They were regulars of the Hemsby weekenders and in demand. Then all of a suddden, the band split and its members went their own ways to pursue solo projects. However, in 2003, without so much as a by your leave, the inspiration and driving force behind the band, Leroy Bradley, summoned the troops and the band was back together. Their comeback gig was as a late booking at the Prince of Wales pub in Strood. Without anything formal, such as a rehearsal, the band struggled their way through a set of numbers, and didn't sound half bad. Within six months they had got their act together and within nine had entered Mick Wigfall's 'Sweet Georgia Brown' studio in north London to begin recording a CD. The result, 'Living this way', is a mindblowing piece of work. For a start, many of the numbers are from the pen of Leroy himself, yet each and every one sounds as though it could have been recorded in 1957! Quite a feat, capturing that authentic rock n'roll sound nearly fifty years later! As you may have gathered, I love this CD. From the moment Leroy and the lads belt out 'So tired of', through to an alternate take of 'Find out what's happening', which closes the album, the CD is quality. I must also admit to having a personal interest in the CD, as I did some of the original artwork, despite the liner notes that credit artwork to someone else! That notwithstanding, I avowed to listen in a subjective manner. The result is highly pleasing. The band do perform a few covers, the most unusual of which is a rendering of Johnny Kidd's 'Please don't touch', with the opening and distinctive guitar riff replicated by electric fiddle! It has to be heard to be believed, but amazingly , it works! Of the self penned tracks, 'Right Now' and 'Put 'em in the oven' are stage favourites and naturally stick in the mind, however, I don't think there is a weak number on the collection. If you never do anything else, buy this CD, then go and see them live....you won't be disappointed by either experience!" Wildkat Mike
"With songs like 'Crazy 'Bout Her Automobile,' with its hook line 'I'm not crazy about my woman, I'm just wild about her automobile,' this Rockin quintet know how to write a Rock'n'Roll song with wit and style. They know how to play one, too." Classic American, May 2005
Rockin' Rocket 88 are a British rock'n'roll outfit.