Ducks De Luxe

Ducks Deluxe was formed early in 1972 by former Man and Brinsley Schwarz roadies Sean Tyla, Martin Belmont, Nick Garvey and Tim Roper.

Of all the early Pub Rock bands the Ducks were the leanest and meanest.

From the start Sean Tyla took "Get up and boogie or fuck off out of it" as the band's motto, and so paved the way for Dr Feelgood, Eddie & The Hot Rods and ultimately The Sex Pistols and British punk.

First recorded on Man's Christmas At The Patti live album, Ducks Deluxe didn't hit vinyl seriously until November 1973's RCA single Coast To Coast - a high-octane ode to the road with rockabilly overtones which blew open their eponymous debut album which came out three months later.

The Ducks toured the UK supporting Lou Reed but somehow their raw energy never made it across the footlights in the big halls. Keyboard player Andy McMasters joined for a second - but unfortunately lacklustre - album, Taxi To The Terminal Zone, which was recorded at Rockfield with Dave Edmunds twiddling the knobs.

The Ducks played their last gig at London's 100 Club in July 1975 but by then Garvey and McMasters had gone (eventually to form The Motors) while Belmont was soon to join The Rumour and, after a single with Stiff, Tyla and his new band The Tyla Gang signed to Berserkely.

Tyla and Belmont reformed Ducks Deluxe late in 2007 for a limited number of appearances in the UK and France.