The Bandits


Main image

Liverpudlian blues band.

The band's first appeared on the Honey Records' 2001 Beatin Plankscompilation album, which featured early versions of two songs: Take It An Run and Free Me Rain. The line up at the time consisted of John, Gary, Scott and Tony, with Neil Crosbie on drums. Scott Dulson and Tony Dunne had previously been in Tramp Attack with future Zutons frontman Dave McCabe. The band then brought in Swee on drums, and throughout 2002 auditioned for a lead guitarist and recruited Ritchie, who lived in Wallasey at the time.

The Bandits signed a record deal with Warners and released a succession of singles throughout 2002 and 2003, before releasing their only album 'And They Walked Away'. They toured with The Zutons and then as UK support to Oasis in 2003/4.

The Bandits also ran their own club night in Liverpool, The Bandwagon, which became relatively popular and helped launched the careers of The Coral, The Zutons, The Hokum Clones, The Stands, Tramp Attack and the band themselves. The club night was known for its wild west style posters and stickers, designed by Scott. Bandwagon nights, usually held at The Zanzibar Club on Seel Street often sold out, and featured some of the days' most prominent bands, including The Libertines and others.

Following months of rumours, the band's split was confirmed in July 2004, with rhythm guitarist Gary stating I really do believe that we'll record something again in the future. We're all just doing different things at the moment.

Since splitting John Robinson, Gary Murphy and Scott Dulson played a handful of gigs, doing reggae covers as The Bum Notes with Nick Miniski (ex-The La's, later of Free Peace) on drums. Robinson, Dulson and Miniski then went on to form The Pedantics with Stu Gimblett (also later of Free Peace with Edgar Jones and Miniski)

John Robinson co-wrote and played on the song I Am the Rain from Pete Doherty's solo album Grace/Wastelands (2008) and Robinson and Murphy joined Doherty on stage during his solo tour in 2008-9.

Gary Murphy went on to work at Starwood Management (home to The Kooks and The Ordinary Boys and run by former Mansun and Cast manager Rob Swerdlow), and was involved in the early career of Candie Payne. In 2011 Gary Murphy played a series of acoustic shows with Lee Mavers of The La's.

APPEARANCES +


Various
This Actually Ain't Half Bad - Warrington Ska Punk Compilation
2019
Various
New Noises Vol. 65
2004, CD, Comp, Rolling Stone, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock/Electro/Synth-pop
Various
X-Ray CD#09
2003, CD, Comp, X-Ray (4), ,
Alternative Rock/Leftfield/Pop Rock/Indie Rock/Big Beat/Electro
Various
White Riot Vol Two (A Tribute To The Clash)
2003, CD, Comp, Uncut (2), ,
Acoustic/Reggae-Pop/Punk/Rockabilly/Classic Rock
Various
Vital Music - Chain With No Name
2003, CD, Comp, Promo, Vital Sales & Marketing,
Various
This Shit Is Immortal
2003, CD, Comp, Bang Magazine
Various
Pc Disc Special For Radio
2003, CD, Comp, Promo, WEA Records
Various
Topshop Topman International #9B
2003, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3), ,
Pop Rock/House/Synth-pop/Trance/Deep House/Disco/Trip Hop/Downtempo/Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/Breakbeat/Acoustic/Future Jazz/Blues Rock/Progressive House/Electro/Dancehall
Various
Topshop Topman International #13B
2003, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3), ,
Alternative Rock/Nu Metal/Symphonic Rock/Indie Rock/Garage Rock/RnB/Swing/House/Synth-pop/Folk Rock/Country Rock/Pop Rock/Europop/Trance/Punk/Hard Trance/Euro House
Various
Topshop Topman #020
2003, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3), ,
Blues Rock/Indie Rock/Neo Soul/Leftfield/Downtempo/Experimental/Trip Hop/Dub/Nu Metal/Progressive House/UK Garage/Big Beat/Breakbeat/Britpop
Various
Topshop Topman #035
2003, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3), ,
Trip Hop/Downtempo/New Age/Trance/Indie Rock/Alternative Rock/Blues Rock/Symphonic Rock/Synth-pop/Electro/IDM/Experimental/House/Breaks/Future Jazz/Post Rock/Ambient/Bass Music/Breakbeat/UK Garage/Gangsta
Various
Topshop Topman #049
2003, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3)
Various
Wintercase San Miguel 2002
2002, CD, Comp, Sinnamon Records, ,
Leftfield/Dub/Big Beat
Various
Topshop Topman #005
2002, Betacam SP, Advance, PAL, Lar, Cube (3), ,
House/Deep House/Euro House/Downtempo/Vocal/Trance/Folk Rock/Indie Rock/Soft Rock/Electro/Alternative Rock/Industrial/Heavy Metal/RnB/Swing/Pop Rap/Electroclash/Tech House/Conscious/Fusion/Jazz-Funk/MPB/Latin Jazz/UK Garage/Pop Rock
Various
Super Italo Party Vol.3
1997, CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo, Hit Mix Records, ,
Italo-Disco/New Wave/House/Hip-House/Euro House/Eurodance/Techno/Italodance
Various
21 Holiday Lullabies
CDr, Comp, Kelle Records
Various
SI & AD Director - Music Video Showcase
DVDr, DVD-V, Comp, DNA Inc.
Captain Arsehole
Captain Arsehole's Golden Nuggets
2008, 12", Unofficial, Cobblers Records
Various
Punk World - Desire
1982, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, 355