Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Newport, South Wales |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1970–2020 |
| Labels | Crazy Rhythm, Charly |
| Members | Lyndon Needs Terry Walley Graham Price Mike Coffey |
| Past members | Cavan Grogan Vance Vincent Don Kinsella Brian Thomas |
| Website | crazycavan.com |
Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers (also known as Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers, Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers, Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers) were a Welsh rockabilly band associated with the Teddy Boy scene. The band formed in 1970, and were still actively touring and recording before frontman Cavan Grogan's death in 2020.
The band appeared in the 1980 film Blue Suede Shoes, which detailed the revival of 1950s rock and roll music scene at the time.
The first incarnation of the band was formed in Newport, South Wales, in 1964 by Cavan Grogan (vocals), Lyndon Needs (lead guitar) and Terry Walley (rhythm guitar) under the name "Screamin' Count Dracula and the Vampires". [1]
In 1968, joined by Brian Thomas (piano) and Don Kinsella (bass), they took the name "The Sundogs" which they borrowed from Alan Freed who was known as "Moondog" and combined it with their taste for Sun Records, a record label whose releases which they used to buy at that time. [2] Then in 1970, with the addition of Mike Coffey (drums), they took the name "Crazy Cavan 'n' the Rhythm Rockers", a name which has endured. [3]
In 1973, the band formed its own record label, Crazy Rhythm Records (named after their own description of their music) and released their debut single, "Teddy Boy Boogie" (backed with "Bop Little Baby"). In 1975, they released their first album Crazy Rhythm on the Dutch Rockhouse label. In 1976, they signed with Charly Records in the UK, and released their second album, Rockability. [4] The band continued to play live, their final performance being at the Annual Rockers Reunion in Reading on 18 January 2020. [5]
Cavan Grogan died on 15 February 2020, aged 70. [6] He left three children and three grandchildren. [1]
| Year | Album | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Crazy Rhythm | Rockhouse | Re-released in 1981 by Charly [4] |
| 1976 | Rockability | Charly | |
| 1977 | Our Own Way of Rockin' | Charly | |
| 1978 | Live at the Rainbow | Charly | |
| 1979 | Red Hot 'N' Rockabilly | Charly | |
| 1979 | Still Crazy | Crazy Rhythm | Re-released in 1981 as Mr. Cool by Charly |
| 1981 | Cool and Crazy Rock-a-billy | Big Beat/Polarvox | |
| 1981 | Teddy Jive | Charly | |
| 1982 | Hey Teenager! | Big Beat | |
| 1983 | Live at Pickett's Lock | Charly | Reissued on CD in 2003 by Teddy Boy Power |
| 1984 | Rollin' Through The Night | Big Beat/Virgin | Reissued on CD in 1999 by Crazy Rhythm |
| 1989 | Rough Tough 'N' Ready | Crazy Rhythm | Also on CD |
| 1990 | Crazy Times | Instant | Also on CD |
| 1996 | It's Wild, It's Weird, It's Crazy | Crazy Rhythm | Also on CD |
| 2012 | Rollin 'n' Rockin | Goofin | Also on CD by Crazy Rhythm |
| Year | CD | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Rhythm Rockin' Blues (with Linda Gail Lewis) | Crazy Rhythm Records |
| 2008 | C'mon, Let's F***in' Rock | Crazy Rhythm Records |
| 2015 | The Real Deal | Crazy Rhythm |
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