RESCHEDULED FROM THE 2ND JULY 2020, 14TH FEB, 8th OCT 2021 tickets valid
The Godfathers were formed by brothers Peter and Chris Coyne after the demise of their previous band The Sid Presley Experience in 1985, joined by Mike Gibson (guitar), Kris Dollimore (guitar) & George Mazur (drums).
After several critically acclaimed, independent single releases (‘Lonely Man’, ‘This Damn Nation’, ‘I Want Everything’ & ‘Love Is Dead’) produced by Vic Maile and collected on their debut album ‘Hit by Hit’, they signed to Epic Records in 1987. Extensive tours of the UK, Europe and the United States followed. The classic single and title track of their iconic album ‘Birth School Work Death’ made the U.S. Billboard Top 40 in 1988 after significant college radio and MTV airplay. Famed for their explosive concerts, mob inspired image & primal rock & roll sound The Godfathers earned a serious reputation as a must see live act.
Albums ‘More Songs About Love and Hate’ ((featuring ‘Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues’ & ‘She Gives Me Love’) in ‘89 and ‘Unreal World’ (including ‘This Is War’ & ‘Believe In Yourself’) in ‘91 followed, with Chris Burrows replacing Kris Dollimore on guitar in time for the latter, after which The Godfathers left Epic and released two albums on German label Intercord in the early 1990s. The band ceased activity in 2000.
In 2008 The Godfathers reformed its original line-up, touring worldwide & releasing a greatly expanded re-issue of their debut ‘Hit By Hit’ & in 2010 a live album ‘Shot Live At The 100 Club’ was released as a DVD/CD set on Secret Records.
2011 saw the band release two download-only singles ‘Back Into The Future’ and ‘The Outsider’. ‘Primitive Man’ followed the next year and all were included on the album ‘Jukebox Fury’ in 2013. A new double A side single, ‘Till My Heart Stops Beating’ & ‘Rewind Time’ was released in June 2015 & the band undertook several European and UK tours, celebrating their 30th anniversary with a headline show at the 100 Club where they played 30 songs (one for each year) over the course of two sets.
A new studio album ‘A Big Bad Beautiful Noise’ was unleashed in February 2017, preceded by the single, ‘You Don’t Love Me’. Rave reviews hailed the album as the band’s best in many years, with Vive Le Rock claiming it was “up there with the Godfathers’ ’80s classics”. A critically acclaimed live album ‘This Is War! – The Godfathers Live!’ followed in 2019.
In 2020 the band will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary with a world tour & several new releases. A new single will be unveiled in 2020 followed by a brand new studio album in 2021.
Current line-up:
Billy Duncanson, Drums (ex Heavy Drapes)
Wayne Vermaak, Guitar (ex The Great St. Louis)
Peter Coyne, Vocals (The Godfathers’ founder member, ex The Sid Presley Experience)
Jon Priestley, Bass (ex The Damned)
Richie Simpson, Guitar (ex Heavy Drapes)