1. The V… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two different bands called The V.I.P.'s.
1. The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, (North West England) in late 1963.
2. The V.I.P.'s were a British power pop group of the late 1970s, closely associated with the mod revival scene at the time.
More information on both groups...
1. The V.I.P.'s were a British R&B musical ensemble formed in Carlisle, Cumberland, (North West England) in late 1963, formed out of an earlier outfit known as The Ramrods, who had formed in Carlisle in 1960. After a change of personnel in April 1967, the band changed their name to Art, and released the album Supernatural Fairy Tales. They also participated to a psychedelic bizarre album called Featuring The Human Host And The Heavy Metal Kids by a collective known as Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, formed by Guy Stevens and an influential British graphic design and avant-garde musical partnership between Michael English and Nigel Waymouth. The musicians involved in that project were Mike Harrison on keys and vocals, Luther Grosvenor on guitars, Greg Ridley on bass and Mike Kellie on drums, as well as performances by Stevens, English and Waymouth. It was the first time that the term heavy metal was ever used in music, even though that album had nothing to do with heavy metal music, being closer to psychedelic music. That album was published in 1967 on Liberty Records and contained only five songs from two minutes to more than 15 minutes of psychedelic and almost meditative state kind of music.
The band members at various times were: Mike Harrison (lead vocals) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas, The Ramrods); Greg Ridley (bass guitar) (ex Dino and the Danubes, The Dakotas); Frank Kenyon (rhythm guitar) (1963–67) (born 12 October 1945, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); Jimmy Henshaw (lead guitar) (1963–67) (born James Henshaw, 20 October 1941, in Newarthill, near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland died 1 May 2007, Carlisle) (ex The Ramrods); Keith Emerson (electric organ) (ex-Gary Farr & The T-Bones) (1966–1967); Luther Grosvenor (lead guitar) (1967); Walter Johnstone (drummer) (1963–67) (born 11 March 1943, Carlisle) (ex The Teenages, The Ramrods); and Mike Kellie (drummer) (1967) (24 March 1947 – 18 January 2017).
When Emerson left in early 1967 to form The Nice, Harrison, Ridley, Grosvenor and Kellie changed their name to 'Art', and released one album, Supernatural Fairy Tales, produced by Guy Stevens, on that album they covered Stephen Stills' For what it's worth and Felix Cavaliere's Come on up. And then they became Spooky Tooth. Greg Ridley then left to join Steve Marriott and form Humble Pie, who were more blues oriented. And as for Spooky Tooth, they were soon joined by american keyboard player Gary Wright.
Discography
Singles
"She's So Good" / "Don't Keep Shouting at Me" (UK RCA, 1964)
"Mercy Mercy" / "That's My Woman" (U.S. only single, produced by Derek Lawrence)
"Wintertime" / "Anyone" (as The Vipps, CBS)
"I Wanna Be Free" / "Don't Let It Go" (Island)
"Straight Down to the Bottom" / "In a Dream" (Island)
"Sunshine Help Me" (Island - as 'Spooky Tooth')
Albums
Supernatural Fairy Tales (Island ILP967 - as 'Art')
Compilation albums
CD compilation: The Complete V.I.P.s (double album, 28 tracks) (Repertoire Records)
2. Describing themselves as "a new wave pop fun beat combo, into T. Rex, Ramones, Jonathan Richman, Beatles, Bowie", The V.I.P.'s came together at Warwick University in Coventry, although they were subsequently based in South-West London. Comprising Jed Dmochowski (vocals, guitar), Guy Morley (guitar), Andrew Price (bass) and Paul Shurey (drums), they débuted in July 1978 with Music for Funsters, a three-track release. After a split single with Urban Disturbance they signed to Gem Records, where they released a string of singles that interested on the mod revival circuit. Morley and Shurey (the latter a leading rave promoter in later years) then formed Neo-psychedelic band Mood Six, while Jed Dmochowski recorded solo for the Whaam label.
Stagger Lee
The V.I.P.'s Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
When I heard my bull dog bark.
He was barkin at the two men
Who were gamblin in the dark.
It was stagger lee and billy,
Two men who gambled late.
Stagger lee threw a seven,
tagger lee, said billy,
I cant let you go with that.
You have won all my money,
And my brand-new stetson hat.
tagger lee went home
nd he got his .44.
He said, Im goin to the ballroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.
go, stagger lee
Stagger lee went to the ballroom
And he strolled across the ballroom floor.
He said you did me wrong, billy.
And he pulled his .44.
Stagger lee, said billy,
Oh, please dont take my life!
Ive got three hungry children,
And a very sickly wife.
tagger lee shot billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
That a bullet went through billy
And broke the bartenders bar.
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
The lyrics of The V.I.P.'s's song "Stagger Lee" tell the story of a confrontation and eventual fatal shooting between two men, Stagger Lee and Billy, over a gambling debt. The song begins with the singer standing on the corner, hearing his bull dog bark at the two men gambling in the dark - Stagger Lee and Billy. It is clear that there is tension and stakes are high as Stagger Lee throws a seven and Billy claims he threw an eight, leading to a dispute over money and a brand-new stetson hat.
Stagger Lee, feeling wronged by Billy, decides to take matters into his own hands and goes home to retrieve his .44 gun with the intention of settling the debt in the ballroom. As he enters the ballroom, he confronts Billy and accuses him of doing him wrong before pulling out his gun. Billy pleads for his life, mentioning his three hungry children and sickly wife, but Stagger Lee is not swayed. He shoots Billy with such force that the bullet goes through him and breaks the bartender's bar, highlighting the intensity and brutality of the act.
The repeated refrain of "Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee!" at the end of the song echoes the sense of inevitability and the notion of Stagger Lee asserting his power and dominance in the situation. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a violent and tragic event fueled by pride, jealousy, and the desire for retribution. Stagger Lee's actions are portrayed as decisive and ruthless, showcasing a complex character driven by a sense of justice, however twisted it may be perceived in the eyes of others.
Overall, the song "Stagger Lee" captures the raw emotions and consequences of a deadly altercation, exploring themes of power, revenge, and the destructive nature of conflict. The narrative unfolds with a mix of storytelling and lyrical repetition, drawing listeners into the chilling tale of Stagger Lee and Billy's fateful encounter. The lyrics invite interpretation and reflection on the darker aspects of human nature and the unforeseen outcomes of actions taken in the heat of the moment.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerome J. Garcia, Robert C. Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Melodia
Eu Acompanho o Ritmo e Salto .... E salto ainda mais!!! Fantastic!
Cook moore
Amazing assortment of band hopping Keith did :)
WeAreAllOne ExceptForThatGuy
Blues, and Keith's boogie-woogie keyboards - great combination!
jorge da c.franca
Fantastic Rythm !
TheFearlessFreep
very old blues tune, covered really well.
Jorge Melodia
Yeah --- blues and something more
Jorge Melodia
In my vain right now
Norman Hartendorp
Funny, but I don’t see Keith Emerson in that photo. At first, I thought it was the 2nd guy from the left, but I think that’s Greg Ridley (who went on to play for Humble Pie, BTW)
Mike West
Keith Emerson is NOT in the picture and DOES NOT play on this track !
tonewheelkev
What was on the B-Side????