List of the Godfathers band members

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The Godfathers are an English rock band from London, England. Formed in 1985, the group originally featured vocalist Peter Coyne, guitarists Mike Gibson and Kris Dollimore, bassist Chris Coyne and drummer George Mazur. The group has gone through many lineup changes, with Peter Coyne as the only constant member.

History[edit]

1985–2001[edit]

The Godfathers were formed in 1985 in London, England, by lead singer Peter Coyne and his bass-playing younger brother Chris.[1] After the breakup of their previous band the Sid Presley Experience, which released two singles in 1984,[2][3] the Coyne brothers recruited guitarists Mike Gibson and Kris Dollimore, and drummer George Mazur.[1] Calling themselves the Godfathers, the new band released the Capo Di Tutti Capi EP and two singles between November 1985 and September 1986[4] on their own Corporate Image label. The band's first album, Hit by Hit, followed in November 1986,[4] and consisted of the A and B-sides of the EP and two singles plus a previously unreleased track.[2]

February 1987 non-album single, "Love Is Dead",[5][6] was followed by the albums Birth, School, Work, Death (February, 1988) and More Songs About Love and Hate (May, 1989), by which time the band had signed to Epic Records. Kris Dollimore left the band in late 1989[2][7] and was replaced by Chris Burrows the following year. In the spring and summer of 1990,[8] the new lineup recorded Unreal World, which was released in March 1991.[9][10] George Mazur left shortly after the album's release[2] to be replaced by Ali Byworth.[9] The band's first live album, Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets, was recorded in February 1992[11] and released on Corporate Image the same year. It is the first Godfathers recording to feature Byworth and the final with Mike Gibson, who left the band later in the year.[2]

Reduced to a four-piece, the Godfathers signed with German label Intercord and released The Godfathers in 1993. The album would also be known as The Orange Album due to the citrus fruit that appeared on the cover.[1] Burrows and Byworth left in 1995, and a new lineup featuring drummer Grant Nicholas and guitarists Paul Ronney and Ricky Newson recorded 1995's Afterlife, the band's second and final Intercord release. By 1998, Ronney, Newson and Nicholas had left the Godfathers, who carried on with a changing lineup. With interest in the band slowly fading, the Godfathers broke up in 2000.[1] The band, however, reunited for two tribute shows in February 2001 and March 2002 for touring bassist Sam Powell, who died in 2001.[12][13]

2008–present[edit]

The Godfathers' original members reformed for a reunion tour in 2008,[14][15] but by 2009 the lineup had changed[1] to feature Peter and Chris Coyne, former Sid Presley Experience guitarist Del Bartle,[16] and a returning Grant Nicholas on drums.[1][17] The new lineup recorded the live album Shot Live at the 100 Club, released by Secret Records Limited in November 2010. It was followed in March 2013 by the band's first studio album in eighteen years, Jukebox Fury, released, like all subsequent releases, through the band's own label, Godfathers Recordings.[1][18] Nicholas had left the band during the recording sessions for Jukebox Fury to be replaced by Dave Twigg,[19] and Bartle, who left in 2014,[20] was replaced by two new guitarists, Steve Crittall and Mauro Venegas.[21] This lineup recorded the June 2015 double A-side vinyl single "Rewind Time"/"Till My Heart Stops Beating" before Chris Coyne left the band in 2016.[22] With new bassist Darren Birch the band recorded A Big Bad Beautiful Noise, released in February 2017.

The band's third live album, This Is War! The Godfathers Live!, was recorded in December 2017, by which time Venegas had been replaced by Alex McBain, and released in April 2019.[23] In August 2019,[24] Coyne fired the entire band and quickly assembled a new band consisting of bassist Jon Priestley, guitarists Richie Simpson and Wayne Vermaak, and drummer Billy Duncanson.[25][26] The new lineup's first release was the double A-side single "I'm Not Your Slave"/"Wild and Free" in June 2020.[25] The album Alpha Beta Gamma Delta was released in September 2022,[27] with the four-track Midnight Rider EP released ahead of the album in August, including two non-album tracks.[28]

Members[edit]

Present members[edit]

Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Peter Coyne
  • 1985–2000
  • 2001
  • 2002[13]
  • 2008–present[29]
 lead vocals All Godfathers releases
Jon Priestley 2019–present[30]
  • bass
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 Alpha Beta Gamma Delta (2022)
Richie Simpson
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
Wayne Vermaak
Billy Duncanson
  • drums
  • backing vocals

Former members[edit]

Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Chris Coyne
  • bass
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • accordion
  • backing vocals
  • occasional lead vocals
  • Hit by Hit (1986)
  • Birth, School, Work, Death (1988)
  • More Songs About Love and Hate (1989)
  • Unreal World (1991)
  • Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets (1992)
  • The Godfathers (1993)
  • Afterlife (1995)
  • Shot Live at the 100 Club (2011)
  • Jukebox Fury (2013)
Kris Dollimore
  • 1985–1989
  • 2008–2009
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Hit by Hit (1986)
  • Birth, School, Work, Death (1988)
  • More Songs About Love and Hate (1989)
Mike Gibson
  • Hit by Hit (1986)
  • Birth, School, Work, Death (1988)
  • More Songs About Love and Hate (1989)
  • Unreal World (1991)
  • Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets (1992)
George Mazur
  • 1985–1991
  • 2008–2009[31]
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • Hit by Hit (1986)
  • Birth, School, Work, Death (1988)
  • More Songs About Love and Hate (1989)
  • Unreal World (1991)
Chris Burrows 1990–1995[32]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Unreal World (1991)
  • Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets (1992)
  • The Godfathers (1993)
Ali Byworth 1991–1995
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets (1992)
  • The Godfathers (1993)
Paul Ronney
(aka Paul-Ronney Angel)
  • guitar
  • harmonica
  • backing vocals
 Afterlife (1995)
Ricky Newson
(aka Ronnie Rocka) 		1995-c. 1998[9]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
Grant Nicholas
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • Afterlife (1995)
  • Shot Live at the 100 Club (2011)
  • Jukebox Fury (2013)
Del Bartle 2009–2014[34][20]
  • guitar
  • bass
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • occasional lead vocals
  • Shot Live at the 100 Club (2011)
  • Jukebox Fury (2013)
Dave Twigg 2012-2014[20][19] drums Jukebox Fury (2013)
Mauro Venegas 2014-2017[35][36]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 A Big Bad Beautiful Noise (2017)
Steve Crittall 2014-2019[35][25]
  • A Big Bad Beautiful Noise (2017)
  • This Is War! The Godfathers Live! (2019)
Tim James 2014-2019[25][37]
  • drums
  • backing vocals
Darren Birch 2016-2019[25][38]
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Alex McBain 2017-2019[39][40]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 This Is War! The Godfathers Live! (2019)

Other contributors[edit]

Name Years active Instruments Details
Les Riggs 1998[9][41] drums Riggs toured with the Godfathers in 1998.
Sam Powell 2000[13] bass Powell toured with the Godfathers in 2000.
Igor
drums Igor toured with the Godfathers in 2000 and performed at a tribute gig for Sam Powell in 2001.
James Sterling 2001[13] guitar Sterling performed at a tribute gig for Sam Powell in 2001.
Gary Mills 2001[13] bass Mills performed at a tribute gig for Sam Powell in 2001.
Jason Pegg 2017[42] guitar Pegg toured with the Godfathers in 2017.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Deming, Mark. "The Godfathers Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Clarkson, John (11 January 2008). "Godfathers - Interview". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "The Sid Presley Experience - Reviews". Maximum Rocknroll. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b Coyne, Peter (2008). Hit by Hit (Liner notes). The Godfathers. Corporate Image. GFTRCD030.
  5. ^ "The Godfathers' 'Love Is Dead' was originally released 36 years ago Today! 14/2/87". Facebook. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ "The Godfathers' Peter Coyne Talks About "Birth School Work Death," Mick Jagger, Old/New Music Videos and the Band's New Album A BIG, BAD BEAUTIFUL NOISE". The Golden Age of Music Video. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ Buckley, Peter, ed. (October 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 432. ISBN 9781858284576.
  8. ^ Unreal World (Album liner notes). The Godfathers. Epic Records. 1991. 466952 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b c d e f Clarkson, John (13 January 2002). "Godfathers - Songs about Love and Hate : An Intro". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Biography". thegodfathersofficial.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ Dope, Rock 'n' Roll and Fucking in the Streets (Album liner notes). The Godfathers. Corporate Image. 1992. GFTR CD 020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Sam Powell's Rock 'N' Roll Circus". Cause I Said So. 2002. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Updates - Jul. 3, 2001: Some new photos from 2000 and 2001 Sam Powell Tribute Show". Cause I Said So. 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  14. ^ Gandolfi, Marco (21 December 2007). "The Godfathers reunite". Music-news.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  15. ^ Clarkson, John (2 December 2010). "Godfathers - Shot Live at the 100 Club". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  16. ^ Ranson, Gerry (12 February 2018). "The Real Nowhere Men!". Vive Le Rock. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. ^ Clarkson, John (13 January 2002). "Godfathers - Songs about Love and Hate : An Intro". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  18. ^ Chaddock, Ian (14 January 2013). "The Godfathers New Album". Vive Le Rock. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Clarkson, John (30 June 2013). "Godfathers - Interview Part 1". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  20. ^ a b c Doyle, Wesley (2 May 2014). "The Godfathers Have Split UP! Read The Full Story With Band Quotes Here…". Louder Than War. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Godfathers - Lexington, London, 31/10/2014". Pennyblackmusic. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Christopher Coyne will be taking an extended leave of absence from The Godfathers..." Facebook. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  23. ^ "This Is War! Godfathers Live!". Bandcamp. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Nothing lasts forever & I have decided to update The Godfathers' line up with immediate effect". Facebook. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d e Ironside, Gus (12 June 2020). "Single reviews - I'm Not Your Slave / Wild and Free". Is This Music?. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  26. ^ Watson, Denzil (26 November 2022). "Godfathers - Interview with Peter Coyne". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  27. ^ Babey, Ged (21 August 2022). "Alpha Beta Gamma Delta – album review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  28. ^ Phinky (23 July 2022). "The Godfathers Return With Upcoming "Midnight Rider" EP & "Alpha Beta Gamma Delta" Album". The Punk Site.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  29. ^ Watson, Denzil (16 July 2020). "Godfathers - Interview". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  30. ^ Clarkson, John (25 June 2020). "Godfathers - I'm Not Your Slave/Wild and Free". Pennyblackmusic. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  31. ^ a b c "The Godfathers lose 2 founding members, announce new lineup, more concerts". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Chris Burrows - About Me". StarNow. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  33. ^ Lundestad, Svein (6 August 2014). "Starter norgesturne på Brygga". Herøyfjerdingen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Del Bartle: Experience". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Godfathers - Lexington, London, 31/10/2014". Pennyblackmusic. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Mauro Venegas: Experience". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  37. ^ Haslam, Martin (4 November 2014). "The Godfathers The Lexington, London – live review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  38. ^ Sullivan, Damian (26 February 2018). "The Godfathers, Fukdust4 – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham Friday 23/02/2018". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Say hello to Alex McBain everybody - Alex is the NEW guitarist in The Godfathers". Facebook. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  40. ^ "Review: The Godfathers – 'This Is War! The Godfathers, Live!' (Godfathers Recordings)". RPM Online. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  41. ^ Wisniewski, John (10 March 2021). "Les Riggs: "Once a drummer, always a drummer"". Stalker Magazine. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  42. ^ "The Godfathers". The List. 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2023.


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