The Lancasters

The Lancasters Vancouver BC Canada Hailing From Vancouver BC The Lancasters Were A Melodic Hard-Hitting Street-Punk Band Drawing Creative Influence From Both The British And European Oi And Punk Rock Scenes. Fronted By Greg Huff GLORY STOMPERS SUBWAY THUGS And Supported By Jay Hell AL Kang And Orville Lancaster The Band Was Widely Appreciated For It’s Gruff Vocals Sing Along Choruses And Pounding Rhythms. Originally Established As A Three Piece In The Spring Of 2000 The Lancasters Maintained A Constant Presence On The Western Canadian Punk Scene And Developed Loyal Fan-Base Throughout North America And Abroad In Europe. In November 2003 The Lancasters Released Their First Full Length CD “Alexander And Gore” In Collaboration With New York's Longshot Music. The Release Received Support From Fanzines Such As Maximum Rock And Roll And Received Regular Airplay On Local Radio Stations. In May 2004 The Band Was Showcased On The AMP Presents Vol. 2 Street Punk Compilation With The Likes Of THE UNSEEN THE CASUALTIES LARS AND THE BASTARDS THE SWINGING UTTERS ANTIFLAG And THE VIRUS. In The Spring Of 2005 Guitar Duties Were Passed To Jay Hell Who’s Rhythm And Ripping Leads Charge The Bands' Live Shows Song Writing And Studio Work Even More. The Band Hit The Studio In The Summer Of 2005 And Recorded Six Songs For Their Second Full-Length Album Which Was Scheduled For Release In Late 2005. In The Fall Of 2005 The Lancasters Called It Quits..... The Lancasters The Lancasters Were One Of Those Odd Outfits Organized By Producer Derek Lawrence Who Always Seemed To Have Access To The Likes Of Nicky Hopkins Ritchie Blackmore And Any Number Of Future Luminaries For Session Work During The Mid-1960's. Lawrence A One-Time Protege Of Joe Meek Put The Lancasters-Blackmore On Guitar Mick Underwood Drums And Chas Hodges Bass All Three From The Outlaws Plus Reg Price Saxophone And Hopkins Doubtless Between Gigs With The Hoochie Coochie Men At The Ivories-To Back A Girl Trio The Murmaids After A Fashion In A Version Of "To Know Him Is To Love Him." The Combo Had A Little Time Left Over At The End Of The Session And Lawrence Got Two Instrumentals Out Of Them "Earthshaker" And "Satan's Holiday " Which Were Released On A Very Obscure Single On The Titan Label Credited To The Lancasters. "Earthshaker" Was A Loud Crunching Instrumental Influenced By Chuck Berry And Somewhat Reminiscent Of His "Guitar Boogie" Which No Overdubs Just Blackmore And Company Ripping Through A Minute And Forty Seconds Of Basic Rock 'n Roll Licks. "Satan's Holiday " Was A High-Wattage Adaptation Of Grieg's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King " A Tune That Stayed In Blackmore's Stage Repertory Right Into The 1990's. The Guitarist's Clean Yet Sharp And Powerful Playing Of The Melody Is A Marvel Of Rock 'n Roll Virtuosity While Underwood's Drumming Coupling Charlie Watts-Type Steadiness With Little Jim McCarty-Style Flourishes Is The Other Notable Attribute. The Group Which Never Really Existed Never Released Another Record And Within A Year Of Its Release Blackmore Was Playing In An Outfit Called Roundabout Alongside Organist Jon Lord And On His Way To Making The Music He Liked. ~ Bruce Eder All Music Guide read less