The Bad Shepherds — fronted by Adrian Edmondson, best known as a comedian for his work in The Young Ones, Bottom, and The Comic Strip Presents — play punk songs on folk instruments.
Not as a gag, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember, they love folk instruments, it works. They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, The Ramones, The Buzzcocks, The Specials, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others — even Kraftwerk!
They've mostly given the songs a kind of Celtic feel, and they've stuck in the odd reel and jig here and there. But occasionally they just thrash! They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the '70s. World-renowned Troy Donockley plays the ethereal uillean pipes and the bouzouki with Andy Dinan on the fiddle; the three of them now form the core of the band with occasional guest musicians.
Adrian plays the mandolin. Music isn't a lark for him; he's played the Monsters Of Rock and Reading Festivals with Bad News, the Hootenanny with Jools Holland, and Hyde Park with The Who; he's toured with The Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band; and he's had a number one single with Cliff Richard. Sure, why not? He's also directed music videos for The Pogues, Squeeze, Elvis Costello and 10,000 Maniacs.
The Bad Shepherds have released two albums, Yan Tyan Tethera Methera! in April 2009 and By Hook Or By Crook in 2010. They toured extensively in 2011 before taking a sabbatical in 2012 whilst Troy the pipe player went on a world tour with Finish goth metal band Nightwish and Adrian toured his side project The Idiot Bastard Band. The band are back for festivals and touring in 2013.
They opened their Australian tour with shows at The Gov (Adelaide) and The Corner (Richmond) last weekend they've got the following dates left:
Fri May 3 — Factory Theatre (Sydney)
Sun May 5 — The Zoo (Brisbane)
Wed May 8 — The Astor (Perth)
