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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBARRON KNIGHTSUK Comedy/vocal quintet formed '60. Original lineup didn't change through 6000-plus performances: Duke D'Mond, vocals; Peter Langford, guitar; Butch Baker, drums; Barron Anthony Osmond, bass; Dave Ballinger, drums. Formed in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire as straight pop group; played tours with Beatles, Rolling Stones etc but got greater audience response with humour, their vocal talent allowing passable irreverent imitations of big names. First hit "Call Up The Groups' (no. 3 UK '64) parodied Beatles, Dave Clark 5 and Freddie and the Dreamers, all then in vogue; the policy of alternating "straight' songs with parodies was abandoned after relative flop of "Come To The Dance' (no. 42). Notched up 4 more top 40 hits incl. "Pop Go The Workers' (no. 5), Xmassy "Merry Gentle Pops' (no. 9, both '65). When the novelty wore off they ideally suited for the cabaret circuit, especially abroad; switched to CBS from EMI '77 and found new audience parodying the next generation of pop stars with "Live In Trouble' '77, "A Taste Of Aggro' '78. "Never Mind The Presents' '80 was second Yule-related hit; by this time they aped Shakin' Stevens, Adam Ant, Cliff Richard ("Blackboard Jumble' '81), even the rubik cube fad ("Mr Rubik'). Their chart albums were Night Gallery, Teach The World To Laugh and Just A Giggle '78-80 on Epic. Trend-obsessed critics gave them up but their talent and nose for topicality kept them going much longer than most contemporaries. |