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HISTORY
The musicians in
Los Pistoleros had played together many times before they became an institution.
They met playing in groups in and around London and at recording sessions for
TV adverts, film sound tracks and other peoples records. With a mutual respect
and enjoyment in each others musicianship it was only a matter of time before
they got together.
It was Martin Belmont who made the `phone calls. He was
offered a Tuesday night residency at a large central London Mexican restaurant
(sic) called "Break for the Border "(later to be named after one of the
band's songs). He'd already played there occasionally with a group called the
"Tex Pistols". So the new outfit decided to show that they were related and
took the handle "Los Pistoleros". Within a few weeks the line-up had settled
down into the one we know today with the exception of a steady, in the sense
of regular, drummer.
Drummers have included Pete Thomas, Alan Coulter, Bobby
Irwin, Al Savage, Ruben Alexander (now there's a story). The band is now very
settled with Jim Russell.
In those early days it was all done for fun, playing the
sort of music that they loved and didn't get to play with other people, mostly
centred on songs. As is the way of things, this relaxed approach to good music
created an audience and they were soon being invited to play at posh parties,
the capitals club's and being hired en-mass to play on sound tracks
as well as backing anyone who needed an "Americana " style band.
In no time at all they became part of the London music scene,
performing at such venues as: The Mean Fiddler, 100 Club, Dublin Castle and
the Weaver's Arms and recently opened the Millennium celebrations on New Years
Eve outside the Ministry of Defence next to the River Thames in central London.
They have also performed extensively throughout the United Kingdom including
a great show on the Acoustic Stage at "Glastonbury 99" .
Eventually, they got it together to record an album - which
is why we are here.
There are 11 tracks on the record, 7 of them originals and
4 covers of slightly obscure classic songs: "Dont Let the Stars.." was a hit
for Perry Como; "Cow Cow Boogie" was one of the first million selling records
when recorded by "Ella Mae Morse and the Freddie Slack Orchestra" in 1948;
in circa 1954 "Slowly" was the first hit record to include the, then, very
revolutionary sound of a pedal steel guitar, and with "Little Rock Getaway" the
band is showing off with a piano instrumental from 1938.
As can be seen from the choice of covers, their influences
are pre- and post- Rock'n'Roll as well as other forms and styles
of music. Check out the discographies in this part of the site and you'll find
they've played on everything:- Rock, Folk, Country, Dance, African, Pop, Heavy
Dub, Drum'n'Bass, - we could go on and list every musical style there is. BJ's,
alone, is worth checking out for its breadth and length!
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