The Prowlers

The band around Paul "Greggs" Gregory comes from the South West of England. The core of The Prowlers have been playing together for a long time now. Two decades of friendship between various people whose paths have crossed many times on a musical journey that has still to run its course.

Back in the early 1980s Paul “Greggs” Gregory, Simon “Coppz” Coppin and Robert “Rockin’ Rob” Thomas used to hang with the local bands, rockers and Teds at Grimsby. Rockabilly music being their common bond, they decided to form a band. They started rehearsing in the garage of Greggs's folks. Greggs on bass and vocals, Coppz on drums and Rockin' Rob on guitar, But being not satisfied with the result, after some time the boys went their separate ways for some years, but the seed had been sewn.

In 1986 Greggs took his bull fiddle and went to live in Manchester for 5 years. He learnt to play it and joined "Big Ed and His Rockin' Rattlesnakes" and gained much needed experience playing many dates in the UK and Europe and recording his first albums. During this period Coppz got to play with the “Riot Rockers” and the “Blue Dakotas”, and Rockin' Rob was developing his style playing regular shows with the “Rockets”.

After returning to Grimsby in 1990 Greggs hooked up with Coppz and Rob again. They had the makings of a new band in place with John Cheeseman playing slap bass and asked Greggs if he would like to try his hand at fronting this band, a Neo Rockabilly outfit called "The Fat Slags". They managed to keep this together for a year, playing shows and recording their first album together "The Fat Slags - Live at the Winter Gardens". The band came to an abrupt end when asked to support Charlie Gracie. They caused a drink fuelled riot and Mr. Gracie vowed never to work with them again. They went there separate ways. Rob running to hide in London.

In 1992 two of the original Riot Rockers, Ray Firth and Alf Ludlam, approached Greggs and Coppz to join a band with them. They were now members of "The Rockets". They had a successful couple of years playing shows in the UK and Europe and recorded the album "Keep A Rollin'" - the first album to have an original track written by Greggs on it - “Travellin' Man”.

In 1994 they both left the Rockets to form a band with Rockin' Rob who had returned from London. "The Blue Ridge Stompers", a Rockin' Country band that also had Big Ron Thompson on pedal steel and Firth on fiddle. They were getting closer to the sound they had been searching for and the song writing was getting easier for Greggs. They recorded the album "The Blue Ridge Stompers" and played many shows and festivals.

In 1995 Greggs joined the Riot Rockers on bass after John Cheeseman left. He toured the UK and Europe with the band and played bass on their album "Back with a Vengeance". Coppz joined Greggs in the Riot Rockers in 1996, and for a couple of years they were kept very busy with the band.

Due to musical differences and a need to play something a little more challenging, they left the Riot Rockers in 1998. They formed a Rockin' Blues combo with Stravin' Sid on guitar and vocals and Darren Brown on Saxophone. The band "Saturnuranus" quickly became popular. During this year Greggs also started playing bass for the "Hubcaps", a traditional Rockabilly trio, and when the need for a new guitar player came about he was informed of a young kid now playing bass for the Riot Rockers who was up to the job. That's how Guy "Trigger" Triggsley became part in the history of the Prowlers.

Simon “Coppz” Coppin
Drums

Robert “Rockin’ Rob” Thomas
Lead guitar

Guy “Trigger” Triggsley
Double bass

Paul “Greggs” Gregory
Vocals & guitar

In 1999 Greggs met up with Rockin' Rob once more and they decided after nearly 20 years it was time to do their own thing, they just needed to find the rest of the band they needed. Over a year songs were written, a list of band members came and went, and they rehearsed hard. Trigger joined them on double bass and Coppz finally joined. The Prowlers had arrived. During the first year they also recorded their first album "Watch out for the Prowlers", using many of the cats who had come and gone in that time.

They have played many shows, become well known on the Rockabilly music scene, appeared on shows all over the UK and Europe and at some of the premier events including two shows at the Hemsby Rock and Roll Weekender. In spring 2001 the guys’ second album entitled “Hot Sauce” was released on Cherokee Records. The album was greeted with many 5 star reviews. Due to their rising popularity and renown they have all frequently been used by other bands for session work and live performance. The Blue Devils, The Blue Dots, The Hicksville Bombers and Country Cattin', to name a few.

In 2003 Greggs moved to the South West and started work on the latest Prowlers release "Last Man Standing" with the bands first line up change for 3 years. On the new CD the band features Ian Hibbet (Ex Rough Diamonds) on drums and Upton Lovell on bass. "Last Man Standing" contains 20 previously unreleased songs, 17 of which are original, self-penned songs by Paul Gregory and Robert Thomas. The Prowlers’ style is unique and stands out from the mass of contemporary Rockabilly bands, their musical influences ranging from Hank Williams and 50s Rockabilly to early Neo Rockabilly.

With their third album release on Cherokee Records, the Prowlers again have proved their skills as songwriters and musicians - and that they have reached the goal they have set themselves: KEEPING ROCKABILLY REAL!

Ian Hibbet
Drums

Robert “Rockin’ Rob” Thomas
Lead guitar

Upton Lovell
Double bass

Paul “Greggs” Gregory
Vocals & guitar

Discography:

“Watch Out for The Prowlers” CD
Tune ‘a’ Fish Records

“Hot Sauce” CD (CHER-CD 104107 )
Cherokee Records (2001)

VA - “Hot & Wild Vol. 1” CD (CHER-CD107108)
Cherokee Records (2001)

“Last Man Standing” CD (CHER-CD 405112)
Cherokee Records (2004)

VA - “Hot & Wild Vol. 2” CD (CHER-CD 504113)
Cherokee Records (2005)

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