 Shootin' Goon started about five years ago (around 1998). Shut
away in Jimi's dark, damp bed-sit, the original three members,
Paul (guitar), Jimi (bass) and St.John of Caerphilly (original
singer) spent many hours drinking White
Lightening and desperately trying to sound like Operation Ivy.
As this obviously wasn't happening they decided that what they
really needed to set them apart was a brass section. So Paul quickly
set about bullying two horn players, Ferret and Dan (A.W.O.L) to
join the Goons. The final person to join up was Sam on Drums and
so the original Shootin' Goon line up was completed.
In the five years since they formed, there have been various comings
and goings (mainly due to dysfunctional singers and vanishing horn
players), but the main core of the band has remained the same for
about four years. The current line up features, Paul on guitar,
his BIG bruvva Jimi on bass and Sam on drums. The Goons are well
known for their very fine horn lines, this is all down to the boys
with the real talent, Tom on trombone, Nick on sax, Pindero also
on trombone and little Squeak on trumpet. Helping them along with
his quick wits and catchy vocal lines (not to mention his sharp
business sense!) is the most recent addition to the Goons....Matt
Cheap, who replaced James Alexander in 2002, after he decided to
ditch the punk rock lifestyle in the pursuit of the mighty dollar.
They draw influences from many different quarters, from classic
old reggae (Lee Perry, Eek a Mouse, Desmond Dekker, Toots) and
2-Tone ska (The Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, The Beat) to 80's
metal (Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies)as
well as the more obvious influences such as, Operation Ivy, Less
Than Jake, MU330, The Toasters, Rancid. What makes the Goons stand
out, is that they take these influences (and many more) and blend
them together to form something different to the tired old Ska/punk
formula. A unique style all of their own.
Over the past five years they have played with some of the biggest
ska and punk bands around and have toured all over the U.K and
Europe. But somehow, mainly due to a combination of bad luck and
the fact that they have so many members doing so many different
things (working, uni, running a record label, snowboarding..),
they aren't in the position that they should be in....at the top
of the U.K ska scene. But with a new found professionalism and
a thirst that hasn't been witnessed since the early days the Goons
are aiming to put this right, starting with a new album and some
extensive touring. So look out all you young pretenders, like a
phoenix rising from the ashes, the old boys are back, so lock up
your lightning and batten down the hatches 'cos the Goons are coming
to a town near you... soon.
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