Dumpy's Rusty Nuts

Dumpy's Rusty Nuts are a biker rock band in every sense of the term -- not only do they play the sort of loud, heavy, riff-driven bar boogie you'd expect, but singer and lead guitarist Graham "Dumpy" Dunnell actually started out as a motorcycle mechanic before making the switch to rock & roll. Dunnell's first gig was with a pub rock band called Borzoi, which didn't survive the punk revolution; he briefly joined an Elvis Costello-influenced new wave band called the Rivvits before deciding it didn't reflect his musical taste. In 1981, Dunnell formed a boozy blues/boogie unit called Dumpy's Dirt Band; early the following year, he assembled the more focused Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, with bassist Mac McKensie and drummer Chris Hussey. In June 1982, Dumpy's Rusty Nuts issued their debut single, "Just for Kicks," which became a minor metal hit in the U.K. The follow-up, "Boxhill or Bust," became a British biker anthem; it featured new bassist Jeff Brown, and was actually released as Dumpy's Rusty Bolts since the BBC banned their proper name. Both singles were released on the Blues Band's house label, Cool King, and the Rusty Nuts' subsequent tour supporting the Blues Band (the post-Manfred Mann group of Paul Jones) cemented their reputation. By that time, bass duties had passed to Kerry Longford, in a revolving-door situation that would continue for most of the band's history. Dumpy's Rusty Nuts released their debut album, Somewhere in England (which contained their two prior singles), in 1984 and hit the road in support. Hot Lover followed in 1985, as did 1987's Get Out on the Road -- an apt description of the band's philosophy, since even as their recording activity diminished and their rhythm section personnel came and left, they remained an active touring and performing unit. Starting in 1995, the lineup stabilized with bassist Martin Connolly and drummer Andy Smith, and the band continued to play hard rock and motorcycle festivals around the U.K. ~ Steve Huey