Break-up and reformation [ edit ] Buster Bloodvessel performing with Bad Manners at Club Citta, Japan, 1991 Q. If all the bands in the Badfest line-up still tour and still attract loads and loads of fans, why are they largely ignored by media and record companies? With Bad Manners, Buster won a place in the nation’s hearts as the bald headed, tongue wagging, Can Can dancing bootboy who spread the band’s philosophy of partying, having a good time and not taking yourself too seriously around the world. I feel a bit like I’m on a mission like Billy Butlins! I’d like this weekend to have that much appeal so that people would say “yes – you’ve almost achieved Billy Butlins status” which is to encourage people to come here for the weekend and have a blooming good time! a b c "The Journal - All manner of mayhem". Journal-online.co.uk. 19 September 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.

Buster: Yes – there will be. There’s going to be a hog roast, sumo wrestling and all sorts of strange little wonderful things going on. There’ll be some comedians in places to keep people entertained as well and to give that party atmosphere. But I really am relying on the bands that I’ve chosen who are possibly some of the best bands that play live and have done for at least the last 30 years. After becoming popular in their native London, Bad Manners signed a recording contract with Magnet Records in 1980, and became regular guests on television shows such as Tiswas. The band also appeared on The British Music Awards (1981) and Cheggers Plays Pop. In 1985, they also appeared on The Time of Your Life, hosted by Noel Edmonds. Being closely associated with the 2 Tone movement (though never signed to 2 Tone Records itself), they were one of six bands featured in the 1981 documentary film Dance Craze. [1]

The group then went on to sign a contract with Portrait Records in the United States and Mental Notes was released in 1985. For two years the band toured continuously all over the world but decided to disband in 1987. a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.39. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. One of the main reasons for their notoriety was their outlandish huge-tongued and shaven-headed frontman, Buster Bloodvessel. His manic exploits got them banned from the British BBC TV chart show Top of the Pops, for painting his head red. [5] The band was also banned from Italian TV after Bloodvessel mooned a concert audience on live television at the 1983 Sanremo Music Festival, [6] after being told that the Pope was watching on TV. [5] [6] Morris, Joanna (12 December 2016). "Good manners of Teesside trio save legendary ska act Bad Manners' 40th anniversary tour". thenorthernecho.co.uk. From their beginnings as a school group in 1976, throughout their chart success of the 80s (11 top 20 hits) right up to the present day this troupe of ska troubadours have maintained a punishing live schedule and deserve their billing as 'the hardest working band on the planet'.

Buster: My side of this is definitely promotions and making it a great event. I’ve networked all around places like the Midlands and the North and the West and London of course. That is a place where we are really going to aim at bringing people out for the weekend which is always a good thing to do – people need to get out of London.

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Buster: Oh totally – I perform like I was 18 again. I’ve just got this mad idea that my body seems to be getting better and younger and fitter and as long as I’ve got that in my head and my body’s responding I’m not complaining! They [other bands] all have their bouts of doing maybe more gigs than us for two or three years but not 30 years. Not even the Rolling Stones have done that much. And they fly everywhere and it’s all luxurious! a b c d e f g h i j k "Bad Manners upcoming tours 2023". eventim.co.uk. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link) Buster: For us it’s just like a big holiday and it always has been and that’s how we like to keep it. So I would say that we do roundabout 200-250 gigs a year and have done every year and no other band has ever come near that! We’ve always had such a good time that we just want to do another one as soon as one's finished! a b Walters, Sarah (4 September 2008). "Tongue and groove with Buster..." manchestereveningnews.co.uk.

Buster: We were originally booked to play the club that they’ve got here. It was a nice Christmas do and it wasn’t over sold but we saw the potential here to have a brilliant festival. Nobody else has probably ever seen this potential and we want to be the first to really set it alight really because I’m sure in years to come this will be a well-known place – certainly a landmark. I’m expecting a lot of these bands to actually outplay themselves because there’s never really been a line up quite as good as this and that will encourage each of the bands to perform more.

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Q. You are billed as ‘the hardest working band on the planet’– how many gigs do you normally do in a year? It’s increased my will to live and it’s made my health and fitness so much better. It’s a shame because I was a very happy fatty but now I understand both sides of the fence and I wish I’d done this a long time ago because health is the most important thing. Lip up Fatty, Special Brew, The Can Can, Lorraine, My Girl Lollipop, Just a Feeling and Walking in the Sunshine.