Shabby Tiger ready to rock comeback gig
JON MACPHERSON
THEY may now all be in their 60s and 70s but Shabby Tiger aim to show they’re still rocking at their comeback gig.
It’s been nearly 45 years since the local band performed together but a nostalgic call from cofounder Steve Pickering provided the perfect excuse to take the stage at the Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre next month.
The rock/pop band came together in 1972 and after touring around Britain and Europe they were discovered by RCA records.
Their first single ‘Slow Down’ went on to spend several weeks at number one in the charts in Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium, Germany and South Africa.
They released several singles and one album and appeared on popular TV programmes like “Lift Off” and “45”.
In Europe, the band also performed on the
Dutch chart show “Top Pop” with other artists, including ELO, Pete Wingfield and Thin Lizzy.
The original line-up was Henderson Gibson on vocals, Steve Pickering on lead guitar, Mike Ryan on bass, Toni Baker on keyboards and Graham Fielden on drums. Steve, Toni and Graham have now reformed the band and are being supported by new members Pete ‘Skip’ Holroyd on bass and vocals, and both Kathy Stewart and Christine Pickering on backing vocals.
Steve, originally from Oswaldtwistle, will now perform lead vocals following the death of Henderson three years ago.
The former Accrington Grammar School pupil said the Civic Theatre is the ‘perfect’ comeback venue and they can’t wait to perform.
He said: “I thought the time was right to get back together and give it a try and see how we go on.
“The reason we are doing the gig in Oswaldtwistle is because, let’s be honest about it, if we were to do something in Hull they wouldn’t have heard of Shabby Tiger.
“Although the band were very big in Europe, Scandinavia and South Africa, nothing really happened in this country.
“But locally in the Hyndburn and Blackburn area, if you were to ask people of my age then a lot would remember the name of the band.
“I thought the best place to have a reunion gig was in the local area.”
Steve, 69, said they have also received strong interest from old fans in Scandinavia and will perform several gigs in July and August.
After Shabby Tiger broke up in 1976 all of the members continued playing music professionally, with Toni playing keyboards with The Dakotas.
He also wrote the theme tune to Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights and the backing music for the show and Max and Paddy.
Steve added: “Every member of the band is a professional entertainer in their own right. I have been doing it most of my life since then as a living, as have most of the other members of the band.”
The gig at the Civic Theatre will be held on Friday, February 7, at 7.30pm and the set list includes all of their original hits and classic tracks.
Tickets cost £12 in advance or £14 on the door. To book visit www. civicartscentre. co. uk/ shabbytiger