Los
Pistoleros
 The
musicians in Los Pistoleros had played together many
times before they became an Institution. They met playing
in groups in and around London and at recording sessions
for TV adverts, film sound tracks and other people’s
records. With a mutual respect and enjoyment in each
other’s musicianship it was only a matter of time before
they got together.
They have been called Britain's super-star Americana
band and the British (even though 2 of them are Irish)
answer to the Mavericks but they are not really “country”
players. Over the years they have worked separately
and severally with some of the top names in pop and
rock music.
The music they play encompasses the best elements
of the Americana that they love including: R’n’B, Tex-Mex,
Rock’n’Roll, Country and Swing. Recently they released
their debut CD, “Trigger-happy“, on
the legendary Track Records (www.trackrecords.co.uk)
to critical acclaim and later this year will see the
release of a live album recorded at Dingwalls in London.
Bobby Valentino
vocals, violin & rhythm guitar
Bobby first carved his reputation as a renegade virtuoso
during the Punk era as a founder member of The Fabulous
Poodles but is most often recognised as the violinist
and co-writer of the smash No.1 hit “Young at
Heart” by the Bluebells (the biggest selling
single of 1993). His inspirational violin playing has
gone on to be heard working with artists as varied as:
Bob Dylan; Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers;
Bob Geldof; Alabama 3, Shania Twain and he
is a regular member of Mark Knopfler's current
band. However, it is with Los Pistoleros that his song-writing
and his timelessly seductive singing come to the fore.
He has also performed in West End musical theatre:
in ”Destry Rides Again” with Alfred
Molina and Jill Gasgoine and
in “C.H.A.P.S.” at the Theatre Royal,
Stratford East. Occasionally he can be seen in films
and commercials, usually taking the part of Clark
Gable.
B.J.Cole (www.bjcole.co.uk)
pedal steel guitar
BJ is best known as the sonic terrorist of the pedal
steel and over the last 30 years has succeeded in pushing
the barriers of the instrument to uncharted territories.
He has worked alongside artists of the caliber of: Marc
Bolan; Sting; Pet Shop Boys; Pink Floyd; Elton John;
REM; Elvis Costello; The Verve; Robbie Williams and
Dolly Parton, and is featured heavily
featured on Shania Twain's current
album.
He has recently released 2 critically acclaimed albums
on Cooking Vinyl: "Stop the Panic"
(2000) a collaboration with Luke Vibert
and "Trouble in Paradise"(2004)
featuring contributions from Groove Armada
and Alabama 3.
Martin Belmont
lead guitar, 6 string bass & vocals
Martin started his playing career in the classic 70's
pub-rock band Ducks Deluxe. He later
went on to become a founder member of Graham
Parker & the Rumour, Nick Lowe’s Cowboy Outfit
and Carlene Carter’s CC Riders. But
the rôle he is most proud of is being the hands of Eddie
Grundy in the “Archers” on
BBC Radio 4 (the longest running soap-opera in the world)
- whenever Eddie ‘plays’ guitar, it is Martin, and he
never divulges future plot developments to the band
no matter how much they beg!
He released his debut solo album “Big Guitar”
(2001) on Demon Records to great acclaim. He has written
songs for Linda Rondstadt and in Los
Pistoleros he has been known to sing a song or two while
his guitar adds a grit and twang, and a splash of surf,
to the bands country boogie,.
Kevin Foster
bass & vocals
The word ’bass’ seems too small for what Kevin brings
to Los Pistoleros ... not only does he have the uncanny
ability to marshal the group's musical telepathy but
also, unlike his compadres he sees little need to name-drop.
If persuaded he will, however, admit to day-trips with
Hank Wangford and Jackie Leven.
The song he co-wrote with Sgnr. Belmont, “One
More Heartbreak” , (which, of course is on
the CD), can be heard in the Billy Connoly
and Sharon Stone movie “Beautiful
Joe“. With his lead and harmony vocals and
his boyish good looks, not to mention his burgeoning
song-writing talent, he’s an indispensable member of
the Platoon.
Jim Russell
drums
Jim is very reluctant to tell anything whatsoever
his past but rumour has it that he is as good a recording
engineer as he is a drummer (he thought he ought to
have a proper job). We did discover after many hours
of late night interrogation in the back room that he
has, in fact, worked for producers of the calibre of
Martin Rushent (Human League,
Stranglers, etc) and Langer
& Winstanley (Madness,
Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Elvis
Costello, etc), he ended up as “The
League’s” drummer and, of course, always sounded
fantastic. He still does.
He is now the “skin basher” of choice for Scotty
Moore (Elvis Presley’s guitarist)
and has just returned from recording an album with him
in Nashville. He was heard “bashing” on the outro of
the film “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”,
being the drummer on Stretch’s “Why Did You
Do It”. These days, he is
also a regular with Paul Young.
Lõs Pistõler`õs n. pl.[Sp.] 1.
Mexican/Spanish for the gunmen/bandits. 2. Latin for
“The Pistols”(Sex Pistols) 3. Pistolero much used in
continental Europe to describe a gigolo.
Los Pistoleros Reviews
CMI - November
2001
Trigger
Happy album Review - Graham Lees, from Traditional
Music Maker
Los Pistoleros
- at The Pineapple
Los Pistoleros
- Butterflies
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