The Guv'nors

The Guv’nors are: Robert Hokum (guitar / vocals), Graham Wright (bass / vocals), Nigel Appleton (drums / vocals), Tim Strange (percussion), Mick Hutchings (guitar), Tim Penn (keyboards), Sam Adams (sax / vocals).

The Guv’nors, a sonic collision of Blues, Funk and Acid Jazz were formed in 1988 by guitarist/vocalist Robert Hokum and began as a Chicago Blues band who were influenced by psychedelic funk, acid jazz and Latin percussion. In doing so, they have gained a solid reputation as one of the best and most original bands on the blues circuit of London and the Home Counties.

They have made several albums, have played many major festivals, and have had their recordings played on several radio stations and ‘in-flight’ programmes. Their work has also been used on commercials and sampled for ‘house’ records.

Since 1989, The Guv’nors have been the mainstay of The Ealing Summer Blues Party (part of the Ealing Festival) with an estimated turn-out of 20,000 people. They are one of the longest serving bands on the Blues Circuit and are one of a select few who specialise in ‘funk-blues’. Featuring prominent percussion, the Latin section of the performance is a regular show-stopper. The reviews of their gigs and selected press quotes are as follows:

“Awesome talent (the percussion section)” (Blues Matters)

“Very excellent………strong material with real commitment”( Boogaloo Promotions)

“A raucous set, whipping the audience to a dancing frenzy” (Blues in Britain)

“Hokum wants to get funky and funky is exactly what it gets...underlying it all is the blues. But, whatever was thrown in the pot it’s come out all funked up. What the music isn’t, is slavish or servile. And it sure ain’t sitting down...” (Blueprint)’

“Well good. I recommend you go and see the Guv’nors if you can, its a right crack. Worth a couple of quid of anyone’s money.” (Blueprint)

“Chugging stormy blues of the gloriously gruff and rough Guv’nors” (Time Out)

“Cooking on gas” (Time Out)

The Guv’nors have produced several albums to date:

Between the Hum and the Hiss (1989), Red Hot Conkers (1990), Un’Natchl Blues (1991), Strange but Blue (1992), A Funky Spanking of the Blues (1995), Getting to the Point of the Get Down (1999), Live – Bootleg (2001), Blue Murder – The Best of the Guv’nors 1989-1999 (2002), Walpole Park 2004 Bootleg, and their latest album Kickin’ It Back is scheduled for release in February 2006.