The Piranhas

The Piranhas were a ska-influenced punk band from Brighton.

They were formed in 1977, and were originally part of the Brighton punk scene. They first came to prominence when DJ John Peel started playing their single "I Don't Want My Body" on his BBC Radio 1 programme, but achieved their biggest success with their cover version of the South African kwela song "Tom Hark". This had been an instrumental hit in 1958 for Elias & His Zig Zag Jive Flutes, and had already been covered in a ska style by Millie Small. With new lyrics written by the band's frontman "Boring" Bob Grover, it was a Top 10 hit in 1980. It was the first song to feature on BBC Television's pop music programme, "Top of the Pops", when it returned in 1980 after being blacked out for several months by industrial action. It also became a popular chant amongst British football fans the tune being used for songs such as Premier League, You're Havin' A Laugh. It is also popular at limited-overs cricket games, often being played when as boundary is hit, and the tune was also used in the novelty World Cup song "We're England", performed by the presenters of the radio station talkSPORT with adapted lyrics for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals. Two years later the band's version of Lou Busch's "Zambesi" - produced by Pete Waterman - was a Top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart.

The band had nothing to do with a song that entered the UK charts in 2005, a remake of their biggest hit entitled "Tom Hark (We Want Falmer)", recorded under the name of Seagulls Ska, featuring Brighton resident Attila the Stockbroker and members of the ska band, Too Many Crooks. This was to help raise money for a new stadium for Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. (nicknamed "The Seagulls") at Falmer.

"Boring" Bob Grover still lives in Brighton and is currently gigging around the UK with his new band 'DATES'.They released their debut album, 'First party, fire and theft' on Hah! Records in March 2007.

Guitarist Johnny Helmer went on to become a writer. He is best known for writing lyrics for Marillion's second incarnation with Steve Hogarth after the departure of Fish. He also published a novel entitled "Mother Tongue" in 1999. As a day job, he works in marketing for a Brighton company (as of 1999) [Jane Ridley, "Eighties hit is No.1 with soccer fans", "The Mirror", October 15, 1999 [http://www.stockaitkenwaterman.com/artists/pira01.htm] ] .

Discography

1980
* "Tom Hark" (Sire - SIR4044) #6 UK
* "I Don't Want My Body" (Sire - SIR4046)
* " Zambesi" (Dakota) # 17 UK

* LP - "The Piranhas" (Sire - SRK6098) #69 UK

Original line-up (1977-81)

* Bob Grover - guitarist, lead vocals, trumpeter
* Dick Slexia (Richard Adland) - drummer
* Johnny Helmer - guitarist, vocals
* Reginald Frederick Hornsbury - bassist
* Zoot Alors - saxophonist

References

External links

* [http://www.punkbrighton.co.uk/piranh.html Band biography]