The Band
Pics

The band were named after the Willie Dixon song "Backdoorman", popularised by the Doors, and were formed in 1986, a time when blues was thin on the ground nationally and locally.
The core members of Jeff Fuller, vox/harp/slide, Graham Sleeman, guitars and vox, Kenneth Hodge , bass and vox and Chris Pank drums , have been together for all of that time, altho' other musical interests have taken precedence sometimes. Graham moonlighted in slick club bands for big money before returning to the blues, while Jeff spent six years as a member of Julian Pipers Junkyard Angels, touring with Louisiana bluesman Tabby Thomas in 1994 and playing blues festivals in Belgium, Ireland and even Baton Rouge USA in 1998. Chris has played with so many bands he probably can't remember them all! These include Plymouth band "Third Avenue" and South West rockers, "Forged". Kenny stayed pretty true to the cause throughout and his rock solid, bottom end bass playing has always been a trademark of the band. In many ways he has been responsible for keeping the band's sound distinctively their own. Over the last 20 plus years. Backdoormen have just kept going, building up a loyal fan base in the South West and a huge repertoire of bluesy material.

We have played the Colne Blues Festival, Lancashire, several Exeter blues festivals and have done gigs with Geno Washington, Big Town Playboys, Jesse "Guitar"Taylor, Graham Kneale, and even Screaming Lord Sutch, God bless him.

Over the last ten years Backdoormen featured Gian Bansall on second guitar. (He plays beautiful Peter Green style licks) although he is 'taking a break' for the moment. The fabulous Tucker Sisters, Kate and Vanessa, feature on lead and backing vocals for over half of the set. Their input into the band is immense. Kate sings like Aretha Franklin while Vanessa is more Bonnie Raitt. What a combination! They look great too.

The band have always served as a magnet for up and coming talent and have often incorporated other musicians, notably Steve Keys, Keyboards, Colin Morice, saxaphones and even a four piece rocking brass section on occasions.

What sort of music should you expect at a Backdoormen gig? Well, the basic line up always features lashings of harmonica and guitar, but the band manage to produce a whole range of musical textures from straight ahead, Chicago style blues, to funky workouts like "Buddy Buddy Friends" and the self penned "Nightshift" available on the CD. When Kate and Vanessa are on board, expect to be blown away by Aretha covers like "Chain of fools" and even the odd Tina Turner number. Both girls swap verses on "Nobody's business" and Vanessa covers "Love me like a man", a Chris Smither song from an early Bonnie Raitt album. Lots of blues then, but tightly played, ranging from down home stuff to bang up to date, self- penned classics. You won't get the same old twelve bars all night, not that there's anything wrong in that, but it's just not our style. We even throw in a handful of 60s/70s pop and soul numbers although they MUST have that blues feel. We love the audience to dance - and they always do. Come and check us out. Treat yourself to our CD "Small town affair",with ten original numbers and a storming "live in the studio" set of more traditional material, from Billy Boy Arnold to the Temptations, featuring the big line up.