Coffin Nails

The Coffin Nails are a classic UK psychobilly band that came out of Reading, England in 1985. They’re part of that second wave of British psychobilly bands that followed the early scene set by groups like The Meteors, mixing punk aggression with rockabilly rhythms and a strong dose of dark humor and horror themes. From early on, they built a reputation for being loud, energetic, and not taking themselves too seriously.

 
The band’s early lineup included Tony Szajer on vocals, Steve “Humungus” Clarke on guitar, Gra Farr on bass, and Toby “Juggy” Griffin on drums. They quickly started playing shows and supporting other psychobilly acts, which helped them get noticed around the UK scene. Juggy later went on to play with The Meteors, which also helped cement Coffin Nails’ place in psychobilly history.

 
Their debut album, 'Ein Bier Bitte', came out in 1987 on Nervous Records and is often seen as a cornerstone of their early sound. It’s raw, fast, and full of that tongue-in-cheek psychobilly attitude. Not long after, Steve “Humungus” Clarke took over lead vocals, and the band released 'A Fistful of Burgers' in 1988 on Link Records, pushing their sound in a heavier, more guitar-driven direction.

 
Through the late ’80s and ’90s, Coffin Nails released several albums and live recordings, including 'Who’s He?', 'Live & Rockin’', and 'Wreckers Yard'. Like many long-running psychobilly bands, their lineup changed over the years, especially on drums and bass, but the core sound stayed the same. They continued playing clubs and festivals across the UK and Europe, becoming regulars on the psychobilly festival circuit. 

 
In the 2000s, they were still very much active, releasing albums like 'Out For The Weekend', 'Hard As Nails', and later 'The Dead Don’t Get Older', which came out on their own Greystone Records label. That record showed they could still deliver gritty, high-energy psychobilly without losing the feel that made them popular in the first place.

 
Overall, Coffin Nails are remembered as one of those dependable, no-nonsense psychobilly bands that kept the genre alive beyond its early years. They never chased trends, stuck to what they did best, and earned a loyal following by doing exactly what psychobilly is supposed to do: sound fast, rough, and fun. If you’re into classic UK psychobilly, they’re definitely a band worth knowing.