Deltas

The Deltas were a rock ’n’ roll band from London, England, who came out of the early 1980s underground scene. They originally formed as a straight-up rockabilly band, deeply inspired by 1950s rock ’n’ roll, but very quickly developed a much wilder and more aggressive sound. Because of this, they became closely associated with the emerging psychobilly movement, even though they never fully limited themselves to one label.

 
Musically, The Deltas mixed fast, frantic rockabilly with heavy blues influences and raw rock ’n’ roll energy. Their songs were loud, dirty, and intense, driven by slap bass, pounding drums, and sharp, biting guitar lines. While their roots were clearly rockabilly, they pushed things harder and faster than many of their peers, which is why psychobilly fans embraced them early on. They stood somewhere between classic rockabilly tradition and the more unhinged, rebellious sound that psychobilly would become known for. 

The original lineup featured Steve “Bongo” on vocals and drums, Captain Pat Marvel on guitar, and Little John on double bass. Over time, the band went through a few lineup changes and expansions. One notable member was Boz Boorer, who later became well known for his work with The Polecats and Morrissey. Despite changes, the band’s sound stayed fierce and unmistakable. 

Their debut album, 'Boogie Disease', released in 1981 on Nervous Records, perfectly captured their early energy and is often considered a classic of the British rockabilly revival. Later releases like 'Mad For It', 'Tuffer Than Tuff', and 'Live and Rockin’' showed the band stretching further into blues and rough rock ’n’ roll territory while keeping their manic edge intact. They also appeared on several important psychobilly and rockabilly compilations of the era, which helped spread their reputation across Europe. 

The Deltas were especially famous for their live shows, which were chaotic, sweaty, and completely over the top. They built a reputation as one of the wildest bands on the scene, often sharing stages with groups like The Meteors, Restless, and The Polecats. Even years after their peak, they’ve remained a cult favorite, respected for helping bridge the gap between traditional rockabilly and the darker, faster psychobilly sound that followed. Today, The Deltas are remembered as a key band of the early 1980s UK rockabilly and psychobilly crossover scene -never polished, never tame, but always loud, fast, and full of attitude.