Tall Boys

The Tall Boys were a British psychobilly band that came out of London in the early 1980s. They were formed by Nigel Lewis and Mark Robertson, both of whom had previously been involved with The Meteors, one of the most important bands in shaping the psychobilly scene. Because of that connection, the Tall Boys were right at the heart of the genre’s early development. Their music mixed punk’s speed and attitude with rockabilly twang and a bit of gritty garage rock, giving them a raw, energetic sound that fit perfectly with the UK underground at the time. 

They started releasing records in the early ’80s, and one of their most well-known releases is the mini-album 'Wednesday Addams’ Boyfriend' from 1984. That record did surprisingly well for an underground psychobilly band, reaching the UK indie charts and helping them build a strong cult following. Over the next couple of years they put out singles and EPs like 'Final Kick' and 'Brand New Gun', which showed a more aggressive, punk-leaning side and even caused a bit of controversy due to their lyrics. 

Although the Tall Boys never reached the wider fame of bands like The Meteors or Guana Batz, they earned a lot of respect within the psychobilly scene. Songs such as “Ride This Torpedo” became fan favorites, and their live shows were known for being loud, fast, and intense. Recordings from gigs at legendary venues like the Klub Foot helped cement their reputation as a great live band. 

After their original run in the mid-1980s, their music continued to circulate through compilations and reissues, especially the 'Funtime' CD, which pulled together most of their classic material. The band even returned with later releases, including a full album in 2013, showing that there was still interest in their sound decades later. Today, the Tall Boys are remembered as an important cult band from psychobilly’s formative years -maybe not the biggest name, but definitely one that helped define the style and attitude of the genre.