{"title":"The Milkshakes","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Milkshakes are an English garage rock \/ beat \/ rock 'n' roll group formed in Kent. With their raw and energetic sound, they have become a staple in the music scene. Drawing inspiration from bands like *Thee Headcoats* and *The Delmonas*, The Milkshakes have created a unique blend of catchy melodies and gritty guitar riffs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLed by the talented musician *Billy Childish*, The Milkshakes have gained a loyal following with their high-energy live performances. Their music is filled with infectious hooks and rebellious lyrics that resonate with fans of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside other notable acts such as *The Buff Medways* and *The Chatham Singers*, The Milkshakes have played a significant role in shaping the garage rock genre. Their influence can be heard in the works of bands like *The Gories* and *Reigning Sound*. If you're a fan of raw, unapologetic rock 'n' roll, then The Milkshakes are definitely worth checking out.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sing-and-play-20-rock-and-roll-hits","title":"Sing And Play 20 Rock And Roll Hits Of The 50's And 60's","description":"\u003cp\u003e1984's \u003ci\u003eSing And Play 20 Rock And Roll Hits Of The 50's And 60's\u003c\/i\u003e saw the Milkshakes update 20 rock and roll classics into primitive and raw garage rippers. They play \"Rip it Up\", \"Peggy Sue\", \"Something Else\" and much more with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Big Beat","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50403587260747,"sku":"1020704","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50403586081099,"sku":"295786","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/1b92afa2-d787-46c0-942f-1035ad9067c6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726562064"},{"product_id":"revenge-trash-from-the-vaults","title":"Revenge: Trash From The Vaults","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Guitar \/ Vox); Billy Childish (Guitar \/ Vox); Bruce Brand (Drums); Russ Wilkins (Bass) When punk rock group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called Mickey and the Milkshakes with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, \u003ci\u003eTalking ’bout Milkshakes! \u003c\/i\u003ein 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes’ sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers. The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, the Delmonas. When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form Thee Mighty Caesars. Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50414804107595,"sku":"1001299","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/93900f46-984b-4d75-85ee-ca784e504bbf_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726685857"},{"product_id":"talking-bout","title":"Talking 'Bout","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Git\/Vox); Billy Childish (Git\/Vox); Bruce Brand (Drums); Russ Wilkins (Bass) When punk rock group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called Mickey and the Milkshakes with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, \u003ci\u003eTalking ’bout Milkshakes! \u003c\/i\u003ein 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes’ sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers. The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, the Delmonas. When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form Thee Mighty Caesars. Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50414805582155,"sku":"1001295","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0c5671c9-0efe-41da-be3a-af82b3cecc68_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726685880"},{"product_id":"milkbox","title":"Milkbox","description":"\u003cp\u003eA boxed set of 4 CDs featuring four classic albums by The Milkshakes - \u003ci\u003eTalking 'Bout Milkshakes\/ After School Session\/Thee Knights Of Trashe\/The Milkshakes Revenge!\u003c\/i\u003e. The Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Git\/Vox); Billy Childish (Git\/Vox); Bruce Brand (Drums); Russ Wilkins (Bass). When punk rock group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called Mickey and the Milkshakes with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, \u003ci\u003eTalking ’bout Milkshakes!\u003c\/i\u003e in 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes’ sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers. The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, the Delmonas.When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form Thee Mighty Caesars. Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"4CD","offer_id":50441610133835,"sku":"1149282","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/3289ad1d-b938-4e23-bd8d-e7899c4e55e5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726983437"},{"product_id":"a-box-of-buffs","title":"A Box of Buffs","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe albums are Steady The Buffs, 1914, and Medway Wheelers. Buffs leader Billy Childish kindly answered a few questions about the band… The Buff Medways were formed quickly after Thee Headcoats split. The group split after ‘The Last of The Buff Medways’ 7” on Damaged Goods, with Billy Childish forming the Musicians of The British Empire soon after.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50506299474251,"sku":"2020960","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/buff_medways_a_box_of_buffs_DG590BX_534b6763_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727821395"},{"product_id":"107-tapes-early-demos-and-live-recordings","title":"107 Tapes (Early Demos and Live Recordings)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBack in stock. Early demos \u0026amp; live in Germany. Meet the Milkshakes at their roughest \u0026amp; toughest. It took a while before anybody caught on that Billy Childish \u0026amp; his greasy-haired friends knew how to play savage freakbeat properly, as it was supposed to be many years too late to try. Bristling \u0026amp; loud distorted crud on every single cut, including some fine Chuck Berry covers. When someone mentions that the band sounds like the early Kinks, they respond nattily: 'We try and remind these groups what they should sound like still.\" \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50525190226251,"sku":"369976","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ff213b68-7419-46f7-9474-e1f2510d9714_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728031078"},{"product_id":"thee-knights-of-trashe","title":"Thee Knights Of Trashe","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Git\/Vox); Billy Childish (Git\/Vox); Bruce Brand (Drums); Russ Wilkins (Bass) When punk rock group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called Mickey and the Milkshakes with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, \u003ci\u003eTalking ’bout Milkshakes!\u003c\/i\u003e in 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes’ sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers. The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, the Delmonas. When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form Thee Mighty Caesars. Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50525276864843,"sku":"1001297","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/73ec2a27-7ece-4c5d-bde2-c44afe7bfdf0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728032162"},{"product_id":"after-school-session","title":"After School Session","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Git\/Vox); Billy Childish (Git\/Vox); Bruce Brand (Drums); Russ Wilkins (Bass) When punk rock group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie who had been performing in a group called Mickey and the Milkshakes with his cohort Banana Bertie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, \u003ci\u003eTalking ’bout Milkshakes!\u003c\/i\u003e in 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes’ sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard-rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the “Medway sound” and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers. The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, recording nine records in their four years together, and the band was very much a blend of Childish’s primitive songwriting and Hampshire’s more melodic leanings. The group also masterminded and backed a Medway girl group, the Delmonas. When Mickey left The Milkshakes in 1984 Childish, Brand and Agnew went on to form Thee Mighty Caesars. Mickey and Bruce now play in The Masonics along with Ludella Black from The Del Monas, and Russ lives in Scotland and fronts the Wildebeests as well as being Lord Rochester.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50525278699851,"sku":"1001296","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0b3b45dc-49a0-4eec-b587-e92f59942107_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728032183"},{"product_id":"milkshakes-iv-the-men-with-the-golden-guitars-hv","title":"Milkshakes IV: The Men With The Golden Guitars","description":"\u003cp\u003eHaving endured no less than three long-players and a brace of singles featuring the caterwauling of Messrs Hampshire and Childish, the Milkshakes’ audience figured it might be time for an instrumental outing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn response, the group gave them just that. But this was to be no run-of-the-mill effort – no Dick Dale-esque surf marathons or Shadowsy twangers are apparent here. These tunes are more ‘rhythm-and-mood’-based compositions; occasionally leaning more towards the Link Wray end of the spectrum – as you would probably expect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cem\u003eIVth\u003c\/em\u003e album (hence the name) was recorded in 1983 at Oakwood Studios – as were all previous releases – but this was the first in their new facilities in a converted church near Canterbury, which opened up a whole new golden vista of shimmering, silvery sounds in atmospheric conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, the Milkshakes were having none of that. We suggest you plonk the wax on your gramophone and let whatever happens happens. Hasty bananas.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":51643621769547,"sku":"R2304-9569","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/themilkshakes_milkshakes1vthemenwithgoldenguitarsDAMGOOD629.jpg?v=1744729895"},{"product_id":"fourteen-rhythm-and-beat-greats","title":"Fourteen Rhythm and Beat Greats","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the opening rasp of “Seven Days” to the dying chimes of “Wo’ Now”, the frenzied beat goes on. Even the more subdued tracks are given that unmistakable Milshakes brand, pointing to The Milshakes being the undeniable leaders of world beat!” It says here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing on from the imaginary international success of their debut album\u003cem\u003e Talking Bout…  \u003c\/em\u003eand the 45 “It’s You” c\/w “Please Don’t Tell My Baby”, the Milkshakes decided to squander what little money they had left on another long-player. The result was the cleverly-titled, if slightly boastful-sounding, \u003cem\u003eFourteen Rhythm and Beat Greats.\u003c\/em\u003e Indeed, if you close your eyes and unplug the record-player, all 14 – count ’em (next time you open your peepers) – finely-crafted tunes on this LP could almost qualify as “great”, depending on where you stand, musically. I recommend just around the corner, out of earshot for best results.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeaturing such live favourites as “Black Sails In The Moonlight” and Red Monkey”, the general consensus was that this was The Milkshakes’ finest work to date (ask them yourselves). That must be partially true, as London’s prestigious Big Beat Records figured it was good enough to reissue on their very own prestigious Big Beat record label – twice. But that was 40-odd (yikes…!) years ago, so please try and control your excitement and form an orderly queue… although the sooner they sell out, it can be repressed – yet again – with the blue masthead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":52114259771723,"sku":"R2232-2482","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/vjjstkktmc.jpg?v=1749811445"},{"product_id":"milkbox-2","title":"Milkbox 2","description":"\u003cp\u003eWho in their right minds would release four albums on the same day…? Who in their right minds – being a mainly vocal group – would release an album of lyricless music…? And who in their right minds would buy this stuff…?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWell, here’s a collection of four more delectable morsels for your educated palate which will hopefully provide answers to those questions.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFOURTEEN RHYTHM \u0026amp; BEAT GREATS\u003cbr\u003eThe second Milkshakes album to be released was Fourteen Rhythm \u0026amp; Beat Greats and highlights the group’s penchant for rock ’n’ roll from the ’50s and ’60s right through to punk rock. As stated in volume one of this series, ‘Black Sails in The Moonlight’ is a direct reference to ‘Red Sails In The Sunset, a favourite tune of the lads off the Beatles At The Star Club L.P., which must be considered a key influence on the group. That number is featured here and acts as a reminder that The Milkshakes were the last group to play at the original Star Club in Hamburg, before it was razed to the ground by a fi re in the early 1980s. It was, at the time, known as the Salambo, the biggest theatre on the Reeperbahn, and managed by a character monikered the ‘Sex Pope’. In negotiations with said gentleman, it was agreed that the Salambo would revert back to the legendary Star Club for one night only, to allow The Milkshakes to play a historic gig there (see Hamburg press). During the event artefacts such as pieces of the original stage were auctioned off. Until recently, Bruce still had a strip of the original stage curtain, which he somewhat optimistically hoped to transform into a “Lucky Star Club Tie”, but unfortunately it disintegrated before that happened. Stories of The Milkshakes’ complimentary visit to the club the following night are mostly fabricated (especially the one about bass player Bertie’s banana trick).\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTHE MILKSHAKES IV — THE MEN WITH THE GOLDEN GUITARS\u003cbr\u003eInstrumentals had always played a key role in The Milkshakes’ set, so for their fourth long player, inspired by the likes of Link Wray, the boys set out to compose their own collection of guitar-led wordless tunes. Long thought lost, the tapes of The Men With The Golden Guitars had to be specially baked to make them edible, sorry – audible – to the consumer. The L.P., recently reissued, is now selling like hot cakes, which are also edible, sorry – audible – no, sorry – edible. I think. Either way, this version contains one tasty track which was omitted from the original release – ‘The Wrong Man’.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTHE MILKSHAKES IN GERMANY\u003cbr\u003eAlong with Nothing Can Stop These Men, 20 Rock ’n’ Roll Hits and Showcase (their US debut release), In Germany was released on the same day in 1984 on Berlin’s Wall City Records. Ironically, the photograph for the cover of The Milkshakes In Germany was actually taken in Rochester, England. One afternoon, while sipping tea on the deck of Mickey’s boat, he and Billy were distracted by an angry dot which appeared on the horizon. Two hours later it seemed – as it was moving so slowly – a Junkers JU52 (Mick’s favourite WW2 aircraft) flew noisily a few hundred feet above their heads on its way to Rochester’s airfield. Rounding up drummer Bruce, new bass player Russ and friend and photographer Eugene Doyen, our gallant gang made their way to the airfield and after consulting with the owner arranged a photo shoot featuring the aircraft. They also clambered all over the Junkers like four excited kids. The JU52 famously appears in many classic wartime feature films, including Where Eagles Dare To Land, One Of Our Cuckoos Is Missing, and who can forget, The Guns Of Lena Zavoroni? Other favourite Milkshakes wartime films include I Shaved Monty, Going Down On Dawn and that well known family favourite, Come Here, Lassie, I Got A Treat For Thee.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eNOTHING CAN STOP THESE MEN\u003cbr\u003eOn the now famous and much copied L.P. cover of Nothing Can Stop These Men we see the maturing Milkshakes on Rochester Bridge spanning the river Medway. They often liked to span rivers. Studying the cover, it becomes obvious to the viewer why our four handsomely debonair and chiselled heroes caused sensation and sparked pandemonium every time they visited the outskirts of Strood. Furthermore, listening to the songs, it becomes evident why knicker sales went through the roof in the Medway towns at the time this record was first released. “Nothing can stop these men!”, they said at the time; but that was before whiskey, bladder problems and too many numerous lawsuits to mention took their toll. So, there we have it, four rehashed platters of rock ’n’ roll nosh for you creatures of all ages to get your baby teeth, gnashers and dentures stuck into. Guten appetit!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Damaged Goods","offers":[{"title":"4CD","offer_id":57876692369739,"sku":"R8657-4815","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/6ce3cd8f-d1e2-bcab-7506-2c573f313b18-1.jpg?v=1784205973"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/the-milkshakes.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}