The Diesel Fitters

The Diesel Fitters came about following the splitting up of popular local band The Tone in early 2003. Ste and Liz Rothwell had plied their trade for nigh on 7 years since forming the four piece with elder brother Mike and school friend Joe (now of 'Strip Jack' fame) while still at school. Alas, (for The Tone anyway), a solid fan base, and acclaim from as far afield as Dublin and Sheffield proved to be the pinnacle of the band's success. A highly successful 2 year berth as resident band in Crosby's jam festival came to a natural end and Ste and Liz looked to pastures new.

Ste whiled away the long hours in the music shop he'd not long started with brother Mike, and aided and abetted by enthusiastic co-writer Liz, found his penchant was for penning tunes influenced by a combination of rock and folk music with a definitive Irish feel running through it's core. A chance arrival of a Mandolin helped things along nicely, and the stage was set, thus heralding the idea for the new band.

With the pair both learning the mandolin, and Ste also chipping in on the fiddle, the foundations were in place. A bassist, drummer and accordion player were recruited quickly in the form of the largely untried (on those instruments anyway) Hayley Clarke, Si (Ronny) Radford and Liz Hogan respectively. Finally, the jigsaw was completed in June 2003 as Andy Steele, formerly of Camarillo and The Haze was brought in to play guitar and do his share of the singing. The 'Fitters' were off and running, and it wasn't long before they were being touted as one to watch, by all discerning local music fans with a keen ear for a good tune.

A solid 3 months practising and writing followed before the band's first gig in early October. A jam-packed Stamps Bat Loft were treated to a superb first offering, and things have gone to strength to strength since. For months the video footage of their Cavern gig soon after has been the biggest draw on Radio Crosby, and critical acclaim has awaited the band at their every turn. A 4-track EP on the DieselDoRecords label (known hereafter as DDR) was completed in March 04 to immediate rave reviews, and with their inimitable original style, things it seems, can only get better.

Diary To Date - A Backwards look at the story so far

18th March The Camera Never Lies

Not content with a feature in the ‘Word On The Street’ column not 3 months previously, Ste decides that two sell-out gigs and a few plays on BBC radio in a week is not quite enough exposure thank you very much for his young charges, and an interview with him, and piece on the band features prominently in the Herald. One for the scrapbooks, not least for the close-up inset shot below the band photo, of Ste’s thickening beard. Si is particularly pleased, quips his Dad, as the sand-dune shot of the full band makes him appear to be 6’4”.

17th March ‘Hey Baby, Watch Those (Free) 3 Birds Fly’

They know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day down at Stamps..! For as long as I can remember, 17th March has always one to remember, beaten as a jam-packed night only by the bars’ birthday and Xmas week. This year was no exception. The Diesel Fitters play to a damn-near capacity downstairs bar, which is highly impressive given that after all, (Paddy’s or no Paddy’s), it’s Wednesday teatime. From my spot down the front I take great delight in seeing Si’s ambitious attempt to drum with his comedy Guinness hat on fall at the first hurdle when it drops between his eyes mid-‘Shingle.’ Liz calmly removes the offending hat having reverted to some one-handed mandolinery (is that a word? On this website it is)! The usual all-energy set is warmly received by the crowd, which contains, it’s pleasing to see, quite a few new faces, like the hair shaking women who dance to all the fast tunes and the comedy scally who uses such terms as “dese are sound” and “yeeeerrrsss,” when I ask him what he thinks as we pass on the stairs mid-‘Spooky’. After a blinding ‘Drunken Sailor’ to round off the early gig, the band make way for the marvellous ‘Nova Scotia’, and there’s a roadie effort matched only by the record-breaking Wigan gig 3 weeks previously, as the band and their travelling entourage up sticks, stands and snares and head for Blues Bar.

Feeling like a kid in a sweet shop what with all this mid-week live music and Guinness, I inadvertently kick off a Israel/Palestine debate with Alistair and Tony R while playing balloon tennis with Si and H at the ‘Scotia’ gig, before talking tactics with Frankie P and Mike Radders round at Blues. There the latter heads an awesome gig from the 7-piece Ramshocks also featuring Peter Black, Jackie, Paddy Rad, Strip Jack Joe and an on loan Ste and Liz. A landmark week for all concerned continues, to quote Uncle Mike: “To be sure, to be sure.”

13th March DieselDoTheCavern

In the biggest event so far for the band and also the label, The Cavern plays host to a sell-out gig which is well received by all those lucky enough to have ventured to live music’s most famous venue. A further play of ‘The Shingle’ plus the first radio outing of ‘I’m In Love (With You)’ on Radio Merseyside gives the band the perfect start to what proves to be a superb day all round. The band play fourth in a strong line-up also featuring Strobe, Fall Of Abel and Strip Jack Naked as the best emerging new talent takes a sabbatical from Crosby and teaches town's music lovers where it’s at. Over 40 pile onto a coach, 17 into a mini-bus and Charlie and Prendo travel in style courtesy of Delta, as Derby Road is filled with the usual suspects. There’s three times that many people crammed into the back room downstairs at the venue by the time the gig gets into full swing, and the atmosphere is electric.

Strobe go on first, featuring Ste Williams and Rob ‘knuckles’ Morrison, as well as The Diesel Fitters' own Stevie R on the sticks, (who’s so on his game he even has time to see Emma counting to the beat of fan’s favourite ‘Breathe'). The stage is set, and next The Cavern quite literally shakes to the beat of local ambassadors of ‘sleeves up rock’ Fall Of Abel. The Saturday night jam-festival crowd from Stamps, many of whom viewing ‘Fall Of’ for the first time, hold on for the white knuckle ride served up before them. Most notable is Happy Dave, who with his uber-enthusiasm, makes Michael J Fox’s lead on 'Johnny B Goode' in 'Back To The Future' look positively serene. Next it’s the turn of Jai, Jay Joe and Ste, as Strip Jack Naked take to the stage. On the day that both DieselDoRecords bands’ release their EP’s for sale, 'Strip Jack...' are on blistering form. The crowd swing into a collective sway as the inimitable sound fills every corner of the room. The lads roar through lead EP track ‘Newie’ and never look back. Jai in particular is on barn-storming form at the front, and the people are converted. The gauntlet is laid down

Finally The Diesel Fitters themselves take to the stage. Prendo does his 47th lap of honour of the venue looking for his pint, and checks once more with Rob whether he’s going to Leicester. Mike Sinnott decides the bottle bar is best and gets a refill, before shuffling off for a good view. Alan Wood plumps for the stalls front of stage as the best spec, not only for a view of the band, but also to create ruse of helping stand-in videographer Beale, when really it’s the holding (and stealing) of his bottle’s of Kronenbourg that tickles his fancy. Anyway, on with the show A problem with the battery on Liz’s accordion spoils an otherwise excellent ‘Slide Away’ and it looks for a moment like the night, which by now had reached a veritable crescendo of quality diverse rock is going to crash and burn. Are ‘The Fitters’ set to ponder what might have been due to a technical hitch? Not a bit of it - Aided and abetted by the ever-ready Tim and Boffer, the sound guy does his magic, and on goes the show. The crowd dance the night away for the next 45 minutes to inch-perfect renditions of 'The Tide Is Changing, Side Of The Road, Mad Lynne, Johnny, Let Me Down Again, I’m In Love (With You), Knock Yourself Oot' and 'The Shingle'. The show is finished with a very fitting 'Drunken Sailor' (given that the Navy’s own Ste Burke is represented in the crowd by elder brother Mick along to see what all the fuss was about), and the crowd lap it up. An encore is demanded, and delivered, in the form of a grandstand quality run-through of my current favourite (or one of the many) in ‘Spooky.’ Neil Catterall, the impromptu star of the show as on-stage dancer takes a bow, while the EP’s fly off the shelves. Dennis bags a cheeky back-stage exclusive with his video camera, and the band are the toast of the town. Roll on Wednesday.

12th March Radio Ga-ga

It’s a little known fact that the first mainstream DJ to show support for the biggest draw of the 90’s (Oasis), was not Terry Christian or John Peel, but the far less critically revered day-time Radio 1 DJ Gary Davies who caught the band live long before the release of Supersonic. Why do I mention this I hear you ask? Two words, Billy Butler. After having posted a copy of the finished EP at the Paradise Street HQ of BBC Radio Merseyside not 3 days previously, it’s fantastic news for the band to hear ‘The Shingle’ on Billy’s afternoon show. (Denise’s Nan is so delighted to hear the new Crosby 6-piece getting such positive feedback from such established radio personalities as Butler and Jimmy McCracken, that she fails to recognise the dulcet tones of her future grandson in-law Andy on vocals). The 12th March 04, will forever be held it’s hoped, as the day The Diesel Fitters finally came blasting into the consciousness of the wider Merseyside music-loving public.

28th Feb - Gill's 50th - Winston (Churchill's).

The band break the commonwealth record for the number of roadies, and the high hats are specially delivered by the Cath, Tony, Peter and Diane - who enjoy going past the Asda so much they do it 4 times! A whole new audience is swept away on the Diesel Fitters tide, not least Lurchio who dances all night, and Mike R who discovers Stamps isn't the only place where Guinness is the best bet. With support from Neil and the travelling entourage the evening is another rip-roaring success.

15th Feb - Stamps Bat Loft.

A warm-up for the 13th March gig is hosted at Stamps by John 'Ersko' Kershaw in his Batrloft evening, and Paul Dolan kindly arrives with better half in tow to film and capture some stills. As always the 'loft' is chocker. I get my usual spec, (this time with Luke, Killer, Big Al Manning and Nicky - who are able deputies for John from Carol & John fame), and Si does half a gig with no top on. The Stevie Rothwell wink is born and the people love it. The bill is topped by Strip Jack, and goes swimmingly, quite frankly - the highlight being the people's dancing on Drunken Sailor - young Vaudrey, respect, my friend, is due..!

Feb -

Work on the 4-track EP is started. Andy McClelland is brought on board to do the production and the band agree on The Shingle, I'm In Love (With You), Tide Is Changing and Spooky. Release is imminent, and the orders mount up.

31st Jan - Holocaust Memorial Evening - Buckley's.

The Diesel Fitters top the bill with another superb performance. The old favourites are accompanied by new offerings I'm In Love (With You) and Knock Yourself Oot. Iain Richards eats a world record number of bowls of Scouse, Hayley takes centre stage and a tumble in that order, the band win nothing on the raffle and Ben wins the I'm Thinking Of A Number Game.

Jan '04 -

The band (minus Liz) are interviewed for Radio Crosby. Hayley declares a jihad on reality tv.

23rd Dec - DieselDoRecords launch event - Stamps.

Both bands swap places bill-wise, and play a barn storming set, supported superbly by the guesting Barfinkle. The people of Crosby are again lucky to see what I would describe as the easily best Fitters gig to date, at that stage.

18th Dec -

The 2 label-mates play a gig together for the first time, as 'Strip Jack' support the headlining Diesel Fitters back at the good old 'Pogue.' Mike R has a rare evening off, and

We play live in and around Liverpool and often play to crowds of over 300 in the city centre.