The Shakin' Pyramids

The Shakin' Pyramids

The Shakin' Pyramids were a rockabilly outfit formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in the late 1970s. The band consisted of Davie Duncan (vocals, harmonica, percussion) James G. Creighton (acoustic & electric guitar, vocals) and "Railroad" Ken McLellan (acoustic guitar, vocals).

History

The Shakin' Pyramids originally formed in the late 70's as buskers and quickly gained a reputation for their spontaneous and dynamic live performances on the streets of Glasgow. The band then spent time in France writing material and developing their sound and using their busking skills to pay their way. Upon returning to Scotland, The Shakin' Pyramids signed a record deal with the new Glasgow indie label 'Cuba Libre' who also had The Cuban Heels and James King and the Lone Wolves on it's roster. The Pyramids recorded and released two studio albums and several singles via the label: Skin 'Em Up (1981), is regarded as one of the classic albums of the 80's rockabilly revival and remains highly influential on artists who followed in the 'Rockin' scene. With it's strong original material, stripped down driving rhythms and crisp production, the album gained 5 star reviews from music magazines such as NME and Rolling Stone. Celts & Cobras (1982) was more diverse in it's style but didn't achieve the commercial success or critical acclaim of the bands debut release. The band toured worldwide through the early eighties establishing a reputation as a hugely exciting live act. Shakin' Pyramids (1983), was a compilation album released on Scotti Brothers Records aimed at introducing the band to a wider U.S. market. The group disbanded in the mid 1980's but a live set recorded at a festival in Glasgow in 1981 was released as Reeferbilly Blowout in 2001. Several bootleg albums have also appeared, including 'Skin 'em Up - The Collection' from 2002 which contains virtually the entire catalogue of Shakin' Pyramids songs.