MUTTER SLATER (vocals, flute, rhythm guitar)
Mutter was spotted by the future manager of Stackridge playing with his band at Glastonbury Town Hall. It wasn’t too hard to persuade him to move to Bristol, where he joined the band in 1970. He then embarked with the band on a gruelling series of one-nighters all over the U.K., developing his legendary and blindingly idiosyncratic stage act (slippers, grey flannels, dustbin lids etc.) alongside the band’s strongly melodic yet equally quirky songs and instrumentals. The band was signed to MCA records in 1971, recording their debut album ‘Stackridge’ that year. It was followed in ’72 and ’73 by ‘Friendliness’ and the George Martin-produced ‘Man in the Bowler Hat’.

…All this, combined with constant gigging in the UK and Europe (including a tour with Jethro Tull), plus recordings for John Peel and Bob Harris at the BBC, resulted in temporary burn out and several personnel changes in 1973/74. The band rose fag-end like from the ashes with ‘Extravaganza’ in 1975 and ‘Mr. Mick’ in ’76 on Elton John’s Rocket label, before financial constraints brought about the band’s demise. Mutter then enjoyed the glamorous life of leather-tanning, car valeting and a car-hire business, keeping his hand in by playing r&b and soul to the good people of Somerset and Dorset before founding the band Little Dixie, which, after several line-up changes, eventually recruited Chris Lonergan and Ady Milward into its ranks. Saxophonist Clive Ashley joined soon after. Little Dixie performed in various pubs and clubs in the West Country for several years. The band recorded the album ‘Love and Hate’, with guest appearances from Robbie McIntosh, Ben Waters and Tom Hughes.

CHRIS LONERGAN (bass, slide guitar)
Chris has been ever-present on the Southwest’s burgeoning blues/r&b/soul circuit for more years than he cares to remember, playing with the likes of Custer’s Last Blues Band, the Steamer Ducks (fronted by ex-Pretenders, Paul McCartney Band, Norah Jones and currently John Meyer guitarist Robbie Mcintosh), the Jess Upton Soul Band and boogie piano maestro Ben Waters. His musical career has taken him from the pubs and clubs of West Dorset to the Victoria Falls and appearances in author Douglas Adams’ front room alongside Dave Gilmour and Gary Brooker. Chris also combined bass playing and road-managing duties on Muddy Waters’ son Big Bill Morganfield’s UK tours.

ADY MILWARD (drums, backing vocals)
Ady cut his musical teeth in punk-orientated bands around Dorset, before being lured onto the blues/r&b/soul scene by promises of fame, riches and not having to play so fast. He’s accompanied Lonergan on countless gigs all over the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Canada and the Middle East, forming an intuitive partnership that’s an essential element of the band’s rhythm section.

CLIVE ASHLEY (tenor and soprano saxophone)

Clive has been described by itunes as ‘one of the finest saxophonists playing today’ and ‘simply intoxicating”. He has gigged all over the world, from Canada to Germany, Scandinavia to the Middle East and with artists as diverse as Jools Holland, Ruby Turner, Andy Sheppard, Lulu, Art Themen, Billy Bragg and plays regularly with Ben Waters. He has appeared many times on Paul Jones’s Radio 2 music show, and also recorded live sessions for Radio 3.