The Buff Medways

Billy Childish formed the Buff Medways in early 2000.

Their full name is Wild Billy Childish & The Friends of the Buff Medway Fanciers Association.

During the 19th century a breed a chicken was developed peculiar to the Medway area. The breed, now extinct, was a table bird for the London hotel market. The BUFF MEDWAY project, based at Fort Amherst, Chatham, is attempting to recreate that ancient fowl through a selective breeding project.

The original line up was Billy on guitar and vocal, Johnny Barker (bass) and Wolf Howard (drums), both ex-Daggermen. Johnny has now left the band to be replaced by Graham Day ex of The Prisoners

The BUFF MEDWAYS cut a dash with their Victorian army uniforms and their vintage Vox amps. The gear may be old but as one critic wrote the band are "the snarled lip embodiment of rock'n'roll spirit rather than nostalgia or shabby revivalism". Live and on record The BUFF MEDWAYS are all about great songs and vibrant raw energy - no frills.

They did their first single on their own Buff Medway Records followed by the DG single 'Don't Hold Me Back' (Damgood 188)

They have now released four albums, two for Graham Coxon's label Transcopic Records 'Steady The Buffs' & '1914', one on 'Vinyl Japan' called 'This Is This' and their last album 'Medway Wheelers' is out on Damaged Goods.

Check out their female alter-egos The Buffets.

The Buffs have now decided to call it a day and played their last gig to a totally sold out show at London's Dirty Water Club on the 27th of October 2006.

Their last ever single is also out on now on Damaged Goods called 'The Last Of The Buff Medways' (Damgood274 - 7")

A live album is being put together for release sometime in 2007.
The Buffs will be sorely missed...but don't fret as Billy has a new band called The Musicians Of The British Empire...

...as Beck, one of Mr Childish's many admirers succinctly put it: "that's how a rock'n'roll group should sound!".

"The three Medways crank out almost unbearably perfect early rock'n'roll"
NME

BILLY CHILDISH is...

"a seething, dyslexic, better-looking British Bukowski"
THE OBSERVER

"the most garage and most punk rocker alive"
NME

"a musician, artist, writer, and rabble-rouser"
DAZED & CONFUSED

More info:www.theebillychildish.com/buffmedway.htm

AND ANOTHER BIOGRAPHY FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE:

Fronted by Billy Childish - he of well known rock n roll bands such as The Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, The Pop Rivets and Thee Headcoats. Actually Billy has written over 100 albums, over 30 poetry books and novels, illustrated over 2000 paintings and until recently was better known on his home turf as Tracey Emin's (well-know UK artist) ex-boyfriend.

Without a manager or an agent, or the clout of a major record company or publishing compan, Billy has built up a very dedicated following across the world particularly in USA, Japan, Germany, and UK including many other performers and creative minds. LARRY CLARK, the director of 'Bully' and 'Kids' is making a film of Billy's autobiography 'My Fault'. KYLIE MINOGUE phoned Billy up to ask if she could use the title of one of his poems for one of her albums. The WHITE STRIPES asked Billy to paint live on stage with them on Top Of The Pops, and took a day out of their hectic schedule to do a gig in his honour co-headlining with the Buff Medways at the now-legendary gig at 93 Feet East. The HIVES bowed down and prayed on receiving a copy of the Buff Medways single 'A Strange Kind Of Happyness'.

Billy is a cult figure respected as a musician, painter, poet, and writer, as well as for his uncompromising attitude by a long list of people including film director/ playwright MIKE LEIGH, PJ HARVEY, ROBERT PLANT, BECK, and EINSTURZENDE NEUBATEN. The late KURT COBAIN was also a fan. Billy has exhibited his paintings across the world and recorded albums for cool US labels like Sympathy For The Record Industry, Sub Pop, and K as well as his own Hangman imprint.

BILLY CHILDISH was recently signed to Graham Coxon's equally cool Transcopic label o/s. Coxon is a long-term admirer of Billy's stance and sound, and has been looking for a chance to get involved with him for several years. The friendship has proved fruitful with Billy reaching a whole new audience. Graham even drummed for The Buffs on XFM. The BUFF MEDWAYS have all garage punk and rock'n'roll credentials of Billy's previous groups The Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, The Pop Rivets, and Thee Headcoats. The Milkshakes were the last band to play the infamous Star Club inHamburg, where The Beatles kick started their career. Billy has been going against the grain throughout his career. But after years where everything from music to art, and from football to politics is slick, sanitised, and spun, the success of the White Stripes and others indicate that people maybe coming round to Billy's way of doing things.

The BUFF MEDWAYS formed around 2000 after the demise of thee Headcoats and are Billy Childish (vocals, guitar), along with ex- Prisioner Graham Day (bass, vocals) (Replacing Johnny Barker who left on 21st October 2003) and Wolf Howard (drums). Wolf, who was in also in the original line-up of The James Taylor Quartet, managed a month of gigs while nursing a broken arm but it didn't stopped him bashing the shit out of his drum kit like Keith Moon. The BUFF MEDWAYS cut a dash with their Victorian army uniforms and their vintage Vox amps. The gear may be old but as one critic wrote the band are "the snarled lip embodiment of rock'n'roll spirit rather than nostalgia or shabby revivalism". Live and on record The BUFF MEDWAYS are all about great songs and vibrant raw energy - no frills.

The Buff Medways played their first ever gig at the legendary Dirty Water Club on the 9th March 2001.