The Doggone Honkabillies first appeared on the UK Rockin’ scene in 2011, playing a small club for promoter Spike Richardson in South east of England. Previously they only played for a few years on the country music circuit under the name of “The Doggone Country Band”. That changed when one day, a country festival promoter told them “You’re just Rockabillies in a Cowboy hat!”

Far from being upset at was meant to be an insult, the boys decided that he was actually half right as their influences and repertoire ranged from Hank Williams to Johnny Cash and Br5-49 to Hank III with some Lefty Frizzell and Carl Perkins thrown in between. Honkytonk and Rockabilly soon became ‘Honkabilly’ and the new band name was born.

Since then, The Honkabillies travelled thousands of miles across England and Europe playing Festivals and Honkytonks alike, even backing US artists Eddie Clendening at The Atomic Festival and promoting and supporting The King of Texas Honkytonkers, Dale Watson & His Lone Stars in Germany and London.

Their motto is “We only play what we like – because we like what we play” and it keeps them rockin’in some new town just about every week.

This is lead singer and rhythm guitarist Frankie’s first band and according to him, it will be his last. “There’s no point in doing something else, everything I love musically is right here in this band” he says and he intends to carry on rockin’ his way across the land for as long as he can.

In the early 90’s, a very young Frankie Junior sat on his Dad’s shoulders and shook the hand of Johnny Cash at a concert in England. At the tender age of 17, he was selected to play drums for Tommy Cash, Johnny’s older brother during a UK Tour. Frankie Junior is one of the founding members of the band and a multi-instrumentalist and producer in his own right. Today he is the Honkabillie’s lead guitarist and also share’s the vocal duties with his dad.

On Bass, and what else would he play with hand like that, is the gentle giant Big ‘T’, who previously played with ‘Kat & The K9’s ’ and Rockin’ Blues Band ‘Stax’s 32’. He joined The Honkabillies in 2011 and whenever the band needs to ask to be paid – Big ‘T’ is the man they send.

On international lap steel duty is Hillbilly Royalty, Mr Chris Cummings. Chris found early fame on TV with The Riverside Trio, and more recently played in top UK bands such as Country Cattin’, The Del Rio Ramblers and more recently, Glen Doran & The Prairie Echoes. Whenever his busy schedule allows, Chris can be found roaming the stage with The Honkabillies.

Despite being the youngest most delicate member by far, ‘Rusty Rocka’ knows how to keep the boys in line and when not modelling 50’s fashion labels such as Hell Bunny or Bamboo Betty, she beats the drums for the Honkabillies.

 Click Here to Listen : Blue Moon Red Lights (démo) 

 Click Here to Listen : Love Bug Boogie (démo)

 Click Here to Listen : Half Hearted Love (démo)

Do you want to listen more DOGGONEHONKABILLIES'songs ? Click on each band / artist french page !