Biography
Formed in 2003 in Leeds, the hard rock quartet Gentlemans Pistols began life as a north-of-England trio built around singer-guitarist James Atkinson, bassist Douglas McLaughlan, and drummer Simon Mawson. Their sound fused classic groove rock, vintage glam in the style of Sweet, and raw, psychedelia-tinged punk, yet the group experienced the typical early lineup shifts before locking in its enduring configuration of Atkinson alongside Robert Threapleton, Bill Steer, and Stuart Dobbins. Two favorably received 7-inch singles paved the way for the self-titled debut album, released by Rise Records in 2007. The follow-up full-length, At Her Majesty’s Pleasure, arrived in 2011, with the Nuclear Blast-issued Hustler's Row appearing four years later.