Stack Waddy

Although originating in Manchester, England, during 1965 as New Religion, Stackwaddy gained initial notice through their rowdy take on British R&B from the 1960s at the Progressive Blues Festival held in Buxton in 1969. After inking a deal with John Peel’s Dandelion imprint, the group issued the single “Roadrunner” in 1970 and then delivered its self-titled debut album the following year. Fronted by vocalist John Knail, the band earned acclaim for its dynamic stage presence even as Knail earned notoriety for hurling bottles and confronting unresponsive spectators. A second single, “You Really Got Me,” appeared in 1972 alongside the follow-up LP Bugger Off, whose provocative title prompted several retailers to refuse stocking it. Declining commercial fortunes eventually dissolved the original lineup, yet Barnham later reassembled the act between 1973 and 1976 with Mike Sweeny on vocals, Wayne Jackson on bass, and Kevin Wilkinson on drums.