Originating in Evesham, Worcestershire, the Dancing Did crafted a rustic strain of rock ‘n’ roll that demonstrated songs about the English countryside could avoid the humorous approach favored by the Wurzels or the Yetties. Their moniker derived from “didicoi,” the term town residents applied to Gypsies. The lineup featured Tim Harrison on vocals, Martyn Dormer handling lead guitar, synthesizer, and vocals, Roger Smith on bass, and Chris Houghton on drums. Established in 1980, the group issued two singles first via their own Fruit And Veg imprint, next through Stiff Records, and afterward on the ill-starred Kamera Records. Their sound evoked a fusion of the Clash and Steeleye Span, yet the real draw resided in the vivid imagery of Harrison’s lyrics, evident in tracks such as “A Fruit Picking Fantasy (The Day Bo Diddley Nearly Came To Evesham),” “Badger Boys”—a tribute to rural delinquents—“Ballad Of The Dying Sigh”—a narrative suited to Fairport Convention’s catalog—and the energetic “Wolves Of Worcestershire.” The pronounced rural focus of their themes restricted urban appeal to a small cult audience, precipitating their dissolution in 1983. Dormer later owned a clothing store before becoming a mobile telephone salesman, while Houghton performed occasionally with the pub cover band the Bassetts and maintained a market stall. Smith pursued studies in farming and appeared sporadically with Rhythm Oil, whereas Harrison leveraged his graphic design qualification to secure positions at Punch, followed by Chat and Q magazines.
