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ROCKABILLY RIOT -THREE BANDS, DIESEL WHORES, THE DIVEBOMBERS AND MARTIN ROCKA AND THE SICKSHOP
  
Martin Rocka and the Sick shop are a 3 piece psychobilly band from Johannesburg. The band comprises the mysterious Martin Rocka on vocals and guitars, James Flames on bass guitar, and Pauly "Beers" Rego on drums.

The band's unique sound combines classic rockabilly and psychedelia, and lyrical fare devoted mostly to monster movies and swamp sex into an infectious and utterly tasteless conglomeration of trash culture.

Wrestling mask wearing front-man Martin Rocka cuts an enigmatic figure onstage. He combines lightning fast guitar licks with thunderous vocals to perform some of the most outrageous rockabilly ever seen. His true identity is a closely guarded secret, but he is rumoured to converse with Elvis Presley on a nightly basis.

With a fearsome live reputation cemented by appearances at Woodstock 2000 and numerous underground performances in Gauteng, Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop are one of the mainstays of the new country sound that has hit Johannesburg in the past year.

For information and photos ph: Therese on 073 157 5349
E-MAIL: [email protected]

 
    
Diesel Whore

Noun
A person who would sleep with you for a designer pair of shoes, but not for money.

Diesel Whores are the bastard offspring of Johnny Cash, Elvis Nick Cave and the Pixies. They are also the most exiting new band to emerge on the live music scene in the last three years.

With twisted tales of old testament sex and murder and a live act that evokes the glamorous sickness that is Las Vegas, The Diesel Whores have build up a local cult of following on the Johannesburg scene. "We prefer to put on an event as opposed to just a gig," says lead singer Jaxon Rise. "We like to offer the public value for money by playing with other bends and incorporating DJs and extra visual delight.: they were also the band behind the notorious "fake Lucky Strike gig" at Carfax in February 2001 which resulted in them nearly being sued by a major tobacco corporation.

Composing vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jaxon Rice, guitarist Morgan Sizer, Dog (Oddball) on Bass and Kevin Leicher (Plum) on drums, the band fuses off-kilter country punk with rockabilly rhythms and dark gothic influences to from their signature sound.

They have just finished their first EP, titled "Jezebel" at RP Studios with the production team of Neal Snyman and Theo Crous. Theo is lead guitarist for Springbok Nude Girls and has not only produced the Nudies, but also No Friends of Harry, Lithium and The Led amongst others.

"Theo captures a South African sound without making it sound 'Local'," says Jaxon. "He is quite honestly the best rock producer in this country. And he is also a big country music fan!" the EP will be available in late August.