Shabby Tiger -

Shabby Tiger was an English hard-rock/pop band that released five 1974–76 singles on RCA Victor, culminating with a 1976 self-titled album. In 1980, they reappeared as Hendy for two final singles.

Members: Tony Baker (keyboards, vocals), Dave Almond (guitar, flute, vocals), Graham Fielden (drums, percussion), Henderson Gibson (vocals), Mike Ryan (bass)

Background

Shabby Tiger formed in Blackburn, Lancashire, around 1970 and worked the northern club circuit before the group reached London. By 1974, Glaswegian singer Henderson Gibson led the lineup with guitarist Dave Almond, bassist Mike Ryan, drummer Graham Fielden, and keyboardist Toni Baker.

Almond played beforehand in the Burnley group the Reflections Rhythm Group, which later performed as The Kudos. Baker was born at Birch Hill Hospital in February 1949 and grew up in Milnrow and Hollingworth Lake. Before his 1968 entrance on the band circuit, he played organ at the Milnrow and Kirkholt working men’s clubs. Baker and Fielden did 1972/73 stints in Stoney End, a summer-season group in Cleethorpes.

Shabby Tiger moved from northern clubs into London venues, where songwriter-producer Ben Findon saw the group and secured an RCA contract. Findon produced the January 1975 RCA single “Slow Down” (b/w “Road Chase”). The group promoted the record on Granada’s Rock On With 45 in a March telecast. Shabby Tiger reached the Dutch, Belgian, and Swedish charts with “Slow Down” and returned to Belgium for seven shows across two weekends.

The group followed with the August RCA single “Little Miss Heartbeat” (b/w “On the Road”). In October, “The Devil Rides Tonight” appeared as a Continent-only third single (b/w “Rock & Roll Star”). On December 10, 1975, Shabby Tiger performed at London Polytechnic as part of a multi-act bill with brass-rockers Cisco, newcomers the Sex Pistols, and headliners Brett Marvin & The Thunderbolts.

In July 1976, Shabby Tiger returned with “Stone Angel” (b/w “Street in New York”) in advance of their album.

Discography: