Folklore: drain pipe bands

Subject: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: GUEST,stevethesqueeze
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 01:26 PM

Has anyone any information about the phenomonon of Drain Pipe or Drainpipe Bands that were in existence in the twenties and thirties in the industrial north of england. I understand the instruments were made from old metal tubes and sometimes drainpipes and that this was a cheap way of making music. Any one any idea?

stevethesqueeze

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 02:28 PM

There were clips of one of these on the old archive film they found and restored that's been running on BBC2 [9 0-clock Friday] I got an album of 'stove pipe' bands from the lending library many years ago, and it was great, they are a US version of drain pipe bands I think.
Giok

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:50 AM

Are these by any chance Kazoo's dressed up to look like brass instruments? Kazoo bands were also called Tommy Talker bands and one can be seen in the Michael Caine film 'Get Carter'. The Journal of the EFDSS did an article about them a few years back.

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 06:06 AM

I think Wavin, an Irish/Dutch manufacturer or plastic sevage and other pipes, sponsored a band based on their products, at one stage.

Regards

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: GUEST,Snuffy
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 09:01 AM

Sounds like a similar idea but different "instruments", Manitas. MArching kazoo bands were also popular in Suth Wales during the depression years - they were known as Jazz Bands.

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: Splott Man
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:00 AM

They're still around, Snuffy.

They call the kazoos "Gazookas" or "Bazookas"

The girls learn the tunes on the kazoos, while the boys get to learn how to play side drums properly.

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 09:32 AM

Concidentally, I was just listening to Ruckus Juice & Chittlins vol2: the great jug bands (Yazoo 2033)which includes 2 tracks by King David's Jug Band (Walkin' cane stomp and Sweet potato blues) of which the sleeve notes say:"Sam Jones the jug player. At times the jug sounds suspiciously like a stovepipe, which Jones also played". There is also one track by Mississippi Sarah and Johnny Watson (aka "Daddy Stovepipe"): Greenville Strut.

RtS

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: Compton
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:42 PM

Catch "The Old String Band" who do a "Morris Dance" with varying lengths of plastic tubing and whilst throwing the pipes at each other manage to play "on the tubes", Shepherds Hey...It's a good trick!.......but probably not what this thread started off about!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: drain pipe bands
From: open mike
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:49 PM

a friend made a set of pan pipes from PVC
he would get qwuite blue in the face
when playing as they took a lot of air