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Darren Richards

Double Bass & Screams

Darren took influence, subliminally whilst hearing his Rastafarian neighbours in the flat upstairs, as a youngster, blasting out the deep resonating bass lines from authentic roots Reggae, Trojan and Rocksteady sounds. It wasn't until his mum started to take him to gigs, did Darren see what was making those deep, chest rattling tones.


Darren remembers watching The Jets, in a nightclub in Kent where he recalls their sound being piped through the in-house sound system. Darren was stood in front of a bass-bin, not only hearing the thumping bass lines (Bob Cotton), but feeling them through his whole body. Paired with watching Bob up there on stage, slapping that

big Double Bass, Darren was mesmerised, totally hooked. 


Darren was exposed to a broad range of music from a young age, with his dad, a DJ (Spider Record Hop) in the early 80's. Darren recalls playing with his toy cars, under his mum's feet, weaving through the legs of her ironing board, whilst she would spin a variety of records at

home. Anything from Rock 'n' Roll, Doo-Wop, ZZ-Top.. you name it.


Darren's desperation to get his hands on a Double Bass came at secondary school, where the music department had a row of Double Basses, all stacked up, gathering dust. If he signed up for lessons, and joined the school orchestra, Darren would be allowed to take a Double Bass home. Whilst appreciating Classical Music, Darren just wanted to slap the hell out of the Bass, but those Basses were strung with cheese wire, intended for bowing. Darren shelved it for a couple of years after tearing his fingers to shreds, attempting to play along to records at home. 

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At the age of 16, his blessed Nan, saw his passion and gave him the money for his first Double Bass, which he bought second-hand, (she named it "Bertha").. Darren still has this Bass to this very day.

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Darren took weekly lessons from the guy he bought it from. Small world, but he was a young Rockabilly too, and the weekly journey up the Northern Line Tube from South Wimbledon to Edgeware, then a bus, was worth it.

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Darren soon took inspiration from many other Double Bassists on the Rockabilly scene.

Namely, Peter (Geordie) O'Brien, formally of the Hicksville Bombers, one of Darren's all-time favourite bands on the scene. With Geordie's generosity, showing Darren some tricks, guesting Darren up on stage and gifting him some gadgets and strings, Darren was soon on

his feet.

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Darren's first band, "Destination 55", he was invited to join, even before he owned his first Bass. The support from fellow band members, was not only encouraging, but very generous too, with offers to also buy him his first Bass.. (kind thanks to Donna Stephens and Pete Bruce!)

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Highlights

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Performed for Prince William, Princess Katherine, Earl Spencer and Natalie Imbruglia, at the late

Lady Diana’s niece & Princess Charlotte’s Godmother (Lady Laura Fellowes) Wedding, in Snettisham, Norfolk in 2006.

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  • Russia - Moscow & St Petersburg

  • Scandinavia - Sweden, Norway & Finland

  • Throughout Europe - Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Ireland.

  • Czech Republic

  • Dubai

  • USA

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​​Slim Slip & The Sliders

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In 2003, Darren and his best pal, Tony Hillebrandt (Drums) set out to find a Lead Vocalist / Singer to front a new outfit. It fell in to place when buddies Andy Wren (Guitar) and Greg Escrader (Vocals) joined Darren and Tony, and $$$ was born.

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Some $$$ highlights..

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Darren has also had the pleasure of performing with..

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  • Big Boy Bloater

  • Flying Saucers

  • Counterfeit Crickets (Buddy Holly Tribute)

  • Darrel Higham & The Enforcers

  • Terry Nolan (USA)

  • Roc La Rue (USA)

  • Johnny Bach & The Moonshine Boozers

  • GoGetters (Sweden)

  • Otis Grand & Jimmy Thomas (USA)

  • Jack Rabbit Slim

  • Jessie & The Orbits

  • Ruby Ann (Portugal)

  • Drugstore Cowboys

  • Voola & The Jayhawks

  • Space Cadets

  • The Shooting Stars

  • Mean Devils (Portugal)

  • The Hicksville Bombers

  • Jake Allen & The Bad Habits


Support to:

Many original artists through the musical eras from the 1950’s, right up to modern

day acts;


  • 15-16th April 2005 - Rockin’ 50’s Fest, Oneida Casino, Wisconsin, USA

    • Ike Turner

    • Jerry Lee Lewis

    • Lew Williams

    • Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater

    • Ray Sharpe

    • Clarence "frogman" Henry

    • Janis Martin

    • Hank Thompson

    • Dale Hawkins

    • Roc LaRue

    • Young Jessie

    • Glen Glenn

    • Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones

    • Los Straitjackets

    • Jimmy Sutton's Four Charms

    • Link Wray


  • Neville Staples (The Specials)

  • The Wurzels

  • David Rodigan

  • Roddy Radiation

  • Trojan Sound System

  • Liberty X

  • General Levy

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Darren's Discography

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  • Big Boy Bloater & The Southside Stompers

    • Great Big Hunk of Man


  • Danny Edwards & The City Shakers

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  • Voola & The Jayhawks 


  • Buddy Holly Tribute (Marc Robinson)


  • Winter Dance Party (Theatre Tour Album)


  • Jack Rabbit Slim

    • 10" - Rock 'n' Roll Heavyweights


  • Mouse Zinn - Vigilante Man

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  • The Shooting Stars

    • 10" - Watchtower Blues / Should'a Moved to Memphis.


  • Slim Slip & The Sliders

    • Go Wild!

    • EP - Keep Me Satisfied

    • EP - You Can't Fool Me


  • The Bullets

    • EP - Ba-Boom!

    • Boppin' 'N' Screamin'

    • Somethin' Real Good!

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​​​Darren Uses

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  • Basses

    • King Double Bass - Slap King

    • West German 3/4 Double Bass ~1990's

    • Burns Bison - Bass Guitar

    • DeArmond Starfire - Bass Guitar


  • Strings:

    • Presto Lights

    • RotoSound


  • Bass Pickup:

    • Signature Mag Pickup - Steve Whitehouse (Frenzy / Sharks / Blue Cats)

    • ​Schaller Mag Pickup

    • ​K&K

    • Underwood

    • Shadow


  • Slap Pickup:

    • Schaller Oyster


  • Amplification:

    • Bass:

      • Bugera Vereon 2000w head


    • MarkBass 412 - 800w cab


    • Slap:

      • Combo PA Amp / Speaker with high range tweeter


    • Pedals:

      • Boss 60 Pedal Board

      • Boss GP7 Bass EQ

      • Boss Tuner

      • Behringer EQ (slap)


    • Roland Boss Cables

relentlessukofficial@gmail.com

07552 935 428

Darren Richards
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