It so happens that a whole story unfolds behind one comment posted on the website. So, Rocket 3 is an English rockabilly trio from Leicester, UK with frontman Dave Wassell (vocals, guitar). At first, the guys were called The Incurable and even recorded an album in the bedroom of Boz Bohrer (The Polecats) in the 1980s. Then they became known as Rocket 3.
The band’s musicians were Dave “Spike” Wassell, his brother Steve, and Dave Spicer. They invented and made their own double bass. They recorded two tracks, a song and an instrumental, for Fury Records.
Motorcycle Baby is a clear nod to Cliff Gallop and Gene Vincent. Stutz Bearcat is one of the notable car songs, this vintage model was also once mentioned in the song “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed.
Chantelle is a cute doo-wop, firmly stucks in your head, resurrecting the tunes of Dion and The Belmonts.
Valley of the shrunken heads is a melodic surf instrumental. Hot Rod Girls is a homage to Eddie Cochran. Don’t Want Dinner (Just Want Pudding) is a very English song and an equally elegant nod to Gene Vincent.
Rocket 3 – Chantelle
Valley of the shrunken heads
Don’t Want Dinner (Just Want Pudding)
Hot Rod Girls
Chantelle
Motorcycle Baby
Download or listen online Rocket 3 (mp3, 34 Mb)
Most of the featured tracks were recorded at the BBC Studios in Birmingham. Motorcycle Baby was released on the compilation The Best of Fury Rockabilly Vol. 1 (1998), in addition to R3 and others, there was also Dave Phillips with his Hot Rod Gang, named after the film of the same name with Gene Vincent.
Dave’s latest project is The Boners, a neo-rockabilly band from the 2010s, which was released on Wild Records (USA). After the Hell Yeah album released on Rhythm Bomb, in 2016 they were preparing new material, including going to re-record old Rocket 3 songs, but apparently they never got finish.
