Sean Tyla (born John Michael Kenneth Tyler, 3 August 1946 – 17 May 2020) was an English rock guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, sometimes known as the "Godfather of Boogie". Best known for his work with

Ducks Deluxe Ducks Deluxe are an English pub rock band of the 1970s, who continue to tour and record new material. Usually called "The Ducks" by their fans, they were known for up-tempo, energetic performances, and the successful careers of their members, ...

and Tyla Gang, he also played with

Help Yourself Help is a word meaning to give aid or signal distress. Help may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Help'' (2010 film), a Bollywood horror film * ''Help'' (2021 theatrical film), a British psychological thriller film * '' ...

Joan Jett Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958) is an American singer, guitarist, record producer, and actress. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and per ...

, and

Deke Leonard Roger Arnold "Deke" Leonard (18 December 1944 – 31 January 2017) was a Welsh rock musician, "serving a life sentence in the music business".Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band are an England-based soul band. Career The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 by Pete Gage and Geoff Pullum. Before taking on Geno Washington, whom Gage knew from performing at the RAF Bentwaters US Air Fo ...

, but made his first record "Miracles" with a band called Third World (not the reggae band

Third World The term "Third World" arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Western European nations and their allies represented the " First ...

formed in 1973) which was released on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

in 1970, He also recorded an unreleased album with

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

Help Yourself

In 1971, Tyla became a roadie with

, who based their psychedelic instrumental number "All Electric Fur Trapper" on a fantasy tale Tyla was writing, part of which appeared in the sleeve of their ''Strange Affair'' album. He played on Help Yourself's

Sounds of the Seventies ''Sounds of the 70s'' is the name of BBC radio programme, currently broadcast on Sundays by BBC Radio 2, with the ''Sounds of the Seventies'' name also having been used by BBC Television for a number of themed music compilations, now repeated ...

broadcast and co-wrote "American Mother" on their ''Beware the Shadow'' album. He also recorded part of their fifth album, recorded in 1973, but the album was shelved until it was finally completed and released as ''5'' in 2004.

Ducks Deluxe

In February 1972, Tyla formed Ducks Deluxe, initially with Help Yourself's bassist, the late

Ken Whaley Ken Whaley (5 November 1946 – 8 May 2013) was a rock music bass guitar player, best known as a founding member of Help Yourself and Ducks Deluxe, and as a member of Deke Leonard's Iceberg, Man and The Tyla Gang. He also played with The A ...

, guitarist

Martin Belmont Martin Belmont (born 21 December 1948) is an English rock and country-blues guitarist, best known for being a founding member of Graham Parker & The Rumour. Life and career Belmont was born in Bromley, Kent, England. After working as a roadie ...

and percussionist Michael Cousins. Cousins was replaced by drummer

Tim Roper Tim Roper (8 April 1951 in Hampstead, London – February 2003) was the English former drummer of the pub rock band Ducks Deluxe (1972–1975), as well as a member of "Reds, Whites and Blues" with Adrian "Ade" Shaw.

and Nick Garvey also joined. Ducks Deluxe were one of the founding acts of the

Pub rock Pub rock is a rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particu ...

circuit, with more up-tempo, energetic performances than many other pub rock acts. They recorded three albums, made one appearance on ''

The Old Grey Whistle Test ''The Old Grey Whistle Test'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''Whistle Test'' or ''OGWT'') is a British television music show. The show was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers, commissioned by David Attenborough and aired on BBC2 from 1971 to 1988. ...

'' and recorded two

Peel Sessions John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

. Ducks Deluxe split in 1975.

Tyla Gang

Following the break-up of Ducks Deluxe, Sean Tyla formed Tyla Gang in late autumn of 1975 with his brother Gary, Phil Nedin (drums) and Peter O'Sullivan (bass) from Welsh band Jack Straw. In the spring of 1976, Richard Treece from Help Yourself joined the band. Within a few months Gary Tyler and Treece left the band and Welshman Tweke Lewis, formerly of

Man A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromos ...

, became the new guitarist. They went into Pebble Beach studio in Worthing, and under the guidance of producer Tony Platt recorded 6 tracks including "Suicide jockey" and "Cannons of the Boogie Night" as well as "Styrofoam" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie". These latter two tracks were released as the "double B-side" 4th single on the legendary

Stiff Records Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007. Established at the outset of the punk rock boom, Stiff ...

label. Tyla also produced Stiff's eighth single

Plummet Airlines Plummet Airlines, was a British pub rock band of the mid-1970s, which was originally formed in Nottingham. Band members later joined The Pogues and Darts. History The band was formed by students at Nottingham School of Art (now Nottingham Tren ...

' "Silver Shirt" / "This Is The World". In April 1977, two further tracks from that session were released ("Cannons of the Boogie Night" and "Suicide Jockey") on Skydog records. In 1977 the second Tyla Gang band were formed consisting of guitarist Bruce Irvine, bassist Brian "Kid" Turrington and drummer Mike Desmarais; Turrington and Desmarais having played together in

The Winkies The Winkies were an English pub rock group. The group primarily consisted of Philip Rambow, Michael Desmarais, Guy Humphreys, and Brian Turrington. Biography The Winkies were formed by Canadian-born Philip Rambow with former Holy Rollers gui ...

. Although unsigned, the Gang attracted critical attention and played two Peel Sessions in 1977 (30 May and 4 October). They eventually signed a contract with the California-based Beserkley label in 1977 and released their first album, ''Yachtless'' in 1978. Reviewing the LP in '' Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies'' (1981),

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

wrote: "

Punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

has not been good for former Duck Deluxe Sean T. because it's meant

urbanization Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly t ...

. I have nothing against the slick, hooky

power chord A power chord (also fifth chord) is a colloquial name for a chord in guitar music, especially electric guitar, that consists of the root note and the fifth, as well as possibly octaves of those notes. Power chords are commonly played on am ...

s his pub-rock has evolved into, not in theory. But when his charming if overly mythic tales of fireballs and West Texas

running board A running board or footboard is a narrow step fitted under the side doors of a tram ( cable car, trolley, or streetcar in North America), car, or truck. It aids entry, especially into high vehicles, and is typical of vintage trams and cars, w ...

s evolve into 'The Young Lords' (give me a break,

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...

) and 'On the Street' (give me a break,

Bob Geldof Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (; born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter, and political activist. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead singer of the Rock music in Ireland, Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, who achieved ...

), I begin to crave recognizable human detail." Part way through recording their next album ''Moonproof'', Turrington left and Whaley joined to finish the album; this line-up recorded a Peel Session on 9 August 1978. Richard Treece also rejoined but Beserkley's UK operation went bankrupt in 1979, and Tyla disbanded the Gang shortly after. In 2010, the Tyla Gang reformed in their original line-up, touring Sweden during the fall. In 2013, they added John McCoy of Gillan and Mammoth fame to replace original member, Brian Turrington who had taken a leave of absence for personal reasons. The Gang have released two albums since their reformation, 2010's "Rewired", a compilation of lost studio and live recordings and as of 18 March 2013, a new studio album, ''Stereo Tactics''. In 2015 The Tyla Gang released a live set, ''Live In Stockholm'' recorded at the Akkurat Bar in Stockholm, Sweden in 2013 on Angel Air Records and will be releasing a 3-CD anthology, ''Pool Hall Punks'' through Cherry Red Records in May 2016 to coincide with Sean's 70th Birthday Tour.

Solo career

Tyla embarked on a solo career, encouraged by

Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the Rock music, rock band The Who. Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Ge ...

who allowed him use of

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

's Ramport Studio. He recorded in California with

Mike Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

and signed a five-album deal with Polydor, although he only released three albums. The first album, ''Just Popped Out'', was recorded with assistance from many musicians, including several former bandmates such as Nick Garvey,

Micky Groome Micky Groome (born Michael John Groome, 20 March 1951) is an English bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. Early life and career Groome grew up in the New towns in the United Kingdom, new town of Hemel Hempstead, some 27 mil ...

Malcolm Morley Malcolm A. Morley (June 7, 1931 – June 1, 2018) was a British-American artist and painter. He was known as an artist who pioneered in varying styles, working as a photorealist and an expressionist, among many other styles. Life Morley was ...

, Tim Roper and Pete Thomas. ''Just Popped Out'' included Tyla's first US hit single, "Breakfast in Marin", which also became a top ten single in Germany in 1980, but the single had to be withdrawn after Tyla was sued "for supposedly plagiarising the title from a play." Tyla guested on

's eponymous 1980 album, re-released as '' Bad Reputation'' in 1981, and ''

I Love Rock 'n' Roll "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is a rock song written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker and first recorded by the Arrows, a British rock band, in 1975. A 1981 cover version by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, released as the first single from her album of ...

'' in 1981. Tyla's second solo album, ''Redneck in Babylon'' (1981), was critically less acclaimed than the first, and used a smaller band comprising Tyla, Paul Simmons, Gerald Moffett, Micky Groome, John Earle,

Carlene Carter Carlene Carter (born Rebecca Carlene Smith; September 26, 1955) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter Cash and her first husband, Carl Smith. As of 2020, since 1978, Carter has recorded 12 album ...

and

Rebop Kwaku Baah Anthony "Rebop" Kwaku Baah (13 February 1944 – 12 January 1983) was a Ghanaian percussionist who worked with the 1970s rock groups Traffic and Can. Biography Baah was born on 13 February 1944, in Konongo, Gold Coast. In 1969, Baah performe ...

, whilst his third album, ''Rhythm of the Swing'', was released in 1983.

The Force

In 1981, in addition to recording his solo albums, and guesting with Joan Jett, Tyla and

guitarist

Deke Leonard Roger Arnold "Deke" Leonard (18 December 1944 – 31 January 2017) was a Welsh rock musician, "serving a life sentence in the music business".Micky Groome Micky Groome (born Michael John Groome, 20 March 1951) is an English bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. Early life and career Groome grew up in the New towns in the United Kingdom, new town of Hemel Hempstead, some 27 mil ...

(bass) and Paul Simmons (drums). After extensive touring, they recorded an eponymous album, ''The Force'', recorded and released in Germany, and the single "Close to a Headline". In 1982, Tyla suffered severe

stage fright Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, real or imagined, whether actually or potentially (for example, when perf ...

Dingwalls Dingwalls was a live music and comedy venue adjacent to Camden Lock, Camden, London, England. The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, ...

in Camden "in the middle of the set Sean shuffled up to me and whispered in my ear, 'I'm just going off'... When we got backstage Sean was a real mess, said he couldn't face it any more." Tyla stopped performing live and The Force mutated into another Deke Leonard's Iceberg. Tyla retired from the music business in 1985, and became a web-designer, and briefly worked as a salesman at a Renault dealership in Hammersmith, before, according to his autobiography, a spell as a pig farmer and later becoming a professional cricket coach.

Return

In 2007, Tyla resumed public performances with a new Gang comprising Vaughan Lonsdale and Mick Yarre (guitars), Dave Rickaby (bass) and Ken Ward (drums). They recorded a CD ''Back in the Saddle'' which was released in 2008 on Tyla's own label; Hawkhead Records. Following a move south, another Tyla Gang line up was formed from Bournemouth-based band Relentless, consisting of Howard Gillespie on Lead Guitar and Vocals, Gary Gahan on Bass Guitar and Vocals and Dave Ironside on Drums. This line up performed a limited number of gigs with the intention of touring but it wasn't long before Sean was offered the opportunity to work once more with his former bandmates from Ducks Deluxe. The band also co-wrote two new tunes with Sean. A riff driven comment on modern life called Runaway and a classic Tyla call to arms Lock and Load. There is a live recording of this line up at Mr Kyps taken from the mixing desk and the show was recorded in HD video. Tyla also played with Ducks Deluxe, when they reformed in October 2007, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their original formation. Tyla rejoining Martin Belmont, Micky Groome and Billy Rankin. The success of this anniversary gig led to further concerts in France and Spain in 2008 and a tour of Sweden in 2009, by when the line up was Tyla and Belmont with bassist Kevin Foster (of Hank Wangford and The Lost Cowboys) and drummer Jim Russell (of Stretch and

The Inmates The Inmates are a British pub rock band, which formed after the split of The Flying Tigers in 1977. In 1982, they had a medium-sized international hit with a cover of The Standells' "Dirty Water", and a UK Top 40 hit with their cover of Jimmy ...

) They released a mini CD of new tracks ''Box of Shorts'' in 2009 and a full album, ''Side Tracks And Smokers'' in 2010, comprising a mixture of unreleased early recordings and current material. They then released a live set recorded in 2009 in Monte Carlo entitled ''Riviera Shuffle'' but this was only available through eBay. A live album, ''Rockin' At The Moon'' recorded at the Half Moon in London in September 2012 was released in May 2013 on Mystic Records. Tyla toured with both Tyla Gang and Ducks Deluxe in 2013, but Ducks Deluxe were disbanded "for good" that Christmas. Tyla,

Billy Bremner William John Bremner (9 December 1942 – 7 December 1997) was a Scottish professional footballer and manager. Regarded as one of the game's great midfielders, he combined precision passing skills with tenacious tackling and physical stam ...

and 2 Swedish musicians, were founder members of Stockholm-based band Trouble Boys, who released an album ''Bad Trouble'' in September 2012, and toured extensively throughout 2013 and 2014. Tyla left the band in 2015.

Death

Tyla died on 17 May 2020. According to an appreciation by British music journalist

Will Birch Will Birch (born 12 September 1948) is an English people, English music journalist, songwriter, record producer and drummer. Career Birch was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. He played drums in various musical ensemble, bands in the Sout ...

, Tyla had chronic liver disease.

Book

Sean Tyla's autobiography ''Jumpin' In The Fire'' () was published by Soundcheck Books on 20 October 2010. It features jacket artwork by the famous Stiff Records designer Tobbe Stuhre, and a foreword by Will Birch. The final volume of the autobiography was available in 2016.

Album discography

;With Ducks Deluxe *''Ducks Deluxe'' (1974) RCA *''All Too Much'' (1975) *''Jumpin' '' (EP) (1975) Skydog *''Taxi to the Terminal Zone'' (1975) RCA *''Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite'' (1978) RCA *''Last Night of a Pub Rock Band'' (1981) *''John Peel Sessions'' (2007) Hux *''Box of Shorts'' (2009) Hawkhead *''Side Tracks & Smokers'' (2010) Hawkhead ;With Little Bob Story *''Off the Rails'' (1977) *''Living in the Fast Lane'' (1977) Crypto *''Vacant Heart'' (1983) RCA ;With Tyla Gang *''Yachtless'' (1977) Beserkley *''Moonproof'' (1978) Beserkley *''Stereo Tactics'' (2013) Ball & Chain Records ;Sean Tyla *''Just Popped Out'' (1980) Polydor *''Redneck in Babylon'' (1981) RCA *''Rhythm of the Swing'' (1983) RCA *''Back in the Saddle'' (2007) Hawkhead ;With Joan Jett *'' Bad Reputation'' (1981) *''

'' (1981) ;With Help Yourself *''Strange Affair'' (1971) *''5'' (2004) ;With Deke Leonard *''The Force'' (1981) DGG/Polydor *''Freedom and Chains'' (2005) Angel Air ;With Martin Belmont *''Guest List'' (2009) Gold Top ;With Trouble Boys *''Bad Trouble'' (2012) Ball and Chain Records ;Various artist compilations *''

Christmas at the Patti ''Christmas at the Patti'' is a live album, recorded at Man's Christmas party, held at the Patti Pavilion, Swansea, on 19 December 1972. The album features Man and Help Yourself with guests Deke Leonard, Dave Edmunds and B J Cole, together with ...

'' (1973) UA *''

A Bunch of Stiff Records ''A Bunch of Stiff Records'', also known as ''A Bunch of Stiffs'', is a various artists album to promote some of the first acts to be signed by Stiff Records. It is subtitled ''Undertakers to the Industry – If They're Dead - We'll Sign 'Em''. ...

'' (1976) Stiff *''

Hits Greatest Stiffs ''Hits Greatest Stiffs'' is a various artists compilation album, drawn from ten of the first eleven Stiff Records singles, BUY 1 to BUY 11. The tracks follow the numerical order of the singles, but feature mostly the B-sides, although several si ...

'' (1977) Stiff *''Spitballs'' (1978) Beserkley *''Beserk Times – Live over Germany'' (1978) Beserkley *''Beserkley's Back'' (1978) Beserkley *''

Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival ''Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival'' is a hit double-LP of live recordings taken from various bands – mainly power pop, pub rock, punk rock and new wave groups - that played the Front Row Festival at the Hope and Anchor, Islington between Tues ...

'' (1978) Warner *''Stiff Records Box Set'' (1992) Demon *''Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock'' (1996) EMI *''Beserkley's Best'' (1998) Blackheart *''Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers'' (2004) *''The Big Stiff Box Set'' (2007)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyla, Sean 1946 births 2020 deaths English rock guitarists English male guitarists Protopunk musicians People from Selby District Ducks Deluxe members