The boys started gigging in 1996; Tommy and Stu are best mates after meeting at school at the age of 5. Mark is Stu's brother.

 

The Chip Shop Boys are the original definition of a band. Brothers and mates.

In their teenage years, best mates Tommy and Stuart from Churchdown in Gloucestershire, drafted in Stu's brother Mark, to form a band so they wouldn't need 'proper jobs'. They delegated instruments, bought some hair gel and decided they'd need decent clothes. After 2 years of wading through the bars and clubs of Cheltenham, playing anything people wanted to hear, the guys found that their following had spread to a wider and more exciting audience. With extensive university tours supporting established chart acts and foreign tours across the globe, the lads realised they had created their dream job; they were young, live, loud and playing music to thousands of people for a wage. They also acknowledged that this early stage of their careers bared great resemblance to bands from the past. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles had started out by touring and performing radio familiar classics for a living.

The Chip Shop Boys now move through 2008, with their audience figures averaging 10,000 people a month, and their accolades continuing to grow.

 

Here are just some of the people the boys have supported or have booked the band over the past 13 years.

 

 

1996: At the age of 18, Tommy and Stu start playing the pubs and clubs in Cheltenham and Gloucester as a duo. They secure a residency at 'The Office' and play there every Sunday night for the next 4 years. This is what the boys refer to as their apprenticeship! These Sunday night experiences still live long in the history books of Cheltenham's greatest nights out.

1998: The boys decide they want to get on the uni circuit, so they find a drummer, get Mark to quit his 'proper job' and secure a sole-agency and management contract with top UK agent based in London.

1999: This year, for the first time, the boys spend more nights on the road than in their own beds playing a mix of University, corporate and private bookings.

2000: The boys decide to break away from agency agreement to manage themselves and deal direct with all clients.

2001: The boys secure their first international contract touring America from Las Vegas to New York. This feature's gigs in New York's famous CBGB's.

2002: They headline the Dubai Rugby 7's 'Rugby Rock' Concert in Dubai stadium playing to 28,000 people.

2005: The boys peform at the wedding of Kate Garraway and Derek Draper at the Park Lane Hotel, London. This leads to the boys being featured in OK! magazine.

2006: 'Brides magazine' name the group as the best wedding band in the United Kingdom.

2006: They perform at the wedding of England rugby captain, Phil Vickery.

2006: 'The Week' magazine name the boys as the best party band in the UK.

2008: The boys are joined by 'Darius' of Pop idol fame on lead vocals at the Young Lord Taverners ball in London.

Everyone can book the UK's number one Rock and Pop covers band.

 

Email: stu@chipshopboys.com