Stiff Joints is well known around the music venues of south west London – and beyond.

As always with groups of this type there have been changes over the years and not everyone is available for every gig. The main line-up these days is Brian Coope, Lead Vocalist and Rhythm Guitar, Jon Riley on Lead Guitar and Mandolin, Mark Stevens on Keyboard, Accordion and Vocals, Alan Brock on Bass Guitar and Dan Allsopp or Dave Maud on Drums.

They perform regularly at local venues, such as the Stag’s Head on Priest’s Bridge, the Barnes Home Guard Club in East Sheen and the Jolly Gardeners in Mortlake (opposite the Tapestry), as well as other West London venues in Richmond, Twickenham, Barnes (notably the Bull’s Head), Brentford, Isleworth, Chiswick, Ealing and Kew.

But where did it all start? Brian had been playing with Brentford Dick, aka Richard Brook, sadly now deceased, in earlier bands and continued playing as a duo (including Sunday nights in the Hare and Hounds). They needed to form a larger band for a couple of birthday gigs. Dick’s flatmate Jon Riley also played in a band, so they borrowed him plus his bass guitarist and drummer. So a new band was formed fronted by Brian, Dick and Jon (playing keyboard as well as guitar), plus Mike Allin on bass and Adam Roman on drums.

But “Brian and Dick’s Band” could only be a temporary title and the search was on for a catchier name.

This was solved one Sunday lunchtime at the Hare and Hounds in about 1991. A third party who shall remain nameless had a habit of asking people what they were having for Sunday Lunch and one answer led to the anticipation of a healthy stiff piece of beef and some possible diversity in the nature of the joint. Play with words led to the adoption of the name which has now lasted 35 years.

Stiff Joints has a basic playlist of about twenty numbers performed most frequently, with another ten regular songs. They are always up for requests, especially on early Beatles and Stones. They have also produced their own material over the years. See especially Down Decibel Drive, something of a protest song noted at https://childlawobserver10.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3498&action=edit

Personal favourites are Runaway by Del Shannon (though Brian admits to difficulty in hitting the high notes now), and Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues, which (wisely) they play in a lower key.

Their next gig is this Friday (7.00pm – 10.00pm) at the Halloween Party at the Coach and Horses on Kew Green  TW9 3BH.