Frantic Flintstones (GB)

About

Also known as: Frantic Flinstones, The Frantic Flinstones, The Frantic Flintstones

Frantic Flintstones have been rattling cages in the psychobilly world since 1986, when frontman Chuck Harvey put the band together in Didcot, Oxfordshire. They earned their reputation as second wave psychobilly innovators alongside Demented Are Go and Guana Batz, and their debut album Bed Rock quickly became a cult favourite. What sets them apart from the pack is a genuinely eclectic sound: rockabilly and punk as the foundation, but with ska rhythms, country leanings, banjo, slide guitar, and a healthy dose of irreverent humour thrown in. Harvey has cited The Clash as a major influence, and you can hear it in the genre blending and the political cheek. The band went through a revolving door of members over the years, with Harvey the one constant. Notable alumni include Gary Day, who later played with Morrissey, and Captain Drugbuster of Demented Are Go fame. They toured and recorded heavily in Germany throughout the 1990s, and their reach across Europe never really faded. A 2008 tribute album featuring international acts covering their songs is probably the clearest sign of how much they meant to the scene.