Billy Rankin (drummer)

For the guitarist of the same name, see Billy Rankin.

William Hector "Billy" Rankin III (born in 1951) is an English drummer and rock musician active in the 1960s and 1970s

He joined Kippington Lodge in 1968 and remained with them when they evolved into Brinsley Schwarz in 1969.^[1] He played on all Brinsley Schwarz's albums, and whilst with them, also drummed on albums for Ernie Graham, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, Colin Scot and Frankie Miller.^[2]

After Brinsley Schwarz's demise in 1974, Rankin briefly joined Ducks Deluxe^[3] for their final tours, and played on their final album Last Night of a Pub Rock Band, recorded at London's 100 Club on 1 July 1975. He briefly joined Terraplane but did not record with them, and also appeared on two albums for Dave Edmunds. He joined Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger with whom he recorded two albums, before retiring from the music industry^[4]

In October 2007 Tyla, Belmont, Groome and Rankin reformed Ducks Deluxe, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their formation, and performed at the 100 Club, the venue of their final performance in 1975.,^[5]

Discography

With Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz
Despite It All
Nervous on the Road
Silver Pistol
Please Don't Ever Change
Original Golden Greats
Unknown Numbers (bootleg)
What IS So Funny About Peace Love & Understanding?
Cruel to Be Kind
The New Favourites of... Brinsley Schwarz

With Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

Kings of the Robot Rhythm

With Colin Scot

Colin Scot

With Dave Edmunds

Subtle as a Flying Mallet
Get It

With Ducks Deluxe

Last Night of a Pub Rock Band

With Ernie Graham

Ernie Graham

With Frankie Miller

Once in a Blue Moon

With Nick Lowe

Jesus of Cool (Bonus tracks only)
Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe

With Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger

Tiger
Going Down Laughing

References

1. Joynson, Vernon (2006). The Tapestry of Delights Revisited – Kippington Lodge (1st ed.). Telford: Borderline productions. p. 483. ISBN 1-899855-15-7.
2. Allmusic credits for Billy Rankin Retrieved 3 September 2009
3. Ducks Deluxe – The Manband Archive Retrieved 3 September 2009
4. Joynson, Vernon (2006). The Tapestry of Delights Revisited – Brinsley Schwarz (1st ed.). Telford: Borderline productions. p. 121. ISBN 1-899855-15-7.
5. "100 Club review". Record Collector Magazine. 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-02.