From the remnants of other bands, 4 long-time friends formed the Sellouts in 2005.

Gaffer and Burger had been in bands together since the age of 15 and had gigged as Glass House (Gavin Hart, Richard Burns, Dean Firth & Martyn Roper), Mescaline (Glass House but with original material) and Oxygen Thief (Gavin Hart, Richard Burns & Dean Firth) and the aptly titled but wholly unsuccessful Hart-Burns (Gavin Hart & Richard Burns).

Stev had been occasionally singing with Glass House on a few of their songs at gigs and decided to form a piss-take band (the band had no name) with Baggy and Gavin Muff to rival (ahem) Glasshouse.

While Gaffer and Burger were going through their band journey, the band with no name (and no talent) fell by the wayside and Stev joined a local band called Bluebottle (with Andy Dyson and Liam Quinn). Stev soon got sacked from this band as his guitar playing was not up to scratch and started a new band called The Kings (Steve McGuire, Martyn Roper, Adam Clarke and Chris Rogers).

Stev left The Kings (who became Buffalo 66) and did nothing for a bit.

Baggy had been playing with a few bands trying to get something together but nothing really took off.

A band of sorts was formed and practiced in the house Gaffer lived in with his mate Arran Dobson. The band featured Arran, Gaffer, Burger, Baggy, Dean, Gareth and god knows whom else. This band went by the name 984 as it was the house number of Gaffer & Arran’s abode.

It was a few months later that Dean went to find his fortune in the big smoke and 984 was put on the back burner.

This left a number of semi-talented musicians twiddling their thumbs whilst enjoying being twenty-somethings and not getting up to much (apart from getting drunk).

In a chance meeting between Gaffer and Stev (Gaf had loads of shopping bags and Stev offered to carry some to the bus station), Gaf mentioned that he, Burger and Baggy had booked a rehearsal room at Riverside Studios in Milnsbridge to attempt to satisfy the musical cravings they were having.

In true Stev-style he invited himself along to the rehearsal and sang a few numbers. The guys then decided it would be good to get Stev on vocals (although the idea of a three piece band was cool) to complete the new band.

The new band put in many hours practice over the next year and eventually the topic of gigging popped up. It was decided the band would need a name if it were to gig and after a brief argument settled on The Sellouts (a band who sells out a venue or, a band who sells out for a few quid). We’ll let you decide.

The first gig was booked at The Bridge Inn at Longroyd Bridge (November 2006), as that was where the guys often went for a post-practice pint.

The band then bought a tranny van and moved into their own rehearsal space in Brittania Road Mills: the less said about that the better.

Many gigs across Yorkshire followed throughout 2007 and then an opportunity too good to miss was presented to the guys.

Gerry (landlord at The Wheel Inn, Golcar) booked the band to perform 5 gigs in the Limoges area of France France Trip Gallery. So of they went in their trusty tranny to the continent. The story of the France trip will come later (a hardback novel could be written on it) but needless to say it was enjoyable / stressful / expensive / brilliant and truly unforgettable!

Upon returning to England, Stev decided he was leaving the band so the remaining guys were on the hunt for another singer. They advertised for and auditioned many singers (ask Gaf, Burger or Baggy about Enrique) and eventually welcomed Liam Quinn aka Chinny (of Bluebottle fame) and Bobby Oxby to the fold. The band in its new guise moved to the Wellhouse Village Club but didn’t really take off and after a few months practicing, the band split.

At this point, Chinny got in touch with Stev and asked him to come back to the band. Stev returned to perform vocal duties and Chinny played rhythm guitar and sang backing vocals.

The Sellouts were back together and now a five piece. The band continued to gig (with occasional virtuoso vocal performances from Gemma Dickinson & Rob Frost) and developed a good fan base across the Colne Valley until Chinny dropped a bombshell and quit the band.

Whilst going back to four was not what anyone wanted, it was fairly straightforward to continue as they had been in the beginning. Many gigs were played over the next year.

December 2010 saw a gig played at the Wellhouse for Burger’s 30th birthday. It featured the band plus a few special guests (Chinny, Dean Firth, Garry Burns, Dean Pearson, Gareth Firth and Ellis Place).

Ellis has been in many bands over the years, performing covers and his own material. The guys had asked if he wanted to join the band when Stev left but at the time he decided against it. Playing with Ellis was quite a revelation and having played a few times and practiced a bit with Ellis, the band decided they wanted him for vocals and rhythm guitar.

This brings us up to the present day: the band are learning an entire new set and are booked to play again in April 2012.

See you there!