About Casino
History
Casino Steel had been in the influential Hollywood Brats, who formed in London in 1972 around the songwriting partnership of Steel and Andrew Matheson. Similar in style and looks to The New York Dolls they were born out of disgust and aimed to shock. Steel went on to join legendary UK punk band London SS alongside Matt Dangerfield (The Boys), Mick Jones (The Clash), Tony James (Generation X) and Brian James (The Damned) amongst others. At one session Honest John Plain joined them on drums.
After London SS Steel, Plain and Dangerfield formed The Boys with Duncan ‘Kid’ Reid & Jack Black. Along with The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and Generation X, The Boys were amongst the first wave of the UK punk explosion in the mid 1970’s and became the first UK punk band to sign an album deal in January 1977. Highly regarded by the music press and their contemporaries, their pop approach and use of harmonies led to their description as “The Beatles of Punk", with their debut album entering the UK charts in September 1977.
Every Christmas The Boys rearranged the ‘B’ and the ‘Y’ and became The Yobs, releasing classic punk Christmas songs.
In March 1980 Steel left The Boys to hook up with his good friend Gary Holton (Auf Wiedersehen Pet) from The Heavy Metal Kids and as Holton/Steel they enjoyed considerable success across Europe, until Holton’s untimely death in 1985.
Steel’s solo success continued and he went on to become a big country star, working alongside the likes of Claudia Scott, Carlene Carter & Ottar ‘Big Hand’ Johansen. He also toured with Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Johnny Cash.
Casino won a Norwegian Grammy with the country-trio Claudia/Big Hand/Casino, after which Claudia (Scott) & Casino formed CCCP together with Carlene Carter and John Payne. Scott&Steel recorded an album together, before splitting up to do solo-careers.
Casino did his first solo-album in LA, with a little help from his friends Andrew Matheson and Ian McLagan. He then went on to record an album “Casino Steel & The Bandits” with ace guitar-players Mick Ronson & Marius Müller.
Steel then went on to record the Grammy nominated “Dirty Laundry” with Plain, Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Darrell Bath (The Crybabys) and Vom (Die Toten Hosen).
His first solo country album “There’s A Tear In My Beer” was released to great critical acclaim in September 2005.
In 2007 Casino Steel & Honest John Plain renewed their partnership in a new punk supergroup, playing Ramones-influenced rock’n’roll with a hint of Johnny Cash! The Last Rock ‘N’ Roll Band, released their debut on 10 October 2007.
In 2010 Honest John Plain, Duncan Reid, Casino Steel & Vom Ritchie of The Boys recorded a new album along with Backstreet Girls guitarist Petter Baarli. The Mattless Boys was released in October 2010.
Casino Steel is still touring with The Boys and The Last Rock’n’Roll Band in countries like Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, USA, Canada, England, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Norway!
Holton/Steel "Anthology" was released December 2010.
Some Casino Steel facts:
• The Hollywood Brats were originally called The Queen until Steel had an altercation at the Marquee with Freddie Mercury’s Queen (who subsequently had a hit single) and Matheson/Steel decided to change their name to The Hollywood Brats. They played regular gigs in London, including the Café Des Artistes and the Speakeasy, building up a considerable band of followers which included Keith Moon of The Who.
• Marc Bolan was a fan of The Boys following their appearance on his 70’s TV show and they were also one of Paul Weller's favourites.
• The Boys supported The Ramones on their 1980 UK national tour and Joey and Johnny Ramone were big fans of the band and The Ramones used The Boys' "T.C.P" as an intro-tape.The Boys persuaded The Ramones to play their UK Top 10 hit “Baby I Love You” on the tour. Plain taught Johnny Ramone the chords and Casino Steel appeared live on stage playing keyboards and singing backing vocals. Following the tour Steel was offered the opportunity to join The Ramones as Casino Ramone but turned it down.
• Casino Steel was due to tour Scandinavia with Mick Ronson in 1992 but the tour had to be cancelled when Ronson was subsequently diagnosed with liver cancer (he died the following year).
• The Boys are Die Toten Hosen frontman Campino’s favourite band of all time.
Steve Metcalfe/October 2010
