The band started as a progression of Willi’s musical poetry show, originally backed by Justin Sullivan and Stuart Morrow of New Model Army. Songs were developed from WW's poems, some full-time musical collaborators were unearthed and “Doctor and The Inmates” was formed. The initial line-up was Wild Willi Beckett in character as mad, axe wielding Doctor joined by Paul“Squawk” Walker (drums), Chris McLaughlin (guitar) and Jont (bass). Audiences loved it. Soon after, the band name was changed due to the untimely emergence of a similar sounding one-hit-wonder and they became, immortally, the Psycho Surgeons. The same format remained, but soon after with Barry “Bambi” Gambles on drums.

In 1986, following a well-received package tour with New Model Army the previous year, the first single was released on the Flexible Response label: “Give a Man a Badge”. The cover picture showed WW in an army truckand brandishing a shotgun. The band held out hopes that it would get banned bythe right-on brigade (how cool would that be?), but no such luck. This single is in the Guinness Book of Rare Records, apparently. Sometime later in 1987 or thereabouts Chris left and was replaced on guitar by Tim Cawood. Chris went onto play for NMA and later formed his own band, Loud.

In 1988, a second single “The Book of Job” was released on the band’s own QTA label. Live favourite “New Barbarians” (from the same recording session) also featured on a compilation LP “The Kindness of Strangers” comprised of prominent indie bands. Someone nicked the Psycho Surgeons master tapes so if you hear a remix, the band says its nowt to do with them (unless it’s any good). WW published a seminal poetry book “Naff Verse”.Read it and draw your own conclusions. But you will probably wince a bit – it does what it says on the tin. The show developed its visiual impact with songs punctuated with Willi's costumes and props (yet always with the white faced, hollow eyed "Doctor" lurking beneath).

Lots of touring later, during which a loyal (and slightly demented) following had built up, along came 1989. A big year. Jont left to form his own band, Zed. New bassist Clive Hoey stepped up to the mark. WW landed a manufacture and distribution deal foran LP. “Madhouse” was released on the band's own QTA label. It was comprised of favourite songs from various eras of the band and even (waste not want not) some previously recorded material from an earlier session. According to NME it was “whimsy armed with a chainsaw and a very sharp pair of pliers”. We don’t know what that means either, but it sounds about right.

Just before therecord came out Tim left and was replaced by Dale Kirkley on guitar. With classic timing (!) the Madhouse Tour hit the road before the LP was released. This was indirectly Cliff Richard’s fault (long story). The gigs got noticeably bigger as the LP eventually hit the shops. To the band’s astonishment the record quickly sold out. Then a master stroke: WW ran for parliament (“The Monster Raving Loony Psycho Surgeons Party”) and was rarely off the telly or out of the papers as potential Prime Minister. There were loads of great publicity stunts too, many involving amusing moments of extreme peril for WW. Memorably, on TV, WW crossed the river Tyne in a bubble and had to be rescued by the river police.

In 1990 a 12 inch single “Panic On” was released (again on QTA), at the height of a second parliamentary election campaign (“Don’t be Silli. Vote for Willi!”), although late again thanks to yet another Cliff Richard overrun at the pressing plant. Then non-stop touring ‘til the band collapsed in a heap in early 1991 and then wandered off to do other stuff.

Some time later a new band was formed by WW with a different line-up and a longer name “Wild WilliBeckett and The Psycho Surgeons”. Members were Rob Kershaw (Drums), Stan Greenwood (guitar, previously from Skeletal Family) and Johnny Lorrimer (bass). The show featured stripped down versions of the songs and a raw garagey format. They went on to establish a large fan base in Eastern Europe and kept it running until around 1998.

It is worth mentioningthat most of the above is a generalisation and probably quite inaccurate. Ex band members sometimes filled-in for their successors and occasionally other people lent a hand. Rob “Moorezart” Moore, Richard “Steely Riff” Steele and Dave “Disaster” Fields all did occasional turns on guitar. Some say that there were more permutations of the Psycho Surgeons than WW had liquid dinners. But this is unlikely.

In 2006, tragically WW was diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer. He wasted no time in organising a mega "last gig" which involved as many of his previous collaborators that he could find. Essentially 3 surgeons gigs back to back, "One Last One" (26 October 2006) was by any standards a hell of a night, and the show was captured for release on a Mutiny 2000 double CD (along with 3 other CDscontaining the band’s entire back catalogue). The last show was also the subject of a short film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5n8xFDlHxo

Wild Willi Beckett passed away in March 2007. As suitably mental and unique tribute, and with the support of his family, Willi's former bandmates arranged to have his ashes baked into a 7inch single, thus making him (as far as we know) the only man in history to be made into a record (which was then distributed to fans at a tribute show later that year). The single, Kindom Come, featured Willi's first and last recordings.

And that's where it ends. The Psycho Surgeons will be remembered as a truely unique show.

Please take some time to check out the music and pics on this profile. If you have anything to send in, then please do. Contact us at

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Surgeons related banter, gig updates by ex-band members and details of the occasional tribute show can be found over on Facebook

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