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The Rude Mechanicals started in 2001 playing as a scratch band at LEAPS events in Cambridge. It is through LEAPS that the other members came across Miss Roberts performing her surreal and absurd poetry/performance art.

The band settled down into the current four piece lineup about two years ago. All their material is original and all members contribute to the song writing and arrangement. They gig regularly in Cambridge, London and the South East and have taken part in net-casts for ‘PirateTV'.

They describe their music as Absurd Rock and their performances are often very theatrical having included such things as lessons in toe sucking, the mythology of Derek: the man who lives in the loft, and instructions on DIY flying.

The Rude Mechanicals are:

Miss Roberts - vocals, harmonica, bass - trained as an artist at The Slade in London, and has apparently trained as a clown. Currently performs her surreal comedy throughout London

Guy Avern - bass, keyboards, backing vocals - SPNM short-listed composer, as a diploma level pianist he has given recitals around Cambridge

Cos - guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals - spent several years at sea before doing a degree in music technology and theatre. Also creates video-art, installation and sound-design for dance and theatre

Ugly Boy - percussion, melodian - mathematician and computer programmer. Clothes purchased from catering catalogues

and now Pepsi the new hard hitting drummer.

The band's influences include Captain Beefheart, The Tiger Lilies (Shockheaded Peter), Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and P.J. Harvey.