Billy Childish has been a poet, artist, musician and all round punk provocateur since first getting kicked out of St Martin's School of Art in 1978. Always trying to channel the raw, joyous, DIY spirit of early rock'n'roll, he formed Thee Headcoats in 1980 after the demise of his early bands the Pop Rivets and The Milkshakes, and became a cult hero with albums Headcoats Down! (1989), The Kids Are All Square (1990) and The Messerschmitt Pilot's Severed Hand (1998). An eccentric mix of The Clash, The Kinks and Bo Diddley, the trio (also including Bruce Band on drums and bassist Johnny Johnson) were signed to legendary indie label Sub Pop in the US and inspired a female tribute act The Headcoatees led by Holly Golightly, who later recorded joint albums with the band. The band split in 2000 with Childish going on to form The Buff Medways but were cited by Kurt Cobain, Graham Coxon and Jack White as an inspiration.
