The Winklepickers is a Luxembourgian band playing mostly rhythm ‘n’ blues from the 1970ies and 1980ies. The name Winklepickers (also called Winkle Pickers) comes from special shoes or boots that have been worn by British Rock & Roll fans since the 1950s.
Deeply rooted in the Chicago style, The Winklepickers feels strongly influenced by the rough, powerful and direct playing style known from British groups such as Dr Feelgood and Nine Below Zero. The Winklepickers specialize in contemporary interpretations of classics by former blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. Furthermore, the repertoire also includes current pieces (including Fabulous Thunderbirds) and their own compositiouns.
The band was founded in January 2001 and played their first concert on April 20, 2001. In autumn 2010 the band performed at the Lucerne Blues Festival 2010.[ref]www.bluesfestival.ch[/ref]
Bassist Paul Lebrun passed away in 2014 and after a two-year break the band has been performing sporadically as the Melcher / Meyer duo since 2016.
Line-up (after 2014)
- Roger Melcher (blues harp, vocals)
- Roland Meyer (guitar)
Line-up (until 2014)
- Roger Melcher (blues harp, vocals)
- Roland Meyer (guitar)
- Paul Lebrun (1954-2014, bass, vocals)
- Paul Neuen (drums)
Former band members
- Tom Lehnert (drums)
Discography
- 2008: Twelve R&B Knock-Outs
- 2012: Haddocks and French Kisses[ref]Discography of the Winklepickers on Rate Your Music[/ref]
Literature
Fiedler, Marc: Rocker-Schuhe der Größe 47 ; Rubrik “Tzeedee” in d’Lëtzebuerger Land vum 10. Juli 2008