Tenpole Tudor were one the strangest and silliest groups on Stiff Records, a label that was known for its oddball clients. Led by
Eddie Tudor (born
Edward Tudorpole), a former actor who could barely carry a tune, the group played a mixture of punk, roots rock, pop, and British dancehall music, developing a thoroughly entertaining and ridiculous style.
Tudor formed the band in 1974 with guitarist
Bob Kingston, bassist
Dick Crippen, and drummer
Gary Long. Before recording the band's first album,
Tudor appeared in
the Sex Pistols' movie The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, singing "Who Killed Bambi." After releasing a single on Korova Records, the group joined the Stiff roster, releasing "Three Bells in a Row."
Tenpole Tudor released their debut album,
Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary, in 1981; it sold well, launching two minor singles in addition to "Three Bells in a Row": "Wunderbar" and "Swords of a Thousand Men." That same year, the group released its second album,
Let the Four Winds Blow, which also performed well. The following year,
Eddie Tudor broke up
Tenpole Tudor; while he led a Cajun-inspired version of
Tenpole Tudor, the rest of the band became
the Tudors. After the new incarnation of
Tenpole Tudor failed,
Tudor left Stiff Records and began performing in jazz and swing bands, as well as returning to acting. New versions of
Tenpole Tudor were assembled throughout the subsequent years, although
Tudor chiefly focused on acting until 2009, when he released the band's third album.
Made It This Far was followed by a national tour, which the frontman deemed "an electronic one-man stadium show."
–
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi