A classic rock line-up of guitar, keyboards, bass and drums make up the core of the band but with lead vocals shared between Richie and Arleen and added percussion not only from Ben but the whole band and frequently the audience too, the total sound is distinctively Voodoo Armpit music.
Voodoo Armpit are:-
Richie Westmacott (Guitar, vocals and percussion)
Irreverently regarded as the "Godfather of Pembrokeshire Rock" by Welsh
music fans, Richie has been active on the local music scene for longer
than he would care to admit and has fronted numerous bands since the mid
70s. "Envy", "The Boneshakers" and "Frostbite" have all kept local
audiences on their toes and often on their feet as well with styles from
punk and reggae through psychobilly and ska to rock and blues. Richie
has also produced several home recorded tapes over the years featuring
his considerable songwriting talents and is a regular performer at local
music clubs. His barnstorming guitar playing has earned him considerable
respect and his total dedication to music is such that when not actually
playing, he is still surrounded by music at his day job at Dales record
store in Tenby. A particularly skilled slide guitar player Richie's collection
of bottlenecks is surpassed only by his wide selection of ethnic percussion.
Arleen
Westmacott (Vocals and percussion)
Although Arleen has contributed backing vocals to several of husband
Richie's bands and also starred with him in the popular duo "Ella Guru",
this is her debut fronting a full-on rock band.
Much under-rated in the past, Arleen now has the chance to cut loose
as she shares the lead vocals with Richie and also adds percussion to the
mix. When not strutting her stuff with the Armpit, Arleen is a consultant
gutbuster with her own business "Why Weight"
Gareth Sandhu (Bass guitar, vocals and percussion)
A talented lead guitarist and singer/songwriter in his own write, Gareth
was not only a prize winner at the Welsh Eisteddfod in 1994 but also founded
rock band "Rystik Grwf" with baby brother Iestyn and featured on Welsh
language television. Gareth is currently studying Theatre Studies at Trinity
College, Carmarthen and is the technical genius behind the recording of
the Armpit CD.
David
Robinson (Keyboards and percussion)
Another veteran, Robs was until recently better known as a drummer,
having anchored a wide variety of Pembrokeshire's rock bands although one
of his first commercial gigs was playing bass with Richie in a Christmas
show the main star of which was a magic rabbit! Piano lessons endured
at an early age bore fruit when keyboard skills rather than more tub thumping
were required to complete the Voodoo Armpit line up. When not tinkling
the ivories, Robs' day job is not at all boring at the infamous Milford
Haven Port Authority.
Iestyn
Sandhu (Drums & percussion)
The youngest member of Voodoo Armpit, Iestyn is rapidly gaining recognition
as one of Wales' finest drummers. Having featured with brother Gareth
in "Rystik Grwf" before joining the Armpit at the age of only 15, Iestyn
is currently studying Computer Science at the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth..
Ben
Woollacott (Percussion)
Having been a regular guest percussionist with the Armpit during breaks
from his studies at the University of Wales, Ben nevertheless managed
to graduate and was welcomed on board as a full time member. From
early days with the school band, Ben has played live with many local bands
covering a wide spectrum of music from rock and blues to funk and folk.
He has also contributed to recordings by a number of these acts and has
previously collaborated with Gareth both live and in the studio on
numerous projects including their latest band "Pixie Money".
Ben is currently studying Drums and Percussion at the Academy of Contemporary
Music in Guildford.
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