Billy Ruffian
Electro / Indie / Pop / Punk / Rock

Visits: 756
Last Updated: 26 Apr 2007
Area: All
Uploaded URL:

Send to a friend
Artist Website:

Your Opinion
Leave your rating for this band

Total Votes: 2
Average Rating: 10.00


Gig listings:

Replacement content

Get macromedia Flash Player


The Band

Ben Paul - Bass, Programming
Stephen Ruffian - Vocal
Steve Trumpet - Trumpet
Thom Cuell - Guitar

About us


"Let's all drink to the Death of a Band"

Billy Ruffian met over house doubles and potent c*cktails in a series of city centre dives, and their continuing existence can be compared to dancing on the deck of the Titanic.

In their short, tempestuous, history, they have stumbled to the edge of oblivion and back, leaving former members and shell-shocked crowds trailing in their wake. The meeting of frontman Stephen Ruffian's arch lyricism, Thom Cuell's dandy pretentions, Steve Needlestone’s wailing trumpet, a clattering drum machine and Ben Paul's lo-fi sensibilities make the Ruffian a unique melting-pot of sound: Manchester's only truly exciting new band.

Billy Ruffian's lyrical concerns centre around mythology, demonic possession, lost love and the banality of 'everyday life'; these idiosyncratic themes, melded with proper pop hooks and killer choruses, persuaded us to take a chance on the band, first including their debut single 'Death of a Band' on the Christmas compilation 'Hark the Filthy Angels Sing', and then commissioning a full album, due for release at the end of May

The band members are already infamous throughout Manchester; Stephen Ruffian's former band, Dead Men Win Fights, won the approval of Fall frontman Mark E Smith and the interest of record labels alike – an unusual combination! Bassist Ben Paul writes for arts and fashion magazines and regularly terrorises Northern Quarter audiences with his electro-jazz side project. Thom Cuell has DJed at seminal club nights such as TVOD, Killing Fantasy and Wrong!, alongside the likes of Johnny Slut.

After tearing up venues such as Manchester’s Academy 2, the View 2 Gallery in Liverpool, and Art Brut's squat party in Peckham, the band have made waves in their own right, being described as 'the best new band in Manchester' by Club F*ck, and 'my new favourite band', by Ellie Lockwood, Fuse FM's Monday night presenter.

Billy Ruffian hope that their songs will keep them out of the workhouse. Let's all drink to that.




Band Gallery