The NEW album, Café De Stam, was released on 29th March 2024 - learn more here
LV current line-up: Owen Childs, James Childs and Chris Fielden
LITTLE VILLAINS were formed in 2006 by none other than the legendary MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor, James Childs of AVON & UK rock group AIRBUS and the Welsh bass player Owen Street of desert rockers WAXY & sludge group VAILS. The band plays hard and heavy rock and roll, that’s it.
LV original line-up: James Childs, Owen Street and Phil Taylor
Unfortunately, Philthy is no longer with us, but his music shines on in true Motörspirit with his exceptional performances on the LITTLE VILLAINS Philthy Lies and Taylor Made albums, proving his explosive drumming technique was more than intact many years after his departure from MOTÖRHEAD.
Despite personal circumstance preventing the band from ever breaking out, it was decided that the music deserved to be heard. The band signed to HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS to release Philthy Lies and later to CLEOPATRA RECORDS to release Taylor Made. Alan Davey of HAWKWIND joined the band to play bass on Taylor Made.
LV Taylor Made line-up: James Childs, Phil Taylor and Alan Davey
Chris Fielden of AIRBUS now plays drums with the band and Owen Childs has joined to play lead guitar. The band continue to record new material and tour with this line-up.
James Childs - bass, guitar and vocals
Christopher Fielden - drums
Owen Childs - guitar
Philip Taylor - drums
Alan Davey - bass
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Owen Street - bass
Café De Stam (2024)
Café De Stam released on 29th March 2024 on Spira Records
Available from Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and more
“Little Villains carry the spirit of the underground with them wherever they go and with their fifth album ‘Café de Stam’ they do it all over again. This is a band that don’t waste their time arsing about with massive production and huge arrangements. ‘Café de Stam’ has the band putting their foot to floor with their punk as fuck, middle finger in the air attitude. It is this quality which makes Little Villains so appealing, so real. They don’t hide behind anything, they get out there and do it with a sound not too far removed from Hawkwind in the late 70’s. Naturally, this will pass by those who prefer their rock to be a little more polished, but if you want an album that sounds exactly like the band are playing in your living room, just for you, then Café de Stam is right up your street.” Adam McCann, Metal Digest
"Another fine piece of melodic, bestial rock ‘n’ roll. Consistently enjoyable, Little Villains churn out some seriously good-time tunes." Adrain Lee, YouTube
“Little Villains play heavy and dirty, hard rock 'n' roll with a good injection of Motörhead inspiration, which comes from the legendary Phil Taylor who was part of the band's line-up on the first two albums, ‘Philthy Lies’ and ‘Taylor Made’. The band have continued the style to pay tribute to the memory of Phil on their subsequent releases, and this is no exception. Fortunately, Little Villains have their own sound despite the foundation that Philthy planted. The ten tracks on the disc are straight out rock 'n' roll. There's no showing-off and an abundance of loudness, straight to the bone. Tracks like ‘Ian Maiden’, ‘Gobsmacked’ and the last cut ‘Half Past Dead’ are strong contenders for best song. If you are a fan of Motörhead, then this disc is not one you should miss. 8/10.” Momme, Metalized (Danish print magazine)
“By melding classic rock rhythmics with the frenetic mayhem of metal, Café De Stam will go down a storm with Motorhead and Venom fans. Little Villains ensured none of the high-octane energy from their rock n roll to the core performance was lost in the raw production of the infectiously razor-sharp hit... The anthem of defiance brought to life with an infectious sense of devil may care rebellion, goes beyond paying an ode to the pioneers; it is the ultimate aural antidote to the ennui of our modern times.” A&R Factory review, by Amelia Vandergast
“Little Villains do not change their beliefs one iota for this fifth album. ‘Cafè de Stam’ mixes the immediacy of less ‘caciarone’ punk, the raw sound of hard rock at the end of the 70s/early 80s, and a certain psychedelic ‘vagueness’ with a bit of beat. The band have a playful spirit and pieces like ‘Ian Maiden’ (it’s easy to guess which band gave musical inspiration to this song), the heavy and fast ‘Lidl Villains’ (written exactly like that) and ‘Rocking Horse Shit’ have funny lyrics. To make you understand the versatility of the group (and the album), I add that ‘Gattling Gun’ energizes AC/DC and mixes them with a Rolling Stones-style bridge, and that ‘Piece by Peace’ easily mixes rock, hard rock and psycho beat. If you are looking for honesty, sweat and fun from rock, trust Little Villains blindly.” Corrado Franceschini, All Around Metal
Battle of Britain (2022)
Battle of Britain released on 15th September 2022 on Spira Records
Battle of Britain re-released on 10th January 2023 on Sliptrick Records
Available from Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and more
“War, what is it good for? Influencing pit-worthy hard rock hits such as Spitfire from the UK’s loudest and heaviest outfit, Little Villains. Their Machiavellian nature is exhibited in all of its frenetic glory in the instrumentally Motorhead-esque release, taken from their fourth studio album, BATTLE OF BRITAIN. Spitfire is a rarity in its ability to offer the classic raw rock ‘n’ roll production while enticing you with the fresh innovation exhibited by each member of the powerhouse. Even the staunchest hard rock fans won’t be able to eye roll to having heard this all before with the catchy cataclysmic furore in Spitfire, which compels you to catch it live.” A&R Factory review, by Amelia Vandergast
“Battle Of Britain captures the essence of the golden era of rock and metal, serving listeners a powerful dose of timeless sound. The album's tracks are crafted with precision, showcasing the exceptional musicianship of each band member. From the thunderous drumming to the electrifying guitar riffs and commanding vocals, Little Villains unleash a relentless assault that demands attention from start to finish. For fans of rock and metal alike, Little Villains' Battle Of Britain is a must-listen. It revitalizes the spirit of classic rock while injecting a fresh energy that resonates with both long-time enthusiasts and new listeners.” Iron Backstage Magazine
"Slightly punky emphasis. Anthemic vocals. Classic, Motorhead-esque. Pleasantly surprised by its range and true potential. Standout track, ‘Spitfire’ - a really fun track, with a powerful atmosphere, taking that Motorhead influence to the top." Rock Queen Reviews, written by Jenny Tate.
“Years go by but the essence of the Little Villains remains the same. The recording made at the Stujo in Los Angeles seems in many ways to have been made live. There is a hint of Motörhead in this work – in the initial ‘Messerschmitt’ and the final ‘Spitfire’. It is also possible to find a high punk component. I propose listening to ‘Butcher Bird’, a ‘modernized’ seventies style piece – I would dare to call it grunge, decadent and acid. An even more marked influence can be found in the excellent ‘The Last’. Here Hawkwind are related to Monster Magnet and give rise to a legitimate son named Lords Of Altamont. If to be happy you just need to stamp your foot and be transported by the rhythm of the wide-ranging rock, ‘Battle Of Britain; could be for you.” All Around Metal, written by Corrado Franceschini.
“Like Motorhead, Little Villains go back in time for inspiration, with songs that appear to have a basis in both 50's rock n roll, 60's rock and garage rock, each given a booming fuzzed out makeover transforming them into dirty and punchy creations of a similar nature to much of the material Motorhead was well known for crafting. We also get a few songs where it seems that early days Iron Maiden have been just as inspirational, and classic era UK punk. This will be an album that should be rather satisfying for many who enjoyed the exploits of Motorhead through the decades, as well as those who enjoy bands that pull in elements from hard rock, punk and heavy metal, and toss the various ingredients around a bit.” Viking in the Wilderness, written by Olav M. Björnsen.
"It's an album that takes you back to a time when raw power counted for more than polished production. It deserves to be played loud. The tracks are short, fast and with a Punk-tinged hue. The two aircraft themed songs that bookend the album work best. 'Messerschmitt' with its marching intro and effects conjures up images of the German war machine's most effective fighter whilst 'Spitfire' genuinely emits the heart of old school Motörhead, with its high tempo riffs and manic drumming pushing everything along at pace." Ever Metal, written by Paul Hutchings.
“LITTLE VILLAINS are loud, hard and heavy. That can be clearly confirmed. The guys around MOTÖRHEAD drummer Philip Taylor stand for exactly these three qualities. They are not only loud, hard and heavy but also rough and raw like an unpolished jewel. The Brits pack quite a punch with their fourth album, roughly an intersection of AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN, a lot of MOTÖRHEAD and a cheeky punk or glam influence.” My Revelations, written by Helmut Ballerstaller.
"Excellent! You certainly have your own style & sound, which is some achievement these days." Chris Paden, all round gent and legendary supporter of Little Villains.
Achtung Minen (2020)
Achtung Minen released on 27th November 2020 on Spira Records in CD and Vinyl format
Available from Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and more
"Achtung Minen bludgeons you with riffs, it's brilliant. It's my featured album of the month. Highly, highly recommended – it’s just a great album, a great bit of metal, great fun." The Druids Dozen #24 by Jon Wisbey, DJ of The Sunday Rock Show on BCFM Radio and The Rock Druid Show on Astro Radio.
"A rebel rousing 15 track rock monster that seems set to conquer the metal universe… it's rock n' roll infused metal with a strong focus on groove… Bassist James Childs also sings and his vocals sound uncannily like frank turner while guitarist Owen Childs is busy mining his instrument for incendiary riffs as drummer Chris Fielden sets about nailing his kit to the studio floor… the future belongs to the Little Villains." Pulse-Alternative Magazine - read the full review here.
"Ultimately, the air you breathe while listening to the songs on the record is that of rock with wide facets played honestly by three people who live on the road, arrive, attack the amps and make their performance." All Around Metal - read the full review here.
"The CD is excellent... Philthy would be proud." Chris P, a fan in London.
You can learn more about the album by reading James's interview with Mythaxis Review
Taylor Made (2020)
Available from Cleopatra Records
Read press coverage about Taylor Made on:
Blabber Mouth - Brave Words - Rock Arena - Rockway.gr
"I found the music catchy, energetic, melodic, hard rockin', vibrant, and diverse, with a modern groove, lots of character within the song structures, there, the musicianship is thrilling, I think the band sound great. Good solid vibe, great production, excellent songwriting, and fabulous vocals throughout, and you can feel the energy and sound waves through the speakers." Fireworks Magazine
Philthy Lies (2019)
Available from Heavy Psych Sounds Records
Reviews of Philthy Lies:
"This debut is a half-hour slice of a rock and roll dream cake. Philthy Lies is a testament to the professionalism of Philthy Animal Taylor and is proof that he was still a rock and roll giant, even 15 years after his departure from MOTÖRHEAD." Denta Fuzz - read full review
"Fast. Heavy. Dynamic. Urgent. Philthy and James make a fusion between their two styles." Core and Co - read full review
"Philthy Lies is a great album. The record sounds honest and spontaneous, and the studio chats between the songs reinforce this feeling." - Lords of Metal - read full review
Summer 2004
As fate would have it, two British musicians met by chance at an electronics store on the other side of the world in Los Angeles, California.
With a smirk one of them said, “You probably recognize me, don’t you?”
The other snickered and replied, “Yeah, no shit!”
With that, the two locked into familiar British humour in between the ‘what the fuck brought you here’ conversation.
P: “What are you doing on Monday?”
J: “Dunno, starting a band?”
P: “Okay, I’ll be round with a 6 pack.”
J: “Uhh… okay, great.”
Seemingly impressed with each other’s cars – a black 1970’s Corvette Stingray hot rod and a Porsche 924 sporting a Union Jack paint job – they sped away, back into the Jungle.
Over a large tasty jacket spud and a homemade schlop, LITTLE VILLAINS were formed by the one and only Philthy Animal Taylor formerly of MOTÖRHEAD and Mr James Alexander Childs of AVON.
Regular jamming ensued with a lot of ideas being demoed in-between endless banter and stories of the road.
2005 rolled around and James headed off on the road in support of the Vic du Monte’s IDIOT PRAYER and PERSONA NON GRATA releases.
Backstage at a show in the UK, James was impressed that a group of lads had travelled all the way from Swansea in Wales to Bristol to see the band, as explained by a rather rowdy young lad called Owen Street.
He hooked up a show with his band The Buffalo Kings in Swansea where James saw him shred the bass guitar for the first time and immediately invited him to LA to jam with Philthy.
Owen somehow showed up the following year complete with bass guitar, surf board and Ford Mustang convertible.
The LITTLE VILLAINS line-up was complete!
After some crazy nights, jamming and living the dream, LITTLE VILLAINS were ready for the studio.
In February 2007, James accompanied Phil to his lockup to locate Phil’s original DW drum kit from 1982 for the session at Unit A studio in Palm Springs, California, where tracks for the Philthy Lies album were laid down.
After the sessions, James and Phil discussed management and the possible future for the band. They both decided that circumstances beyond their control would prevent them from pursuing it any further. However, they agreed to continue to record for fun.
So, with that, James continued his career with Vic du Monte’s PERSONA NON GRATA and formed AVON .
Owen joined the desert band WAXY touring with the likes of KYUSS LIVES and formed his killer Welsh sludge duo VAILS.
Unfortunately, Philthy was taken ill in 2011 and would leave the USA for good, returning to the UK where he eventually passed away in 2015.
In 2018, after much deliberation, James decided to locate the 2 inch reels from the sessions and finish work on the music they'd recorded.
The Philthy Lies album, released on Heavy Psyche Sounds in 2019, showcases James’s strong, hook filled song-writing, plenty of harmony, formidable guitar, Owen’s growling bass and, of course, features Philthy’s undeniable pioneering drumming style that oozes with attack and Motörspirit!
After the album was released, Chris Fielden joined the band on drums, and Owen Childs, James's nephew, joined on guitar. The band's new line-up undertook two European tours to support the release of Philthy Lies.
The Taylor Made album, released by Cleopatra Records in 2020, showcases more of James's songs and Philthy's unmistakeable drumming. It also features Alan Davey of HAWKWIND on bass guitar.
Philthy Lies and Taylor Made are fitting epitaphs for one of the world’s very best rock ‘n’ roll drummers.
In February 2020, the band's ongoing line-up (James, Chris and Owen) recorded Achtung Minen at the Stujo in LA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band were unable to tour so they spent their time making videos for seven singles from the album:
They can viewed on YouTube.
In September 2022, on Battle of Britain Day, Little Villains released their fourth album, Battle of Britain. Videos were made for three of the songs on the record:
They can viewed on YouTube.
LITTLE VILLAINS are currently working on new songs for their fifth album. Their story will continue...
You can learn more about Little Villains on:
'Café De Stam' Tour, April 2024
The Anvil, Bournemouth, UK - Thursday 4th April 2024
The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, UK - Friday 5th April 2024
PWMC BS20 Sports Bar, Portishead, UK - Saturday 6th April 2024
Rock Cafe, Leuven, BE - Thursday 11th April 2024
Die Nachtwacht, Tielt, BE - Friday 12th April 2024
Cafe De Stam, Paal, BE - Saturday 13th April 2024
'Battle of Britain' Tour, March 2023
The Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham, UK - Friday 10th March 2023
The Old Ham Tree, Holt, UK - Saturday 11th March 2023
The Dragonffli, Pontypool, UK - Friday 17th March 2023
The Louisiana, Bristol, UK - Saturday 18th March 2023
Radio Benelux, Paal, BE - Tuesday 21st March 2023
Rock Cafe, Leuven, BE - Thursday 23rd March 2023
Cafe De Stam, Paal, BE - Saturday 25th March 2023
'Easter Metal Mayhem' Mini Tour, April 2022
Athena Rooms, Bridgewater, UK - Friday 15th April 2022
The Salthouse, Clevedon, UK - Saturday 16th April 2022
The Lion BS5, Bristol, UK - Easter Day, Sunday 17th April 2022
'Polish Your Bullet Belts' Mini Tour, October 2021
Real Music UK, online - Wednesday 29th September 2021
Athena Rooms, Bridgewater, UK - Thursday 30th September 2021
The Old Ham Tree, Holt - Friday 1st October 2021
The Poacher, Portishead, UK - Saturday 2nd October 2021
'Get Us Out of the Stujo' Mini Tour, February 2020
The Red Barn, Palm Desert, USA - Saturday 8th February 2020
Bullet Belt Video Party, Palm Desert, USA - Sunday 9th February 2020
'More Lies' European tour, November 2019
'Philthy Lies' European tour, April and May 2019
Plus a final night 'end of tour party' at The Poacher, Portishead, UK on Saturday 18th May 2019
More videos can be seen on the Little Villains YouTube channel.
This video is the title track from the album Café De Stam. The song is written about one of our favourite venues in Paal, Belgium. And the video was filmed there too.
This video is the second release from the album Café De Stam. It was filmed at Stujo in Los Angeles, while we were recording the album.
This is the 12 second video / reel advert for the Café De Stam album, released 29th March 2024.
This is the 30 second video advert for the Battle of Britain album, released 15th September 2022.
'Spitfire' was filmed at Middlezoy Aerodrome in Somerset, UK. Thanks to Paul and Simon Childs for making this possible. The video was produced and directed by Geoff Marriott at Zagreus Films.
'Messerschmitt' was filmed live on Easter Day 2022 at The Red Lion, BS5 in Bristol. It features Simon Hedges from Airbus on bass. Thank you to Phil at Room4 Studios and Cherraance for undertaking the filming.
'Watching You' was filmed at the Athena Rooms in Bridgewater, UK, the rehearsal room where Little Villains often prep for tour. Thank you to Tony for letting us film at his yard.
'Boy Next Door' was filmed at the Lake Grounds in Portishead, UK. It features guest appearances from Mark and Mary Fielden. Big thanks to them for putting up with our nonsense.
This is the 30 second video advert for the Achtung Minen album, released 27th November 2020. Admittedly, we're biased, but we'd argue that it's the greatest and most serious advert ever made.
'Jitter Juice' is a song that was inspired by the memory of James’s dear friend, Andrew Griffin (Griff), and is about the awesomely pungent power of patchouli oil, otherwise known as jitter juice. It’s also about having a laugh with your mates. Filmed in Portishead, it's the seventh video from the Achtung Minen album.
'Big Ben' is Little Villains' Christmas Brexit song. Filmed in London at Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, inside some phone boxes, New Scotland Yard, the Houses of Parliament, the London Underground, the Millennium Wheel, the Tower of London and, on the other side of the pond, the Tam O'Shanter in Los Angeles, it's the sixth single from the Achtung Minen album.
'Feelin' Alrite' is a song about how a bit of rock 'n' roll can make you feel alright. Filmed at the Old Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park, California, it's the fifth single from the Achtung Minen album.
'Bullet Belt' is a song about the greatest fashion accessory known to man - the bullet belt. Filmed near Palm Desert in California, it's the fourth single from the Achtung Minen album.
'There Ain't No Cider on the Rider' is a song about being on tour and craving some fermented apple nectar. Filmed at The Kicker, Thatchers Cider Farm, Showerings Cider Mill and The Stujo, it's the third single and opening song from the Achtung Minen album.
'On the Fields of Cleckhuddersfax' is a story-song, in a similar style to Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. It is the second single released from the Achtung Minen album.
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few…”
Released in memory of ‘the few’ to commemorate the 80th anniversary of The Battle of Britain, 'Hawker Hurricane' is the first single released from the Achtung Minen album.
A lot of the footage in the video was filmed at Middlezoy Aerodrome in the UK. Huge thanks to Simon Childs and Paul Childs for making this possible.
You can learn more about the history of The Battle of Britain via the Royal Airforce Benevolent fund.
‘The Making of Achtung Minen’, a rockumentary (if you will) filmed across continents during tumultuous times. Band members James Childs, Owen Childs and Chris Fielden talk candidly about how they wrote the songs in the UK and USA, and how they recorded the album in Los Angeles.
'Taylor Made' is the title track from the Taylor Made album.
'Melony Blue' is the third single released from the Taylor Made album.
'Aeroplane' is the second single released from the Taylor Made album.
A documentary about the making of Little Villains’ second album, Taylor Made.
The first part of the video features James Childs, talking about the history of the album: how he recorded the tracks with Philthy Animal Taylor, finding the sessions years later having thought they were lost, Alan Davey of Hawkwind playing bass on the album and the release on Cleopatra Records.
The second part of the video features Helen Taylor-Greenwood, Phil’s sister, talking with Little Villains’ current drummer, Chris Fielden, about Phil, Motörhead, Little Villains and much more. We’d like to say a big thank you to Helen for her support and providing such a personal and interesting interview.
'I Am Dying' from the Philthy Lies album.
'Running Around' from the Philthy Lies album.
'What on Earth' from the Philthy Lies album.
A documentary (or rockumentary, if you will) by James Childs about forming rock group Little Villains with Philthy Animal Taylor & Owen Street, focusing on recording the Philthy Lies album in 2007.
Little Villains' More Lies European Tour took place in November 2019. The tour consisted of 9 gigs in Belgium, Czechia, Germany and the UK.
The song featured in the video is called 'I Am Dying', taken from the Philthy Lies album. The opening live music is taken from the Radio Benelux show on this tour.
The video also features guest appearances from AD/HD, Rockin' Rob Rowles and Chris Cockrell at shows in Germany and the UK.
Little Villains' Philthy Lies European Tour took place in April and May 2019. The tour consisted of 22 gigs in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, England, Germany, Holland, Italy and Wales.
The songs featured in the video are: 'In The Head' - from the Philthy Lies album; 'In His Blood' - a new song that is yet to be released; 'Attack' - from the Philthy Lies album.
Big thanks to Anders Jacobson, Bas Dielemans, CiHellNa, Geoff Rose, Lisa Wooldridge and Onstage Club for providing the shots of Little Villains playing live.
