THE Rock and Roll Outlaws (RRO), considered by many to be Tavistock’s most popular and best known covers band, are heading back into their favourite venue — one that sees them play to a big crowd at least once a year. They may be ‘rock and roll’ but don’t expect reckless behaviour for the ‘outlaws’ part is in name only.

Unusually for local cover bands RRO have managed to transcend the gap between local pub and bigger venue without much fuss and Friday, July 14 sees them return for what promises to be another killer show.

But how well do we know the band and just what they get up to when they’re not rocking out those cover hits as the Outlaws?

Ellie Hudson got the low down with bassist Dennis Church.

You’re a Tavistock based covers band, how long have you been going now as a band but also musically as individuals?

‘The band came together in April 2007 when the original bass player dropped out and I joined from the recently-defunct Rusty Nail.

‘I’m on bass and sing, I’ve been playing bass since I was 17 and that’s a long time ago!

‘I played in bands and other setups as far apart as Swaziland, Cyprus, and the Falkland Islands. Currently only in RRO, but looking to add something small quiet and jazzy quite soon.

‘Sam Lillicrap, lead vocalist and guitarist has been playing for about 16 years playing in duos beforehand. Not only does Sam have his original project ‘SLM’, writing songs in classic rock style but he also sings in Tavistock-based metal covers band Stone Vulture alongside Outlaws band members Shaun and Glenn and in an acoustic duo Lillismith with Glenn. Sam is kept very busy!

‘Glenn Smith is our guitarist. Originally self taught, he played in bands around Plymouth in the late 80s, early 90s (Blade, The Slam, Bedrock, Uncle Fester) then spent a year at PIT at The Musicians Institute in Los Angeles.

‘Shaun Smith on drums has been self taught for ten years. It started as a hobby but he managed to develop a business teaching privately. Shaun is a guitar teacher at Tavistock Youth Cafe formally known as the Zephyr Project.

‘He went into guitar repair after doing a private course and runs an open mic every so often at the HQ bar in Tavistock with great help from the owner raising money for Tavistock Youth Cafe.

‘He plays in five bands including 3’s a crowd, Renegades, a Rage Against The Machine tribute and comedy punk band Drugs 4 Horses, which is releasing a album towards the end of the year.

Your set is made up of rock covers, do you always stick to the same set list or are you continually looking to update and evolve?

‘We mix a large set of covers as the occasion demands.

‘Although mainly classic rock, we do get hired for weddings and parties, so flexibility is rather important!

‘We are also able to add in the album tracks, 11 of which are Sam originals and new numbers make it into the set on a reasonably regular basis.’

How far afield do you travel for gigs?

‘Pretty much anywhere, so long as it makes economical sense. Sutton Coldfield is furthest so far!

‘But Devon and Cornwall is our main stomping ground.

Are you really outlaws in a rock and roll kind of way or are you well behaved boys?

‘We are the epitome of good citizenship — honest. We’re not really outlaws we just liked the name for a covers band Our drinks diet consists of lager, diet coke and good old tea and we are all but one married off! So yes, very well behaved!’

You’re obviously busy with gigs but when you’re not gigging whose gigs are you all most likely to turn up to support?

‘As my near 50 years of rock and roll has significantly trashed my hearing, I tend not to go and see bands very often. The last was a Judith Owen (look her up!) gig (with the amazing Leland Sklar on bass. Don’t know him? Look him up too!

‘Sam in particular likes to support local bands where he can and local venues especially the Wharf as it‘s good for Tavistock and Shaun likes to support State of Contradiction and loves supporting any other local artists when he can!’