Nervous Fellas
Websites:Â
https://www.youtube.com/@RealMarkTwang, https://thenervousfellas.com/
Origin:
Vancouver, British Columbia, 🇨🇦
Biography:
The Nervous Fellas
Canada’s Wildest Rockabilly Revivalists
Emerging from the smoky clubs and backroom bars of Vancouver’s rockabilly underground, The Nervous Fellas tore up stages across Canada and the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s and early '90s with a high-octane mix of roots rock, blues, and neo-rockabilly attitude. Formed in 1987, the band quickly became a cult sensation, fusing classic 1950s energy with a punk-informed edge that landed them support slots with legends like Jerry Lee Lewis, George Thorogood, The Blasters, Sleepy LaBeef, The Pogues, The Tragically Hip, and Joe Ely.
Founded by vocalist Butch Murphy, slap bassist Ronnie Hayward, guitarist Chris Colt, and drummer Al Black, the Fellas evolved through multiple lineups, always anchored by a deep love of rockabilly’s primal spirit. In 1988, guitarist Mark Twang (aka “Don’t Call Me Johnson”) joined the group, bringing his blues-steeped firepower to the band’s gritty, dynamic sound. The group’s rhythm section eventually solidified with the arrival of UK-born bassist Pete Turland and New York drummer Billy Rogers, adding international flair and razor-sharp chops.
The Nervous Fellas released their sole full-length album, Born to Be Wild (1990), through the UK’s legendary Nervous Records, known for championing the neo-rockabilly scene. Recorded and mixed at Profile Studios in Vancouver by punk engineer Cecil English, the album featured a mix of covers and hard-hitting originals like “Don’t Bug Me Baby,” “Get Outta This Town,” and “Evil Ways,” showcasing the band’s raw energy, songwriting chops, and genre-bending instincts. Tracks from the LP received radio play on university stations and indie outlets across Canada.
Often described as “too punk for the rockabillies, too rockabilly for the punks,” The Nervous Fellas carved out a unique space for themselves on the alternative and college circuits, where audiences responded to their infectious live shows, tight musicianship, and undeniable authenticity. They were regulars at legendary Vancouver venues like the Town Pump, often packing the house for multiple nights, and took their show on the road from Thunder Bay to Tacoma.
Despite building momentum and a dedicated following, the band hit a wall in 1992. Exhausted from years of relentless touring, label frustrations, and changing musical trends, they decided to call it quits after a harrowing New Year’s gig that left them upside-down in a frozen van somewhere in Saskatchewan. That, as guitarist Mark Twang recalls, “was the nail in the coffin.”
Since their split, members have continued to perform and record around the world. Mark Twang eventually settled in Thailand, performing and reflecting on a career that—while never breaking into the mainstream—left a lasting mark on Canada’s roots rock legacy. Ronnie Hayward went on to release numerous solo albums and tour extensively in Europe. The band’s lone album and scattered recordings remain cult favorites, with fans trading tapes, bootlegs, and memories of nights when The Nervous Fellas brought the house down.
The Nervous Fellas were a snapshot of sweat, swagger, and stand-up bass, blasting out of Canada like a rockabilly hurricane.
-Robert Williston
Butch Murphy: vocals
Mark Twang: guitar​
Ronnie Hayward: bass
Al Black: drums
