# Keef Trouble

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**Keef Trouble** (born **Keith Trussell**, 1949, [Greenwich](/source/Greenwich), London) is an English singer, songwriter and musician.

## Career

Trouble studied at the [Slade School of Fine Art](/source/Slade_School_of_Fine_Art), London, from 1968 to 1972. He is a founding member of British [country](/source/Country_music)-[blues](/source/Blues) band [Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts](/source/Brett_Marvin_and_the_Thunderbolts)[1][2] as vocalist, guitarist, and player of the zobstick (also known as the lagerphone or [monkey stick](/source/Monkey_stick)), and electric [ironing board](/source/Ironing_board). Commercial success came in 1972 under the guise of [Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs](/source/Terry_Dactyl_and_the_Dinosaurs) with "[Seaside Shuffle](/source/Seaside_Shuffle)" with fellow band members Graham Hine, John Randall, and [Jona Lewie](/source/Jona_Lewie) (of "Stop the Cavalry" notability). This [record](/source/Gramophone_record) became a [hit](/source/Hit_single) in Europe and Australia, and reached No. 2 in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).[3] Trouble is also part of, and writes original material for, the [folk rock](/source/Folk_rock) band Okee Dokee, which plays within West [Sussex](/source/Sussex) and [Kent](/source/Kent), including the Broadstairs Folk Week. He has self-produced two solo albums, *Oasis* and *Kix 4 U*, under his own Sun House Records, and has collaborated with [Tony O'Malley](/source/Tony_O'Malley_(musician)), previously from the bands [10cc](/source/10cc), [Kokomo (band)](/source/Kokomo_(band)) and [Arrival](/source/Arrival_(band)), writing the [lyrics](/source/Lyrics) for O'Malley's "Mr. Operator" and "Naked Flame". O'Malley has also contributed to Trouble's recordings, as have artists such as saxophonist [Mel Collins](/source/Mel_Collins) ([Roxy Music](/source/Roxy_Music), [Rolling Stones](/source/Rolling_Stones), [The Grease Band](/source/The_Grease_Band)), guitarist [Neil Hubbard](/source/Neil_Hubbard), and vocalists Dyan Birch, Paddy McHugh and [Frank Collins](/source/Frank_Collins_(composer-singer)). In 2008 Trouble produced the Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts' album *Keep on Moving*; co-producer and audio engineer was Pete Ker, who produced The Motors, Man, and [Arthur Brown](/source/Arthur_Brown_(musician)), co-writing Brown's "Fire".

Trouble co-wrote the lyrics to Jona Lewie's 1980 hit "[You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties](/source/You'll_Always_Find_Me_in_the_Kitchen_at_Parties)".[4][5]

## The recording of Oasis and Mix ‘n’ Mingle

Trouble's association with Jona Lewie goes back to 1969, and later both were members of [Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs](/source/Terry_Dactyl_and_the_Dinosaurs). In 1986 the first recordings of Trouble's *Oasis* and *Mix 'n’ Mingle* for the album *Oasis* took place at Lewie's home studio in [Streatham](/source/Streatham), with keyboard musician, arranger and composer [Tony O'Malley](/source/Tony_O'Malley_(musician)), guitarist [Neil Hubbard](/source/Neil_Hubbard) and engineer Pete Ker, producer for [Arthur Brown](/source/Arthur_Brown_(musician)) and co-writer of Brown's "Fire". Trouble had secured a [45rpm single](/source/45rpm_single) [record deal](/source/Record_deal) with Rodd Buckle (Habana Music) for the release and distribution of *Mix 'n’ Mingle*. Because of [master tape](/source/Master_tape) release difficulties and lateness of the production at the Lewie studio, the record deal fell. *Oasis* was re-recorded by Ker at a professional recording studio, Ferry Sound.

## The zob stick

Although it is an accepted and commonly used name for this type of [instrument](/source/Musical_instrument), the 'zob stick' as a term has a definitive and recent origin. In the late 1960s, Trouble built a percussion instrument that he used in his [blues](/source/Blues) band [Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts](/source/Brett_Marvin_and_the_Thunderbolts). He invented a name for it, zob stick, with its use being termed 'zobbing'. It was largely based on the traditional [folk music](/source/Folk_music) instruments [monkey stick](/source/Monkey_stick), [ugly stick](/source/Ugly_stick) and lagerphone (Australian). After constructing his version of the instrument, the term 'zob' was used because of its risqué connotation as British [naval slang](/source/Naval_slang), this suggested by fellow Brett Marvin band member, and ex-seaman, Jim Pitts. The instrument caused amusement when it was introduced in performance in France, where 'zob' has a similar meaning.

The Trouble zob stick construction uses a pole that is covered with typical partially nailed-in rattle-capable beer bottle caps. A circular solid wooden ring, edged with bottle caps, is added near the top of the pole, with a hand grip section beneath. All the wooden parts are brightly painted. At the bottom a boot, supported by an internal wooden block, is added, with a metal spring attached to the sole. The spring serves no musical purpose but has comedy potential. Halfway up the pole is a sleeved-on metal tube for greater volume and a crisper percussive sound. The Zob Stick is rhythmically bounced on the floor and the metal sleeve hit with a wooden stick. The stick itself, (usually an adapted [hockey stick](/source/Hockey_stick) because of its durability,) is serrated to achieve a scraping sound effect when necessary. Although the resultant construction is heavy, requiring strength for continual use, this weight gives it a volume and 'clout' that the traditional monkey stick might not match, especially in a live and loud band situation.

## As Dougie Damone

A [composition](/source/Musical_composition), "Hello Mum", had been recorded at Ferry Sound in the early 1990s. The recording was [released](/source/Music_release) in the UK and sold as a [7-inch](/source/7-inch) [vinyl single](/source/Vinyl_single) and greeting's card for [Mother's Day](/source/Mother's_Day) in 1992 under the CoverHit label, with the pseudonym 'Dougie Damone'. In 2008, the song was reproduced as a YouTube video which, with the song, was reviewed in the *Mid Sussex Times*.[2]

## References

1. ["Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts website"](http://www.brettmarvin.co.uk/band.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100505205425/http://www.brettmarvin.co.uk/band.html) 5 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-07-16.

1. ["A song for mums everywhere"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161013215651/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/a-song-for-mums-everywhere-1-977111); *[Mid Sussex Times](/source/Mid_Sussex_Times)*, 5 March 2008.

1. Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums*. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 133. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

1. Monger, James Christopher; ["Anthems: Electronic '80s"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/anthems-electronic-80s-mw0001358268) (Various Artists), [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) Review. Retrieved 10 December 2020

1. Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums* (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 319. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

## External links

- [Keef Trouble on video](http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xiywl_JackSlipperProductions_keef-trouble-and-dougie-damone)
- [Keef Trouble](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7pPhSKiCfU&feature=PlayList&p=B4D7A9337F540488&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1) interviews [Nick Tesco](/source/Nick_Tesco)
- [Keef Trouble](http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xj7xn_JackSlipperProductions_frank-collins-singer-composer-and-a) interviews [Frank Collins](/source/Frank_Collins_(composer-singer))
- [Keef Trouble](http://www.dailymotion.com/JackSlipperProductions/video/x6b54e_andy-newmark-an-interview_music) interviews [Andy Newmark](/source/Andy_Newmark)
- [Keef Trouble](http://www.dailymotion.com/JackSlipperProductions/video/x6aeev_neil-hubbard-an-interview_music) interviews [Neil Hubbard](/source/Neil_Hubbard)
- [The Lagerphones Pages](http://www.lagerphones.info) Keith Sayers, Canberra, Australia.
- [Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts](http://brettmarvin.co.uk) Web Site featuring Keef Trouble and the original 'Zob Stick.'
- [The Freedom Boot](https://web.archive.org/web/20081022230717/http://www.groanboxboys.com/boot.html) The Groanbox Boys, London, United Kingdom.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Keef Trouble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keef_Trouble) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keef_Trouble?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.