After "accidentally" buying a mandolin,[2] Edmondson taught himself to play a few chords and he began to play a few punk songs on it. After playing for two days with Donockley, a virtuoso uilleann pipes player and multi-instrumentalist, they had arranged eight songs.[2] After some initial experimentation, they enlisted Dinan, winner of the All-Ireland Fiddle Championship, and the band was formed.[3] Essentially a folk band, the band's repertoire is taken from punk and new wave hits from 1978 to 1985. They re-interpret songs, inserting traditional reels and jigs.[3][4][5]
After touring the United Kingdom during 2008, the Bad Shepherds released their debut album, Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (which translates from an ancient Cumbrian dialect as One, Two, Three, Four!)[2] in May 2009. The band released their second album, By Hook or By Crook, with former Steeleye Span member Tim Harries playing double bass, in 2010.[6] The Bad Shepherds also headlined the first Looe Music Festival in 2011.[7]
At the start of 2013, after a year long hiatus the band announced they were getting back together to release a new album and undertake a 24-date UK tour, along with a six-date tour of Australia. Both of which were entitled Mud, Blood and Beer.[1] The album was released on 19 August 2013, and included both cover versions of punk and new wave tracks, plus their own material.[8]
Adrian Edmondson announced the band's end on his Facebook page on 31 October 2016.[9][10]
In 2012, the band won the Spiral Earth Award for best live act. The organisation celebrates a wide range of music, however their roots are mainly focused in the folk music genre.[12]
^ abc"Ade Edmondson announces return of The Bad Shepherds with new album and UK tour". Louderthanwar.com. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^ abc"Biogs". The Bad Shepherds. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^ ab"Punk flock from Ade's Shepherds". Western Morning News. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
^Damian Whitworth. "Adrian Edmondson: 'I was a year ahead: then she overtook me and shot off'". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^Emma Hartley. "Cropredy Festival: Yusuf Islam, Fairport Convention – review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"The Bad Shepherds". The Bad Shepherds. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"Looe Music Festival: Line Up". Looemusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"'Mud, Blood & Beer' New Bad Shepherds album". SpiralEarth. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"A message from Adrian (originally posted... – The Bad Shepherds". Facebook. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
^"Adrian Edmondson on Falling Apart, The Bad Shepherds and Star Wars". BBC News. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
^"Radio 2 -Folk Awards 2010 – Nominees". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"Spiral Awards 2012". spiralearth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"Mud Blood & Beer – The Bad Shepherds | Releases". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^"Mud, Blood & Beer: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2014.