Barrie Masters (vocals), Dave Higgs (guitar), Pete Wall (guitar), Rob Steel (bass) and Steve Nichols (aka Steve Nicol; drums) formed Eddie & the Hot Rods in Southend, Essex, London in the spring of 1975. Arriving during the waning days of pub rock, Eddie & the Hot Rods helped usher in punk rock in the United Kingdom. Working from the same bluesy, Stonesy three-chord foundation as contemporaries like Dr. Feelgood, the Hot Rods were faster, tougher, wilder and louder than any other pub-rock band.