Big John Bates

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Big John Bates is a "first-rate guitarist who melds rock, jump blues & punk ..."(Weekly Volcano - Tacoma) and is also the first Rock and roll band to add a Burlesque group (the Voodoo Dollz) to create "The Lowbrow Road Show". Originally influenced by The Cramps, Big John Bates began releasing albums in 2001 and created a stylistic niche in the blues-rock and kustom kulture scenes around the world, touring 15 countries and performing over 500 shows.

Although based in Vancouver Canada, Big John Bates & the Voodoo Dollz were the first neo-burlesque performers to take their live show throughout Europe and North America. European audiences seized upon them early and interviews with BJB & the Dollz have been featured on Europe's VH1 and National TV shows in France, Germany and Spain. Television in Canada and the USA has also featured this unique group as well as America's A&E_Network through documentaries on influential film-makers such as Russ Meyer.

The Voodoo Dollz are also the longest consecutively running burlesque troupe in Western Canada and have influenced many musical groups and countless other burlesque performers. The Dollz have even been counted as having re-introduced burlesque to personalities such as B-movie actress Tura Satana who herself initially influenced their infamous "Kitten With a Whip" burletta.

Featured Performers are:

Big John Bates (aka John Bates): Vocal and Gretsch White Falcon Guitars
sCare-oline (aka Caroline Helmeczi): Upright Bass and backing vocal
JT Massacre (aka James Brander): Drums and Percussion
Little Miss Risk (aka Tristan Risk); Voodoo Dollz performer/choreographer

History of BIG JOHN BATES & THE VOODOO DOLLZ:

- DVD "Live at the Voodoo Ball" released through Cinestir Productions - 2007
- ALBUM 'Take Your Medicine' released on Wolverine Records (GERMANY) - 2006
- BJB & the Voodoo Dollz on season 3, episode 1 of Battlestar Galactica - 2006
- headlined First Annual Vancouver International Burlesque Festival - 2006
- cover story in Bizarre_(magazine) - 2005
- John interviewed for the A&E / Discovery documentary on Russ Meyer - 2004
- featured in coffee-table book "Burlesque - the new bump and grind" (Speck Press, USA) - 2003
- ALBUM 'MYSTIKI' released on Devil Sauce Recordings (CANADA) - 2003
- featured in Maclean's Magazine at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics - 2002
- ALBUM 'Flamethrower' released on El Toro Records (SPAIN) - 2001
- featured in coffee-table book "Gigs From Hell" (Sleazegrinder Press, USA) -2001

[edit] Sidenote

John's musical career began in his teens as the singer and co-writer for the critically acclaimed metal band Annihilator - Alice in Hell and Never, Neverland.