Dr. Busker is a musician based in England. He is often billed as The Last Victorian Pub Pianist, and is well known in the world of preservation and steam rallies, at which he is a regular performer.
The original Victorian pub pianists would keep a steady stream of tunes and songs flowing, while the Pub Landlord kept a steady stream of beer flowing in the pianist's direction. Dr. Busker is keen to continue the tradition and often plays in pubs and bars in exchange for free beer from the Landlord and the chance to pass the hat round at the end of the session. Dr. Busker also plays the accordion (sometimes called the squeezebox). The latter, complete with cannon of John Hampden's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, is featured on the album Thrashing Machine (see below).
Dr. Busker performs a wide range of music, including folk songs, ballads, sea-shanties, rugby songs and music hall songs, as well as his own compositions. One such composition "Mister Dull And Boring" caused an outcry in Milton Keynes, and local residents complained to the local BBC Radio radio station, claiming that their new town was anything but "dull and boring" as the song suggested. A large proportion of the songs composed by Dr. Busker can potentially be perceived as 'risque' and offensive, as they are commonly based on taboo subjects and can contain illicit lyrics. For example, the 'Lobster Song' found on the Pandamonium album, mixes a traditionally folk sound with crude and bawdy lyrics;
"Singing roll tiddly ‘ole, shit or bust
Never let your’ bollocks dangle in the dust"
Although Dr. Busker is best known for his musical performances, he has many other interests, such as palaeontology, and the preservation of vintage machinery.
Dr. Busker appears annually at the Great Dorset Steam Fair with the Steam Fair Choir. A number of videos have also been produced.
Dr. Busker regualrly appears at midlands steam rallies including the Hanbury Steam Rally