The Milkshakes were mainly Mickey Hampshire (Git/Vox), Billy Childish (Git/Vox), Bruce Brand (Drums), Russ Wilkins (Bass). When punk group the Pop Rivets broke up in 1980, Billy Childish joined forces with Mickey Hampshire, a Pop Rivets roadie. The two began writing songs together and the group released their first LP, Talking 'bout Milkshakes! in 1981. With Childish and Hampshire sharing guitar and vocal duties, Bruce Brand on drums, and Bertie on bass (later replaced by Russ Wilkins then John Agnew), the Milkshakes' sound was a primitive blend of British beat groups, like the early Kinks at their toughest, and hard/rocking American guitar instrumentalists like Link Wray. This sound came to be known as the "Medway sound" and the core members have been playing a variation on it throughout their whole careers.
