Johnny and the Lizards - About the band

About the band

Johnny and the Lizards are a four-piece band originally from Devon, now spread across the UK. Known for their witty, story-driven lyrics and upbeat, energetic New Wave-inspired rock, their music has been described as “pure joy.” Starting out during the Covid lockdown by covering songs, the band soon began writing and performing their own material. Their debut single, Billiards, was released at the start of this year, marking an exciting new chapter for the band — with their follow-up single, Secret Keepers, released just 6 weeks later!

Johnny and the Lizards draw inspiration from artists like The Fratellis and Squeeze. Their sound blends the sharp, narrative-driven lyrics of songwriters like Chris Difford with the catchy, high-energy melodies of early Fratellis, spiced with a touch of T. Rex swagger.

Having played gigs in both Devon and London, Johnny and the Lizards are making a name for themselves. With more music in the works, they’re ready to bring their unique sound of indie rock to even more audiences.

Meet the Band

Tom Palmer

Vocals/Guitars/Sax

Tom is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Devon, now living in London. He’s the band’s lead singer, guitarist, and occasional saxophonist. When he’s not writing wordy songs about murder mysteries and Walter Cronkite, he’s often playing various instruments in pit orchestras and listening to The Pogues – though rarely at the same time.

Robbie Palmer

Bass Guitar/Trombone

A trombone player by rights, a few years ago Sam and Tom decided it was high time Robbie picked up a cooler instrument. When subtle encouragement fell on deaf ears, there was only one thing for it. One Christmas later, Robbie was armed with ‘Bass Guitar for Dummies’ and officially qualified to occupy the low end of Johnny and the Lizards. No word yet on how much cooler this has made him.

Sam Palmer

Drums

Sam is a drummer, engineer, and peppermint tea enthusiast, also unsurprisingly from Devon. Now living in Sheffield, he sometimes breaks up the monotony of enjoying the spectacular Peak District by mixing the band’s tracks and making impassioned points about audio file naming conventions.

Addison Fry

Keys

Addison plays keys for Johnny and the Lizards, adding both piano sounds as well as B3 organ. Originally from Devon, he often plays in pit bands and occasionally takes charge (whether he likes it or not). Once described as the "keys maestro”, Addison has a knack for playing a wide range of styles and often turns Tom’s complex ideas for the keys into reality.