A Huddersfield drummer has joined one of America’s iconic cult rock bands that’s sold around five million albums worldwide.

Cam Greenwood helped Ugly Kid Joe out at a gig and they then asked him to join full-time and he’s now touring Europe after gigging in the USA and they’re even playing a date in Huddersfield.

The band will be at the Parish in the town centre on Monday but the gig quickly sold out.

For 32-year-old Cam it will be a chance to catch his breath after playing at a festival near Alicante in Spain on Wednesday (Aug 9) in searing heat and then at one in Romania yesterday and the Bloodstock Festival near Burton on Trent tomorrow (Sunday).

Cam, who lives in Quarmby with wife Jodie, played with legendary Bradford band Terrorvision for 12 years and also taught drums at Ricky’s School of Rock in Linthwaite for six years. He formed a band called Knuckle Fuzz in Huddersfield with fellow Ricky’s music teachers Ben Chalker, who plays guitar, and bassist Tom Swailes.

The covers band grabs the attention as Cam is on lead vocals – very unusual for a drummer – and their set ranges wildly from Bill Hayley to Britney Spears.

Cam said: “Joining Ugly Kid Joe came out of standing in for one gig. I’d done some work with their tour manager before and he gave me a call out of the blue and asked if I’d help the band out at a gig. I said ‘sure, where do you need me to be?’ Portugal, he replied.

“That first one was at a festival in November 2019 but then the pandemic happened but they invited me to join the band in 2022.”

Ugly Kid Joe formed in California in 1989 and has achieved cult status with its diehard followers. They split up in 1997 but reformed a few years ago and hadn’t done a US tour for 27 years until this May and June when they headed out on the road for a packed schedule all over the country including Los Angeles, San Diego, New Orleans, Florida, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Las Vegas.

Cam said: “I’m just a simple Huddersfield lad so it’s been weird to be on the road across America and now touring Europe.

“The band have been so welcoming and I think have really enjoyed showing me places and venues in America most people never get the chance to see. The reception from the fans has been amazing.

“They’ve waited so long to see Ugly Kid Joe back on the road over there and just love it. I feel very lucky to be in this position and I’m determined to make the most of the opportunity every day.

“The band also has a huge following in Europe which is why we’re playing so many festivals there this summer in Portugal, Hungary, Romania, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.”

Huddersfield band Knuckle Fuzz with Cam Greenwood on drums and vocals

Ugly Kid Joe lead singer Whit Crane has some amazing contacts in the rock world and it’s led to some memorable moments for Cam.

Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo from Metallica came to one show and stood at the side of the stage to watch the gig. Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson played with them on stage at one of the shows.

“Just brilliant memories,” said Cam. “It all just seems surreal.”

He’s certainly looking forward to his home crowd at the Parish on Monday.

“I think I’ve invited half of Huddersfield to the gig,” he said. “It sold out very quickly and it’s going to be a brilliant night.”

Cam started to learn the guitar when he was 11 but quickly turned to the drums.

“My dad realised I was always tapping things so wondered if the drums was the more natural choice for me,” he said. “So I took up drum lessons at the age of 13 and it just went on from there.

“Turns out my dad was certainly right.”

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting. Images: Cam Greenwood