The Balham Alligators were an English band from London that mixed rock 'n' roll, cajun, country and R&B.
The original line-up consisted of Geraint Watkins, Robin McKidd,[2] Kieran O'Connor, Arthur Kitchener, and Gary Rickard.
[3] The Alligators played a hybrid blend of musical styles, including rock 'n' roll, blues, R&B, Celtic folk, swamp-pop, country, swing, Cajun and zydeco.
The pressure of constant touring began to take its toll with the continued ill-health and eventual death of Kieran O'Connor (d. 1991), the departure of Kitchener and Ron Kavana, and despite the recruitment of Pete Dennis to replace Kitchener convinced the remaining members it was time to call it a day.
Bolstered with morale and momentum they recruited session musician Bobby Irwin[6] on drums and ex-Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers' bass guitarist Paul Riley and, by the latter half of 1995, they recorded Gateway to the South (1996) and followed by Cajun Dance Party (1997).