The Vipers Skiffle Group – later known simply as The Vipers – were one of the leading British groups during the skiffle period of the mid to late 1950s, and were important in the careers of radio and television presenter Wally Whyton, coffee bar manager Johnny Martyn, wire salesman Jean Van den Bosch, instrument repairer Tony Tolhurst, journalist John Pilgrim, record producer George Martin, and several members of The Shadows.
Later that summer they added a rhythm section, Tony Tolhurst (bass) and John Pilgrim (washboard), and took up residency at the renowned Soho music venue, the 2i's Coffee Bar.
In the same year they released their version of "Maggie May", which was banned from BBC Radio because of its sexual content,[1] despite the group's attempt to minimise the bawdiness of the lyrics.
[4] The group came into direct competition with Lonnie Donegan on the rival Pye label, who imitated Whyton's arrangements but had the bigger hits, both with "Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and with its follow-up "Cumberland Gap".
[3] Whyton and Booker also made an album released in the U.S. called The Original Soho Skiffle Group, a showcase for traditional folk and blues music, with sleeve notes by Nat Hentoff.