While it only takes a glass of red lemonade to get Stingray swinging from the chandeliers, actor Ben Nicholas is a very different King of Swing.

 

This year, busy Ben has joined a band called Batman Street… and they're already wowing the crowds.

 

"The band's forte is jazz, swing, funk, that kind of thing," Ben explains. "We've got three horns, a bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, a drummer and two singers. We also do a lot of one-hit wonders and 80s classics, Mustang Sally and stuff like that. They have a different twist though because we put our own style on it."

 

While the Batman Street boys have already established a name for themselves on the corporate circuit, Ben has wisely teamed up with another Neighbours favourite to bring his music to the masses.

 

"We're opening for Alan Fletcher (Karl) on Tuesday nights at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow," he grins. The English themed pub is well known in Melbourne as the home of the infamous Neighbours nights. "They're great crowds," he adds.

 

This week was their first experience of performing to Neighbours fans. When asked if they had any over-excited ladies throwing knickers at them, Ben smiles.

 

"Absolutely. I told Mum not to come but she just turned up anyway."

 

Somehow we can't imagine skateboarding Stingray enjoying some smooth jazz stylings. However, we imagine he might like the band's name… surely a reference to the Caped Crusader of comic book fame.

 

"Actually, Batman Street comes from John Batman who was a VDL settler. Van Diemen's Land- the original name for Tasmania," says Ben (proving that while he may not have won Australia's Brainiest Neighbour, he certainly knows his stuff). "He was recognized as being the first settler of Melbourne and we rehearse on the street that's named after him."

 

So could Ben's off-screen activities start to influence future storylines? Perhaps Stingray could land the lead in Gino's next musical…

 

"Absolutely not!" he exclaims. "It's not my character. It would be embarrassing. No. I'm going to keep it separate!"

 

UK fans who'd like to see Stingray strut his funky stuff may not be without hope though. Ben admits that if the opportunity arises, he'd love to do panto this year. And he might just bring his band with him.