Black Mariah
Encyclopedia
Black Mariah is an English electro-rock band. Formed in late 2004, the band was made up of two groups of musicians who had descended on London
: vocalist Mark Slade and bassist George Young, previously of the Leeds
based band Circa, and brothers Kelton and Kris Turvey, (drums and guitar, respectively) both of who had played in numerous underground bands in their hometown of Plymouth
.
The band set about combining laptop driven electronic music with rock n roll guitars, in a style that has been compared to Primal Scream
, Kasabian, Death in Vegas
and Spiritulized. Black Mariah made their debut in a former strip club in London's East End. Present in that first audience was Tone Davies (ex-Motor City Band) who was recruited onto second guitar. The band set up shop in a graffiti-covered industrial building in Shoreditch
where they began writing and rehearsing in earnest. Their high-energy shows saw them rise rapidly on the London gig scene, early shows at the notorious Rhythm Factory 'Bring Your Own Poison' night quickly followed by appearances at venues such as The 100 Club
, Cobden Club
, Clapham Grand and the Garage, culminating in a show at Virgin Megastore
(Oxford Street
) for the inaugural John Peel
Day, earning them their first taste of national press coverage.
In 2006, Black Mariah launched their own club, Club Black Mariah, at London's Clockwork, and began earning themselves support slots with the likes of Turin Brakes
and Fun Lovin Criminals. 2007 saw them step up another gear with two European festival dates under their belts, at the underground electronic Bleepfest in Berlin
and the EXIT (festival)
in Novi Sad
, Serbia.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
: vocalist Mark Slade and bassist George Young, previously of the Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
based band Circa, and brothers Kelton and Kris Turvey, (drums and guitar, respectively) both of who had played in numerous underground bands in their hometown of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
.
The band set about combining laptop driven electronic music with rock n roll guitars, in a style that has been compared to Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, Kasabian, Death in Vegas
Death in Vegas
Death in Vegas are a psychedelic rock and electronic rock band from the United Kingdom, comprising two permanent members: Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes...
and Spiritulized. Black Mariah made their debut in a former strip club in London's East End. Present in that first audience was Tone Davies (ex-Motor City Band) who was recruited onto second guitar. The band set up shop in a graffiti-covered industrial building in Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
where they began writing and rehearsing in earnest. Their high-energy shows saw them rise rapidly on the London gig scene, early shows at the notorious Rhythm Factory 'Bring Your Own Poison' night quickly followed by appearances at venues such as The 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
, Cobden Club
Cobden Club
The Cobden Club was a political gentlemen's club in London founded in 1866 for believers in Free Trade doctrine, and named in honour of Richard Cobden, who had died the year before....
, Clapham Grand and the Garage, culminating in a show at Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
(Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
) for the inaugural John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
Day, earning them their first taste of national press coverage.
In 2006, Black Mariah launched their own club, Club Black Mariah, at London's Clockwork, and began earning themselves support slots with the likes of Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller ".-1999–2003:...
and Fun Lovin Criminals. 2007 saw them step up another gear with two European festival dates under their belts, at the underground electronic Bleepfest in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and the EXIT (festival)
EXIT (festival)
Exit is an annual summer music festival in the Petrovaradin Fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia. It is staged annually since 2000 and usually lasts four days ....
in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
, Serbia.