Josh Doyle
Encyclopedia
Josh Doyle is a British
-American
songwriter
and musician
who was the lead singer and guitarist for British punk-pop band Dum Dums
. He disappeared after the break-up of Dum Dums in 2001, the band having released one album. He resurfaced in Nashville
, Tennessee
in 2004 with a wife and daughter and a new "folktronica
" sound on the independent The End Of Fear
EP.
In 2009, Doyle released Values and Virtues
EP independently funded by his fanbase. With the proceeds of those sales Doyle was able to tour the UK without a label or any sponsorship, testing a new way forward for artists who have fans but choose not to sign with a record label.
He is currently recording a solo debut album with platinum award winning producer/engineer Joe Baldridge (awarded for Jesus Freak (album) which has sold over two million copies, achieving double platinum
certification by the RIAA
.)
, Travis
) and exploded across the radiowaves. Their first single 'Everything' hit the Official UK Top 20 and led to four UK hit singles from the first hit album, "It Goes Without Saying
".
Doyle became a recognisable face in the UK music scene. The band grew in stature, selling out venues all over the UK including Shepherds Bush Empire in London. They were cover stars of national music magazines including Melody Maker
, and due to an awesome live reputation made fans ranging from Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols to John Entwistle of The Who
, were invited by Paul Weller (The Jam
) to play Earls Court and by Robbie Williams
to support him on 30 arena dates.
They played all the major festivals, sharing the stage with The Flaming Lips
in Glastonbury, Supergrass
at V2000 (the same day they supported Bon Jovi
at Wembley Stadium
) and a star studded line-up at Party in the Park
for 250,000 at Hyde Park. They toured as headliners in Germany and Japan, hitting the Japanese charts with single "Everything", in 2001 signing to MCA in the US.
While recording the follow-up album, after the big US deal, the band span off into personal breakdown. Given a "write more 'pop' or get 'dropped' " ultimatum by the UK label, Doyle decided they had already strayed too much into 'pop' territory and quit the band. He watched as poppier, manufactured copies of his band sprung up such as Busted and McFly and dominated the music charts for the next couple of years, while he could not put his finger on a direction to pursue next. Depression descended and Doyle became reclusive, not leaving the house for days at a time.
.
The next year saw him recording the "End Of Fear EP" with college student Sam Shacklock, one half of Intramural (the other half being Statistics frontman and Conor Oberst bandmate Denver Dalley). Doyle released the EP independently from his website, mailing each CD out by hand.
An underground US following developed quickly, and respected zines such as Absolute Punk "a stellar debut, 8/10" and Sound The Sirens "a therapeutic must-have" gave high ratings. Using only MySpace and physical CD mail order sales (no touring, no digital sales, no radio) Doyle slowly but surely sold out of the first run of the EP, with help from a remnant of Dum Dums
fans and a growing contingent newly discovered fans from the US.
In 2006 he played rough acoustic demos of new material to rock producer Joe Baldridge (Beck
, Family Force 5
, Jewel
), who agreed to produce his album without even a record deal or management. As he stepped into the studio, he also played his first solo shows in four years in Tennessee supporting Imogen Heap
. His new songs impressed so much that he scored international management from Showdown in the US (Creed
, MUTEMATH, Paramore
, Family Force 5
) and Radius in the UK (Imogen Heap, Dum Dums
).
In 2009, Doyle released Values and Virtues EP independently funded by his fanbase. With the proceeds of those sales Doyle was able to tour the UK without a label or any sponsorship, testing a new way forward for artists who have fans but choose not to sign with a record label.
Interview about his crowd funding project in Music Magazine
In 2010, Josh had his songs featured on ABC TV show The Unusuals
and in promos for the ION Network over all the US cable networks. He used the licensing fees to fund a home studio and began his "Songs From The Nuclear War" project in 2011, which itself led to a Midwest US tour and a UK acoustic tour.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who was the lead singer and guitarist for British punk-pop band Dum Dums
Dum Dums (band)
The Dum Dums were a British guitar-pop band. London based, they split up in August 2001. The band members were Josh Doyle - vocals and guitar, Steve Clarke - bass and vocals, Stuart 'Baxter' Wilkinson - drums and vocals.-Career:...
. He disappeared after the break-up of Dum Dums in 2001, the band having released one album. He resurfaced in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in 2004 with a wife and daughter and a new "folktronica
Folktronica
Folktronica or electrofolk is a genre of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring samplings of acoustic instruments—especially stringed instruments—and incorporating hip hop rhythms...
" sound on the independent The End Of Fear
The End of Fear
The End Of Fear is an EP by Dum Dums vocalist Josh Doyle. This EP is currently only available at JoshDoyle.com.-Track listing:#"The End of Fear" - 4:02#"Aphrodite" - 4:13#"Boyracer" - 5:04#"Solarstorm" - 4:15#"Become Beautiful" - 7:55...
EP.
In 2009, Doyle released Values and Virtues
Values and Virtues
Values And Virtues is an EP by former Dum Dums vocalist Josh Doyle. This EP is currently only available at JoshDoyle.com.-Track listing:#"High School Soldier" - 3:50#"Ghosts Like You" - 4:18#"Pop Idol" - 2:55#"Waiting For The Payoff" - 4:46...
EP independently funded by his fanbase. With the proceeds of those sales Doyle was able to tour the UK without a label or any sponsorship, testing a new way forward for artists who have fans but choose not to sign with a record label.
He is currently recording a solo debut album with platinum award winning producer/engineer Joe Baldridge (awarded for Jesus Freak (album) which has sold over two million copies, achieving double platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
certification by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.)
Dum Dums
Between 1998 and 2001, Dum Dums were among a handful of successful guitar bands amongst a glut of all singing, all dancing boy-bands and female pop starlets. While touring the "toilet" circuit (small clubs across the country such as "The Charlotte" in Leicester and "The Camden Monarch" in London) in the UK, they were signed to Wildstar by Ian McAndrew (Arctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
) and exploded across the radiowaves. Their first single 'Everything' hit the Official UK Top 20 and led to four UK hit singles from the first hit album, "It Goes Without Saying
It Goes Without Saying
It Goes Without Saying is the debut, and only, album by the short-lived British band, the Dum Dums. It was released in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2000.-Track listing:# "The Kind Of Day I've Had"# "Everything"# "Caught Me In A Trap"...
".
Doyle became a recognisable face in the UK music scene. The band grew in stature, selling out venues all over the UK including Shepherds Bush Empire in London. They were cover stars of national music magazines including Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, and due to an awesome live reputation made fans ranging from Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols to John Entwistle of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, were invited by Paul Weller (The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
) to play Earls Court and by Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
to support him on 30 arena dates.
They played all the major festivals, sharing the stage with The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
in Glastonbury, Supergrass
Supergrass
Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....
at V2000 (the same day they supported Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
) and a star studded line-up at Party in the Park
Party in the Park
Party in the Park is the generic name given to music concerts organised by various radio stations and local authorities in England and Wales, typically in large parks during the summer.-Leeds' Party in the Park:...
for 250,000 at Hyde Park. They toured as headliners in Germany and Japan, hitting the Japanese charts with single "Everything", in 2001 signing to MCA in the US.
While recording the follow-up album, after the big US deal, the band span off into personal breakdown. Given a "write more 'pop' or get 'dropped' " ultimatum by the UK label, Doyle decided they had already strayed too much into 'pop' territory and quit the band. He watched as poppier, manufactured copies of his band sprung up such as Busted and McFly and dominated the music charts for the next couple of years, while he could not put his finger on a direction to pursue next. Depression descended and Doyle became reclusive, not leaving the house for days at a time.
Solo
In 2003, he and his wife sold and gave away all their personal belongings and moved from the UK to Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
The next year saw him recording the "End Of Fear EP" with college student Sam Shacklock, one half of Intramural (the other half being Statistics frontman and Conor Oberst bandmate Denver Dalley). Doyle released the EP independently from his website, mailing each CD out by hand.
An underground US following developed quickly, and respected zines such as Absolute Punk "a stellar debut, 8/10" and Sound The Sirens "a therapeutic must-have" gave high ratings. Using only MySpace and physical CD mail order sales (no touring, no digital sales, no radio) Doyle slowly but surely sold out of the first run of the EP, with help from a remnant of Dum Dums
Dum Dums (band)
The Dum Dums were a British guitar-pop band. London based, they split up in August 2001. The band members were Josh Doyle - vocals and guitar, Steve Clarke - bass and vocals, Stuart 'Baxter' Wilkinson - drums and vocals.-Career:...
fans and a growing contingent newly discovered fans from the US.
In 2006 he played rough acoustic demos of new material to rock producer Joe Baldridge (Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Family Force 5
Family Force 5
Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
, Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
), who agreed to produce his album without even a record deal or management. As he stepped into the studio, he also played his first solo shows in four years in Tennessee supporting Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
. His new songs impressed so much that he scored international management from Showdown in the US (Creed
Creed (band)
Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
, MUTEMATH, Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, Family Force 5
Family Force 5
Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
) and Radius in the UK (Imogen Heap, Dum Dums
Dum Dums (band)
The Dum Dums were a British guitar-pop band. London based, they split up in August 2001. The band members were Josh Doyle - vocals and guitar, Steve Clarke - bass and vocals, Stuart 'Baxter' Wilkinson - drums and vocals.-Career:...
).
In 2009, Doyle released Values and Virtues EP independently funded by his fanbase. With the proceeds of those sales Doyle was able to tour the UK without a label or any sponsorship, testing a new way forward for artists who have fans but choose not to sign with a record label.
Interview about his crowd funding project in Music Magazine
In 2010, Josh had his songs featured on ABC TV show The Unusuals
The Unusuals
The Unusuals is a comedy-drama television series which premiered on ABC on April 8, 2009 in the U.S. and Global in Canada. An ABC press release described The Unusuals as "like a modern-day M*A*S*H" that "explores both the grounded drama and comic insanity of the world of New York City police...
and in promos for the ION Network over all the US cable networks. He used the licensing fees to fund a home studio and began his "Songs From The Nuclear War" project in 2011, which itself led to a Midwest US tour and a UK acoustic tour.
Solo discography
- 2002 - The Barnroom SessionsThe Barnroom SessionsThe Barnroom Sessions is an EP by Dum Dums vocalist Josh Doyle. This EP is currently only available at SpeakerHeart.com and JoshDoyle.com. This EP was originally recorded as "Barnroom Demos" under the band name "Entrace Thesis".-Track listing:...
- 2004 - The End Of FearThe End of FearThe End Of Fear is an EP by Dum Dums vocalist Josh Doyle. This EP is currently only available at JoshDoyle.com.-Track listing:#"The End of Fear" - 4:02#"Aphrodite" - 4:13#"Boyracer" - 5:04#"Solarstorm" - 4:15#"Become Beautiful" - 7:55...
- 2009 - Values And VirtuesValues and VirtuesValues And Virtues is an EP by former Dum Dums vocalist Josh Doyle. This EP is currently only available at JoshDoyle.com.-Track listing:#"High School Soldier" - 3:50#"Ghosts Like You" - 4:18#"Pop Idol" - 2:55#"Waiting For The Payoff" - 4:46...
- 2011 - Songs From The Nuclear War (Volume One)
- 2011 - Songs From The Nuclear War (Volume Two)
External links
- Official Josh Doyle Website
- Official Josh Doyle MySpace
- Josh's "great American novel in album form" MySpace
- [ "The End of Fear EP" on Allmusic]
- "Josh Doyle on LyricWiki"