Sack Trick
Encyclopedia
Sack Trick are an eccentric British
music collective who have been compared to the humour of Monty Python
and musical madness of Frank Zappa
. The bassist Chris Paulo Dale (ex-Atom Seed
and Bruce Dickinson
) is the center of the group, guiding the audience through a universe that is more rock circus than rock opera
, with a partiality for KISS
, funk metal
and species of animals such as rabbits, penguins and sheep.
's Bruce Dickinson
on his solo Balls to Picasso
tour. After the tour, Alex and Bruce wrote Bruce's next solo album, titled Skunkworks
. Chris Dale co-wrote Innerspace, which featured on the album, as well as writing two songs, I'm in a band with an Italian drummer and Americans are Behind. Bruce encouraged Chris to write more, and decided to include Chris's songs as B-sides to Back from the edge, the only single from the Skunkworks album. The tracks were also included on the second disc of the 2005 "Expanded Edition" of the album.
After the Skunkworks tour, the band split. Bruce went on to make his Accident of Birth
album, while Chris continued writing and formed Sack Trick with Alex and Alessandro.
Sack Trick played their first gig on 12 May 1998, at HQ's in London, England.
The lineup was Chris Dale (bass), Jef Streatfield (guitar), Robin Guy (drums), Jem Davis (keyboards). Since then, the lineup has undergone changes for nearly every gig the band has played, bringing in talent from all over the UK, including members of bands such as Rachel Stamp
, Skunk Anansie
and Rainbow
, and even a gig featuring Bruce Dickinson on vocals.
The band's first album, (Music From) The Mystery Rabbits was released by ORG Records in 1999, with their second album, Penguins on the Moon being released on 2000. After this, there was a 4-year gap in which the band prepared their long-awaited Kiss
covers album, entitled Sheep In Kiss Make Up for release. Although the album began before The Mystery Rabbits, due to legal negotiations the album saw huge delays before its release. Although the band had signed to Infernal Records, and their cover of God of Thunder featured on the label's Any Colour As Long As It's Black sampler, the album was never released on the label. Eventually, in 2004, the band gave up on record companies and put the album out themselves, releasing the album in November that year.
The number of Sack Trick related bands currently stands at well over 85.
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...
music collective who have been compared to the humour of Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
and musical madness of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. The bassist Chris Paulo Dale (ex-Atom Seed
Atom Seed (Band)
-History:Atom Seed were formed in early 1989 by former Zoodoll guitarist Simon James' and bassist Chris Huxter's meeting with singer Paul Cunningham and Iranian drummer, Amir. After recording a demo and playing a handful of gigs, Chris Huxter left in late 1989 to be replaced by Chris Dale on bass...
and Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
) is the center of the group, guiding the audience through a universe that is more rock circus than rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
, with a partiality for KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, funk metal
Funk metal
Funk metal is a subgenre of funk rock that fuses elements of heavy metal and funk. Allmusic has claimed that "funk metal evolved in the mid-'80s when alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Mordred and Fishbone began playing the hybrid with a stronger...
and species of animals such as rabbits, penguins and sheep.
Biography
Sack Trick began when Chris Dale, Alex Dickson and Alessandro Elena (A.K.A Sponder), the founding members of the band, played with Iron MaidenIron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
on his solo Balls to Picasso
Balls to Picasso
Balls to Picasso is a Hard rock album by Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, released in 1994. It is the second effort in Dickinson's solo career and the first released after he had officially left Iron Maiden....
tour. After the tour, Alex and Bruce wrote Bruce's next solo album, titled Skunkworks
Skunkworks (album)
Skunkworks is a hard rock album released in 1996 by Bruce Dickinson.Originally, Bruce intended for Skunkworks to be the debut album of a band by the same name. However, the label would not publish the record under any other name than Bruce Dickinson. Consequently the album sounds quite different...
. Chris Dale co-wrote Innerspace, which featured on the album, as well as writing two songs, I'm in a band with an Italian drummer and Americans are Behind. Bruce encouraged Chris to write more, and decided to include Chris's songs as B-sides to Back from the edge, the only single from the Skunkworks album. The tracks were also included on the second disc of the 2005 "Expanded Edition" of the album.
After the Skunkworks tour, the band split. Bruce went on to make his Accident of Birth
Accident of Birth
Accident of Birth is a heavy metal album released in 1997 by Bruce Dickinson. It was published by Zomba Music.This is the second album made in collaboration with guitarist/producer Roy Z and is therefore much different from Bruce's previous Skunkworks album. It marks Bruce's return to his more...
album, while Chris continued writing and formed Sack Trick with Alex and Alessandro.
Sack Trick played their first gig on 12 May 1998, at HQ's in London, England.
The lineup was Chris Dale (bass), Jef Streatfield (guitar), Robin Guy (drums), Jem Davis (keyboards). Since then, the lineup has undergone changes for nearly every gig the band has played, bringing in talent from all over the UK, including members of bands such as Rachel Stamp
Rachel Stamp
Rachel Stamp is a British rock band formed in London, England in 1994. Their debut album, Hymns For Strange Children was released in 2000, followed by Oceans of Venus two years later.-Biography:...
, Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
and Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, and even a gig featuring Bruce Dickinson on vocals.
The band's first album, (Music From) The Mystery Rabbits was released by ORG Records in 1999, with their second album, Penguins on the Moon being released on 2000. After this, there was a 4-year gap in which the band prepared their long-awaited Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
covers album, entitled Sheep In Kiss Make Up for release. Although the album began before The Mystery Rabbits, due to legal negotiations the album saw huge delays before its release. Although the band had signed to Infernal Records, and their cover of God of Thunder featured on the label's Any Colour As Long As It's Black sampler, the album was never released on the label. Eventually, in 2004, the band gave up on record companies and put the album out themselves, releasing the album in November that year.
Discography
- (Music From) The Mystery Rabbits(Music From) The Mystery RabbitsThe Mystery Rabbits is an alternative/funk/metal debut album by the pop group Sack Trick. Metal Hammer described it as "Like the funk rock record Frank Zappa and Monty Python never made". The subjects of the songs include tomato sandwiches, camels, ice cream and a "strange cigarette", interwoven...
(1999) - Penguins on the MoonPenguins on the MoonPenguins on the Moon is Sack Trick's second album which was produced, recorded and mixed by Alex Dickson. The album tells the tale of four lovable Penguin characters - The Captain, Alfredo and twins, Bob and Burt...
(2000) - Sheep in Kiss Make UpSheep in KISS Make UpSheep in KISS Make Up is a 2005 KISS tribute album by Sack Trick. Described as "the most amazingly diverse KISS tribute album you will ever hear", it was released independently by the band after they decided to give up on record companies....
(2005)
Current members
The current Sack Trick line up (as of the last tour)- Chris Dale - Bass/Vocals
- Reuben Gotto - Guitar/Vocals
- Jay Graham - Drums
- Dave CheesemanDave CheesemanDave Cheeseman is a prolific English underground session musician, currently most well known for his work with Sack Trick and Pillow Talk.-Biography:...
- Keyboards/Vocals - Rockin' Roly Bailey - Percussion/Vocals
Contributing personnel
Here is a list of musicians and friends that have worked with Sack Trick, either live or in the studio, and also an example of some of the bands they are involved with.- Alex Dickson - GunGun (band)Gun are a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, best known for their cover of Cameo's "Word Up!".-Early career:Originally called Blind Allez then for a short time, 'Phobia', GUN were formed in 1987 by Giuliano Gizzi and Cami Morlotti , with Mark Rankin , Alan Thornton and David Aitken...
, Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden.... - Robin Guy - GMTGuy McCoy TorméGuy McCoy Tormé is a British rock band formed by Robin Guy and former Gillan members John McCoy and Bernie Tormé.-Personnel:*Bernie Tormé — Guitar and vocals*John McCoy — Bass*Robin Guy — drums and percussion...
, Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, Martin GrechMartin GrechMartin Grech is a Maltese-English singer, songwriter and musician from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.-Career:He first achieved critical acclaim after his falsetto track, "Open Heart Zoo" was featured on a Lexus advert on British television in 2002...
, AntiProductAntiProductAntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
, Rachel StampRachel StampRachel Stamp is a British rock band formed in London, England in 1994. Their debut album, Hymns For Strange Children was released in 2000, followed by Oceans of Venus two years later.-Biography:... - Ben Calvert - Killing JokeKilling JokeKilling Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
, Vex RedVex RedVex Red were a band from Aldershot, England who merged hard rock with electronica. They were signed to US Producer Ross Robinson's Virgin Records Imprint record label, I Am, after sending a demo EP to Robinson. They litigated their way off the label in late 2002, and singer Terry Abbott formed a... - Reuben 'The Impaler' Gotto - "The Popular Face Of Rock"
- Bobby The Bus Driver
- Jem Davis - FMFM (British band)FM are a British AOR/'80s rock band. In the U.S., they are often referred to as FMUK. They have released eleven albums to date. Two of those, Indiscreet and Tough It Out reached the UK Albums Chart, whilst five of the band's singles made inroads into the UK Singles Chart.-Career:FM was formed in...
, UFOUFO (band)UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal... - DJ Cheeseman
- Jef Streatfield - The WildheartsThe WildheartsThe Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
- Doogie White - RainbowRainbow (band)Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, Rising ForceRising ForceRising Force is the first studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1984 through Polydor Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as first in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
, TankTank (band)Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement... - Roly Bailey
- Chris Nubile
- Joe Inferno
- Sponder - Machine, Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
- Ant Forbini - Vex RedVex RedVex Red were a band from Aldershot, England who merged hard rock with electronica. They were signed to US Producer Ross Robinson's Virgin Records Imprint record label, I Am, after sending a demo EP to Robinson. They litigated their way off the label in late 2002, and singer Terry Abbott formed a...
- The Matt & Jason Show (AKA Metal Matty and Jurassic Jay) - The Reasoning
- Vision The Delicatessen - Machine
- Spreader - AirbourneAirborne (band)Airborne is an American contemporary jazz / smooth jazz / world fusion band, formed in the late 1980s. Airborne the proclaimed “Musical Peacemakers” of Contemporary Jazz sends out an Inspirational Message of Hope to the World. They are a multi-cultural jazz band from New Haven, Connecticut who has...
- Ace - Skunk AnansieSkunk AnansieSkunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
- Mikey J
- Proteus (AKA Jeffrey P Steel)
- Pete Friesen (AKA "Pete Freezin' Lead Guitar!") - Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, The AlmightyThe Almighty (band)The Almighty are a hard rock/heavy metal band, from Glasgow in Scotland who formed in 1988. They have released seven studio albums, two anthologies and one live album.-1988-1993:... - Andy Veasey
- Dolly Dollar - Rachel StampRachel StampRachel Stamp is a British rock band formed in London, England in 1994. Their debut album, Hymns For Strange Children was released in 2000, followed by Oceans of Venus two years later.-Biography:...
- Henrik and Mattias (AKA Herr Johansson och Herr Reinholdsson)
- BJ
- Alfie Deliss
- Alex Kane (AKA- A. Product) - AntiProductAntiProductAntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
- Gary Mills
- Tom Lown
- Dave 'Grav' Cavill - Voodoo Six, TankTank (band)Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
- Others also include Lewis West, Jack Endino, Mada, Dawn Odins, Nadia, Seaweed, Leigh Griffiths, Steve Braund, John Wright, CJ, Robert Fields, Steve in Leicester, Mark in Nottingham, Rasmus in Roskilde, Alex Dickson Snr, Milena, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Pattenden, Chris Sharrock, Claire Pproduct, Sarah Cawood, Leigh Marklew, Ben Savigear, Lickin' Lopez, The McKibbin Brothers with the Kings Head Choir, Most of Two Point Eight, Helen, Careen, Christina and Lyndsay.
The number of Sack Trick related bands currently stands at well over 85.