The King Blues
Encyclopedia
The King Blues are a punk
band from London, England, credited for fusing ska
and folk
together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk
. Tariq Ali
described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are challenging war-monger politicians and their courtiers'. Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash
, The Specials
, Black Flag
and Minor Threat
. Their third full length album, Punk and Poetry, was released on the 17th of April 2011. Lead singer Jonny 'Itch' Fox describes the music as 'a mixture of reggae, hip hop, folk, doo wop, punk rock.'
and as vocalist and Jamie Jazz playing acoustic guitar
and contributing vocals. Current member Jamie Jazz used to work in a music/guitar shop called Rock Around the Clock in north London's Crouch End
/Muswell Hill
district; however Jazz realised that in order to put The King Blues at the top, he had to leave his job. Whilst this was going on they then expanded to include a second acoustic guitar and a bassist
, before again expanding to include two full-time percussion members. Their sound was initially described as "soulful ska with raw folk and a punk rock attitude". or "conscious rude boy ska"
In 2004 they self released a demo EP titled "All Fall Down" featuring 5 tracks recorded by Itch on guitar and vocals. The cover and CD body art was a stencil of a fuse bomb and the band's logo, each one was hand sprayed.
, was released on Household Name Records
which coincided with increased touring and gigs. In November of the same year, "Mr Music Man" was released as a CD single
, also on Household Name. The single was enhanced
with a video chronicling the band's attempt to play more gigs in a 24-hour period than Status Quo's record-breaking four gigs in one day. The King Blues managed seven. Their single "Mr Music Man" was voted Best Punk Song of 2006 by BBC Radio 1
.
In 2007 the band was signed to Field Recordings, a label co-owned by Rollo Armstrong
and backed by Island Records
. Under the Fog was partly rerecorded and re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by two singles, "Come Fi Di Youth" and a new version of "Mr. Music Man".
called "Let's Hang the Landlord" to all those signed up to their email list. The song took them in a slightly different direction, opening with a violin
. The lyric is both autobiographical and true, detailing Itch's life as a teenage punk. The track was also released on a split 7" single, alongside "Mayday", the debut UK single by Flobots
.
Their second album Save the World, Get the Girl was released on October 20, 2008 in the UK. The album was produced by Peter Miles, who produced Under the Fog, and Clive Langer
(producer of Elvis Costello
, Madness
, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Morrissey
, Teardrop Explodes, Bush
and The Holloways
). The album received positive reviews.
"My Boulder" was released as a single on October 13, 2008 in the UK. Zane Lowe
has played this track several times on BBC Radio 1 and recommended it on air to Noel Gallagher
. "My Boulder" includes an excerpt from a reading of the poem The Pied Piper of Hamlyn by Robert Browning
.
Another track from Save the World, Get the Girl to receive Radio 1 airplay is What If Punk Never Happened
, which has been played by Rob da Bank
, Mike Davies, and Zane Lowe. Songs from the album, including "What if Punk Never Happened
?" and "Let's Hang The Landlord" also received air play from the Xfm
punk show (X Punk) hosted by Pete Donaldson
and Phil Clifton
.http://xfm.co.uk/punk
The band have also received considerable airplay in Australia courtesy of Triple R's punk program Bullying the Jukebox.
The band's single "I Got Love" from their 2008 album Save the World, Get the Girl was released on 4 May 2009. It was played at many gigs and tours before being announced as a single. Its first air time was on BBC Radio 1.
They also did a cover of Dizzee Rascal
's "Bonkers
" in Radio 1's Live Lounge
in June 2009.
In mid 2010, The King Blues were dropped from Field Recordings. This coincided with the departure of band members Fruitbag, Johnny Rich, Al Gunby and Jim Parmley. A controversial message explaining the departures was posted on the Punktastic forum by Fruitbag. The message proceeded to raise questions marks over the bands credibility amongst many fans. However, the band quickly found a new record label
, Transmission Recordings, and new members. Only a few weeks later, the new King Blues lineup went on tour supporting Enter Shikari
.
On the 23rd of March, Zane Lowe aired a new single, "Headbutt", as his "hottest record in the world" on his Radio 1 show. No release date was given, but Itch stated that the band had completely finished recording 5 or 6 new songs.
On their recent tour of the United Kingdom, it was announced that their new single "Headbutt" would be released on 16 May 2010 and that Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari had remixed the track which was available to download for free
The King Blues departed on their "London Brawling tour" (10 April until the 5th of May) along with four different support bands: Mouthwash
(all gigs), Moral Dilemma, The Meow Meows and Dirty Revolution. Most nights of the tour the band have invited someone on stage to speak, for example Sophie Lancaster's mum speaking for the foundation. The King Blues have S.O.P.H.I.E. bands available on tour. The King Blues have also been playing "love music hate racism gigs" in between gigs. On August 8, 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival near Folkestone
, UK. During this time, the band started playing many new songs off the new album 'Punk & Poetry
'. A lot of this material, such as "Kissing Frogs" and "We Will Never Grow Old" is no longer on the album, due to the band finding new inspiration from the UK's Anti Cuts protests and riots, and the 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa Protests which has led to them writing new material such as "I Want You", "We Are Fucking Angry" and "Set The World On Fire"
On the 29th of August, The King Blues released their new single 'Holiday' along with 'I Got Hate' and an Acoustic version of the previous single 'Headbutt' which acted as B-sides to the single. On the same day, the King Blues played the main stage at Reading Festival.
On the 21st of January The King Blues posted a 40 second preview of a new song, 'We Are Fucking Angry'. It received radio play Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, a few days later a free download link to the song was posted on the internet by the band.
The first single off Punk & Poetry
debuted on Mike Davies' Punk Show on the 7th of February, receiving more plays on the same show and Zane Lowe's show over the next few weeks. On the 26th of February, the official music video for the song was posted online. It will be released on the 10th of April on digital download with a Dr Meaker remix version of song acting as the b-side.
On the 1st of March, Itch co-hosted Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, previewing new songs The Future's Not What It Used To Be and Five Bottles of Shampoo, as well as new singles We Are Fucking Angry and Set the World on Fire. On the 5th of March, the track-listing for Punk & Poetry
was announced, due out for the 18th April.
The band sent a copy of 'Set the World On Fire' to the Daily Mail, they responded by pulling every article, webpage and reference to The King Blues from everything they own, in rebuttal to this the music video for 'Set the World On Fire' has vocalist Itch burning a copy of the Daily Mail.
At the 2011 Leeds Festival, during their set on the Lock Up Stage. Itch said that they were already working on a follow up to Punk & Poetry
before playing a new song, 'Power to the People’. They played this song again at the The Roundhouse
in November, along with another new song called 'Modern Life Is Getting Me Down'.
are overtly political, including "Chimp in a 3 Piece Suit" and "Duck and Cover". The band's website states that Save the World. Get the Girl will feature "a much more personalized take on social ills" than Under the Fog. Nonetheless, overtly political lyrics do feature in two live favourites that will appear on the new album. The title track includes the lyric "Going to war to prevent war was the most stupid thing I ever heard", while The Streets Are Ours includes references to Indymedia and Tiananmen Square
. "Smash EDO Dub", the B side to the re-release of "Mr. Music Man", features an interview with a campaigner from the Smash Edo movement. The links on The King Blues' official website are almost exclusively political. On his formspring, he states that he is probably an anarchist. Judging from other quotes and lyrics, it is likely that the other members of the band are also anarchists.
Past:
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from London, England, credited for fusing ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
. Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali , , is a British Pakistani military historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, public intellectual, political campaigner, activist, and commentator...
described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are challenging war-monger politicians and their courtiers'. Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
. Their third full length album, Punk and Poetry, was released on the 17th of April 2011. Lead singer Jonny 'Itch' Fox describes the music as 'a mixture of reggae, hip hop, folk, doo wop, punk rock.'
History
The King Blues started off as a two man ska outfit, consisting of Jonny 'Itch' Fox playing ukuleleUkulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
and as vocalist and Jamie Jazz playing acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and contributing vocals. Current member Jamie Jazz used to work in a music/guitar shop called Rock Around the Clock in north London's Crouch End
Crouch End
Crouch End is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Haringey.- Location :Crouch End is in a valley between Harringay to the east, Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green to the north, Finsbury Park and Archway to the south and Highgate to the west...
/Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
district; however Jazz realised that in order to put The King Blues at the top, he had to leave his job. Whilst this was going on they then expanded to include a second acoustic guitar and a bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, before again expanding to include two full-time percussion members. Their sound was initially described as "soulful ska with raw folk and a punk rock attitude". or "conscious rude boy ska"
In 2004 they self released a demo EP titled "All Fall Down" featuring 5 tracks recorded by Itch on guitar and vocals. The cover and CD body art was a stencil of a fuse bomb and the band's logo, each one was hand sprayed.
Under The Fog (2006/07)
In June 2006 their debut album, Under the FogUnder The Fog
Under The Fog is the debut album by The King Blues, originally released by Household Name Records in 2006 and later re-released on Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records in 2008. The album spawned two singles, "Mr. Music Man" and "Come Fi Di Youth"....
, was released on Household Name Records
Household Name Records
Household Name Records is a DIY punk rock record label, based in London, UK. It has been home to notable artists including Howards Alias, Lightyear, and Adequate Seven. It was started in 1996 by David "Lil" Giles and Katherine "Kafren" Vik to promote unknown UK bands...
which coincided with increased touring and gigs. In November of the same year, "Mr Music Man" was released as a CD single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, also on Household Name. The single was enhanced
Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
with a video chronicling the band's attempt to play more gigs in a 24-hour period than Status Quo's record-breaking four gigs in one day. The King Blues managed seven. Their single "Mr Music Man" was voted Best Punk Song of 2006 by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
.
In 2007 the band was signed to Field Recordings, a label co-owned by Rollo Armstrong
Rollo Armstrong
Rollo Armstrong is one half of the music producers/remixers team Rollo and Sister Bliss and is a founding member of the electronic music group Faithless.-Early life:...
and backed by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Under the Fog was partly rerecorded and re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by two singles, "Come Fi Di Youth" and a new version of "Mr. Music Man".
Save The World, Get The Girl (2008)
In May 2008 the band released a single from their forthcoming second album Save the World. Get the GirlSave the World. Get the Girl
-References:http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/clash/red+angel+dragnet_20031786.html...
called "Let's Hang the Landlord" to all those signed up to their email list. The song took them in a slightly different direction, opening with a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
. The lyric is both autobiographical and true, detailing Itch's life as a teenage punk. The track was also released on a split 7" single, alongside "Mayday", the debut UK single by Flobots
Flobots
The Flobots are a political rock and hip hop musical group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000 by Jamie Laurie. Flobots found mainstream success with their major label debut Fight with Tools , featuring the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.-Early...
.
Their second album Save the World, Get the Girl was released on October 20, 2008 in the UK. The album was produced by Peter Miles, who produced Under the Fog, and Clive Langer
Clive Langer
Clive Langer is a British record producer active from the mid 1970s onwards. He usually works with Alan Winstanley. He composed the music for the films Still Crazy and Brothers of the Head. Prior to his record producing career he was a guitarist with the British cult band Deaf SchoolLanger...
(producer of Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, Teardrop Explodes, Bush
Bush (band)
Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
and The Holloways
The Holloways
The Holloways are a four-piece indie-rock band from North London.-Formation:David Jackson and Bryn Fowler established the beginnings of the band, finding Rob Skipper at a local live music venue. They would meet later to jam together, playing in future drummer Dave Danger's room...
). The album received positive reviews.
"My Boulder" was released as a single on October 13, 2008 in the UK. Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
has played this track several times on BBC Radio 1 and recommended it on air to Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
. "My Boulder" includes an excerpt from a reading of the poem The Pied Piper of Hamlyn by Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
.
Another track from Save the World, Get the Girl to receive Radio 1 airplay is What If Punk Never Happened
What If Punk Never Happened
What If Punk Never Happened is the eleventh and final track off The King Blues' second studio album Save The World. Get The Girl. It is a six minute 40 second spoken word song which tells a story of what a town would be like had they never discovered punk....
, which has been played by Rob da Bank
Rob da Bank
Robert John Gorham, known by the pseudonym Rob da Bank, is a British disc jockey. He presents a Friday-night/Saturday-morning show, Rob da Bank, on BBC Radio 1 from 5am-7am, focused on promoting new left field music...
, Mike Davies, and Zane Lowe. Songs from the album, including "What if Punk Never Happened
What If Punk Never Happened
What If Punk Never Happened is the eleventh and final track off The King Blues' second studio album Save The World. Get The Girl. It is a six minute 40 second spoken word song which tells a story of what a town would be like had they never discovered punk....
?" and "Let's Hang The Landlord" also received air play from the Xfm
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
punk show (X Punk) hosted by Pete Donaldson
Pete Donaldson
Pete Donaldson, is a Radio and Television presenter, Producer and Voice Over Artist who is best known for his radio shows on Xfm London and Xfm Manchester, alongside his work on the Alex Zane Breakfast Show and the Lauren Laverne Breakfast Show He also featured on the Danny Wallace Saturday show on...
and Phil Clifton
Phil Clifton
Phil Clifton is a British television and Sony nominated radio presenter, who can currently be seen presenting on Channel 4 and MTV Rocks.-Radio:Phil began presenting Early Breakfast on Xfm London and Xfm Manchester in 2008...
.http://xfm.co.uk/punk
The band have also received considerable airplay in Australia courtesy of Triple R's punk program Bullying the Jukebox.
The band's single "I Got Love" from their 2008 album Save the World, Get the Girl was released on 4 May 2009. It was played at many gigs and tours before being announced as a single. Its first air time was on BBC Radio 1.
They also did a cover of Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
's "Bonkers
Bonkers (song)
"Bonkers" is a song by British rapper Dizzee Rascal and American producer Armand Van Helden. It is the first single released from Rascal's fourth album, Tongue n' Cheek. Rascal released the track under his own record label, Dirtee Stank Recordings on 17 May 2009 in the United Kingdom; where it...
" in Radio 1's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
in June 2009.
Post 'Save the World, Get the Girl' and Punk & Poetry (2011)
Over late 2009 and early 2010 The King Blues continued to tour their second album Save the World, Get the Girl, adding new songs to their setlist over time, such as "Headbutt", "Sore Throat" and "Five Bottles of Shampoo".In mid 2010, The King Blues were dropped from Field Recordings. This coincided with the departure of band members Fruitbag, Johnny Rich, Al Gunby and Jim Parmley. A controversial message explaining the departures was posted on the Punktastic forum by Fruitbag. The message proceeded to raise questions marks over the bands credibility amongst many fans. However, the band quickly found a new record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Transmission Recordings, and new members. Only a few weeks later, the new King Blues lineup went on tour supporting Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
.
On the 23rd of March, Zane Lowe aired a new single, "Headbutt", as his "hottest record in the world" on his Radio 1 show. No release date was given, but Itch stated that the band had completely finished recording 5 or 6 new songs.
On their recent tour of the United Kingdom, it was announced that their new single "Headbutt" would be released on 16 May 2010 and that Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari had remixed the track which was available to download for free
The King Blues departed on their "London Brawling tour" (10 April until the 5th of May) along with four different support bands: Mouthwash
Mouthwash
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. Some manufacturers of mouthwash claim that antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse kill the bacterial plaque causing cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Anti-cavity mouth rinse uses fluoride to protect against tooth decay...
(all gigs), Moral Dilemma, The Meow Meows and Dirty Revolution. Most nights of the tour the band have invited someone on stage to speak, for example Sophie Lancaster's mum speaking for the foundation. The King Blues have S.O.P.H.I.E. bands available on tour. The King Blues have also been playing "love music hate racism gigs" in between gigs. On August 8, 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival near Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
, UK. During this time, the band started playing many new songs off the new album 'Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry is the third album by The King Blues. It is set to be released on April 17, 2011 on digital download, and on CD the following day. The track listing for the album was released on March 5, 2011 on their website, and featured the previously released Headbutt single, which reached number...
'. A lot of this material, such as "Kissing Frogs" and "We Will Never Grow Old" is no longer on the album, due to the band finding new inspiration from the UK's Anti Cuts protests and riots, and the 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa Protests which has led to them writing new material such as "I Want You", "We Are Fucking Angry" and "Set The World On Fire"
On the 29th of August, The King Blues released their new single 'Holiday' along with 'I Got Hate' and an Acoustic version of the previous single 'Headbutt' which acted as B-sides to the single. On the same day, the King Blues played the main stage at Reading Festival.
On the 21st of January The King Blues posted a 40 second preview of a new song, 'We Are Fucking Angry'. It received radio play Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, a few days later a free download link to the song was posted on the internet by the band.
The first single off Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry is the third album by The King Blues. It is set to be released on April 17, 2011 on digital download, and on CD the following day. The track listing for the album was released on March 5, 2011 on their website, and featured the previously released Headbutt single, which reached number...
debuted on Mike Davies' Punk Show on the 7th of February, receiving more plays on the same show and Zane Lowe's show over the next few weeks. On the 26th of February, the official music video for the song was posted online. It will be released on the 10th of April on digital download with a Dr Meaker remix version of song acting as the b-side.
On the 1st of March, Itch co-hosted Mike Davies Radio 1 Punk Show, previewing new songs The Future's Not What It Used To Be and Five Bottles of Shampoo, as well as new singles We Are Fucking Angry and Set the World on Fire. On the 5th of March, the track-listing for Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry is the third album by The King Blues. It is set to be released on April 17, 2011 on digital download, and on CD the following day. The track listing for the album was released on March 5, 2011 on their website, and featured the previously released Headbutt single, which reached number...
was announced, due out for the 18th April.
The band sent a copy of 'Set the World On Fire' to the Daily Mail, they responded by pulling every article, webpage and reference to The King Blues from everything they own, in rebuttal to this the music video for 'Set the World On Fire' has vocalist Itch burning a copy of the Daily Mail.
At the 2011 Leeds Festival, during their set on the Lock Up Stage. Itch said that they were already working on a follow up to Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry
Punk & Poetry is the third album by The King Blues. It is set to be released on April 17, 2011 on digital download, and on CD the following day. The track listing for the album was released on March 5, 2011 on their website, and featured the previously released Headbutt single, which reached number...
before playing a new song, 'Power to the People’. They played this song again at the The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
in November, along with another new song called 'Modern Life Is Getting Me Down'.
Politics
The King Blues have "a commitment to politics and resistance". Itch writes a column for Last Hours magazine which generally focuses on resistance politics and protest. Several songs on Under the FogUnder The Fog
Under The Fog is the debut album by The King Blues, originally released by Household Name Records in 2006 and later re-released on Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records in 2008. The album spawned two singles, "Mr. Music Man" and "Come Fi Di Youth"....
are overtly political, including "Chimp in a 3 Piece Suit" and "Duck and Cover". The band's website states that Save the World. Get the Girl will feature "a much more personalized take on social ills" than Under the Fog. Nonetheless, overtly political lyrics do feature in two live favourites that will appear on the new album. The title track includes the lyric "Going to war to prevent war was the most stupid thing I ever heard", while The Streets Are Ours includes references to Indymedia and Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
. "Smash EDO Dub", the B side to the re-release of "Mr. Music Man", features an interview with a campaigner from the Smash Edo movement. The links on The King Blues' official website are almost exclusively political. On his formspring, he states that he is probably an anarchist. Judging from other quotes and lyrics, it is likely that the other members of the band are also anarchists.
Band members
Present:- Jonny 'Itch' Fox: Vocals, Ukulele, Melodica
- Jamie Jazz: Guitar, Vocals
- Dean Ashton: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Kat Marsh - Bass, Backing Vocals
- Josie Dobson - Keys, Backing Vocals
- Jack Usher: Drums
Past:
- Fruitbag: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Johnny Rich: Bass
- Al Gunby: Drums
- Jim Parsley: Percussion
- Chris Goodman: Bass
- George Lindsay: Drums
- Perkie: Keys, Vocals
- Ade Preston: Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Charlie Wilson: Guitar
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Under the Fog Under The Fog Under The Fog is the debut album by The King Blues, originally released by Household Name Records in 2006 and later re-released on Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records in 2008. The album spawned two singles, "Mr. Music Man" and "Come Fi Di Youth".... |
Household Name |
| 2008 | Under the Fog Under The Fog Under The Fog is the debut album by The King Blues, originally released by Household Name Records in 2006 and later re-released on Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records in 2008. The album spawned two singles, "Mr. Music Man" and "Come Fi Di Youth".... (Reissue) |
Field Recordings/Island |
| Save the World. Get the Girl Save the World. Get the Girl -References:http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/clash/red+angel+dragnet_20031786.html... |
||
| 2011 | Punk and Poetry | Transmission Recordings |
EPs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2004 | All Fall Down EP |
| 2007 | Taking Over EP Taking Over EP Taking Over was an EP released by The King Blues in 2007. It was available initially on their December 2007 tour of the UK. The title is taken from the track "Taking Over" from their first album Under The Fog, however the version that appears on the EP differs from the album version... |
| 2008 | The Engine Room Acoustic Session The Engine Room Acoustic Session The Engine Room Acoustic Session was an EP released by The King Blues in 2008. It was available exclusively at their album release show at the Carling Academy Islington in London on October 22nd 2008, fans were able to sign up online to receive a signed copy, requesting a message of up to ten words... |
| My Boulder EP | |
| 2009 | I Got Love EP |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 2006 | "Mr. Music Man" | — | Under the Fog Under The Fog Under The Fog is the debut album by The King Blues, originally released by Household Name Records in 2006 and later re-released on Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records in 2008. The album spawned two singles, "Mr. Music Man" and "Come Fi Di Youth".... |
| 2007 | "Come Fi Di Youth" | — | |
| 2008 | "Mr. Music Man" (re-issue) | — | |
| "Let's Hang the Landlord" | — | Save the World. Get the Girl Save the World. Get the Girl -References:http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/clash/red+angel+dragnet_20031786.html... |
|
| "My Boulder" | 156 | ||
| 2009 | "Save the World, Get the Girl" | 68 | |
| "I Got Love" | 96 | ||
| 2010 | "Headbutt Headbutt (song) "Headbutt" is the first single from The King Blues' third album Punk and Poetry. It was released on iTunes on 16 May 2010. The band appeared in Kerrang! magazine shortly before its release to promote the single. The single is the first since founding member of the band 'Fruitbag' left and the first... " |
72 | Punk and Poetry |
| "Holiday" | — | ||
| 2011 | "Set The World On Fire" | — | Punk and Poetry |
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart | |||
External links
- Official website
- Review of The King Blues' performance at Island Records' 50th Birthday Party at the Camden Crawl 25/04/09 on the Daily Music Guide
- press blog
- Bebo
- Q&A with Jonny "Itch" Fox on politics, girls and making it big in America
- interview on music.virgin.com
- ChangeTheRecord.net interview - 01/08/09