YOUNG HEART ATTACK
Young Heart Attack formed in the early years of the 21st century, and not long after signed to the British label XL Recordings. There were many early triumphs–pre-album singles released on the REX imprint, airplay on the BBC, and performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Their first album (”Mouthful of Love”/album of the week in NME) yielded the singles “Starlite,” “Over and Over,” and “Tommy Shots,” the latter rising to the number two spot on the British rock charts (just behind Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Despite such promising early success, XL chose not to extend the group’s contract after one album. Their XL years included opening for Motorhead, The Darkness, Jet, The MC5 and Peaches. Though the band had built a strong following in the UK and Australia, internal strife drove YHA into a malaise of inactivity tantamount to disbanding.
In the summer of 2006, former keyboardist Pauly Deathwish started meeting with lead singer Chris Hodge to write songs “for fun.” In the haze of these druggy sessions, songs such as “Jump Into The Picture” and “Good Love” started to materialize. Lead singer Jennifer Stephens was brought into the writing process for the first time, penning a major portion of “Hell On Earth.” Superstar producer and lead guitarist Frenchie Smith wrote a juggernaut-of-a-song in “Munki.” As the record came together over a year’s time, with Smith in the producer’s chair, even new drummer Jayson Altman contributed co-authorship to “Drums of Revolution.”
The band started gigging again with its new rhythm section (Deathwish having become the bass player). A deal has been signed with UK label Not On Your Radio. The Young Heart Attack resurgence, against strong odds, is becoming a smashing reality. A record release date for the UK of their new album “Rock and Awe” is set for spring ‘08. The forthcoming opus features masterful guest-drumming on two tracks courtesy of Blondie’s Clem Burke, and crystal-clear mixes by Robbie Adams (U2, Smashing Pumpkins). YHA makes their return to Britain in late March/early April, followed by a whirlwind tour of Spain.
YHA has matured and found an inner voice from which is dictated slower tempos, confidence, and unabashed soaring melodies. The most fascinating aspect of the band’s reemergence might best be summed up with a Zombies lyric. As Colin Blunstone sang, “This will be our year–took a long time to come.” Young Heart Attack’s album “Rock and Awe” is a true specimen of a band living the DIY-dream.
The follow up to 2004’s Mouthful of Love will be released in the UK on 17th March 2008, you can check out the title track on our myspace ( www.myspace.com/notonyourradio) right now. The band will then head over for an extensive UK tour following a launch show at SXSW.
4FT FINGERS
Formed in Cheltenham in 1996, the band went through several line-up as well as name changes before they finally settled on 4ft Fingers. Having mainly played locally for a couple of years, Rob, Tom, Dougie and Dave met manager Darren in late 1999 and things began to happen. The band started to gig relentlessly, playing anywhere they possibly could.In 2001 the quartet recorded their debut album At Your Convenience with Martin Nicholls at Whitehouse Studios, which was released on Jamdown Records. This was followed by a year of non-stop touring (140 gigs in 2001), earning the band the reputation as one of the hardest working UK bands, which brought them to the attention of several record companies. In early 2002 4ft Fingers signed to Golf Records, home to the likes of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Snuff and many more at the time.
The second album From Hero To Zero, recorded with Dave Chang at Philia Studios, was released on Golf in September 2002 and supported by an impressive advertising campaign and a full 40-date co-headline UK tour under the title Golfing On The Moon (2002).
2003 had seen the band embark on a massive 47-date headline UK tour under the banner From Hero To Zero which was followed by tour dates with Dead Kennedys and The Damned.
Summer 2003 saw the band writing and pre-viewing new material which was set to see the light of day in May 2004. In the meantime 4ft Fingers had toured Europe in September 2003, after which a third video had been added to Scuzz TV, which was set to coincide with a UK headline tour in October. After this the band were invited to tour with the Voodoo Glow Skulls and Skindred on a 6-week European tour in November/December.
The bands third full-length, A Cause For Concern, was recorded in early 2004 with Pete Brown at Philia Studios and was released to coincide with a UK and European headline tour in April and May. This was followed by the Fingers FIRST TOUR OF THE US IN THE SUMMER, coinciding with the American release of their new album on Go-Kart Records. During the last three months of the year, the band was back gigging in the UK, playing another headline tour in October/November, followed by a number of shows with punk rock legends The Damned.
The band had four videos on Scuzz TV (Sky Digital channel 471) and P-Rock TV: Last Man Standing, Brickwall, Emergency Manoeuvre and 40 Years Of Misery. All these made it into the channels Top 5.
Dougie left at the end of 2004. and was replaced by Ben from Bristol on bass. They still played one off shows but decided to give fulltime touring a break. Towards the end of 2006 Tom decided to call it a day and a month or two later, Ben had to leave for a new Job and his band back in Bristol, Rob and Dave however did not want to call it a day. Tom finished the year of shows booked and after nearly 2 years out of the band, Dougie rejoined along with new guitarist JON (formally of gash).Bringing the band bang upto date and back with Darren as manager,4ft fingers are set to return to give the uk scene a good kick up the ass…and get back to basics where it matters…the music!! not the scenesters or hairdos!! The band have just finished recording their new album “New Beginings of old stories” 12 brand new punk rock explosive tunes……To coincide with the release,the band will be doing a massive promotional campaign to let everyone know they are back for business with a uk tour kicking off 28th feb - 27th April !! with european and festival dates to follow ! Watch this space…… http://www.myspace.com/4ftfingers
The band’s 4th album “The Beginnings Of Old Stories” is available from www.notonyourradio.com/shop from the 7th April. If you pre-order your copy before the mammoth tour kicks off, you’ll get yourself a signed copy!