The Almighty (band)
Encyclopedia
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.
background. Lead singer Ricky Warwick
had previously done some session and tour work with New Model Army
, although not on any of their recordings. Ricky, Stump Monroe and Floyd had previously played together in a local band called Rough Charm.
They were signed by Polydor in March 1989 and released their first album, Blood, Fire and Love. In the same year they were voted in third place on the Kerrang!
readers poll for Best New Act.
In 1990 they toured the UK and also embarked upon a short US
tour in an attempt to break into the American market. However, a more extensive follow up tour of the US did not go ahead, although they did embark on a European club tour. A live album, Blood, Fire and Live, was released on 8 October 1990, having been recorded at July gigs in Edinburgh and Nottingham. The track list featured songs from Blood, Fire and Love, plus a cover of Bachman–Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
".
Recording of their second studio album, Soul Destruction
, began in December 1990 and it was released in March 1991 along with the lead single Free'n'Easy. In February and March they toured the UK supporting Motörhead and Megadeth
. In June 1991 they embarked on a headline UK tour. The concert at the Town and Country club in London was filmed and released later that year on VHS as Soul Destruction - Live. Later in the year they supported Alice Cooper
on a European tour.
In March 1992 internal differences within the band came to a head causing guitarist Tantrum to leave the band. He was replaced by Canadian Pete Friesen
who had previously played for Alice Cooper, and had met The Almighty when they played support for him the previous year. In the spring the band were invited to tour Australia in support of The Screaming Jets, who had just released their Living in England EP
and wanted a British band for the support on their tour. That summer the band were the opening act at the Donington Monsters of Rock
festival. Towards the end of the year they began preparing material for a third album.
In April 1993 Powertrippin, their third album, was released and they embarked upon a European tour supporting Iron Maiden
, their longest tour to date. This was followed with a support slot at that year's Milton Keynes Bowl festival, which substituted for Donnington as the Monsters of Rock festival was not staged in 1993. In Autumn 93 they finally toured America, but failed to make the hoped-for impact. On their return they started a headline European tour, but had to abandon it after the first two London dates due to poor health. In November they parted from manager Tommy Tee and moved to Sanctuary Records
. At the same time they left Polydor and signed with Chrysalis
. They were able to perform some replacement UK shows the same month, but were not able to tour Europe as planned.
in support of the first single, Wrench. In the autumn they toured the UK in support of the album and a European tour followed in early 1995. In May they recorded four tracks for a proposed EP. However, the band decided that the tracks were good enough to form the basis for a fifth album. They therefore decided to arrange two more recording sessions during 1995, recording four tracks each time, so that they would have enough for an album release in 1996.
Their fifth album, Just Add Life, was released in 1996, but later that year they disbanded.
pursuing a solo career.
In 2002 a compilation album, Wild and Wonderful was released, which included material from their three Polydor albums, along with covers of "Bodies
", by the Sex Pistols
, "You Ain't Seen Nuthin Yet" from Blood Fire and Live and "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" by Neil Young
.Discography from official website http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/album/
. They undertook a short five show tour at the end of December 2006.
In 2007 a second compilation album, Anth F***in'Ology - the Gospel According to The Almighty was released covering their entire career and including a DVD of all their promo videos to date.
A lengthier UK tour took place in January 2008 to mark the bands twentieth anniversary. It was announced on January 17 that the band would be recording footage with multiple cameras at various shows on the upcoming tour for a 20th Anniversary DVD.
Ricky Warwick announced in an interview with Komodo Rock that there were plans to record a new album following the bands UK Tour. He said "I would like to. ... I'm inspired again though, and I feel to me it might be time to turn round and make that definitive Almighty Album."
In November 2008, Floyd announced on the band's forum and MySpace pages that he had decided to leave the band.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
/heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
who formed in 1988. They have released seven studio albums, two anthologies and one live album.
1988-1993
The Almighty were formed in Strathaven, Scotland, on 19 January 1988. Most of the musicians came from a punkPunk 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...
background. Lead singer Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick is possibly best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty. Starting out as a rhythm guitarist in New Model Army, Ricky formed The Almighty in 1988. Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. In 1996 he left The Almighty...
had previously done some session and tour work with New Model Army
New Model Army (band)
New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
, although not on any of their recordings. Ricky, Stump Monroe and Floyd had previously played together in a local band called Rough Charm.
They were signed by Polydor in March 1989 and released their first album, Blood, Fire and Love. In the same year they were voted in third place on the Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
readers poll for Best New Act.
In 1990 they toured the UK and also embarked upon a short US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour in an attempt to break into the American market. However, a more extensive follow up tour of the US did not go ahead, although they did embark on a European club tour. A live album, Blood, Fire and Live, was released on 8 October 1990, having been recorded at July gigs in Edinburgh and Nottingham. The track list featured songs from Blood, Fire and Love, plus a cover of Bachman–Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
"You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a rock song written by Randy Bachman and performed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive on the album Not Fragile. It was released as a single in 1974 with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side...
".
Recording of their second studio album, Soul Destruction
Soul Destruction
Soul Destruction is the second studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty. It was released by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom in 1991...
, began in December 1990 and it was released in March 1991 along with the lead single Free'n'Easy. In February and March they toured the UK supporting Motörhead and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. In June 1991 they embarked on a headline UK tour. The concert at the Town and Country club in London was filmed and released later that year on VHS as Soul Destruction - Live. Later in the year they supported Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
on a European tour.
In March 1992 internal differences within the band came to a head causing guitarist Tantrum to leave the band. He was replaced by Canadian Pete Friesen
Pete Friesen
Pete Friesen is a guitarist who has toured the world and recorded with such acts as Alice Cooper, The Almighty and Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson.-Biography:...
who had previously played for Alice Cooper, and had met The Almighty when they played support for him the previous year. In the spring the band were invited to tour Australia in support of The Screaming Jets, who had just released their Living in England EP
Living in England (EP)
Living in England EP is an EP by the Australian band The Screaming Jets. The only single that was taken of this release was Living In England .-Track listing:#"Tunnel" – 4:38#"Meet Anybody" – 3:23#"Living in England" – 2:15...
and wanted a British band for the support on their tour. That summer the band were the opening act at the Donington Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
festival. Towards the end of the year they began preparing material for a third album.
In April 1993 Powertrippin, their third album, was released and they embarked upon a European tour supporting Iron Maiden
Iron 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...
, their longest tour to date. This was followed with a support slot at that year's Milton Keynes Bowl festival, which substituted for Donnington as the Monsters of Rock festival was not staged in 1993. In Autumn 93 they finally toured America, but failed to make the hoped-for impact. On their return they started a headline European tour, but had to abandon it after the first two London dates due to poor health. In November they parted from manager Tommy Tee and moved to Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
. At the same time they left Polydor and signed with Chrysalis
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. They were able to perform some replacement UK shows the same month, but were not able to tour Europe as planned.
1994-1996
Their fourth album, Crank, was released on Chrysalis in late 1994. They appeared on Top of the PopsTop of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
in support of the first single, Wrench. In the autumn they toured the UK in support of the album and a European tour followed in early 1995. In May they recorded four tracks for a proposed EP. However, the band decided that the tracks were good enough to form the basis for a fifth album. They therefore decided to arrange two more recording sessions during 1995, recording four tracks each time, so that they would have enough for an album release in 1996.
Their fifth album, Just Add Life, was released in 1996, but later that year they disbanded.
2000-2002
The band reformed in 2000 and released the self-titled album Almighty, replacing guitarist Pete Friesen with Nick Parsons and new bass player Damon Williams ex Horse London. A second album followed in 2001, Psycho-Narco, with a new bass player Gav Gray who replaced long time bassist Floyd London. The band disbanded again with vocalist Ricky WarwickRicky Warwick
Ricky Warwick is possibly best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty. Starting out as a rhythm guitarist in New Model Army, Ricky formed The Almighty in 1988. Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. In 1996 he left The Almighty...
pursuing a solo career.
In 2002 a compilation album, Wild and Wonderful was released, which included material from their three Polydor albums, along with covers of "Bodies
Bodies (Sex Pistols song)
"Bodies" is a Sex Pistols song about abortion from the 1977 album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. The lyrics contain very graphic imagery about a terminated fetus and feature a great deal of profanity for the time: the third and final verse begins with a couplet in which the word...
", by the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, "You Ain't Seen Nuthin Yet" from Blood Fire and Live and "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.Discography from official website http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/album/
2006-present
The classic lineup (Ricky, Stump, Floyd and Pete) reformed for benefit shows in January 2006 and then appeared at the 2006 Bulldog BashBulldog Bash
The Bulldog Bash is considered to be one of Europe's most popular, annual, motorcycle festivals with a reported attendance of 50,000 people in 2007...
. They undertook a short five show tour at the end of December 2006.
In 2007 a second compilation album, Anth F***in'Ology - the Gospel According to The Almighty was released covering their entire career and including a DVD of all their promo videos to date.
A lengthier UK tour took place in January 2008 to mark the bands twentieth anniversary. It was announced on January 17 that the band would be recording footage with multiple cameras at various shows on the upcoming tour for a 20th Anniversary DVD.
Ricky Warwick announced in an interview with Komodo Rock that there were plans to record a new album following the bands UK Tour. He said "I would like to. ... I'm inspired again though, and I feel to me it might be time to turn round and make that definitive Almighty Album."
In November 2008, Floyd announced on the band's forum and MySpace pages that he had decided to leave the band.
Members
- Ricky WarwickRicky WarwickRicky Warwick is possibly best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty. Starting out as a rhythm guitarist in New Model Army, Ricky formed The Almighty in 1988. Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. In 1996 he left The Almighty...
(1988–2001, 2006–present) - vocals and guitar - Stump Monroe (1988–2001, 2006–present) - drums
- Pete FriesenPete FriesenPete Friesen is a guitarist who has toured the world and recorded with such acts as Alice Cooper, The Almighty and Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson.-Biography:...
(1991–1996, 2006–present) - guitar
Past members
- Tantrum (1988–1991) - guitar
- Nick Parsons (2000–2001) - guitar
- Gav Gray (2001) - bass guitar
- Floyd LondonFloyd LondonFloyd London is the longtime bassist for the Scottish metal band, The Almighty.London was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in September 2004 and underwent intensive chemotherapy....
(1988–2000, 2006–2008) - bass guitar
Singles
- 1989 "Destroyed" UK #117
- 1989 "Power" UK #83
- 1990 "Wild and Wonderful" UK #55
- 1991 "Free 'n' Easy" UK #35
- 1991 "Devils Toy" UK #35
- 1991 "Little Lost Sometimes" UK #41
- 1993 "Addiction" UK #38
- 1993 "Over the Edge" UK #38
- 1993 "Out of Season" UK #41
- 1994 "Wrench" UK #26
- 1995 "Jonestown Mind" UK #26
- 1996 "All Sussed Out" UK #28
- 1996 "Do You Understand" UK #38
Albums
- Blood, Fire and LoveBlood, Fire and LoveBlood, Fire and Love is the first studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty.- Track listing :# "Resurrection Mutha" - 4:56 # "Destroyed" - 3:43 # "Wild & Wonderful" - 4:58 # "Blood, Fire & Love" - 5:46 # "Gift Horse" - 3:38...
(1989) UK #103 - Blood, Fire and LiveBlood, Fire and LiveBlood, Fire and Live is the first live album, second overall, recorded by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty on their 'Wild and Wonderful' tour in July 1990. The title, and defaced album cover itself, is a pun on their first album which immediately preceded it...
(1990) UK #62 - Soul DestructionSoul DestructionSoul Destruction is the second studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty. It was released by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom in 1991...
(1991) UK #22 - Powertrippin'Powertrippin'Powertrippin' is the third studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty. It was released in the United Kingdom in 1993 by Polydor Records and was the band's last studio album for that label. It was The Almighty's first album with new guitarist Pete Friesen who replaced founding...
(1993) UK #5 - Crank (1994) UK #15
- Crank and Deceit: Live in Japan [Japan only release] (1995)
- Just Add LifeJust Add LifeJust Add Life is a 1996 album by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty; it was the band's fifth studio album and the last released until 2000's self-titled album during which time the band split up. Two singles, "All Sussed Out" and "Do You Understand" were released from the album in multiple...
(1996) UK #34 - The AlmightyThe Almighty (album)The Almighty is the self titled sixth studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty. The cover art was designed by "Koot"...
(2000) UK #154 - Psycho-NarcoPsycho-NarcoPsycho-Narco is the seventh studio album released by Scottish heavy metal band The Almighty.-Track listing:All songs written by Ricky Warwick except as indicated#"Galvanise" - 3:31#"427 Freak Horsepower" - 3:52#"Ruse" - 4:30...
(2001) - Wild and Wonderful – compilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
(2002) - Anth'f**ing'ology – compilation (2007)
- All Proud, All Live, All Mighty – live (2008)
- The All Fuckin B-Sides Vol 1 – compilation (2008)