The Fallen Leaves
Encyclopedia
The Fallen Leaves are a British garage rock
group that formed in Richmond, London in 2004. The group was formed by Rob Symmons (dustbin guitar) and Rob Green (vocals) with Paul Myers (bass), and for a very short time, Paul Cook
(drums). The current line up features drummer, Ian O'Sullivan and bassist, Matthew Karas.
. During the recording of the first Subway Sect album, manager Bernie Rhodes
sacked the band except for singer-songwriter Goddard. Myers went on to play bass with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in the Professionals
. Symmons, unable to retrieve his guitar from the band lockup, gave up professional music for over twenty years until persuaded out of retirement by old friend, Rob Green. Green had built a reputation singing at Bernie Rhodes' "Club Left" and by performing with Vic Godard's later version of the Subway Sect, notably supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Music Machine in 1980.
The Leaves made their debut at Richmond's Monk Club in July 2004, with "King" James Bradley on drums, and reappeared at the Monk Club over the course of the next few months. In August the band ventured out of London to support The 5,6,7,8's in Nottingham.
Pete Townshend
offered the band some free studio time at his Eel Pie Studios
, near Richmond. The band, with a session drummer, quickly recorded the three tracks that would become the "Trouble" E.P.
Paul Myers left the Fallen Leaves in 2005 as the band was starting to play gigs outside of London, which was encroaching on his work as an addictions counsellor http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm. He was replaced by Phil King, ex Jesus & Mary Chain/Lush bassist.
Swiss eccentric Daniel Strittmatter, former drummer for Mike Scott
, Ian McNabb
, The High Llamas
and Koala, began drumming for the band around this time. This line up of the band recorded seven tracks in a session at Gizzard Studio in Bow.
Phil King left the band and was replaced by Paul Messis. Messis played with the group up until March 2007 when he left to go travelling, and Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans, from Koala/The Prellies took over the bass guitarist's position. It was this line up that completed the Fallen Leaves debut album, It's Too Late Now, at Bark Studios, working with producer Brian O'Shaughnessy.
By September 2007, the increasing workload of Strittmatter's other projects, including ex-Adam and The Ants
sidemen, The Wolfmen
, led to his departure from the group to be replaced by Ian O' Sullivan, formerly of psych pop garage band, The Aardvarks. In February 2008, the Leaves recorded three tracks in the 6Music Hub for Tom Robinson
.
In the spring of 2008, The Fallen Leaves released It's Too Late Now on their own Parliament Records. The album was listed as an early album of the year http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3265625.ece?token=null&offset=120&page=11 by the Sunday Times, with a 4/5 star review http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3979335.ece
The Fallen Leaves have continued to play shows in the UK, and in September 2008 crossed the Atlantic to play two shows in New York State and record another radio session, this time 14 songs at WFMU for the Evan "The Funk" Davies show, including four songs from their next album.
, Kinks
, and Rolling Stones
have been cited as influences, as well as The Pretty Things
, The Outsiders
and the Downliners Sect
.
Tracklist:
Trouble (Edit)
Revenge Is Sweet
High and Dry
Trouble (Full Length)
Tracklist:
All That You Choose
Happy Times
Wednesdays With You
Go Now
Seven Years
Days of Summer
Back To You
Repetition
Higher And Dryer
Shining
Produced at Bark Studios.
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
group that formed in Richmond, London in 2004. The group was formed by Rob Symmons (dustbin guitar) and Rob Green (vocals) with Paul Myers (bass), and for a very short time, Paul Cook
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
(drums). The current line up features drummer, Ian O'Sullivan and bassist, Matthew Karas.
Prehistory
Symmons and Myers, along with Vic Goddard, were founding members of the Subway SectSubway Sect
Subway Sect were one of the original British punk bands. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.-The early days:...
. During the recording of the first Subway Sect album, manager Bernie Rhodes
Bernie Rhodes
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager of English punk rock band The Clash. He previously worked with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and once claimed to have "invented punk".-Management:...
sacked the band except for singer-songwriter Goddard. Myers went on to play bass with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in the Professionals
The Professionals (band)
The Professionals were an English punk rock band in the late 1970s and early 1980s formed by ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and drummer and Paul Cook after that band's demise.-Career:...
. Symmons, unable to retrieve his guitar from the band lockup, gave up professional music for over twenty years until persuaded out of retirement by old friend, Rob Green. Green had built a reputation singing at Bernie Rhodes' "Club Left" and by performing with Vic Godard's later version of the Subway Sect, notably supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Music Machine in 1980.
Formation of the band and changing line ups
Green and Symmons had been writing songs together on various occasions and in 2004, spurred on by a shared love of 60's garage, stylish vintage suits, and their long-held belief that a good idea played badly is better than a bad idea played well, got into action. The first incarnation of the Fallen Leaves featured Paul Myers on bass, and for a number of their first rehearsals, Paul Cook on drums. Cook could not commit to the band and for a couple of years drummers and bassists came and went frequently.The Leaves made their debut at Richmond's Monk Club in July 2004, with "King" James Bradley on drums, and reappeared at the Monk Club over the course of the next few months. In August the band ventured out of London to support The 5,6,7,8's in Nottingham.
Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
offered the band some free studio time at his Eel Pie Studios
Eel Pie Studios
The Eel Pie Recording Studios, formerly Oceanic, are not actually located on the River Thames's Eel Pie Island but on the mainland in Ranelagh Drive by Twickenham Bridge. They were the venue for a number of notable rock and pop recordings. Eel Pie Studios' artists include Pete Townshend, Rachel...
, near Richmond. The band, with a session drummer, quickly recorded the three tracks that would become the "Trouble" E.P.
Paul Myers left the Fallen Leaves in 2005 as the band was starting to play gigs outside of London, which was encroaching on his work as an addictions counsellor http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm. He was replaced by Phil King, ex Jesus & Mary Chain/Lush bassist.
2006-present
In 2006, the "Trouble" EP was released as a four track CD and a 7 inch single on the band's own Parliament Records.Swiss eccentric Daniel Strittmatter, former drummer for Mike Scott
Mike Scott (musician)
Michael 'Mike' Scott is the founding member, lead singer and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. He has also produced two solo albums, Bring 'em All In and Still Burning...
, Ian McNabb
Ian McNabb
Robert Ian McNabb is a British singer-songwriter and musician from Liverpool, England. He is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of The Icicle Works in the 1980s, and his critically acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990s to date...
, The High Llamas
The High Llamas
The High Llamas are a London-based musical group, formed by the Irish guitarist and songwriter Sean O'Hagan after the demise of his group Microdisney. O'Hagan writes and arranges the music and the rest of the group consists of drummer Rob Allum, keyboardist/cellist Marcus Holdaway, and...
and Koala, began drumming for the band around this time. This line up of the band recorded seven tracks in a session at Gizzard Studio in Bow.
Phil King left the band and was replaced by Paul Messis. Messis played with the group up until March 2007 when he left to go travelling, and Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans, from Koala/The Prellies took over the bass guitarist's position. It was this line up that completed the Fallen Leaves debut album, It's Too Late Now, at Bark Studios, working with producer Brian O'Shaughnessy.
By September 2007, the increasing workload of Strittmatter's other projects, including ex-Adam and The Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
sidemen, The Wolfmen
The Wolfmen
The Wolfmen are a rock music band formed in 2004 and centres around Marco Pirroni and Chris Constantinou...
, led to his departure from the group to be replaced by Ian O' Sullivan, formerly of psych pop garage band, The Aardvarks. In February 2008, the Leaves recorded three tracks in the 6Music Hub for Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
.
In the spring of 2008, The Fallen Leaves released It's Too Late Now on their own Parliament Records. The album was listed as an early album of the year http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3265625.ece?token=null&offset=120&page=11 by the Sunday Times, with a 4/5 star review http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3979335.ece
The Fallen Leaves have continued to play shows in the UK, and in September 2008 crossed the Atlantic to play two shows in New York State and record another radio session, this time 14 songs at WFMU for the Evan "The Funk" Davies show, including four songs from their next album.
Musical styles and influence
Purveyors of pop played with passion rather than precision, the Fallen Leaves are very much based around Symmons' distinctive discordant, stinging guitar sound as well as Green's vocal style, reminiscent of Italian-American crooners such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Their preference is to use vintage valve amps & mics, and recording live with no overdubs and minimal technology. The Fallen Leaves hark back to DIY punk days and concentrate on delivering impressive songs and performances. Classic British beat such as The WhoThe 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...
, Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, and Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
have been cited as influences, as well as The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things
The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
, The Outsiders
The Outsiders (Dutch band)
The Outsiders were a Dutch band from Amsterdam. Their period of greatest popularity in the Netherlands was from 1965–67, but they released records until 1969...
and the Downliners Sect
Downliners Sect
The Downliners Sect were a British rhythm and blues band of the beat boom era, formed in 1963 when the existing Downliners band split up.Stylistically, they were similar to The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things and the Rolling Stones, playing basic R&B on their first album The Sect...
.
The Parliament Club
On the 26 November 2004, The Fallen Leaves began hosting The Parliament Club at The Blackhorse, Richmond. The headliners for the first Parliament Club were the reformed Downliners Sect. Each Parliament Club evening features The Fallen Leaves, who have been joined by the likes of Billy Childish and the Buff Medways, The Masonics, John's Children, A Nation Mourns and Eater, to name a few. On 21 November 2006 The Parliament Club relocated to the Inn On The Green, Ladbroke Grove and remains a bi-monthly fixture there.EP
Trouble EPTracklist:
Trouble (Edit)
Revenge Is Sweet
High and Dry
Trouble (Full Length)
Album
It's Too Late NowTracklist:
All That You Choose
Happy Times
Wednesdays With You
Go Now
Seven Years
Days of Summer
Back To You
Repetition
Higher And Dryer
Shining
Produced at Bark Studios.
Past members
- Daniel Strittmatter
- Paul Messis
- Phil King
- Paul Myers
- James Bradley
- Paul Cook
- Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans