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John Wayne Army
- Avg user rating:
Out of 9 votes - Similar Artists: Tom Waits, the Pogues, Calexico, Nick Cave, Serge Gainsbourg, Alex Harvey
Out of 9 votes
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- Location: london, United Kingdom
- Genre: Country » Americana
Editor's review
The members of U.K. trio John Wayne Army describe their style as "Serge Gainsbourg meets Tom Waits," but their sound suggests the meeting was more of a barroom brawl, with Waits getting the better of the 'chanson' crooner. Their moody blackness also recalling Nick Cave, these punk-country vets tell tales of dark desperation over wounded acoustic melodies.
Biography
THIS IS HOW IT STARTED - a wild and trashy take on Hank Williams and Leadbelly.
It all happened at the Scala Cinema. Alistair "Big Al" Newton and Ade Williams decided to form a punk rock country band with an evil twang.
They might even have been called Cowhorn Dildo but sense prevailed. The first lineup included Ade on guitar, Ian Thompson on bass, Joolie Wood on fiddle, Andy Hilton on drums and Al on vocals. Their auspicious debut gig was playing for free drink at a deserted Irish bar in a Tottenham industrial estate in the dark days of 1990 and it was a roaring success.
John Wayne Army started gigging around London, quickly garnering a reputation for enthusiasm, speed, diversity and unpredictability.
In 1993 Al formed a new band with Tim Sanpher on guitar, and were joined by Chip Carpenter (ex Pigbag, Red Dirt, Lost in Austin) on drums, Ruth King (Red Dirt, Lost in Austin) on bass and Sara Baille (The Bisons) on fiddle. They recorded Swinging Time - their debut EP - in a bedroom in Dalston.
Fabio D'Agostino (The Washington Rays) rattling the traps and Simon Dickenson on bull fiddle. They started recording a whole bunch of new songs and live favourites for their Beat City Soundtrack EP. This was released by Calavera Records as a seven inch single on 01/07/96. Sam Ireland (Die Cheerleader) joined for one gig and ended up staying for good....
In 1997 they started recording a new album using a mixture of four track masters and some favourites from other sessions. The new album - "Closing Time At The Last Chance Saloon" was released on 11/05/98. It received ecstatic reviews in Select, Time Out and a feature in Mojo. Fabio left - he was eventually replaced by drummer / maverick property developer, Andy Hilton.
In 1999 they started recording “Night Without End” a sprawling noir-ish album which took in all different genres and a whole bunch of guest appearances, including Paul Hofner (Gretschen Hofner) and Ade Williams from the original line-up. It was released on 120201 and was instantly hailed as a modern classic.
Tim left and was replaced by Jamie Reid who was in turn replaced by Patmo Sheeran (The Stone Rangers, Naked Ruby, Marianne Hyatt, Dead Dog Country Club). Ian Thompson ended up depping on bass and staying and Simon plays rhythm guitar.
These days Ian plays bass, Simon plays rhythm guitar, and Patmo Sheeran plays lead guitar.
