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The King Blues Wiki Information

The King Blues are a ska-folk band acredited for fusing ska and acoustic folk together with influences from Punk and Hardcore. They originate from London, England. Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash, The Specials and Minor Threat.

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History

The King Blues started off as a two man ska outfit, consisting of Itch playing ukulele/Vocals and Jamie Jazz playing acoustic guitar and contributing vocals. Current Member Jamie Jazz use to work in a music/guitar shop called Rock Around The Clock up in north London in Crouch End/Muswell Hill, however Jamie 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" ^[1] or "conscious rude boy ska" ^[2].

In 2004 they self released a demo EP entitled "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.

In June 2006 their debut album, Under the Fog , 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 ^[3]. Their single Mr Music Man was voted Best Punk Song of 2006 by 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 re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by two singles, "Come Fi Di Youth" and a new version of "Mr. Music Man". ^[4]

In May 2008 the band released a single from their forthcoming second album Save the World. Get the Girl called "Let's Hang the Landlord" to all those signed up to their email list ^[5] . The song takes 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 ^[6]. 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 Mignight Runners, Morrissey, Teardrop Explodes, Bush and The Holloways).

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 ^[7]. 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 ^[8], Mike Davies ^[9] ^[10] and Zane Lowe ^[11]. 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. The band have also received considerable airplay in Australia courtesy of Triple R's punk program Bullying the Jukebox .

The band's latest single "I've Got Love" from their 2008 album Save the World. Get the Girl will be 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.

Gigs

The King Blues opened the Lock-Up Stage in 2006 at Reading and Leeds Festivals and played the stage again, in progressively better slots, in both 2007 and 2008.

In February 2007 the band played on the inaugural Ruff and Ready Tour alongside Sonic Boom Six, Failsafe and Mouthwash. In August 2007 the band played the Empress Ballroom stage at Rebellion festival at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, alongside The Filaments, Neville Staple and Leftöver Crack.

The band also had a monthly residency at The Purple Turtle venue in Mornington Crescent, London, which started in May 2007 and ran for six months, featuring acts such as Natty, Sonic Boom Six and Frank Turner.

On Wednesday 30 July 2008 they played their biggest headlining gig to date, selling out the 500 capacity venue Dingwalls in London. Their next London gig was bigger still, as they played the 800 capacity Carling Academy Islington which they headlined on October 22 2008.

On December 18 2007 The King Blues played their biggest gig ever at Wembley Arena, supporting Hard-Fi, with Adem from the now defunct punk band Two Finger Salute on saxophone ^[12]. The band have also played support slots for the likes of Rancid, Capdown, Gogol Bordello, The Slackers, Bedouin Soundclash and Anti-Flag.

In December 2008, The King Blues supported The Gaslight Anthem on their UK tour. The month previous the band supported Feeder at their last ever gig at the London Astoria, making it so far the biggest venue the band have played to date.

On the 14th of January 2009 the band played again at the Astoria. This time for the venue's last ever night before demolition.

During February 2009 The King Blues played a number of gigs across the UK in association with The Big Issue , entry to these gigs was free with a copy of the magazine. This came about after an interview for the magazine, and due to Itch's history ^[13] with The Big Issue . Of these shows, journalist Ben Myers wrote "With a growing following of fans bored by cynicism and frontman Itch Fox a once in a generation man-of-the-people punk to believe in, The King Blues are indeed taking over."

On 5 and 6 March 2009, The King Blues filled in for Anti-Flag as a support act for Rise Against on their UK tour dates in Oxford and London. ^[14]

On 17 April 2009 the King Blues supported Classics of Love, playing alongside Sharks and Mike Park at the Camden Barfly in London.

On 19 April 2009 The King Blues played at Give it a Name 2009 at Brixton Academy.

On the 23rd of May 2009, The King Blues performed a gig in McClusky's, Kingston.

On the 24th of May 2009, The King Blues performed on the Vans Stage at Leeds Slam Dunk Festival along side bands such as Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand and the Skints. They attracted a huge ska punk audience, despite the fact that Ska legends The Specials, were playing down the road on the same day. The King Blues also played their own version of Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal. Writing in Kerrang! of this performance, journalist Steve Beebee stated: "The King Blues are utterly marvellous – heartwarming songs for difficult times played by champion troubadours. So drop dead wonderful are songs like I Got Love, My Boulder and Mr Music Man, attempts to describe their influences seems pointless."

On 21 April 2009 The King Blues Headlined the ICA Awards in Inverness as part of a LE PARADE NOIR gig. Some new tracks were played including 5 Bottles of Shampoo; a verse spoken poem, and Fuck the Police, dedicated to Ian Tomlinson, who was attacked by the police at the G20 Summit.

On 10 May 2009 The King Blues appeared on the 'In New Music We Trust' stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Swindon. ^[15]

On 5 July The King Blues played in the Godiva Festival in Coventry.

On 8gust 2009 The King Blues will be playing the Kasbah in Coventry supported by up and coming Leicestershire ska punk band Last Edition.

On 18 April 2009 The King Blues supported Enter Shikari at Leeds Metropolitan University.

On 10 July 2009 The King Blues played on the main stage at Lounge On The Farm, an annual music festival at Canterburys Merton Farm.

On 12 July 2009 The king Blues Headlined The Rocksound, Rock cave at Guilfest in Guildford

On 31 July 2009, The King Blues headlined the Friday night set on the main stage at Y Not Festival in Pikehall. They played "Come Fi Di Youth" with Frank Turner as a guest singer.

Politics

The King Blues have "a commitment to politics and resistance" ^[16]. Itch writes a column for Last Hours magazine which generally focuses on resistance politics and protest. Several songs on Under the Fog 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 ^[17] that will appear on the new album. The title track includes the lyric "Going to war to prevent war is 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 ^[18]. The links on The King Blues' official website are almost exclusively political ^[19].

Band members

Jonny "Itch" Fox: vocals/ukulele/melodica
Jamie Jazz: vocals/guitar
Fruitbag: vocals/guitar
Johnny Rich: vocals/bass
Jim Parmley: percussion
Alan Gumby: drums

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Label
2006	Under the Fog	Household Name
2008	Under the Fog (Reissue)	Field Recordings/Island
2008	Save the World. Get the Girl	Field Recordings/Island

EPs

Year	Title
2004	All Fall Down EP
2007	Taking Over EP
2008	The Engine Room Acoustic Session EP
2008	My Boulder EP
2009	I Got Love EP

Singles

Year	Single	Album	Label
2006	"Mr. Music Man"	Under the Fog	Household Name
2007	"Come Fi Di Youth"	Under the Fog	Field/Island
2008	"Mr. Music Man" (Re-Issue)	Under the Fog	Field/Island
2008	"Let's Hang The Landlord"/"Mayday	!" (split with Flobots)	Save the World. Get the Girl	Field/Island
2008	"My Boulder" #156 UK	Save the World. Get the Girl	Field/Island
2009	"Save The World, Get The Girl" #68 UK	Save the World. Get the Girl	Field/Island
2009	"I Got Love" #96 UK	Save the World. Get the Girl	Field/Island