The seed that became Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, or BRMC for short, was planted in 1995, when Robert Levon Been (aka Robert Turner) and Peter Hayes met while attending high school in San
Francisco. The two formed a solid friendship and a shared camaraderie based on a mutual love of early-'90s U.K. bands like Ride, the Stone Roses, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine. Despite such similar tastes, both joined different bands, Hayes spent time in the Brian Jonestown Massacre circa "Give It Back!", and worked apart for several years, although they occasionally kept in touch by attending each other's gigs.
In 1998, however, Turner and Hayes regrouped and added British drummer Nick Jago to the fold. The band began performing live in November 1998 as the Elements, a name they quickly ditched after discovering many other bands that shared the same title. They purloined their new moniker from the Marlon Brando-led biker gang that stormed into that dusty California hamlet in The Wild One.
By 1999, the band had recorded a polished 16-track demo CD and relocated to Los Angeles. Santa Monica-based radio station KCRW jumped on BRMC's demo first, giving them their initial airplay, but
interest in the band eventually spread across the Atlantic, where BBC Sheffield named the demo their "Record of the Week." Oasis' Noel Gallagher even expressed interest in signing the band to his new Brother Records imprint, telling MOJO magazine that they were his favorite new group. After inking a lucrative Warner/Chappell publishing deal, however, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club began fielding offers from several labels, and they ultimately chose to sign with Virgin Records in March 2000.
Following a short U.S. tour with the Dandy Warhols, the band entered the recording studio and eventually emerged with a self-titled debut, "B.R.M.C.", which was released in March 2001. Two years later, the trio returned with a slicker edge and a new album, "Take Them on, On Your Own", which
peaked at number three on the U.K. charts. They severed ties with Virgin Records eight months later. A deal with RCA surfaced within months, and the acoustic, Americana-influenced "Howl" arrived in August 2005. The band moved back to the loud rock & roll approach favored on their first two albums with 2007's "Baby 81", and the resulting tour was documented by the band's first concert DVD, LIVE, in 2009.
Nick Jago left the band after "Baby 81's" release, ostensibly to focus on his solo career. With the Raveonettes' touring percussionist, Leah Shapiro, now handling drum duties, BRMC decided to change their direction once again, this time embracing electronica and ambient noise on "The Effects of 333".
Independently released via the band's own label, "The Effects of 333" failed to gain either commercial or critical acclaim, and BRMC chose to partner with Vagrant Records for the release of their next album, 2010's "Beat the Devil's Tattoo". While touring that album, the band lost their engineer and Been's father, Michael Been (the leader of '80s alternative heroes the Call), who died of a heart attack backstage after a show in Belgium.
BRMC toured throughout 2012 and 2013, then released their seventh album, "Specter at the Feast", in early 2013. Fittingly, they covered the Call for their first single, "Let the Day Begin," and Been also joined the Call for a string of concerts, standing in for his late father. The concert album and DVD Live
in Paris appeared in 2015. Filmed at the Theatre Trianon in Paris, France, the concert showcased BRMC during their sold-out 2014 European tour. Also in 2015, Shapiro underwent successful surgery for the brain condition known as Chiari malformation, symptoms of which had severely inhibited her ability to play drums. BRMC next headed into Sunset Studios with producer Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire) to record what would be their eighth album. "Wrong Creatures" was released in 2018, and featured the singles "Little Thing Gone Wild" and "Haunt."
Artist Biography by Bryan Thomas
MEMBERS
Peter Hayes – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, synthesizer (1998–present)
Robert Levon Been – vocals, bass, guitar, piano (1998–present)
Leah Shapiro – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2008–present)
Former members
Nick Jago – drums, percussion (1998–2004, 2005–2008)
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB - B.R.M.C 2001 (REISSUE 2008)
A highly underrated group that brings a mysterious black leather cool to alt-rock, BRMC brings a load of killer hooks to the table on its debut. Unfortunately, BRMC never seemed to get the respect it deserved due to the homogeneity of the early 2000s music scene that birthed several other similar sounding bands. Very few were as exciting as this San Francisco outfit. "Love Burns," "Whatever Happened to My Rock 'N' Roll (Punk Song)" and "Sure As The Sun" are undeniably great rock tracks.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – B.R.M.C. (Bonus Tracks Edition 2008)
Label: Virgin – 50999 5 19694 2 4, Abstract Dragon – CDVUSX 207
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Bonus Tracks Edition 2008
Country: Europe
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
TRAXS
01. Love Burns – 4:05
02. Red Eyes and Tears – 4:00
03. Whatever Happened to My Rock 'n' Roll (Punk Song) – 4:38
04. Awake – 6:12
05. White Palms" – 4:55
06. As Sure as the Sun – 7:27 (5:52 on some releases)
07. Rifles – 5:30 (7:02 on some releases)
08. Too Real – 4:55
09. Spread Your Love – 3:45
10. Head Up High – 5:35
11. Salvation – 6:06
EU edition bonus tracks (2008 reissue)
12. At My Door - 3:33
13. Screaming Gun – 3:14
14. Tonight's With You – 5:53
15. Loaded Gun – 6:08
MP3 @ 320 Size: 176 MB
Flac Size: 511 MB
TAKE THEM ON, ON YOUR OWN 2003 (REISSUE 2008)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club made an impressive debut in 2001, taking both America and England by surprise while alternative metal ruled the charts. Their psychedelic/space rock/glam-colored blend was hungry to give rock a new face. Three years later and garage rock still reviving the late-'90s pop-soaked scene, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club aims to save a bit of rock & roll with its sophomore effort "Take
Them On, On Your Own". More gutsy, more aggressive, and more dynamic than "B.R.M.C.", "Take Them On, On Your Own" blazes on with an intoxicating presentation from the Brit-American collective; vocalist/bassist Robert Turner and guitarist/vocalist Peter Hayes boasted cocksure appeal on the last album, however "Take Them On, On Your Own" showcases drummer Nick Jago's powerful presentation, ultimately bringing the trio together. They're fearless and this dozen-track release is all swagger, emotive, and cool.
Swanky guitar riffs and Turner's faltering drawl on "Stop" and "Six Barrel Shotgun" is classic BRMC. There's not a lot of sauntering like "Red Eyes & Tears" and "Spread Your Love" or snarly punk-tinged bits like "Whatever Happened to My Rock & Roll." The band gives the impression that the last album was lifeless, therefore, the split in song and craft on "Take Them On, On Your Own" isn't exactly a
messy thing. There's more character to songs themselves and BRMC appears a touch more confident. From the acoustic ballad "And I'm Aching" to the post-punk fire of "U.S. Government" and "Rise or Fall," BRMC offers substance over shtick. Reworking some of rock & roll's natural components for their own brash arrangement highlights the band's overall brilliance. For only a second album, they've got the maturity that most young bands lack on a creative level. Such tenacity will carry them a long way.
by MacKenzie Wilson
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Take Them On, On Your Own (Bonus Tracks Edition 2008)
Label: Virgin – 50999 5 19695 2 3, Virgin – CDVUSX 245
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Bonus Tracks Edition 2008
Country: Europe
Released: 2003
Genre: Rock
Style:
Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
TRAXS
01. Stop 4:37
02. Six Barrel Shotgun 3:05
03. We're All In Love 3:38
04. In Like The Rose 5:22
05. Ha Ha High Babe 4:13
06. Generation 5:01
07. Shade Of Blue 4:22
08. US Government 5:31
09. And I'm Aching 3:52
10. Suddenly 4:56
11. Rise Or Fall 3:56
12. Going Under 3:14
13. Heart And Soul 7:15
Bonus Tracks (2008 reissue)
14. High / Low 4:03
15. Take Them On, On Your Own 5:27
16. Waiting Here 3:49
Recorded at Mayfair Studios (in Primrose Hill), B.R.M.C. Studio, and The Fortress (in London).
MP3 @ 320 Size: 165 MB
Flac Size: 522 MB
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