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22-20s

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22-20s

The 22-20s are an English rock band from Sleaford, Lincolnshire. With a trademark blues rock meets adrenaline skiffle sound, one paper described the 22-20s as sounding like "The White Stripes as played by The Jimi Hendrix Experience"[citation needed]. Though the band first split up in January 2006, their song "Devil in Me" is regularly heard in the UK as the theme music for a Vauxhall Astra TV advertisement and "Such a Fool" is featured in the Guy Ritchie film, RocknRolla.[1]

Career

Named after the Skip James song "22-20 Blues", the 22-20s formed as a three-piece with Martin Trimble on guitar/vocals, Glen Bartup on bass and Mark Barrett, later to be replaced by James Irving on drums. They were soon augmented live by Charly Coombes (brother of Supergrass' brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes) on keyboards, who subsequently joined full time during record sessions.

Their first studio-recorded album, a self-titled, 10-track effort, was released in September 2004, following a six-track live EP released the previous year. Both releases were critically acclaimed.[citation needed] They toured the U.S. and supported Oasis on tour in July 2005.

They broke up on 25 January 2006, after cancelling planned appearances at the V Festival and Pukkelpop, and whilst in the process of recording their second album.

On that occasion Martin Trimble released the following statement:

"Listening to Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert King, and Buddy Guy made me want to pick up a guitar. What immediately made me fall in love with blues was the rawness, simplicity and the truth of it. I wanted 22-20s to be about taking that essence and using it as fuel to create something both we and other people could relate to. I think initially most bands wear their influences on their sleeve but for a number of reasons we've not been able to go beyond that first stage. It was always our desire to start writing and recording a follow-up record as soon as the first studio album was recorded. That didn't happen; we toured for a year and a half. There is a prevailing myth within music that touring is always the hard-working, 'honest' way to connect with people. The reality for us is that it put us in a state of arrested development at a crucial time. I think it is difficult to move away from a certain sound when you are reminded of it every night. Unfortunately, we were not surrounded by people who understood that. Honesty is about playing songs you passionately believe in, playing in a band you passionately believe in and I am no longer able to say that about 22-20s. I realise that I sound right up my own arse, but I am no longer comfortable being in a band named after a blues song. Much like the last record it indicates where I was four years ago and what I was listening to. It doesn't accurately reflect what I listen to now and where I want to go. I'm no longer comfortable with people's perception of what we represent. Being in a hardworking, British-blues touring band has never been something I've wished to endorse yet that's we what appear to have drifted into. In light of this, a decision has been made to call it a day and to go our separate ways. Thank you to everyone who helped us out, came to the gigs, listened to the music for taking an interest in what we've done. I'm currently working on some new songs and will post updates here as and when there is something to say. Hopefully sooner rather than later, Thank you again, Martin."

The band then reformed for a one off gig at the Heavenly Festival in September 2008 at the Royal Festival Hall in London at the request of Heavenly Records. Charly Coombes was not part of the band as he is currently a touring member of Supergrass, but the band were joined by second guitarist Dan Hare, who is a guitar tutor and frontman of Sleaford band "The Jubilees".[2] . The band were also set to perform a secret warm up gig on Friday 15 August 2008 at Monto Water Rats, London but was postponed at the last minute with no reason given.[3]

The band toured England under the pseudonym Bitter Pills (after a lyric from one of the bands new songs) in September 2009, including Oxford Jericho Tavern, Hull Adelphi and Nottingham Picturedrome.


Discography

Albums

  1. 22-20s (10 September 2004) #40 UK
  2. 22-20s Live in Japan (live) (2005)

[4]

EPs

  • 05/03 (live) (September 2003)
  • Shoot Your Gun
  • Such a Fool

Singles

  • "Such a Fool" / "Baby, You're Not In Love" (April 2003)
  • "Why Don't You Do It For Me?" (April 2004) #41 UK
  • "Shoot Your Gun" (June 2004) #30 UK
  • "22 Days" (September 2004) #34 UK
  • "Such a Fool" (January 2005) #29 UK

[4]

References

  1. ^ Warnerbros.co.uk
  2. ^ NME.com
  3. ^ Wmuk-apache.co.uk
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 570. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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