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Shitdisco

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Shitdisco
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
GenresNew rave, Dance-rock, electronic rock
Years active2003-2009
LabelsFierce Panda Records (UK)
Sony Music (Japan)
Dim Mak (U.S.)
Nocturne (France)
MembersJoel Stone
Joe Reeves
Darren Cullen
Tom Straughan
Past membersJan Lee
WebsiteOfficial Website
Myspace page

Shitdisco, (stylised as SHITDISCO) were a dance rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. They were formed in 2003 while studying at the Glasgow School of Art. Their first single "Disco Blood"/"I Know Kung Fu" was released in December 2005 and sold out quickly. They are signed to record label Fierce Panda. Shitdisco released their debut album Kingdom of Fear on the 16 April 2007.

Until they were evicted in summer 2006, the band held free parties in a large dilapidated house on Glasgow's West Princes Street, known locally as "61". They have attracted a reputation for organising and playing free parties and raves in peculiar places; including squats, streets, abandoned railway tunnels, shipping containers and caravans.

The group have been compared to Talking Heads and The Rapture, but admit influences ranging from Donna Summer, Arthur Russel and The Prodigy to Gang of Four and The Clash. Since the release of "Disco Blood"/"I Know Kung Fu" the band has toured extensively in the UK and Europe, even playing as far afield as Bangkok and Istanbul. In 2007 they signed to Sony Music in Japan and Dim Mak Records in America.

In 2009, they split up[1] after mutual agreement. They continue to DJ and members have gone on the form the bands Age of Consent and Ubre Blanca.

Members

  • Joel Stone — bass, guitar, vocals
  • Joe Reeves — bass, guitar, vocals
  • Darren Cullen — drums
  • Tom Straughan — keyboards, backing vocals

Former members

Jan Lee left the band in January 2008 to concentrate on his career as an illustrator.

Album

The band began recording their debut album, Kingdom of Fear at The Premises recording studio in London with former Clor guitarist turned producer Luke Smith. He had previously worked with the band producing remixes for "Disco Blood" & "Reactor Party". The album was to be recorded in two sessions, with the 2nd session taking place after the band had completed the NME New Rave Tour (Oct 2006) supporting Klaxons. During the tour however, after a gig in Birmingham, drummer Darren Cullen fell from the roof of the band's tour bus, breaking his right wrist, requiring an operation & the fitting of a metal plate. For the second recording session Kieron Pepper, live drummer for The Prodigy was brought in to play on two tracks, "Fear of the Future" and "Dream of Infinity".

Kingdom of Fear, named after the last book by American writer Hunter S. Thompson was released on the 16th April 2007 on Fierce Panda Records.

The album also featured the song Reactor Party which was produced by Alan O'Connell.

"61" parties

File:Shitdisco61party.jpg
The last party at 61

From 2003-2006 the band played live & DJed at free parties in their drummer's flat on Glasgow's West Princes Street that became known locally as "61" (the street number of the building.) During 2005 through till their eviction these parties occurred on almost a monthly basis. Shitdisco would play in the living room, which due to the large Victorian design of the building could hold up to 250 people. Including the rest of the flat the capacity of such parties was upwards of 400.

On only three occasions were these parties closed down by the police. One such incident involved beer bottles and other missiles being thrown at a passing police car by people on the roof. Riot police swiftly arrived and charged through both doors of the flat and attempted to arrest the culprits but were prevented from reaching them by an uncooperative crowd. On other occasions relations with the police were better, with the authorities unwilling to devote the manpower needed to clear a house of so many people. Uninterrupted, the parties would often last the entire weekend.

Drummer Darren was evicted in Spring 2006 and threatened with a £10,000 lawsuit for damage done to the property during his tenancy. The band have since opened an offer to play house parties elsewhere whenever they are on tour.

Other bands to have played at the parties:

Other Parties

The band also played at two squat parties organised by the !WOWOW! art collective in London, as well as several house parties up and down the UK, with unpredictable results. At one party in Nottingham several members of The Rapture, Klaxons and James Ford from Simian Mobile Disco turned up and played along with the bands spare instruments. The Rapture also joined Shitdisco in the living room of a Leeds house to play a cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.

Some band members then moved to London, where they organised and played parties with the London band Ratty Rat Rat (now called Is Tropical) in an abandoned Toilet Factory in Elephant & Castle.

DJ career

As well as live performances, the band have become well known for their regular DJ sets, playing from the likes of Bugged Out, Gatecrasher & Modular parties in the UK to Judgement Sundays in Ibiza, a recent North American DJ tour and extensively in the Far East. They have attracted a reputation for a raucous show, often reported to crowd surf during the set and spray the crowd with alcohol from super soakers.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilations

  • "Disco Blood" - On Delete Yourself compilation Digital Penetration (July 2006)
  • "Reactor Party" - On The Bang Gang DJs "Light Sound Dance" - Modular Records (July 2007)
  • "Reactor Party" - On Ibiza Rocks 2007 - Ministry of Sound (Aug 2007)
  • "Reactor Party" - On Neon Nights Mixtape - DMC (June 2007)

See also

Reviews

References

  1. ^ Shitdisco Biography
  • James Masterton. "UK Singles Chart". Launch. Retrieved 29 October 2006.
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