The Almighty - Biography
Biography
1988-1996
The Almighty were formed in Glasgow, Scotland on January 19, 1988. Lead singer and guitarist - Ricky Warwick, drummer - Stump Monroe and bassist - Floyd London had previously played together in a local band called Rough Charm. After Rough Charm, Ricky went on to do some session and tour work with New Model Army and after coming off tour with NMA, rejoined forces with Stump and Floyd and formed The Almighty. Guitarist Tantrum was later added to complete the band.
The Almighty were signed by Polydor in March 1989 after playing their twelth gig at the Marquees Club in London. Their first album "Blood, Fire and Love," recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios was released in October that year and they supported The Ramones that fall on their first big UK tour. That year, the band were voted third on the Kerrang! readers poll for Best New Act.
In 1990 they toured the UK and also embarked upon a short US tour in an attempt to break into the American market. However, a more extensive follow up tour of the US did not go ahead, although they did embark on a European club tour. Their second album "Blood, Fire and Live" was released on October 8, 1990, having been recorded at July gigs in Edinburgh and Nottingham. The track list featured songs from "Blood, Fire and Love" plus a cover of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet."
Recording of their second studio album "Soul Destruction" began in December 1990 with Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor in charge of production. It was released in March 1991 along with the lead single "Free N' Easy" and was the band's first top 40 hit and the album charted at #22. In February and March they toured the UK supporting Motörhead and Megadeth and in June they embarked on a headline UK tour. The concert at the Town and Country Club in London was filmed and released later that year on VHS as "Soul Destruction - Live." A European tour with Alice Cooper rounded out 1991.
In March 1992 internal differences within the band came to a head and lead guitarist Tantrum was asked to leave the group. He was replaced by Canadian Pete Friesen who had previously played for Alice Cooper, and had met The Almighty when they played support for him the previous year. In the spring of 92' the band embarked on a two month tour of Australia supporting The Screaming Jets. That summer the band were the opening act at the Donnington Monsters of Rock festival. Towards the end of the year they began preparing material for their third album "Powertrippin'."
In April 1993, rolling off the success of the lead single "Addicition," "Powertrippin'," (produced by Mark Dodson) was released, entering the chart at #5, They embarked on a three month European tour supporting Iron Maiden and performed at the Milton Keynes Bowl festival, which substituted for Donnington as the Monsters of Rock festival was not staged in 1993. In fall 93' they finally toured America, but failed to make the impact they hoped for. On their return they started a headline European tour, but had to abandon it after the UK dates due to exhaution. In November they parted from manager Tommy Tee and moved to Sanctuary Management. At the same time they left Polydor and signed with Chrysalis.
Their fourth album "Crank" (produced by Chris Sheldon) was released on Chrysalis in late 1994 and entered the UK chart at #15. They appeared on Top of the Pops in support of the first single "Wrench." In the autumn they toured the UK again with Iron Maiden in support of the album and a European tour followed in early 1995. In May they recorded four tracks for a proposed EP, however, the band decided that the tracks were good enough to form the basis for a fifth album. They decided to arrange two more recording sessions during 1995, recording four tracks each time, so that they would have enough for an album release in 1996. Their fifth album "Just Add Life," also produced by Chris Sheldon, was released in 1996 and produced the successful single "All Sussed Out." Later that year, after dealing with multiple record company issues - EMI purchasing Chysalis and a change in A&R at Polygram in the US, the band, being extremely frustrated with the record industry and feeling they had gone as far as they could, mutually agreed to disband.
2000-Present
The band reformed in 2000 and released the self-titled album "Almighty" replacing guitarist Pete Friesen with Nick Parsons. The Almighty's last studio album "Psycho-Narco" followed in 2001 with a new bass player Gav Gray filling the shoes of long time bassist, Floyd London. The band disbanded again with vocalist Ricky Warwick pursuing a solo career.
In 2002, Polydor released a compilation album called "Wild and Wonderful" which included material from their three Polydor albums, along with covers of "Bodies" by the Sex Pistols, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" from "Blood Fire and Live" and "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" by Neil Young.
The classic lineup of Ricky Warwick, Stump Monroe, Floyd London and Pete Friesen reformed again for two Leukeamia research benefit shows in winter 2006 (for which Floyd London is a survivor and is presently in remission). Later that year they headlined the 2006 Bulldog Bash and undertook a short five show tour at the end of December 2006.
In 2007 a second compilation album "Anth'Fuckin'Ology - The Gospel According to The Almighty" was released by Sanctuary Records covering their entire career and includes a DVD of 10 of their promo videos.
2008 marks the band's twentieth anniversary. A multi-camera shoot was done on the London date of the Winter 2008 Anniversary tour and the DVD/CD/Vinyl release of "All Proud, All Live, All Mighty - Live At The Astoria, London 2008" is set for release in July 2008.
As for the next chapter in the band's life, Ricky is recently quoted as saying "... I'm inspired again..., and I feel to me it might be time to turn round and make that definitive Almighty Album." Until then, long live the All Loud, All Wild, the All Fuckin' Mighty.
(Source: http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/)
The Almighty were formed in Glasgow, Scotland on January 19, 1988. Lead singer and guitarist - Ricky Warwick, drummer - Stump Monroe and bassist - Floyd London had previously played together in a local band called Rough Charm. After Rough Charm, Ricky went on to do some session and tour work with New Model Army and after coming off tour with NMA, rejoined forces with Stump and Floyd and formed The Almighty. Guitarist Tantrum was later added to complete the band.
The Almighty were signed by Polydor in March 1989 after playing their twelth gig at the Marquees Club in London. Their first album "Blood, Fire and Love," recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios was released in October that year and they supported The Ramones that fall on their first big UK tour. That year, the band were voted third on the Kerrang! readers poll for Best New Act.
In 1990 they toured the UK and also embarked upon a short US tour in an attempt to break into the American market. However, a more extensive follow up tour of the US did not go ahead, although they did embark on a European club tour. Their second album "Blood, Fire and Live" was released on October 8, 1990, having been recorded at July gigs in Edinburgh and Nottingham. The track list featured songs from "Blood, Fire and Love" plus a cover of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet."
Recording of their second studio album "Soul Destruction" began in December 1990 with Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor in charge of production. It was released in March 1991 along with the lead single "Free N' Easy" and was the band's first top 40 hit and the album charted at #22. In February and March they toured the UK supporting Motörhead and Megadeth and in June they embarked on a headline UK tour. The concert at the Town and Country Club in London was filmed and released later that year on VHS as "Soul Destruction - Live." A European tour with Alice Cooper rounded out 1991.
In March 1992 internal differences within the band came to a head and lead guitarist Tantrum was asked to leave the group. He was replaced by Canadian Pete Friesen who had previously played for Alice Cooper, and had met The Almighty when they played support for him the previous year. In the spring of 92' the band embarked on a two month tour of Australia supporting The Screaming Jets. That summer the band were the opening act at the Donnington Monsters of Rock festival. Towards the end of the year they began preparing material for their third album "Powertrippin'."
In April 1993, rolling off the success of the lead single "Addicition," "Powertrippin'," (produced by Mark Dodson) was released, entering the chart at #5, They embarked on a three month European tour supporting Iron Maiden and performed at the Milton Keynes Bowl festival, which substituted for Donnington as the Monsters of Rock festival was not staged in 1993. In fall 93' they finally toured America, but failed to make the impact they hoped for. On their return they started a headline European tour, but had to abandon it after the UK dates due to exhaution. In November they parted from manager Tommy Tee and moved to Sanctuary Management. At the same time they left Polydor and signed with Chrysalis.
Their fourth album "Crank" (produced by Chris Sheldon) was released on Chrysalis in late 1994 and entered the UK chart at #15. They appeared on Top of the Pops in support of the first single "Wrench." In the autumn they toured the UK again with Iron Maiden in support of the album and a European tour followed in early 1995. In May they recorded four tracks for a proposed EP, however, the band decided that the tracks were good enough to form the basis for a fifth album. They decided to arrange two more recording sessions during 1995, recording four tracks each time, so that they would have enough for an album release in 1996. Their fifth album "Just Add Life," also produced by Chris Sheldon, was released in 1996 and produced the successful single "All Sussed Out." Later that year, after dealing with multiple record company issues - EMI purchasing Chysalis and a change in A&R at Polygram in the US, the band, being extremely frustrated with the record industry and feeling they had gone as far as they could, mutually agreed to disband.
2000-Present
The band reformed in 2000 and released the self-titled album "Almighty" replacing guitarist Pete Friesen with Nick Parsons. The Almighty's last studio album "Psycho-Narco" followed in 2001 with a new bass player Gav Gray filling the shoes of long time bassist, Floyd London. The band disbanded again with vocalist Ricky Warwick pursuing a solo career.
In 2002, Polydor released a compilation album called "Wild and Wonderful" which included material from their three Polydor albums, along with covers of "Bodies" by the Sex Pistols, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" from "Blood Fire and Live" and "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" by Neil Young.
The classic lineup of Ricky Warwick, Stump Monroe, Floyd London and Pete Friesen reformed again for two Leukeamia research benefit shows in winter 2006 (for which Floyd London is a survivor and is presently in remission). Later that year they headlined the 2006 Bulldog Bash and undertook a short five show tour at the end of December 2006.
In 2007 a second compilation album "Anth'Fuckin'Ology - The Gospel According to The Almighty" was released by Sanctuary Records covering their entire career and includes a DVD of 10 of their promo videos.
2008 marks the band's twentieth anniversary. A multi-camera shoot was done on the London date of the Winter 2008 Anniversary tour and the DVD/CD/Vinyl release of "All Proud, All Live, All Mighty - Live At The Astoria, London 2008" is set for release in July 2008.
As for the next chapter in the band's life, Ricky is recently quoted as saying "... I'm inspired again..., and I feel to me it might be time to turn round and make that definitive Almighty Album." Until then, long live the All Loud, All Wild, the All Fuckin' Mighty.
(Source: http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/)