Mr Duke
Encyclopedia
Mr Duke is a Welsh
bilingual country singer-songwriter. Born in Snowdonia, North Wales he took his name from a character in Hunter S. Thompson
's 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
At the age of 17 he left North Wales for London to join prog band Elysium Field whom, he stayed with until 2003.
The following couple of years resulted in Duke hitch-hiking all aver Europe, reading 1950’s American Beat literature, which would have a profound effect, as did the music of that era.
After returning to the UK, and ready to record again, Mr Duke’s first solo album was released by Earth Monkey Productions in May 2007, entitled, I Can't Find My Keys. Later in the same year, Duke released Is this anti-folk, anti-folk
a genre Duke had not long discovered, and by which he was deeply influenced.
In Cardiff, 2008, Mr Duke formed his backing band, known as The Hoodlum Circus, taken from a Hunter S. Thompson
book, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
This band consisted of Cristian "Amigo" Marcico (Drums), Josh "Yoshi" Webber (Bass) and Gareth "Macauly Crackpipe" Grant (Guitar). In 2008 Mr Duke, backed by 'The Hoodlum Circus' released Who Shot Mr Duke? described as the "Welsh Flaming Lips" by Tom Robinson, bbc6 music.
2010 saw the very small release (25 copies) of The Trail Of...... a collection of unfinished work, inspired by Peter Sellers
The backing band also had several rolling members, including Simon Bartlett, and Jacob Powell. Following the disbanding of The Hoodlum Circus, Mr Duke retreated to Snowdonia, where he recorded Be There to Love you, a countryesque album, and a homage to Townes Van Zandt
, released by Blue Chartists in March 2011, which featured Sophie Cochrane from the bands Spencer Mcgarry Season
and Barefoot Dance of the Sea
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
bilingual country singer-songwriter. Born in Snowdonia, North Wales he took his name from a character in Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
's 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
At the age of 17 he left North Wales for London to join prog band Elysium Field whom, he stayed with until 2003.
The following couple of years resulted in Duke hitch-hiking all aver Europe, reading 1950’s American Beat literature, which would have a profound effect, as did the music of that era.
After returning to the UK, and ready to record again, Mr Duke’s first solo album was released by Earth Monkey Productions in May 2007, entitled, I Can't Find My Keys. Later in the same year, Duke released Is this anti-folk, anti-folk
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
a genre Duke had not long discovered, and by which he was deeply influenced.
In Cardiff, 2008, Mr Duke formed his backing band, known as The Hoodlum Circus, taken from a Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
book, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
This band consisted of Cristian "Amigo" Marcico (Drums), Josh "Yoshi" Webber (Bass) and Gareth "Macauly Crackpipe" Grant (Guitar). In 2008 Mr Duke, backed by 'The Hoodlum Circus' released Who Shot Mr Duke? described as the "Welsh Flaming Lips" by Tom Robinson, bbc6 music.
2010 saw the very small release (25 copies) of The Trail Of...... a collection of unfinished work, inspired by Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
The backing band also had several rolling members, including Simon Bartlett, and Jacob Powell. Following the disbanding of The Hoodlum Circus, Mr Duke retreated to Snowdonia, where he recorded Be There to Love you, a countryesque album, and a homage to Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, released by Blue Chartists in March 2011, which featured Sophie Cochrane from the bands Spencer Mcgarry Season
Spencer McGarry Season
Spencer McGarry Season is a project by songwriter Spencer McGarry to record and perform 6 albums in 6 different styles. The project was borne from both a wealth of material and indecision over what musical direction to take...
and Barefoot Dance of the Sea
Discography
- I Can't Find My Keys (EMP037) 2007
- Is This "Anti-Folk? (AFUKEMP001) 2007
- Who Shot Mr Duke? (BabyBlue033) 2008
- The Trail of....... (BabyBlue056) 2010
- Be There to Love you (BlueCrt001) 2011