The Bang
Encyclopedia
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The band presently consists of Joshua Gregg (Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Kazoo); Brad Kallenbach (Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals); Gad de Combes (Keyboards, Accordion, Melodica, Harmonica, Backing Vocals); Stefan Lawrence (Drums, Percussion); Barry Sherman (Bass, Backing Vocals)
History
The Bang was formed in 1999 by lead vocalist/guitarist Joshua Gregg and bassist Barry Sherman. The band went through various line-ups, including drummer Danny Girnun, who played drums on the band’s E.P. Of Engines And Earthworms, recorded at Ian Osrin’s Digital Cupboard in November 2001, under the band-name 3SpeedIn 2003, local producer Adrian Levi (brother of music video director, Daniel Levi
Daniel Lévi
Daniel Lévi , is a French singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.-Biography:Daniel Lévi was born in Constantine, French Algeria. He spent his childhood in Lyon, where he was preparing for his job as a musician studying piano for a decade at the conservatory in the city. In 1983, he composed and...
), heard the E.P., and promptly signed the band to his indie label Chameleon Records South Africa (home of the South African band, Max Normal)
The Bang’s debut full-length album, Shiny
Shiny
Shiny is the debut album from Johannesburg-based indie pop band The Bang. The album was released in September 2005. The album's cover art was designed by Daniel Levi, who has directed music videos for Interpol and Massive Attack...
was recorded over 2004 and 2005, and was released in September 2005.
As of April 2010 band members Joshua Gregg and Brad Kallenbach left The Bang to form the new group Cold War Candy Drop. The new group has a faster more upbeat feel to it according to Joshua.
Singles
- Shiny (2005)
- Johnny’s In Love With You (2006)
- Benny Butler (2006)
- Talk To The Trees (Radio Edit) (2007)
Trivia and song appearances
- Their song "Benny Butler," from the album Shiny is included on the soundtrack to EA Sports’ Rugby 08Rugby 08Rugby 08 is the 2007 release in the Rugby series by EA Sports. The game allows players to play as many Rugby nations, both major and minor, and includes many tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, Tri Nations, Six Nations, Guinness Premiership and Super 14.Rugby 08 was released prior to the...
- "Ballad Of The Lemon Man" is on the Soundtrack to Footskating 101Footskating 101- Plot :In order to save his grandmother, his town, and his own skin, Vince, a poor miner's son, takes part in a skateboarding competition without a skateboard. He invents the extreme sport of footskating.- Trivia :...