The Metros
Encyclopedia
The Metros were a five-piece Indie rock
band from Peckham
, south London
, England
. Founded by vocalist Saul Adamczewski and lead guitar
ist Jak Payne, the band was formed while most of the members were still at school.
and Payne's father played session bass for Glenn Tilbrook
. After recording a 5 track demo over two days in March 2006 in Honor Oak Park London with The Mysterious Hand, the band worked with The Great Baxter Dury and got signed to 1965 Records
by James Endeacott (who had previously signed The Libertines
, The Strokes
and The View
). When all five members were still under 18. The Guardian
described them as "Punk'n'roll urchins".
Formerly known as Eastern Bloc and The Wanking Skankers, they list Squeeze, Ian Dury
and Beastie Boys
as their major influences.
Their debut single, "Education Pt. 2", was released on March 17, 2008. Their second single, "Last of the Lookers", was released on June 2, 2008.
, Bestival
, the Hackney Underage Festival, The Great Escape in Brighton
, the Skegness
Big Reunion Festival, and the BBC Electric Proms
. They were booked to support The Coral
, but were replaced after throwing a glass bottle into the crowd at the first gig, which smashed on and injured a girl spectator.
The band supported Madness
at a special gig in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust
on 3 April 2008, at the Royal Albert Hall
.
They played the Radio 1
/NME
Stage at the 2008 Reading and Leeds festivals
.
They recently supported The Streets
in the UK leg of his tour.
In Late 2008, the band were for forced to cancel four gigs in Japan after vocalist Saul Adamczewski fell ill.
On 17 June 2009 The Metros announced they were splitting up with two farewell shows,with lead singer Saul saying "The Metros are going their separate ways"
Saul has since been playing with band 'The Saudis' predominantly on bass guitar, and can be heard here: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Saudis/Halal+Beat
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Founded by vocalist Saul Adamczewski and lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Jak Payne, the band was formed while most of the members were still at school.
Background
The Metros dub themselves a 'punk and roll' band and are from a musical background—Adamczewski's father designed record sleeves for A&MA&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
and Payne's father played session bass for Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Martin Tilbrook is the lead singer and guitarist of the English band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid 1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally wrote the melody for Squeeze, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, wrote the lyrics...
. After recording a 5 track demo over two days in March 2006 in Honor Oak Park London with The Mysterious Hand, the band worked with The Great Baxter Dury and got signed to 1965 Records
1965 Records
1965 Records is a London-based subsidiary record label of SonyBMG. Formed in 2006, the label was founded by James Endeacott , who first signed The Libertines...
by James Endeacott (who had previously signed The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
, The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
and The View
The View (band)
The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop, folk, and acoustic in their music....
). When all five members were still under 18. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described them as "Punk'n'roll urchins".
Formerly known as Eastern Bloc and The Wanking Skankers, they list Squeeze, Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
and Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
as their major influences.
Their debut single, "Education Pt. 2", was released on March 17, 2008. Their second single, "Last of the Lookers", was released on June 2, 2008.
Live music
In summer 2007, The Metros played at T in the ParkT in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
, the Hackney Underage Festival, The Great Escape in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, the Skegness
Skegness
Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
Big Reunion Festival, and the BBC Electric Proms
BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006-2010...
. They were booked to support The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
, but were replaced after throwing a glass bottle into the crowd at the first gig, which smashed on and injured a girl spectator.
The band supported Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
at a special gig in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation...
on 3 April 2008, at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
They played the Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
/NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
Stage at the 2008 Reading and Leeds festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
.
They recently supported The Streets
The Streets
The Streets were a British rap/garage project from Birmingham, United Kingdom, led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner and has included a myriad of other contributors most notably drummer Johnny Drum Machine, vocalist Kevin Mark Trail and the Italian-American beatmaker Leroy.The...
in the UK leg of his tour.
In Late 2008, the band were for forced to cancel four gigs in Japan after vocalist Saul Adamczewski fell ill.
On 17 June 2009 The Metros announced they were splitting up with two farewell shows,with lead singer Saul saying "The Metros are going their separate ways"
Saul has since been playing with band 'The Saudis' predominantly on bass guitar, and can be heard here: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Saudis/Halal+Beat
Singles
- "Education Pt. 2" (March 17, 2008, 1965 Records1965 Records1965 Records is a London-based subsidiary record label of SonyBMG. Formed in 2006, the label was founded by James Endeacott , who first signed The Libertines...
) - "Last of the Lookers" (June 2, 2008, 1965 Records) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#102 - "Talk About It" (September 8, 2008, 1965 Records)
Album
- More Money Less GriefMore Money Less Grief-Singles:"Education Pt. 2" "Last of the Lookers" "Talk About It"...
(September 15, 2008, 1965 Records) UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#116
External links
- Official Website
- The Metros on Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- The Metros on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- 1965 Records