The Rank Deluxe
Encyclopedia
The Rank Deluxe are a South East London
band
, notable for their live shows
. They play a style of music
they describe as "sewage", which is a mixture of punk
, indie-rock and reggae
. Their name is a direct quote from a glamour model Dyer and Buchanan encountered in a strip-club, who claimed the place to be "so rank deluxe", meaning it was the best of the worst.
In early 2006 they signed a recording contract
with Fat Cat Records
, and released three singles
on limited 7" vinyl; the first being a double-A release of "Doll Queue" and "Come On" on the 29 May 2006.
, where they met and formed a band called The Method, who played a mixture of funk
and heavy metal
. Meanwhile, Chris Ballard was drumming in a band called Tested Material with long time friend of Dyer and Buchanan, Tommy Mizen. When both bands suffered the loss of members, Dyer and Buchanan auditioned several drummers and bassists, before settling on Ballard and John Wallis in early 2005. Dyer and Buchanan had already recorded
several demo
tracks with the members of The Method.
During their time together, the band have recorded a live session with the London indie radio station
, Xfm
, as well as playing at the Tin Pan Alley Festival on Denmark Street and the opening of Xfm in Manchester.
In May 2008, Tom Battle from the LES in New York joined the band replacing Lewis Dyer as lead guitarist, and co-vocalist. However, Battle was soon after deported back to the US and his position in the band is currently unknown. Drummer Chris Ballard left the band in August 2008 to pursue other interests. Shortly after, Spanish-American drummer Q joined The Rank Deluxe. Q originally came to London for a month, but at the last minute decided to take his cymbals just in case, then met the band with whom he is now a full member.
Albums
South East (London sub region)
The South East is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. The sub region was established in 2008. The south east has a population of 1,300,000 and is the location of 500,000 jobs...
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...
, notable for their live shows
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
. They play a style of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
they describe as "sewage", which is a mixture of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, indie-rock and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
. Their name is a direct quote from a glamour model Dyer and Buchanan encountered in a strip-club, who claimed the place to be "so rank deluxe", meaning it was the best of the worst.
In early 2006 they signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
, and released three singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on limited 7" vinyl; the first being a double-A release of "Doll Queue" and "Come On" on the 29 May 2006.
History
Lewis Dyer and Richard Buchanan both grew up on a council estate in ThamesmeadThamesmead
Thamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
, where they met and formed a band called The Method, who played a mixture of funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Meanwhile, Chris Ballard was drumming in a band called Tested Material with long time friend of Dyer and Buchanan, Tommy Mizen. When both bands suffered the loss of members, Dyer and Buchanan auditioned several drummers and bassists, before settling on Ballard and John Wallis in early 2005. Dyer and Buchanan had already recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
several demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
tracks with the members of The Method.
During their time together, the band have recorded a live session with the London indie radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, Xfm
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, as well as playing at the Tin Pan Alley Festival on Denmark Street and the opening of Xfm in Manchester.
In May 2008, Tom Battle from the LES in New York joined the band replacing Lewis Dyer as lead guitarist, and co-vocalist. However, Battle was soon after deported back to the US and his position in the band is currently unknown. Drummer Chris Ballard left the band in August 2008 to pursue other interests. Shortly after, Spanish-American drummer Q joined The Rank Deluxe. Q originally came to London for a month, but at the last minute decided to take his cymbals just in case, then met the band with whom he is now a full member.
Releases
Singles- "Doll Queue" / "Come On", 29 May 2006
- "Style" / "What Do You Want", 24 July 2006
- "Poor Man's Cab" / "End in Mind", 28 August 2006, all on 7" vinyl with Fat Cat Records.
- "Tightrope" 25 February 2008
Albums
- "You Decide" 30 March 2009