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The Automatic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Left to right: Iwan Griffiths, James Frost, Alex Pennie, Robin Hawkins
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Cardiff, Wales |
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| Genre(s) | Alternative rock | |
| Years active | 2002-present | |
| Label(s) | B-Unique Records | |
| Website | http://www.theautomatic.co.uk/ | |
| Members | ||
| Robin Hawkins James Frost Alex Pennie Iwan Griffiths |
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The Automatic are a Welsh four piece band who met in Cowbridge, Glamorgan, but are now based in Cardiff. They describe their music as "electro-disco-metal-rock".[1] They are influenced heavily by acts such as Jarcrew, Muse, Blur and The Blood Brothers, among others.
Contents |
The Automatic as of 2007 is composed of:
| Robin Hawkins (lead vocals, bass guitar) |
Alex Pennie (synths, keyboards, vocals) |
James Frost (guitar, vocals) |
Iwan Griffiths (drums) |
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The members first met at primary school, and formed a band at the age of 12. Originally known as White Rabbit, they renamed themselves The Automatic because they believe that music is the antidote to "the automatic life".[2] They began performing at venues in the local area, and signed with B-Unique Records (home of Kaiser Chiefs) in their gap year.
In November 2005, the band released their first single, "Recover", but this was not chart eligible since only 1,500 copies were released on vinyl and only 3,500 on CD. Also in 2005, The Automatic won The Pop Factory award for "Best New Act".
On March 27, 2006, the band's next single, "Raoul", was released, reaching #32 in the UK Singles Chart. The third single, "Monster", was released on June 5 2006 and reached #4, but entered the UK Singles Chart at #23 the week before based on download sales alone. "Monster" has also been re-mixed into a dance track by Fatboy Slim, and some football teams use the song as an anthem.[3] Keyboardist Alex Pennie has expressed his thoughts on football fans singing their song "Monster", and does not see it as a good thing, nor does he get any thrill out of them singing it, also stating "I'm not the biggest fan of football, I class it a waste of time," in an interview with MTV.co.uk [1]
"Not Accepted Anywhere", the band's debut album was released on 19 June, 2006, which they celebrated with a signing and performance in Oxford Street's HMV.
The fourth single was a full release of "Recover", and is actually a re-recorded version of the song which the record label felt to be a more fully-realised performance. Generally it is heavier in sound, features more synths from Pennie and a sharper guitar sound for Frost's solo.
The fifth single, a re-release of "Raoul", was released on January 8, 2007, which, again, was the record label's decision rather than the band's.
So far the official details on a second album are limited; however, new songs have been showcased on the NME tour, including 'Steve McQueen' and 'Revolution' [2]. Also in 'playmusic' magazine it is suggested that the sound on the second album will change.'Our record is a bit too pop for my liking', says Alex Pennie in the interview, however they have said in other interviews that there will be no drastic changes in the genre for the second album. They have also stated that they will start writing this album when they go out to America, for the Vans Warped Tour 2007, and it is expected to be released early 2008.
The band made a number of notable live performances during 2006. They played the New Band Stage at Oxegen 2006. They were part of NME's New Bands Tour 2006, appearing with Boy Kill Boy, ¡Forward, Russia!, Howling Bells and The Long Blondes. The band also appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the Radio 1/NME Tent. Fellow Welshmen Goldie Lookin Chain joined the band on stage in Reading to perform a cover of Kanye West's "Gold Digger", which was first played on Radio 1's Live Lounge.
The band request a shrine to David Hasselhoff at every gig they play, although at the time of writing their request has only been accommodated four times. When the band played in a fan's living room for Kerrang! Radio, a group of fans also accommodated their request very well, including pictures of Marmite and Star Wars on the walls, as well as pictures of people posing like the band. [3]
In 2007, The Automatic headlined the NME Indie Rock tour, along with Scottish band The View, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra. The Automatic have recently voiced their opinion in NME on The Horrors saying "they've just got big hair", however, The Horrors have recently said this feud has been resolved after the Automatic insisted on a game of 'paper, scissors, stone'. On February 2 The Automatic gave The View the opportunity to headline the NME indie rock concert at Carling Academy in Glasgow. [4]They have showcased two new songs "Steve McQueen" and "Revolution" as well as a new cover of "Life During Wartime" originally by The Talking Heads.
From June 28 to July 25, they will be heading out to the USA to take part in the Vans Warped Tour, and are currently one of the two confirmed British bands on the tour, the other being Gallows.
The Automatic, along with The Alarm and Super Furry Animals Gruff Rhys have pledged to perform at a concert being organised as part of a campaign to save jobs at Burberry in south Wales. [5]
June 9th will see the Automatic playing the Rock Ness Festival.
The band have appeared on television and radio a number of times and whilst Griffiths and Hawkins have helped build the band 'behind the scenes', Pennie and Frost have become recognised by fans around the country. Notably, they were first ever band to make a return performance on The Friday Night Project. They have also appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, playing "Monster" along with "Gold Digger".
In the spring of 2006, Frost and Pennie destroyed some of the band's equipment whilst performing "Monster" on GMTV. Although the band have not been expressly banned from performing on GMTV, there were threats of legal action from a crew member who received a glancing injury during the act.[4]
The band have been featured in a number of magazines, the most notable being NME, Kerrang, Playmusic, Q Magazine and Rock Sound
On January 9, 2007 Robin Hawkins and Alex Pennie stood in on the Zane Lowe show on BBC Radio 1, hosting a two hour show, with tracks from Frank Turner and Viva Machine, The View and several other artists.
On January 11, 2007 the band appeared in Habbo Hotel UK.
The first pop factory award they received was on December 3 2005 for "Best new act".
In 2006 The Automatic won "the best performance award", as well as "rock 'n' roll excess award" (After there GMTV performance earlier in the year) at The Pop Factory Awards 2005, and performed Raoul both at the ceremony, and also performed at the prior press launch in Hard Rock Café, Cardiff. [6]
| Album Cover | Date of Release | Title | Label | UK Chart Peak | Uk sales |
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19 June 2006 | Not Accepted Anywhere | B-Unique Records | #3[5] | Gold |
| Album Cover | Date of Release | Title | Label | UK Chart Peak | Uk sales |
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July 17, 2006 | Raoul EP | B-Unique Records | [5] | |
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16 August 2006 | Live at the 100 Club | itunes & Coke | [5] |
| Album Cover | Date of Release | Title | Label | UK Chart Peak | Album |
 |
November 7, 2005 | Recover | B-Unique Records | [5] | Not Accepted Anywhere |
 |
March 27, 2006 | Raoul | B-Unique Records | #32[5] | Not Accepted Anywhere |
 |
June 5, 2006 | Monster | B-Unique Records | #4[5] | Not Accepted Anywhere |
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September 18, 2006 | Recover | B-Unique Records | 25[5] | Not Accepted Anywhere |
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January 8, 2007 | Raoul | B-Unique Records | 58[5] | Not Accepted Anywhere |
- ^ "If only success was Automatic" by Claire Rees, icWales, October 14, 2005, retrieved November 10, 2006.
- ^ "The Automatic interview" by Nat Davies and Susie Wild, BBC Wales, 2005, retrieved January 4, 2007.
- ^ "Top 10 Football Chants of 2006" BBC Sport 2006, retrieved February 9, 2007
- ^ "The Automatic Facing Legal Action", Contactmusic.com, August 2, 2006, retrieved November 10, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f g h
- The Automatic Official Site
- B-Unique Records Official Site
- TheMusicZine Interview
- Band Myspace
- Robin's Brothers Band
- Interview with The Automatic on wrexhammusic.co.uk
- The Automatic at Last.fm
- Peter Hill Rock Photographer
| The Automatic |
| Robin Hawkins | Alex Pennie | James Frost | Iwan Griffiths |
| Discography |
|---|
| Not Accepted Anywhere |
| Labels |
| B-Unique Records |