Mystery Jets Biography

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Biography Mystery Jets

Mystery Jets


Mystery Jets are an English five-piece New Prog band based on Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, London.

Members

  • Blaine Harrison ? lead vocals, keyboards, percussion, effects
  • Henry Harrison ? vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
  • William Rees ? guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards
  • Kai Fish ? bass, vocals, guitar
  • Kapil Trivedi ? drums


Former members

  • Tamara ? keyboards


History

The band's first line-up consisted of Blaine on drums, William on guitar and Henry (Blaine's father) on bass. Henry became a second guitarist in the band and they were joined by Kai on bass, as well as Tamara on keyboards. The band at this time recorded an eponymous EP with Aswad producer Nick Sykes. Blaine (whose voice had yet to break) took lead vocals.

Tamara left the band, and Blaine switched from drums to keyboards. The band had a brief stint with a friend of Will (known only as Max) on drums, but he was unreliable and for a time a drum machine was used. The band advertised on internet message boards for a drummer and found Kapil.

The Eel Pie Island EP was recorded soon after, and then the band issued their first proper single, a limited edition 7" of "Zoo Time", on Transgressive. They went on to sign to 679 Recordings.

After a number of singles in 2005, the start of 2006 saw the band gain their highest charting single with "The Boy Who Ran Away", play the ShockWaves NME Awards Tour and make their first appearance on Top of the Pops. The band's debut album, Making Dens, was released in March.

On 18 September 2006, the band put on a tribute show to Syd Barrett, one of their biggest influences. The show was put on at the Union Chapel in Islington, London. Performers were Kid Harpoon, Lupen Crook, Kate Nash, Dan Treacy and the Television Personalities, Drew from Babyshambles, Ben from SixToes, Lucas from the Cazals and Mystery Jets.The Show had a special "Fanzine" made for the show with special entries from all the performers and artwork by the bands.

December 2006 saw the band release "Umbrellahead / Half In Love With the Radio" through their MySpace site to competition winners. The two tracks were produced by Erol Alkan and were meant to be part of a ten-inch vinyl acoustic EP, but that idea was scrapped.

2007 saw the band write new songs (including "Hand Me Down", "Pink Elephant" and "Undercover Lover") and play more gigs around the world, mainly America were they released their debut album Zootime on May 8th, through Dim Mak Records.

Henry sadly decided to stop playing live with the band shortly afterwards, but is still very much involved and went into the studio with the rest of the band. Their second album is now more or less completed and is expected to be released in late March 2008. Produced by Erol Alkan, it will be preceded by the single "Young Love" featuring Laura Marling.

Before that though the band are rounding off the year with a short club show across the country and have also released their (free) 'Christmas single', "Flakes". The song is a moving, beautiful song that is set to stoke the fires for Mystery Jets' return. The single is available at http://www.myfreedownload.co.uk/mysteryjets

The White Cross Revival parties

Much attention has been drawn to their hosting of a series of parties, dubbed "The White Cross Revival", on Eel Pie Island. The parties, featuring as many bands as possible on one stage each night, have played host to the likes of;

  • Acoustic Ladyland
  • Larrikin Love
  • Dr Filth
  • Jamie T
  • The Noisettes
  • Mystery Jets
  • Les Incompetents
  • Ladyfuzz
  • Jeremy Warmsley
  • The Archive
  • The Mergatroid
  • The Cut Off from macclesfield*
Over 600 people attended the final Eel Pie Party.

Discography

Albums

  • Making Dens (6 March 2006, #32 UK, 679 Recordings)
  • Zootime (8 May 2007, U.S. only release, Dim Mak Recordings)


Singles

  • "Zoo Time" (14 February 2005, Transgressive)
  • "On My Feet" (2005, Good and Evil)
  • "You Can't Fool Me Dennis" (12 September 2005, #44 UK, 679 Recordings)
  • "Alas Agnes" (5 December 2005, #33 UK, 679 Recordings)
  • "The Boy Who Ran Away" (27 February 2006, #23 UK, 679 Recordings)
  • "Diamonds in the Dark" (4 September 2006, #47 UK, 679 Recordings)
  • " Young Lovers, 2008


EPs

  • Flotsam & Jetsam EP (9 May 2006, 679 Recordings U.S.)
  • Mystery Jets EP (self financed)


7" special limited

  • Powercut Serenades (Signed with "Umbrellahead" and "Half In Love With the Radio" on. Limited edition of 300 copies all given away to competition winners)


Early demos

  • Mystery Jets EP (self financed, CD)
  • Eel Pie Island (self financed, CD)
  • Christmas Sessions (self financed, CD)


External links



English musical groupsEnglish indie rock groupsMusic from London

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery Jets
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