Dirtblonde

Dirtblonde are a Liverpool band consisting of Ivan (guitar) and Lula (vocals, bass guitar) and an old Yamaha drum-machine nicknamed Dee Dee.

The band formed in the end of 2003 and played their first gig at the Zanzibar club in Liverpool, on 16th March 2004. The set lasted only 15 minutes and the band was asked to leave the venue, for knocking over a mic during their performance. Neston Town Council banned Dirtblonde from performing a local gig, in the summer 2004. The story made the headlines of several Wirral newspapers.

Dirtblonde claim that, because of their "stripped down no-wave punk sound", they stand out from the current crop of Liverpool bands such as The Coral and The Zutons.

The band split with their former label after a disagreement over the artwork for their debut single, "The Hangmen", thus delaying its release, which was due for November 2004.

Instead, the band decided to release the single themselves - online only - in April 2005, but not before a brief tour in Brazil during Feb/ March '05, which saw the band playing clubs in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, as well as being interviewed by a national newspaper (O Globo) and guesting on a radio show for Brasil 2000 FM.

Dirtblonde were chosen by the BBC Liverpool website as one of the 5 local bands most likely to ‘make it’ in 20051, and a Channel 4’s IDeaS Factory feature brought the band even more attention.

The band has had their single, 'The Hangmen', played several times on BBC Radio by Steve Lamacq, Alan McGee and Californian DJ Nic Harcourt, as well as on London's XFM by John Kennedy.

In the summer of 2006 Dirtblonde were amongst the winners of the Topman Unsigned competition and performed at that year's Leeds Festival, and also went on a small tour in the United States, with a string of dates in New York, including Death Disco NYC2, hosted by Alan McGee's friend (and legendary Led Zeppelin publicist) B P Fallon.

Dirtblonde were also responsible for one of the first regular club nights at the popular Bar in Liverpool. From October 2005 to October 2006, Ivan and Lula booked several up-and-coming bands to play alongside Dirtblonde, including chart-toppers The View, in their first headlining gig in Liverpool in June 2006, which also featured guest-DJ appearance by James Endeactott (known as the man who signed The Libertines and The Strokes. It was the first ever showcase night for their label 1965 Records.

The band currently promotes a new club night in Liverpool, called Liverpool Calling, which aims to showcase new local talent and happens at various venues, and they are organizing forthcoming events in London called "Noise Factory".

They are now with indie label Filthy Little Angels, who released the first Long Blondes single and discovered other bands such as The Violets and The Dykeenies. Dirtblonde's first release through the label, the mini-album "White Noise, Rubber Heart" came out in May 2007, and was launched with an instore gig at the HMV store on Bold St. Liverpool.

Discography

Singles

  • The Hangmen (released April 25, 2005)

Albums

  • White Noise, Rubber Heart (split CD) released May 28th 2007 by Filthy Little Angels

Notes

1.BBC Liverpool 2.BP Fallon Website - Death Disco NYC gig archives

Sources

See Also

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