Nine Below Zero
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Nine Below Zero | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | South London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1977–1983, 1990–present |
| Labels | Pangea Recordings, I.R.S. Records, M&L Records, A&M |
| Members | Dennis Greaves Sonny Greaves Mark Feltham Anthony Harty Charlie Austen Tom Monks Chris Rand Paul Jordanous |
| Past members | Mickey Burkey Kenny Bradley Peter Clark Brian Bethell Alan Glen Gerry McAvoy Andrew Noble Billy Boy Miskimmin Brendan O`Neill Ben Willis |
| Website | ninebelowzero |
Nine Below Zero are an English rock band who have a cult following throughout Europe. They became popular during the period 1980–1982 and are still performing currently throughout the UK, Scandinavia and Europe as of 2022.[citation needed]
Career
The band was originally formed in South London in 1977 by guitarist and lead vocalist Dennis Greaves.[2] He was joined by bassist Peter Clark, Kenny Bradley on drums, and vocalist and harmonica player Mark Feltham.[2] They were originally named 'Stan's Blues Band' and for the next two years they played in London clubs.[2]
In 1979, while playing at The Thomas A'Beckett pub in the Old Kent Road they accepted an offer from former musician Mickey Modern to manage them. Modern persuaded the band to change their name. Greaves chose Nine Below Zero after the Sonny Boy Williamson II song.[2] Modern was signed to A&M Records and he persuaded A&M to give him a record label, M&L Records, to launch Nine Below Zero.
In 1980 the band released their first album, Live at the Marquee, which was recorded on 16 June 1980.
In 1981, they released their second album, Don't Point Your Finger, produced by
Arnold – now worked at Harvey Goldsmith Ents – promoted the band at the Town and Country Club.[2] They added Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O'Neill from Rory Gallagher's band on bass and drums. In 1992, Feltham left due to musical differences and was replaced by Alan Glen. Feltham returned in 2001 and the band has continued to tour and record.[2] In 1995, harmonica player Billy Boy Miskimmin was added.
In 2005, their track "Go Girl" was included in the
Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze offered to record the album that Greaves and Feltham had been writing. They recorded It's Never Too Late – their first collection of new songs since Refrigerator. European tours followed, including supporting Jools Holland and Paul Jones.
In 2011, they worked with Tilbrook under the name The Co-operative. In July 2011, one track, the Beatles song "You Never Give Me Your Money", was used on a Mojo magazine special celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of Abbey Road. The band were preparing for a tour in 2012. Gerry McAvoy left at the end of 2011 to pursue a solo career.
Former bass player Brian Bethell died in April 2024.[5]
Recent work
2012 saw the return of Brian Bethell who played on Third Degree. The new lineup started performing in January with shows in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as the band enter their 35th year.
Following on from 2012's remastered re-release of Nine Below Zero's live debut Live at the Marquee came a double instalment; remastered editions of the first two studio albums Don't Point Your Finger and Third Degree, each with a separate disc of bonus material, was released on 24 February 2014 through Universal Music.
A nationwide month-long 22-date tour in support of
Current members
- Dennis Greaves – guitar and vocals (1977–1983, 1990–present)
- Mark Feltham – harmonica and vocals (1977–1983, 1990–1992, 2001–present)
- Charlie Austen – vocals and percussion (2016–present)
- Sonny Greaves – drums (2018–present)
- Tom Monks – keyboards, guitar and vocals (2019–present)
- Anthony Harty – bass (2022–present)
Discography
Albums
- Live at the Marquee – 1980 – A&M
- Don't Point Your Finger – 1981 – A&M (#56 UK[6])
- Third Degree – 1982 – A&M (#38 UK[6])
- Live at the Venue – 1989 – Receiver
- On The Road Again – 1991 – China Records
- Off The Hook – 1992 – China Records
- Special Tour Album 93 – 1993 – China Records (LP only)
- Hot Music for a Cold Night – 1994 – Pangea Records
- Back To The Future – 1994 – China Records
- Ice Station Zebro – 1995 – Pangea Records
- Live in London – 1997 – Indigo
- Refrigerator – 2000 – Zed Records
- Give Me No Lip Child – 2000 – Indigo
- Chilled – 2002 – Zed Records
- Hat's Off – 2005 – Zed Records
- Both Sides of Nine Below Zero – 2008 – Angel Air
- It's Never Too Late! – 2009 – Zed Records
- The Co-Operative (with Glenn Tilbrook) – 2011 – Quixotic Records
- Live at the Marquee [CD/DVD] – 2012 – UMC/Mercury
- A to Zed – The Very Best of – 2013 – Zed Records
- Don't Point Your Finger [2CD Expanded Edition] – 2014 – UMC
- Third Degree [2CD Expanded Edition] – 2014 – UMC
- 13 Shades of Blue – 2016 – Zed Records
- Avalanche – 2019 – Zed Records
See also
References
- ^ Allen, Jim. "Nine Below Zero Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
Signature tunes such as "Don't Start Me Talking," the title cut (from which a U.K. pub-rock band once took their name)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Nine Below Zero | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "It's with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Brian Bethell". Nine Below Zero on X. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b "9 BELOW ZERO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
External links
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