The Full Wiki

Absent Kid: Wikis
  

Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles.

Encyclopedia

Updated live from Wikipedia, last check: May 28, 2012 22:50 UTC (46 seconds ago)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Absent Kid
Origin Colchester, Essex, UK[1]
Genres Alternative rock
Indie rock
Years active 2002–present
Labels Fierce Panda Records[1]
Website www.absentkid.co.uk
Members
Martin Williams (vocals)
Richard Williams (guitar)
Mark Butters (bass guitar)
Kerri-Ann Butcher (guitar)
Craig Jeal (drums)
Former members
Dominic Harrison (guitar)
Chris McKeown (keyboard)

Absent Kid are a British indie rock band.

Contents

History

Brothers Martin and Richard Williams and bassist Mark Butters grew up in the small coastal town of West Mersea. The name Absent Kid was inspired by a character in the cartoon South Park.[2]

They debuted in front of a paying audience, performing at a Colchester venue, "Twist". The band developed as performers during a series of live performances, and gained a degree of prominence after opening for now the disbanded group Ikara Colt.[2] This led to the band's first significant radio play, on XFM London.[1]

In 2004, Absent Kid won the Diesel-U-Music award for Best Rock.[1] An awards ceremony, held at nightclub Fabric was broadcast on Channel 4. Absent Kid were awarded their trophy by BBC Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman. This brought some attention from the national press, including the influential New Musical Express.[3]

Absent Kid were afterwards signed by Fierce Panda Records, who had previously released records by, amongst others, Coldplay, Idlewild and Keane. The band's debut mini-album, I Burnt Down the Family Business, was released with Fierce Panda on 25 April 2005 to critical acclaim.[1] Their double A-side debut single, Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground, was released on 6 February 2006.

The band gained less notoriety in the following year. They released their first full-length album in July 2007. While their previous works drew comparisons to Radiohead, the new album was hailed as more upbeat and made for the dancefloor.[4]

In December 2009 the band announced a return after a year long hiatus with a new line up with guitarist Kerri-Ann Butcher (formerly from Stand Still Kid) replacing Dominic Harrison.[1]

Discography

  • Scatter Photos and Relive Bloodloss (EP)
  • I Burnt Down the Family Business (25 April 2005)
  • Shame On Us All / Quiet Playground (6 February 2006)
  • Misadventure (July 2007)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Absent Kid 'Xfm Session'". XFM. 2005-04-28. http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=81646&spid=. Retrieved 2008-10-23.  
  2. ^ a b "Absent Kid FAQ". http://www.absentkid.co.uk/ak/index.php?page=archivefaq. Retrieved 2008-10-23.  
  3. ^ "Old and new honoured at Diesel Music Awards". NME. 2004-07-08. http://www.nme.com/news/kasabian/17398. Retrieved 2008-10-23.  
  4. ^ "ABSENT KID - MISADVENTURE (ALBUM)". Noisy Fanzine Magazine. 2007-07-28. http://www.absentkid.co.uk/ak/press/noisyfanzine.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-23.  

External links




Absent Kid are a 5 piece indie rock band based in Colchester in the UK. When the group made their live debut in 2002 they originally consisted of Martin Williams (vocals), Richard Williams (guitar), Mark Butters (bass guitar) and Craig Jeal (drums).

In 2003, Absent Kid decided to expand to a five-piece Dominic Harrison (guitar) being the new addition.

History



Brothers Martin and Richard Williams grew up in the small coastal town of West Mersea, as did bassist Mark Butters. Attending secondary school in Colchester Richard, Mark and Craig began writing and performing in the schools music room during their lunch hour whilst Martin was away at the University of Derby unable to form the band he'd hoped too. When re-united in the summer, Richard invited Martin to join his then un-named project, which he did taking on the role of vocals and second guitar. The name Absent Kid came from a variety of sources, one is rumoured to be animated comedy show South Park.

On the eve of Richards 18th birthday, Absent Kid played their first ever show at a private party in Colchester on the 6th of September 2002.

A month later Absent kid made their debut to a paying public crowd, performing at Colchester's legendary Twist venue.

The band learnt their trade playing some victorious shows at various Colchester venues, their first big break opening for now defunct art rockers Ikara Colt. Soon the band began making their first ventures into London armed with the much talked about demo EP Scatter Photos and Relive Bloodloss and were soon making waves within the industry.

The bands first major radio play was on the station XFM London. The band later recorded a session for DJ John Kennedy.

In 2004 Absent Kid were picked from thousands of unsigned bands and won the Diesel-U-Music award for Best Rock. An awards ceremony from Fabric was broadcast on Channel 4 and saw Absent Kid pick up their trophy from Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman alongside lifetime achievement awards for the late John Peel and Mick Jones formerly of The Clash. This alerted the attention of national press (including substantial coverage in the New Musical Express) and most notably Fierce Panda Records who decided to add Absent Kid to their roster. Absent Kid had now joined a prestigious group of artists that have releases on Fierce Panda including Coldplay, Idlewild and Keane.

The bands debut mini-album was released in April 2005, entitled I Burnt Down the Family Business to very good reviews from the like of Kerrang magazine and Rock Sound.

A double A-side debut single Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground was due to be released in November 2005, but a manufacturing error has forced the band to delay it until January 2006. The single is backed with an extra track Another Year/Same Questions.

Whilst the bands first headline UK tour is still being finalised, the band have been gigging regularly and in 2005 played shows as support to Queen Adreena, The Subways and Art Brut.

Discography


  • I Burnt Down the Family Business Fierce Panda (Nong37cd)

    • Released 25th April 2005

    (Debut mini-album comprising of '...', 'Quiet Playground', 'Static Soul', 'Asleep at the Wheel/Reflex Action', 'This Town Works Backwards', 'Split the Indifference', 'Safety in Numbers'
    )
  • Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground Fierce Panda (Ning174cd)

    • Release date TBC

    (The bands debut double A-side single comprising of 'Shame On Us All', 'Quiet Playground', 'Another Year (Same Questions)')

    Trivia


  • Mark uses the name 'Butters' due to his resemblance to the South Park character Butters.

  • Ultra-rare demos and bootlegs exist, including The Safety in Numbers EP, Live at the Soundhouse and the critically aclaimed Scatter Photos and Relive Bloodloss.

  • Richard is a season ticket holder at Colchester United.

  • Martin is an avid player of Championship Manager, sometimes playing for 18 hours a day.

  • Richard and Craig allegedly despise illustrator Quentin Blake, although it is unclear exactly why.

  • Craig can juggle, albeit fairly poorly.

  • Dominic Harrison has an acoustic side project called 'Bed'.

  • One of Absent Kid's early songs included a lyrical reference to Ghanaian footballer Tony Yeboah.


    • External Links


    Absent Kid Official Site








    Got something to say? Make a comment.
    Your name
    Your email address
    Message
    Please enter the solution to case below
    70+12=