The Almighty (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Almighty


Img_capt = Cover from 1989 album "Blood, Fire and Love"
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Glasgow
Genre = Hard rock, heavy metal
Years_active = 1988–1996, 2000–2001, 2006–present
Label = Polydor, Chrysalis, Castle, Sanctuary, Pony Canyon
Associated_acts = New Model Army
Alice Cooper
Current_members = Ricky Warwick
Stump Monroe
Floyd London
Pete Friesen
Past_members = Tantrum
Nick Parsons
Gav Gray

The Almighty are a hard rock/heavy metal band, from Glasgow in Scotland who formed in 1988. They have released seven studio albums, two anthologies and one live album.

History

1988-1993

The Almighty were formed in Glasgow, Scotland on January 19, 1988.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 4 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue4.htm] Most of the musicians came from a punk background. Lead singer Ricky Warwick had previously done some session and tour work with New Model Army, although not on any of their recordings. Ricky, Stump Monroe and Floyd had previously played together in a local band called Rough Charm.

They were signed by Polydor in March 1989Fan Club Newsletter Issue 1 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue1.htm] and released their first album, "Blood, Fire and Love". In the same year they were voted in third place on the "Kerrang!" readers poll for Best New Act.

In 1990 they toured the UK and also embarked upon a short US tour in an attempt to break into the American market [Fan Club Newsletter Issue 2 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue2.htm] . However, a more extensive follow up tour of the US did not go ahead, although they did embark on a European club tour.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 3 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue3.htm] . A live album, "Blood, Fire and Live" was released on October 8, 1990, having been recorded at July gigs in Edinburgh and Nottingham. The track list featured songs from "Blood, Fire and Love", plus a cover of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".

Recording of their second studio album, "Soul Destruction", began in December 1990 and it was released in March 1991 along with the lead single "Free'n'Easy". In February and March they toured the UK supporting Motörhead and Megadeth. In June 1991 they embarked on a headline UK tour.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 5 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue5.htm] The concert at the Town and Country club in London was filmed and released later that year on VHS as "Soul Destruction - Live".Fan Club Newsletter Issue 6 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue6.htm] Later in the year they supported Alice Cooper on a European tour.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 7 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue7.htm]

In March 1992 internal differences within the band came to a head causing guitarist Tantrum to leave the band. He was replaced by Canadian Pete FriesenFan Club Newsletter Issue 8 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue8.htm] who had previously played for Alice Cooper, and had met the Almighty when they played support for him the previous year. In the spring the band were invited to tour Australia in support of The Screaming Jets, who had just released their Living in England EP and wanted a British band for the support on their tour. That summer the band were the opening act at the Donnington Monsters of Rock festival. Towards the end of the year they began preparing material for a third album.

In April 1993 "Powertrippin", their third album, was released and they embarked upon a European tour supporting Iron Maiden, their longest tour to date.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 9 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue9.htm] This was followed with a support slot at that year's Milton Keynes Bowl festival, which substituted for Donnington as the Monsters of Rock festival was not staged in 1993.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 10 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue10.htm] In Autumn 93 they finally toured America, but failed to make the hoped for impact.Fan Club Newsletter Issue 11 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue11.htm] On their return they started a headline European tour, but had to abandon it after the first two London dates due to poor health. In November they parted from manager Tommy Tee and moved to Sanctuary Records. At the same time they left Polydor and signed with Chrysalis. They were able to perform some replacement UK shows the same month, but were not able to tour Europe as planned.

1994-1996

Their fourth album, "Crank", was released on Chrysalis in late 1994. They appeared on Top of the Pops in support of the first single, "Wrench".Newsletter Issue 13 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue13.htm] In the autumn they toured the UK in support of the album and a European tour followed in early 1995. In May they recorded four tracks for a proposed EP. However, the band decided that the tracks were good enough to form the basis for a fifth album. They therefore decided to arrange two more recording sessions during 1995, recording four tracks each time, so that they would have enough for an album release in 1996.Newsletter Issue 14 http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/Newsletters/issue14.htm]

Their fifth album, "Just Add Life", was released in 1996, but later that year they disbanded.

2000-2002

The band reformed in 2000 and released the self-titled album "Almighty", replacing guitarist Pete Friesen with Nick Parsons. A second album followed in 2001, "Psycho-Narco", with a new bass player Gav Gray who replaced long time bassist Floyd London. The band disbanded again with vocalist Ricky Warwick pursuing a solo career.

In 2002 a compilation album, "Wild and Wonderful" was released, which included material from their three Polydor albums, along with covers of "Bodies", by the Sex Pistols, "You Ain't Seen Nuthin Yet" from "Blood Fire and Live" and "Keep on Rocking in the Free World" by Neil Young.Discography from official website http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/album/]

2006-present

The classic lineup (Ricky, Stump, Floyd and Pete) reformed for benefit shows in January 2006 and then appeared at the 2006 Bulldog Bash. They undertook a short five show tour at the end of December 2006.

In 2007 a second compilation album, "Anth F***in'Ology - the Gospel According to The Almighty" was released covering their entire career and including a DVD of all their promo videos to date.

A lengthier UK tour took place in January 2008 to mark the bands twentieth anniversary. [2008 UK Tour Announcement http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/homepage.htm] It was announced on January 17th that the band would be recording footage with multiple cameras at various shows on the upcoming tour for a 20th Anniversary DVD. [20th Anniversary Tour DVD Announcement http://www.komodorock.com/new-releases/dvd-releases/the-almighty-announce-20th-anniversary-tour-dvd-200801173499/]

Ricky Warwick announced in an interview with Komodo Rock that there were plans to record a new album following the bands UK Tour. He said "I would like to. ... I'm inspired again though, and I feel to me it might be time to turn round and make that definitive Almighty Album." [http://www.komodorock.com/interviews/interviews/komodo-rock-talks-with-ricky-warwick-of-the-almighty-200801173516/ Komodo Rock Interview With Ricky Warwick]

Lineup

Members

*Ricky Warwick (1988-2001, 2006-present) - vocals and guitar
*Stump Monroe (1988-2001, 2006-present) - drums
*Floyd London (1988-2000, 2006-present) - bass guitar
*Pete Friesen (1991-1996, 2006-present) - guitar

Past members

*Tantrum (1988-1991) - guitar
*Nick Parsons (2000-2001) - guitar
*Gav Gray (2001) - bass guitar

Discography

(Source for discography and chart positions up till "Soul Destruction".)

ingles

* 1989 "Destroyed" UK #117
* 1989 "Power" UK #83
* 1990 "Wild and Wonderful" UK #55
* 1991 "Free 'n' Easy" UK #35
* 1991 "Devils Toy" UK #35
* 1991 "Little Lost Sometimes" UK #41
* 1993 "Addiction"
* 1993 "Over The Edge"
* 1993 "Out Of Season"
* 1994 "Wrench" UK #26
* 1995 "Jonestown Mind" UK #26
* 1996 "All Sussed Out" UK #28
* 1996 "Do You Understand" UK #38

Albums

*"Blood, Fire and Love" (1989) UK #103
*"Blood, Fire and Live" (1990) UK #62
*"Soul Destruction" (1991) UK #22
*"Powertrippin"' (1993) UK #5
*"Crank" (1994) UK #15
*"Just Add Life" (1996) UK #34
*"The Almighty" (2000) UK #154
*"Psycho-Narco" (2001)
*"Wild and Wonderful" – compilation (2002)
*"Anth'f**ing'ology" – compilation (2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.thealmighty.co.uk/ The Almighty]
* [http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/almighty/bio.jhtml MTV: The Almighty]
* [http://www.komodorock.com/live-photos/live-photos/the-almighty%3a-live-photos-from-the-astoria-2,-london-200802054022/ Live Photos from the bands 20th Anniversary Concert in London]