Frost (UK band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Frost*


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Occupation =
Years_active = 2004-2006
2007-present
Background = group_or_band
Origin = England
Country = England
Genre = Neo-progressive rock
Label = InsideOut
Current_members = Jem Godfrey
John Mitchell
John Jowitt
Andy Edwards
Dec Burke
Associated_acts = Arena, Kino, IQ
URL = [http://frostmusic.net/ frostmusic.net]

Frost* are a UK neo-progressive rock group.

Band history

Formation

Frost* was formed in September 2004cite web
url = http://www.insideoutmusic.com/bands/band-frost-milliontown.php
title = Band profile, Frost
accessmonthday = June 24
accessyear = 2006
publisher = InsideOut Music] , by songwriter, producer and musician Jem Godfrey - better known to the wider world for his work creating chart-topping pop hits for bands including Atomic Kitten - when he made a conscious decision to return to his own musical past writing and playing progressive music,cite web
url = http://www.prog-nose.org/engels/interviews/frost_godfrey.htm
title = Interview with Jem Godfrey from Frost (30-06-2006)
accessmonthday = July 21
accessyear = 2006] cite interview
last = Godfrey
first = Jem
subject = Jem Godfrey
subjectlink = Jem Godfrey
interviewer = Jon Patrick (aka Twang)
cointerviewers = Cain Mosni
title = Prog Special
program = The Twang Show on Totalrock.com
city = London
date = 2006-06-23] in the band Freefall.cite web
url = http://www.lazygunrecords.com/freefall/freefall.htm
title = Freefall band profile - Lazy Gun Records
accessmonthday = July 23
accessyear = 2006] cite web
url = http://www.gepr.net/fm.html#FREEFALL
title = Freefall band profile - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock
accessmonthday = July 23
accessyear = 2006]

After listening to a broad selection of contemporary progressive music, he first approached John Mitchell of Arena, The Urbane and Kino, (and currently lead guitarist and singer for It Bites). Mitchell then introduced Godfrey to John Jowitt (also of Arena, and additionally IQ and Jadis), subsequently leading to meeting Andy Edwards (of The Wikkamen, Priory of Brion, IQ and the Ian Parker Band). John Boyes, Godfrey's former band-mate in Freefall in the 1990s, and from the band Rook, had already performed significant rhythm guitar work on the early recordings.

Recording and performance

Frost*'s first album was titled "Milliontown," the 26 minute long eponymous final track of which was inspired by the book "The Apprentice" by Gordon Houghton. It was released in the United States on July 18, 2006 and in Europe on July 24.cite web
url = http://www.insideoutmusic.com/bands/band-frost-milliontown.php
title = Album listing, Frost: Milliontown
accessmonthday = June 24
accessyear = 2006
publisher = InsideOut Music] The band went on a brief tour to play a selection from the album, supporting Pallas on a four date tour of the Netherlands and Germany in October 2006.

The second Frost* album, "Experiments in Mass Appeal" is due for release on November 24, 2008. [Interview with [John Mitchell] on The Rogues Gallery 2008-Aug-29]

Dissolution and re-birth

Shortly after returning from the tour, Godfrey announced - by way of an article on the band's blog on MySpace on the 29th of the month (since removed), and re-iterated by InsideOut in a bulletin on the same site two days later (expired) - that due to his increasing professional and personal commitments elsewhere, Frost* would be dissolved after fulfilling four remaining concert dates. It later emerged that an appearance at the RoSfest in 2007, in America - which was the final scheduled date - had been cancelled.cite web
url=http://www.rosfest.com/Performers-2007/Frost.htm
title=Frost
accessdate=2006-11-27
publisher=Rites of Spring festival] cite web
url=http://www.daveling.co.uk/diary.htm
title=DAVE LING - MUSIC JOURNALIST
date=2006-12-11
accessdate=2006-12-11
publisher=Dave Ling
quote=So I arrive in the foyer of the Scala (where the band are due to open for The Flower Kings) to interview their leader, Jem Godfrey, and the first words he says to me are: "Nice to meet you, this is our last gig."]

However, in early 2007, Godfrey revived the band name and wrote in his blog about writing material for a second Frost* album. Godfrey has recently posted several videos on YouTube called the "Frost* Reports," under the user name Planetfrost. In one of the videos, Godfrey shows the plans for the band to work on the album during the last week of January, February, March, and April and hopes to have it done by May of 2008.] In between recording, they supported Spock's Beard for a small tour. Videos documenting their tour are also included on their YouTube site.

Discography

* "Milliontown" (July 2006; InsideOut; INO-79092)
* "Frost* Tour EP" (July 2008; only available on tour)
* "Experiments in Mass Appeal" (due November 2008)

Line-up

Current members

* Jem Godfrey (vocals, keyboards)
* John Mitchell (guitars, vocals)
* John Jowitt (Bass guitar)
* Andy Edwards (drums)
* Declan Burke (vocals (Experiments in Mass Appeal); acoustic guitar)

Former members

* John Boyes (additional guitars)

References

External links

* [http://www.frostmusic.net/ The Official FROST* website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/planetfrost Frost*'s official Youtube page]