Depo (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = depo


Img_capt = Lineup ca. 2006: L - R: Harmon (far left, just visible), Vine, Jones, Parsons
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|England Norwich, England
Genre = Alternative rock, Experimental, Post Rock
Years_active = 2002 - Present
Label = Wilde Club
URL = [http://www.depo.org.uk Official site] [http://www.myspace.com/deporock depo at myspace]
Current_members = Bill Vine Pete Harmon Simon Grimbley

Overview

DEPO are a Norwich based alternative/experimental rock band who shortened their name from DEPOPROVERA in June 2005. They have released material with Wilde Club Records and have played with the likes of Bearsuit, Magoo and Martin Grech.

Since the departure and subsequent return of guitarist Pete Harmon, front man and founding member Bill Vine has been writing and recording new material for both a solo album and for depo; rehearsals of the new depo material are set to begin soon, with gigs to follow.

The band name is always written either "DEPO" or "depo" (more often in lower case).

Formation

The original members of depo (Bill Vine, Pete Harmon, Sam Parker, Stephen Wood) met at school in Colchester in the early 1990s and originally formed a band under Wood's direction in 1997 called Dialectic. They played a number of gigs around Colchester and Chelmsford (one of which featured Pete's brother Dave on Bass while Parker was on holiday) and recorded the First Amendment single. Wood played guitar and sang, Harmon played lead guitar, Vine played guitar and sang backing vocals Parker played bass and Tim Austin on drums. Dialectic disbanded shortly before most of the members left Colchester for University, though as it turned out, four of them would turn up at the University of East Anglia in 1999.

During their first year at University, Vine and Harmon wrote new material ready for the formation of what was to become DepoProvera. They would begin rehearsing with Vine on vocals and guitar, Harmon on lead guitar and Parker back on bass. Wood soon rejoined the band on rhythm guitar although left due to commitment conflicts before the band played any gigs. With then friend Andy Phillips on drums, the original line-up was complete.

After intensive rehearsal, DepoProvera recorded their 5 track Flowering EP in December 2001 at Plug Studios. Continuing to write and rehearse they played their first gig, at the UEA LCR, on June the 9th 2002, supporting Indie favourites KaitO. The Flowering EP was officially released by the band the same day, with initial copies being sold at the gig to much success.

Musikland

After the departure of original bassist Sam Parker in 2002, who left to pursue a career in journalism, depo (then still depoprovera, though having dropped the capital 'D' and 'P' in favour of the more streamlined 'depoprovera' or 'DEPOPROVERA') recruited Rich Jones to fill the role. Rich brought a new dynamic to the band and an energy on stage which at a gig at the UEA LCR led to a mild concussion, when he dropped his bass on his head. He continued playing in an only slightly subdued manner.

The band once more took to the studio, though this time at The Sickroom, with Owen Turner at the helm. The result was the much more accomplished Musikland EP, named after the toy piano found in the studio bearing the name, which was used on the track 'Untitled 3'. The opening track, 681, garnered significant radio airplay and was featured on several compilation albums, all of which helped to secure depo's popularity. A positive review of the EP by The Stool Pigeon music paper led to their declaring depo their 'pick for the fat advance'.

After the recording of Musikland, Andy decided to call it a day and moved away to live with his parents, opening up the drummer's position for Kev Jones. Filling the role with ease, Kev reinterpreted and reinvigorated Andy's old drum lines. The band began rehearsing once again, much more tightly than before and with an increased sense of determination.

Unfortunately it was not long before Rich, nearing completion of his degree, decided to step down as bassist as he planned to relocate to London after graduation. Since moving there he has pursued a number of other musical projects, and is currently involved with several bands in various roles.

Ok To Pay

Following the departure of bassist Jones, depo recruited Andrew 'Rew' Parsons to the position. Settling comfortably into the band, Parsons' technique differed significantly from Jones' approaching the music perhaps more sympathetically.

With Rew on board, the band once more took to the studio, this time to record the single, 'Ok to Pay'. Named after a discarded UEA library stamp which Vine had salvaged whilst working there, the song was recorded at the UEA Studios with Kid Atom (Phil from John Peel favourites Hyper Kinako). Also featuring a remix by Kid Atom, the song proved to be something of an unlikely hit (unlikely due to its unconventional 7/4 time signature). Copys of the 8cm CD quickly sold out a gigs and through the band website and also attracted interest from Ville Leppanen at The Animal Farm, who admired the bands daring for putting out a song in 7/4 as a single.

f199

f199 would mark the first time a depo line-up would remain unchanged between recording sessions, and would also be the first release under the newly shortened name. Returning to The Sick Room to once again work with Owen Turner, the band would record this 5 track EP which was to attract the attention of Wilde Club Records, who would feature the lead song, alias, on their 2006 Wilde Club EP # 5.

Current Status

The band are currently working on new material whilst on the look out for a new drummer and will be returning both to the studio and to playing live in the very near future.

Releases

* 2006 - Wilde Club EP # 5, Song - Alias
* 2005 - f199 EP
* 2004 - ok to pay (single) released on 8cm CD
* 2003 - musikland EP
* 2002 - flowering EP

External links

* [http://www.depo.org.uk/ DEPO official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/deporock DEPO myspace]
* [http://www.indiestore.com/depo DEPO indiestore]
* [http://www.sellaband.com/depo DEPO sellaband space]