- Urban Blitz
Infobox musical artist
Name = Urban Blitz
Img_capt =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Genre = Rock,Protopunk ,Art rock
Occupation =Musician
Associated_acts =Doctors of Madness Urban Blitz is best known for his [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=doctors_of_madness “eerie and atmospheric”] (
Ira Robbins )electric violin , baritoneviolectra andlead guitar work with the influential 70s Londonprotopunk rock band Doctors of Madness .However, Blitz had considerable earlier musical experience, graduating from a classical background to hone his skills on the London late 60s, early 70s club and
pub rock scene before travelling to Italy in early 1973 to play with the Neapolitan Italian / Celtic chanteuse, [http://www.jennysorrenti.it Jenny Sorrenti] . He lived and rehearsed with Jenny's band 'Saint Just' in the ‘House on the Lake’ onLake Bracciano , that led to the album of the same name ( [http://www.wonderoustories.it/Guida%20al%20pop/Saint.htm La Casa del Lago] ) but before the recording, Blitz left Italy to join the Doctors of Madness in June 1974.With Doctors of Madness, Blitz further developed his unique counterpoint
Electric violin style, incorporating agarage rock edge to complement the Doctor's nihilistic, manic, approach torock music ; usingfuzz box ,wah-wah pedal ,phasing ,echoplex andreverberation to appropriate effect. He cited avant garde violinistsJean-Luc Ponty , [http://www.sugarcane-harris.com Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris] andJohn Cale of theVelvet Underground as his main influences; having largely rejected his early classical training.Blitz's multifaceted lead guitar work also made a significant impact throughout the Doctors' music.
In the mid 70s he did occasional studio work, playing the electric violin solo on ‘Watch Out Carolina’ produced by
David Essex for chart toppers The Real Thing, and he also showed some flair as a producer himself, working with Yorkpunk rock band [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/jermz.htm ‘The Jermz’] on their local hit single [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/JERMZ.htm Powercut / Me and My Baby] .
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