Fastlane (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Fastlane


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Origin = Guildford, England
Genre = rock, pop, metal,
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Pyropit Records, Punktastic Recordings |/>
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Fastlane is a rock band that emerged from the Surrey rock scene in 1997.

History

Formed in 1997, Fastlane was made of 4 school friends with common musical interests. With Benji Phillips, Ian Maynard, Matty O’Grady and Adam Biffen all playing a minimum of 3 instruments each, finding a line up that worked proved a problem at first, but by 1998 the lines-up consisted of both Ian and Ben singing and playing guitar, Biffen playing bass, and Matty on drums. Their first demo ‘Lets Get Amongst It’ was cut, and the band started playing local shows. The band was put on hiatus when three members started university from 1999 to 2002.

In 2002, the band reformed with a slightly different line up: Benji singing, Matty and Biffen playing Guitar, Tom Marsden playing Bass, and Dan Ranson playing drums. During the summer of 2002, Fastlane self-released their debut EP ‘She Loves the Rock’ and was picked up by 20 Deck Records, where they were soon on the road touring and playing to audiences across the country. Another line-up change and an original member return, Ian Maynard picked up the bass as Tom left the band. Fastlane grew as they gained over 20,000 downloads on the former website MP3.comFact|date=July 2007 in under 12 months. 2003 found Fastlane making the final line-up change, when Gary Tough joined as the drummer. In reviews, Fastlane's genre has been listed as rock, pop punk, emo, screamo, pop, and metal.http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=225896 access date: 11.05.2007] http://www.rockfreaks.net/index.php?page=albumreviews&id=604 access date: 11.05.2007] http://www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/cd_view.cgi?CDID=5443 access date: 11.05.2007] http://noizemakesenemies.blogspot.com/2007/04/fastlane-overdrive-album-review.html access date: 11.05.2007] http://www.subba-cultcha.com/article.php?id=5002 access date: 11.05.2007] http://www.europunk.net/reviews.php?id=1296 access date: 11.05.2007]

In March 2004, Fastlane entered the studio to record their first full-length album titled ‘New Start’ with the producer Iain Wetherell (Vanilla Pod, Raging Speedhorn, My Awesome Compilation) at Premier Studios in Corby. They played shows in multiple cities in England promoting their upcoming release, and in the latter part of 2004, the album was finished.Savage, Paul (March 2005). "Focus. Fastlane". Big Chesse Magazine: Issue 61] ‘New Start’ included the songs, ‘Eyes Closed’, ‘Elevator’, ‘A New Start’, ‘Million Times’ and the single ‘Dreaming’. The album was released on Sucka Punch Records in the UK in 2005, Johnston, Emma (April 2005). "Rated Albums: Fastlane". Kerrang: Issue 1053] and Pyropit Records in Japan later that year. Japanese Magazine (August 2005). "Fastlane". Crossbeat: Issue 50] It was distributed in HMV, Tower Records, Virgin Megastores, Tesco, and Amazon.

In 2005, Fastlane commenced their headline national tour even adding dates in Scotland and Wales. Arbroath Herald (15th April, 2005). "Multi-instrument and multi-talented Fastlane."] In addition to their headline tour, they supported other UK tours including New Found Glory, Silverstein, Gratitude, Avenged Sevenfold, Zebrahead, The Academy Is, Aiden, 4Ft Fingers, Spunge, and My Awesome Compilation.

2006 began with another headline tour for Fastlane and in addition supporting tours of bands such as Aiden, Hidden in Plain View, Funeral for a Friend, and Fightstar. During the summer, Fastlane returned to the studio to record their second full-length album ‘Overdrive’ with producer John Mitchell (Funeral for a Friend, Enter Shikari) at Outhouse Studios in Reading. The album was released by Pyropit Records in Japan during October 2006, and was followed with an international tour when Fastlane flew to Tokyo promoted it. Japanese Magazine (December 2006). "Fastlane". Crossbeat: Issue 100] Pyropit Records, an indie record company in Japan joined forces with Kick Rock Music to create a tour for Fastlane and three American bands; The Swellers, The Space Pimps, and Better Luck Next Time. Japanese Magazine (October/November 2006). "Fastlane". GrindHouse: Issue 38 ] They sold out venues such as The Club Quattro and ACB in Tokyo with a capacity of 500+ people, and conducted in-stores at Tower Records in Shibuya, Tokyo. http://www.pyropitrecords.com/band_fastlane.html access date:30.01.2007]

Since MP3.com closed, Fastlane have uploaded music on both Purevolume, where they have over 26,000 plays, http://www.purevolume.com/fastlane access date: 30.01.2007] and Myspace.com where they have over 130,000 plays. http://www.myspace.com/fastlane access date: 30.01.2007] ‘Overdrive’ will be released on Punktastic Recordings in the UK on 07 May 2007, http://www.punktasticrecordings.com/viewartist.php?id=Fastlane access date: 30.01.2007] and is available for purchase on iTunes.

Members

Current lineup

* Ben Phillips – vocals (1997-present)
* Matt O'Grady – lead guitar (1997-present)
* Adam Biffen – rhythm guitar (1997-present)
* Ian Maynard – bass, piano (1997-1999, 2002-present)
* Gary Tough – drums (2003-Present)

Former members

* Tom Marsden – bass (1999-2002)
* Dan Ransen – drums (1999-2003)

Discography

Trivia

*Fastlane have been featured in Kerrang magazine.Lawrence, Alister (April 2005). "Introducing...Fastlane". Kerrang: Issue 1050]
*Featured in Rockin'On Magazine, Japanese Magazine (August 2005). "UK: Fastlane". Rockin' On: Issue 100] GrindHouse Magazine, Japanese Magazine (August/September 2005). "Fastlane". GrindHouse: Volume 31] and Crossbeat in Japan.
*Charted #4 Japan’s HMV Pop Punk Music Chart, #16 Japan’s HMV Alternative Chart, #283 Japan’s HMV Music Chart.
*Sold 14,000 copies of ‘New Start.’
*6,500 pre-sales of ‘Overdrive.’
*Signed to International Booking Agency (ITB) in the UK.
*Headlined a tour through England, Scotland, and Wales.
*Toured Japan in October 2006.
*Released two albums on notable indie label Pyropit Records in Japan.
*Won the Taste of Chaos Tour Music Competition.
*Received plays from Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden on his nationally broadcasted BBC radio show.
*Played Guildford Festival, Taste of Chaos, Download Festival, Subculture, Teenculture, and Victory Invasion Tour.

Venues

National Venues Played

*London Astoria
*Camden Barfly
*Camden Underworld
*Mean Fiddler
*The Garage
*Islington Academy
*The Sound Leicester Square
*The Verge
*Birmingham NIA
*Birmingham Academy, Academy 2, Bar Academy
*Nottingham Rock City
*Manchester Road House
*Liverpool Academy
*Leeds Cockpit
*Newcastle University
*York Fibbers
*Southampton Guildhall
*Wolverhampton Wulfrun
*Wolverhampton Little Civic
*Oxford Zodiac
*Cambridge Junction
*Norwich Waterfront
*The Leicester Charlotte
*Bournemouth Firestation
*Tunbridge Wells Forum
*Plymouth University
*Exeter Cavern
*Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

International Venues

*Wales:
**Cardiff Barfly
**Clwb Ifor Bach
**Wrexham Central Station
*Scotland:
**Glasgow Arches
**Glasgow Barfly
**Glasgow King Tuts
**Arbroath Viewfield Hotel
*Japan:
**The Club Quattro
**ACB
**Club Milk
**Kumagaya’s Heavens Rock

External links

* [http://www.fastlanerock.com Official Website]
* [http://myspace.com/fastlane MySpace]
* [http://www.pyropitrecords.com Pyropit Records]
* [http://www.punktasticrecordings.com Punktastic Recordings]

References