It Bites

Infobox musical artist
Name = It Bites


Img_capt = Cover of "Eat me in St. Louis" (1989)
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = UK
Genre = Progressive rock/Pop rock
Years_active = 1984–1990, 2006-
Label = Virgin Records, Geffen Records
Associated_acts =
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Current_members = John Mitchell John Beck Bob Dalton Lee Pomeroy
Past_members = Francis Dunnery Lee Knott Dick Nolan Howard "H" Smith
Notable_instruments = Tapboard

It Bites are a progressive rock and pop fusion band formed in Egremont, Cumbria, England in 1982. The band's initial rise to fame was on the back of the unusual and catchy 1986 single "Calling All The Heroes", which gained them a Top 6 UK chart hit and an unwelcome reputation as a novelty act - something the band was to dispel via their instrumental virtuosity, their reputation as an excellent live act and a measure of sheer determination. Rarely fashionable yet forever popular with their audience, the band (though signed to a major label) effectively became one of Britain's top underground rock acts during the late 1980s, capable of filling venues the size of the Hammersmith Odeon. Initially fronted by the charismatic and wayward Francis Dunnery, the band imploded during 1990, eventually returning in 2006 with new frontman John Mitchell.

Early years

Drummer-turned-guitarist Francis Dunnery, bass player Dick Nolan and drummer Bob Dalton had all grown up together in Egremont. (Francis Dunnery was the younger brother of Barry "Baz" Dunnery, a celebrated Cumbrian rock guitarist who had made a name for himself as a member of heavy rock band Necromandus and subsequently as a member of Ozzy Osbourne's first post-Black Sabbath band, preceding the formation of the Randy Rhoads-led "Blizzard of Oz" band). ['Ozzy Osbourne' by Garry Sharpe-Young (in 'Rockdetector' book series) - extract available online, retrieved September 25, 2008 - [http://www.sabbatum.com/download/rondellus/chapter.pdf] ] In 1982, the trio linked up with Whitehaven-born keyboard player John Beck (who came from a musical family more accustomed to performing country-and-western music.) [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

It Bites were originally a teenage covers band, playing contemporary chart hits from bands like Level 42 and Haircut 100 (which proved to be excellent training for the eclectic pop/rock songs they'd create later). All four musicians shared an interest in 1970s British progressive rock, but were also drawn equally to pop music, funk, jazz and soul. With Dunnery now handling lead vocals as well as guitar, the band played gigs at working men’s clubs and nightclubs around Cumbria and spent a brief period as a quintet (also featuring saxophonist Howard "H" Smith). [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ] The band were an accomplished and popular act, but experienced problems (their underage status didn't stop them drinking, and contributed to numerous brawls on the tough Cumbrian circuit). [‘Cumbria band want another bite at success’ (feature on band and Bob Dalton interview), News And Star (Carlisle), retrieved September 28, 20082008 - [http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/entertainment/gigs/1.229779] ] Dissatisfaction and disillusion finally led to the band splitting up in 1983, with Dunnery moving to London, Beck returning to Whitehaven, and Dalton and Nolan moving to Birmingham.

The band reformed in 1984 following a meetup in Egremont, and this time opted to relocate entirely to London. They moved into a squat in Peckham and spent a year living hand-to-mouth and writing original material. Bob Dalton later commented "it was actually the perfect situation because all we could afford to do was write songs 24/7. All that time was the making of us. We became strong writers and strong players.” [‘Cumbria band want another bite at success’ (feature on band and Bob Dalton interview), News And Star (Carlisle), retrieved September 28, 20082008 - [http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/entertainment/gigs/1.229779] ]

Their demo tape eventually secured them a management deal with Martyn Mayhead (at WEA Records), and shortly afterwards a recording contract with Virgin Records. [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ]

Initial success

In 1986, the band's first single ("All In Red") only charted modestly. Their second single "Calling All The Heroes" was a big hit, reaching #6 in the UK Singles Chart and gaining the band a huge amount of radio play and many television appearances. The third single, "Whole New World", also charted, but not at such a high position. [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ] All three singles appeared on the first It Bites album "The Big Lad In The Windmill" (produced by Alan Shacklock), which arrived in the summer of 1986 but met with only moderate commercial success.

The band toured with Go West and Marillion in late 1987, played major European outdoor festivals (including the Montreaux Jazz Festival, broadcast live across Europe by Swiss TV) and supported Robert Plant in early 1988. [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ] This diverse set of support slots revealed a problem in marketing the band which would last throughout their career. It Bites' blend of contemporary 1980s producer-pop, progressive rock instrumental virtuosity and hard-rock drive could appeal equally to many audiences or to none; and the band's tendency to embrace both rock posturing and throwaway pop (setting Beck's glossy keyboards and the band's massed harmony vocals against Dalton's heavy drums and Dunnery's swaggering, Allan-Holdsworth-inspired guitar solos) confused and alienated many music press critics, whose reviews were often savage. Despite this, the band forged a loyal and enthusiastic following in the UK.

The band began recording their second album "Once Around The World" with producer Mark Wallis in mid-1987. Footage of this process was broadcast on Channel 4 TV's "Equinox" programme "Twang, Bang, Kerrang!" (which documented the history of the electric guitar. Francis Dunnery featured prominently in the programme, comparing his Japanese and American Fender Stratocaster guitars and discussing technique and equipment. [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

"Once Around The World" was released in 1988 and signaled a departure from the more directly pop-oriented sound of the first album. It contained the group's fourteen-minute 'magnum opus' "Once Around The World", on which their enthusiasm for progressive rock was fully unleashed. Virgin Records had insisted on some more pop-orientated sessions with producer Steve Hillage which resulted in the minor hit singles ‘Kiss Like Judas’ (February 1988) and ‘Midnight’ (April 1988). A third single "Old Man And The Angel" (a butchered version of a lengthier track from the Wallis sessions) fared less well. Despite its split nature, the final album was surprisingly consistent in tone and sound and was popular with fans.

During this period, Dunnery also gained some press attention for his invention of the Tapboard, an instrument based on two paired guitar necks and using a ten-finger tapping technique to create exceptionally fast and clear melodic runs and chording.

The shift towards hard rock

It Bites' third album, "Eat Me in St Louis" was recorded in early 1989 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, produced by Rheinholt Mack (best known for work with Queen and the Rolling Stones). The album featured a harder-edged, more guitar-orientated sound than before, with shorter, punchier songs and the direct progressive rock influences cut back. On its release, the album scored excellent reviews in rock magazines Kerrang and Raw and spawned the minor hit single "Still Too Young To Remember". [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

During this period, Virgin made strong attempts to break the band as a serious hard rock act with several re-releases and video shoots for 'Still Too Young To Remember' and the follow-ups 'Underneath Your Pillow' and 'Sister Sarah'. [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ] Although this was ultimately unsuccessful, the band still proved themselves exceptionally popular as a live act, playing sell-out gigs across the UK, USA and Japan, and touring with Jethro Tull and the Beach Boys. Certain band members also participated in outside projects - Nolan recording with Tony Banks (on his 1989 'Bankstatement' album) and Dunnery singing backing vocals on the debut Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album during the same year. [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

Departure of Francis Dunnery

It Bites showcased some new post-"Eat Me In St Louis" material on an eight-date UK tour during March and April 1990. [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ] In June 1990, the band travelled to Los Angeles, USA to start writing and recording their fourth album. This was intended to be the record to break the American market, and Dunnery promised simpler songs with "a stronger taste of blues." [IBAS newsletter, January 1990 (archived on Mandy's It Bites fansite and retrieved September 25, 2008 - [http://www.mandy.co.uk/it-bites/letters/LET_J90.HTML] ]

However, tensions within the band reached breaking point during the pre-rehearsal period, and it was confirmed to the band's fanclub in November 1990 that the band had parted company with Francis Dunnery. [IBAS newsletter, November 1990 (archived on Mandy's It Bites fansite and retrieved September 25, 2008 - [http://www.mandy.co.uk/it-bites/letters/LET_N90.HTML] ] Dunnery is rumoured to have demanded full band leadership and control over material [IBAS newsletter, November 1990 (archived on Mandy's It Bites fansite and retrieved September 25, 2008 - [http://www.mandy.co.uk/it-bites/letters/LET_N90.HTML] ] [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ] , and it's also claimed that he clashed with former creative foil John Beck to the extent that he demanded Beck's expulsion from the band. [‘Cumbria band want another bite at success’ (feature on band and Bob Dalton interview), News And Star (Carlisle), retrieved September 28, 20082008 - [http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/entertainment/gigs/1.229779] ]

Now minus Dunnery, the remaining trio initially stayed on in Los Angeles, continuing to write and auditioning new singers (at this point, Beck also switched from keyboards to guitar). Returning to England, they recruited Lee Knott as the new It Bites singer (Knott had previously fronted the band Innocence Lost, who had played support slots to It Bites on previous UK dates). [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

A new It Bites album was initially scheduled for early 1991. This was ultimately replaced by a live album, "Thank You And Goodnight", which was mostly drawn from "Eat Me In St Louis" tour recordings.

In an attempt to refresh their identity, the Knott-fronted It Bites renamed themselves as Navajo Kiss and played several gigs under that name (featuring new material plus a vigorous cover of "Murder Of the Planet Earth" from "Eat Me In St Louis"). A second name-change - to Sister Sarah - followed, but the band split quietly within the year.

Post-split

The various band members went their separate ways but remained in touch. Beck and Dalton joined John Wetton's band for a Japanese tour and a live album, "Chasing The Tiger"), with Beck moving on to become one of the keyboard players for the Alan Parsons Project. Nolan (who also worked for the Alan Parsons Project) eventually stablished himself as Ray Davies' bass player of choice. Dalton played drums for Chris Norman and Ray Davies and moved into teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ] Lee Knott spent some time in promotion (Portishead, Tricky, Underworld), briefly resurfaced as the instrumental half of Superior (who released a couple of singles - "Being You" and "Coma" - on Virgin Records in 1997), and has since gone on to a low-key solo career. [Lee Knott MySpace page, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://www.myspace.com/leeknott13] ]

Francis Dunnery, now based permanently in the USA, reemerged in 1991 to begin a successful solo career which continues to this day.

A partial It Bites reunion appeared in 1996 in the shape of the band Unicorn Jones. This project featured John Beck, Dick Nolan and singer David Banks (who'd once auditioned for It Bites and who'd previously been part of the band Mummy Calls, whose song "Beauty Has Her Way" appeared on the soundtrack to the film "The Lost Boys"). Banks had approached Beck and Nolan to help him record an album of Burt Bacharach covers, but the trio had been sidetracked into recording a bizarre cover of Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades" (in which they succeeded in "replacing Lemmy's timeless vocal with David's crooner voice and transforming the heavy metal trash into a dark deranged groove"). This cover spawned the Unicorn Jones band, which recorded one album - 1996's 'A Hundred Thousand Million Stars' - but did not play live. [Unicorn Jones entry on www.answers.com, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://www.answers.com/topic/unicorn-jones] ] [Unicorn Jones page on MDM Artist Management website , retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://www.mdm.ie/artists/unicorn_jones.html] ]

Beck and Dalton were to reunite in 2005 as members of the band Kino, a progressive rock band which also featured Marillion bass player Pete Trewavas and British prog scene regular John Mitchell (Arena and others) on lead vocals and guitar [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ] (and in which Dalton replaced former Porcupine Tree drummer Chris Maitland). Kino's album 'Picture' was a huge success on the British prog rock scene during 2005 [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ] , and the band performed versions of the It Bites songs "Kiss Like Judas" and "Plastic Dreamer" at live concerts.

Reunion at the Union Chapel, 2003

On 30 August 2003, during a solo concert at the Union Chapel in London, Francis Dunnery was joined onstage by his old It Bites band-mates - the first time this had happened since 1990. [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ] To the delight of the audience, John Beck joined Dunnery for a duet on the It Bites song "Hunting The Whale", following which they were joined by Dick Nolan and Bob Dalton for a gig finale of "Still Too Young To Remember".

Following this, it was announced that It Bites would be getting back together to write and record a new album followed by a tour. Although some writing and initial recording did take place, the full reunion of the original lineup never materialised (apparently due to Dunnery's hectic schedule back in the United States, which affected his ability to commit to the band). [It Bites fan biography on Martin Best's website, retrieved September 28, 2008 - [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/it_bites.htm] ]

The brief reunion did, however, act as a spur for some archive It Bites releases - the "Live At Montreux" album (originally recorded in 1987) and the DVD "Live In Tokyo" (featuring footage dating from the "Eat Me In St Louis" period.) Both were released by Bob Dalton on behalf of the band.

Reformation with John Mitchell

With Dunnery unavailable (or unwilling to commit) and a reinvigorated fanbase in existence, It Bites opted to reform with Beck and Dalton's Kino bandmate John Mitchell replacing Dunnery as lead singer and guitarist. Mitchell had been an enthusiastic It Bites fan since his teens, and was very happy to take on the role. [Biography page from It Bites official website, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/theband.html] ]

The new It Bites made their live debut for a well-received tour in winter 2006 (which also spawned a live album "When The Lights Go Down", released in 2007). The band began to write material for a new album during 2006 and 2007, opting to self-produce. The new album - called "The Tall Ships" - was completed in May 2008 and pre-released to members of the It Bites internet forum on July 21st, with a full release to follow in October 2008.

Departure of Dick Nolan

On 23 June 2008 the band announced a further change to their line-up with the departure of bass player Dick Nolan. (Earlier in the year, Nolan had failed to show up for a performance at a Classic Rock Society concert, and there had been rumours of his dissatisfaction with the project.)

The band's statement read, in part: "Due to Dick’s lack of commitment we had been forced to complete the album Genesis- style. As such there will be the three of us making and promoting the new album. Dick’s involvement had been half hearted and he had not contributed to the making of the new album. It had become impossible to carry on with the uncertainty, indecision and unreliability that his involvement brought. On countless occasions we had tried to accommodate him, but most recently this has caused lengthy delays to making the album. This has been a very difficult decision and not what we wanted to make." [IT BITES Website]

The band announced Lee Pomeroy as the new bass player in the same statement (as well as revealing that all bass playing on the new "Tall Ships" album had been performed by either Mitchell or Beck). A multi-instrumentalist, Pomeroy is an established British sessions player and support musician (Take That, Mike Oldfield and Rick Wakeman's New English Rock Ensemble) but shares It Bites' appreciation of English progressive rock musicians. Lee was apparently recommended to the band by Dick Nolan himself. ['A public swipe at Dick Nolan? Poor' - forum topic on It bites forum, retrieved September 28th, 2008 - [http://www.itbites.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2353] ]

Current activity

A tour is scheduled to start in London on 26 September 2008 and finish at Lydney Town Hall, Gloucestershire, on 7 October 2008.

ound

"A British band with blues and metal aspirations, but also a strong art-rock tendency" [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=IT|BITES&sql=11:hifyxqe5ldae~T1 It Bites, All Music Guide] ] says John Bush of the All Music Guide

Line up

Current

* John Mitchell (lead vocals, guitar)
* John Beck (keyboards, backing vocals)
* Bob Dalton (drums, backing vocals)
* Lee Pomeroy (bass guitar)

Past members

* Francis Dunnery (lead vocals, guitar)
* Lee Knott (lead vocals)
* Dick Nolan (bass guitar, backing vocals)
* Howard "H" Smith (saxophone)

Discography

* "The Big Lad In The Windmill" (Virgin/Geffen 1986)
* "Once Around The World" (Virgin/Geffen 1988)
* "Eat Me In St Louis" (Virgin/Geffen 1989)
* "The It Bites Album" (Virgin Japan 1990)
* "Thank You And Goodnight - Live" (Virgin 1991)
* "Best Of - Calling All the Heroes" (EMI 2003)
* "Live in Montreux" (2003)
* "Live in Tokyo" (DVD 2003)
* "When The Lights Go Down" (Live CD, May 2007)
* "The Tall Ships" (October 2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.itbites.com Official Website]