Alabama 3

Alabama 3 (A3 in the United States)

Alabama 3, or A3, playing at the London Astoria on 7 October 2007
Background information
Also known as The First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine (UK)
A3
Origin Brixton, London, England
Genres Electronica, alternative rock, acid jazz, trip hop
Years active 1996–present
Labels Hostage Music
One Little Indian
Geffen/MCA Records
Columbia/SME Records
Website alabama3.co.uk
Members Jake Black
Steve Finnerty
John Jennings
Aurora Dawn
Orlando Harrison
Mark Sams
Rob Spragg
Piers Marsh
Nick Reynolds
Past members Simon Edwards
Jonny Delafonz
Zoe Devlin

Alabama 3 are an English band mixing rock, electronic, blues, country, gospel, and spoken word styles, founded in Brixton, London in 1995. In the United States, the band is known as A3, allegedly to avoid any possible legal conflict with the country music band Alabama.[1] The group achieved success when the producers of hit TV series The Sopranos chose the track "Woke Up This Morning" for the show's opening credits.[1]

The band is notable for their fusion of styles, ironic lyrics, intentionally humorous personae, and outrageous live performances. Every member of the group has an alias, the band's founding members adopting the personas Larry Love (Rob Spragg) and The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love (Jake Black).

History

The band formed when Jake Black met Rob Spragg at an acid house party in Peckham and they decided that a fusion of country music with acid house was a musical possibility.[2] Other members of the band were added over time. Rob Spragg was at university with Piers Marsh, the harmonica player and synthesizer programmer for the band, while Orlando Harrison, the group's current keyboardist, used to live with Jake Black.[2] Prior to the formation of Alabama 3, and following the demise of The Jangletties, Black generated little or no recorded output for several years.

Starting their act under the alias the First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine (UK), the group eventually switched names to Alabama 3 and, after having been dismissed by the mainstream media as a novelty act, signed with One Little Indian Records in 1997 for the release of its debut album, Exile on Coldharbour Lane.[3]

In August 2007, the group toured under the name of Alabama 3: Acoustic and Unplugged, with Harpo Strangelove and Devlin Love, to promote its new album MOR (released 10 September 2007). Bassist John "Segs" Jennings left the band, saying he was "busy elsewhere and [he doesn't] have the time."[4] The band's sixth studio album, M.O.R. included a cover of Jerry Reed's 1970s hit "Amos Moses" and features The Proclaimers on the track "Sweet Joy" plus piano parts on the country stomp version of the Gil Scott Heron song "The Klan", written by Heron and Brian Jackson. In September and October 2007, the band toured the UK in support of M.O.R. with Irish band Republic of Loose supporting.

On Friday 29 February 2008, Larry Love, Devlin Love and Mark Sams did an encore with Carbon/Silicon at the seventh and final Carbon Casino gig at the Inn on the Green, under the Westway. Mick Jones joined the group on-stage to add guitar and backing vocals to a version of "Woke Up This Morning."

Having recorded and toured with the band in the early days, Aurora Dawn rejoined the band in 2009. Between late 2010 and early 2011, programmer, harmonicist, and founding member Piers "Mountain of Love" Marsh left the band. Although no reason was given, he is still an active contributor to the band's Facebook page. He and another Alabama 3 founding member, Sir Eddie Real, are now performing new material under the name of "Mountain of Love" with vocals from various guests.

Members

The members of the band are:

Past Members:

Musical style

Alabama 3's sound is a blend of country, blues, and acid house. The band's songs have sampled Jim Jones in "Mao Tse Tung Said" and Birmingham Six survivor Patrick Hill in "The Thrills Have Gone." Trouser Press reviewer Jason Reeher wrote that A3's "debut is brilliant and shambolic...owing huge debts to both Hank Williams and Happy Mondays."

Mountain of Love

Mountain of Love

Mountain of Love is a dubtronica group formed by two of the original three members of Alabama 3, Piers Marsh and Sir Eddie Real, in 2011 in Brixton, England .[6] The band's eponymous first album was released in 2013 off the Cooked Griffin Records label.

Alabama 3's music in other media

Film

Games

Music samples and remakes by other artists

Television

Discography

Main article: Alabama 3 discography

References

  1. 1 2 Yahoo! Music, Biography of Alabama 3
  2. 1 2 Contact Music, Interview with D. Wayne Love
  3. One Little Indian Records, Alabama 3
  4. Benefit Gig for Paul Fox of The Ruts. – Free A3 – The unofficial Alabama 3 forum
  5. Adam Bernstin, The Washington Post (2 March 2013). "Bruce Reynolds, 'Robbery' architect". Newsday. p. A26.
  6. Marsh, Piers. "Mountain of Love". Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. "Y Pris News". S4C. 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  8. "Bafta Cymru 2008 Winners" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2008.

External links

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