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Demob Happy are an English alternative rock band, formed in 2008 in Newcastle upon Tyne and now based in Brighton. The band is composed of singer-bassist Matthew Marcantonio, drummer Thomas Armstrong and guitarist Adam Godfrey.

Originally a four piece, the band's original lead guitarist Mathew Renforth left the band in mid-late 2016.

History

Demob Happy at the Village Underground - Thursday 14 September 2023
Demob Happy at the Village Underground - Thursday 14 September 2023

The band toured locally around their native Newcastle, before relocating south to Brighton a couple of years later[1] as "there’s not enough of a music scene in Newcastle, so bands don’t get a lot of attention, although it’s a musical city".[2][3] The band released their digital-only debut EP You Shook the Soul in May 2011 and follow up single Rattlesnake in February 2012.[4][5]

They released their first physical release in the form of the 7" single Succubus in November 2014 via their own label Milk Parlour Records.[6][7] In April 2015 the band released their first EP for new record label So Recordings in the form of the limited edition Record Store Day release Young & Numb EP on 10" vinyl.[8] The band released their debut album Dream Soda in October 2015.[9][10] The band co-own the Nowhere Man cafe in Brighton which is run by Marcantonio's brother Andrew where they also rehearse in the basement.[11]

In October 2016, the band embarked on a co-headline tour with fellow-Brighton based band Tigercub as a three piece.[12][13] Lead guitarist Mathew Renforth's absence was not mentioned prior to or during the tour. The band officially confirmed their status as a 3 piece via Facebook when they uploaded a new press photo without Renforth present.[14] The band released their new Tom Dalgety-produced single Dead Dreamers on 5 May 2017 via Atlantic Records imprint Taste & Tone.[15][16]

On 23 March 2018, the band released their second album Holy Doom, which was preceded by the singles Be Your Man[17] and Loosen It.[18][19]

The band supported Jack White on the UK leg of his Boarding House Reach world tour in October 2018.[20]

On 2 April 2021, the italian rapper Caparezza announced a featuring with Matthew Marcantonio in Canthology, the first track of his album Exuvia.[21]

Band members

Current members

  • Matthew Marcantonio – lead vocals, bass
  • Thomas Armstrong – drums, vocals
  • Adam Godfrey – guitar, vocals

Former members

  • Mathew Renforth – lead guitar

Discography

Studio albums

  • Dream Soda (2015), So Recordings
  • Holy Doom (2018), So Recordings
  • Divine Machines (2023), Liberator Music

EPs/Singles

  • "You Shook the Soul" (2011), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Rattlesnake" (2012), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Succubus" (2014), Milk Parlour Records
  • Young & Numb EP (2015), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Dead Dreamers" (2017), Taste & Tone
  • "Be Your Man" (2017), SO Recordings
  • "Fake Satan" (2017), SO Recordings
  • "Loosen It" (2018), SO Recordings
  • Holy Doom Unplugged EP (2018), SO Recordings
  • "Less Is More" (2019), SO Recordings
  • "Autoportrait" (2019), SO Recordings
  • "Mother Machine" (2020), SO Recordings
  • "Sympathy Boy"(2021), SO Recordings
  • "Hades, Baby (Orchestral Version from Abbey Road)" (2021), SO Recordings
  • "Voodoo Science" (2023), Liberator Music
  • "Run Baby Run" (2023), Liberator Music

References

  1. ^ Kidd, Adam. "Demob Happy – Dream Soda". www.brightonsfinest.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Q&A: Demob Happy". brightonnoise.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Demob Happy - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Demob Happy - Grunge - Brighton - Listing". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Demob Happy unveil terrifying new 'Succubus' video". DIY. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Brighton bunch Demob Happy deliver gritty and grubby garage rock on debut". thelineofbestfit.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. ^ Day, Record Store. "DEMOB HAPPY". recordstoreday.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Demob Happy detail debut album Dream Soda, plot UK shows". thelineofbestfit.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Listen To Brighton Grungers Demob Happy's Hook-Heavy Debut Album 'Dream Soda' - NME". nme.com. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ^ "New Artist Of The Week – Demob Happy Are The Brighton Grungers Attacking Commercial Culture - NME". nme.com. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Demob Happy / Tigercub Co-Headline at Patterns: Review". spbx.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Demob Happy unveil new single 'Dead Dreamers' - premiere". independent.co.uk. 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  17. ^ Johnson, Laura. "Demob Happy Release New Single Be Your Man - Stereoboard". stereoboard.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Demob Happy Reveal New Single 'Loosen It' + Announce Dates for April 2018 UK Headline Tour - The Music Site". themusicsite.com. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Demob Happy announce new album 'Holy Doom'". DIY. 22 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  20. ^ Subscribe (15 November 2018). "Power of III: Demob Happy hit the road with Jack White". DIY. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  21. ^ "CAPAREZZA on Instagram: "Mi sono divertito molto a leggere il vostro toto-feat ma siamo nella selva ed è normale ritrovarsi fuori strada. Ovviamente stimo e ascolto molti degli artisti da voi citati ma la foresta è imprevedibile, gli ospiti dell'album pure: 1 - MATTHEW MARCANTONIO E' il cantante della mia rock band preferita del momento, i Demob Happy. Si tratta del gruppo che ho ascoltato di più durante la stesura del disco, motivo per cui ho voluto assegnare a Matthew la traccia d'apertura. Spero di coinvolgerlo anche sul palco del prossimo tour. ( @demob_happy ) 2 - MISHEL DOMENSSAIN E' una cantautrice messicana molto connessa con la madre terra. Ho scoperto la sua musica mentre andavo alla ricerca di nuovi artisti nel web e la sua voce mi ha catturato dal primo ascolto. Non posso svelarvi altro riguardo a questo brano, uno dei più intensi dell'album. ( @ladomenssain ) Insomma, Matthew e Mishel sono i miei due compagni di viaggio, gentili e di grande talento, e danno voce allo smarrimento e all'incoraggiamento lungo il percorso di EXUVIA."". Retrieved 31 October 2021.
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