Frank Turner

Frank Turner
Frank Turner at a radio session for XFM in London.
Background information
Birth name	Francis Turner
Also known as	Frank Turner
Born	December 28, 1981 (1981-12-28) (age 27) Muharraq, Bahrain
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genres	Folk, folk-punk, post-hardcore, hardcore punk, alternative rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, Vocals
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Xtra Mile Recordings (UK), Epitaph, Paper + Plastick
Associated acts	Million Dead, The Record Buying Public, Kneejerk, Badger Doritos, Dive Dive
Website	http://www.frank-turner.com

Frank Turner (born 28 December, 1981) is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from London. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released three solo albums, a rarities compilation album and two EPs. His most recent album, Poetry of the Deed, was released on September 7, 2009.

Early life

Turner was born in Muharraq, Bahrain^[1], and grew up in Meonstoke, just outside Winchester, England. He was educated on a scholarship at Eton College, before earning a degree in History from the London School of Economics.

Musical career

Beginnings and Million Dead

Turner's musical career began at school, with the short-lived alternative band Kneejerk. The band self-released three albums and played several shows around the UK (including a support slot for boysetsfire), before disbanding in November 2001.^[2]

In 2001, Turner joined London post-hardcore band Million Dead at the invitation of former Kneejerk drummer Ben Dawson.^[3] In 2005, after four years and two albums, the band announced that they were parting ways, as “irreconcilable differences within the band mean that it would be impossible to continue.”^[4]

Sleep is for the Week and Love Ire & Song

Turner's first solo shows took place prior to the break-up of Million Dead, with a set at the Smalltown America all-dayer at 93 Feet East in London. After the band's split, Turner felt that “it seemed like the logical thing to do to try my hand at playing these songs more publicly and more concertedly than before”^[1]. Turner states that "when Million Dead finished, I wanted to stay on tour, but I didn’t want the hassle of putting a band together."^[5]

After a split EP with rock band Reuben, Turner's first solo EP, Campfire Punkrock, was released in May 2006 on Xtra Mile Recordings.^[1] After touring in support of American singer-songwriter Jonah Matranga, the two released a split EP in August 2006. In September, he was the last act to appear on Steve Lamacq's “Lamacq Live” show on BBC Radio 1.^[6] Turner's debut full-length, Sleep Is for the Week, was released in January 2007.

After an extensive tour, including dates supporting yourcodenameis:milo and Biffy Clyro, and an appearance at SXSW^[7], Turner released an EP, The Real Damage, in May 2007. After a further tour with Jonah Matranga and Jacob Golden, the “All About The Destination” DVD was released in October, before returning to the studio in Hampshire to record his second album. The album, Love Ire & Song was released on March 31, 2008, followed by an extensive UK tour with Andy Rourke and Chris T-T.

During summer 2008, Turner made several festival appearances, including sets at Two Thousand Trees Festival, the Cambridge Folk Festival, Truck, Glastonbury, Jam By The Lake (in Durham) and the Reading and Leeds Festivals.

In October/November, during his 2008 UK Tour for the Love, Ire and Song album, he became ill with Gastroenteritis, and was forced to cancel Nottingham halfway through the set. All remaining shows, which included Nottingham, Liverpool and Ireland were cancelled. He hadn't cancelled a show in 10 years. 'This is the first time in 10 years on the road that this has happened. I wasn't 100% before the show, and was nearly persuaded to pull the show then, but thought that 500 people with tickets deserved my best efforts.'^[8] He went on to reschedule all cancelled shows January 2009.

Frank Turner at The Park in Peterborough 2007

Poetry of the Deed

In December 2008 Turner released The First Three Years, a compilation of demos, b-sides and covers that are not featured either of his studio albums. In January 2009, he released a combined package of The First Three Years and Love Ire & Song, and supported The Gaslight Anthem on their tour of the UK and Europe, demoing several new songs and announcing his plans to record a new album in May. The album was produced by Alex Newport, as previously suggested in interview by Turner.^[9]

Prior to recording Poetry of the Deed, Turner stated that:^[10]

Turner was announced as the support act on The Offspring's Summer tour, during which he documented his travels with a blog on British music website NME.^[11] Regarding the support slot, Turner stated: "Smash was one of the first punk records I ever bought, and I’m blown away to even be considered for the shows. From a “career” point of view, it’s also great - playing to many thousands of people a night across the States is an opportunity not to be sniffed at."^[12]

On April 28, Turner signed with Epitaph Records for releases outside the UK.^[13]

Preceded by the single, "The Road", Turner's third studio album, Poetry of the Deed, was released on September 7, 2009 and reached #36 in the UK album chart; his hightest charting album to date. The following month he embarked upon a UK tour with his band* in support of the album (with singer/songwriter "Beans On Toast" and US band "Fake Problems" as support acts) culminating in a sell-out show at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on 29 October 2009. In November 2009 Frank began a tour of the US which moves to Europe from 28th November 09 and returns to the UK on 19th December. More UK gigs are booked for the Spring of 2010. He will be playing with Flogging Molly in the 2010 Green 17 Tour.

• Frank's Live Band are: Ben Lloyd - Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin; Tarrant Anderson - Bass; Matt Nasir - Piano, Organ, Guitar, Vocals; Nigel Powell - Drums, Percussion, Vocals.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Sleep Is for the Week (2007)
• Love Ire & Song (2008)
• Poetry of the Deed (2009)

Compilations

• The First Three Years (2008)

EPs

• Campfire Punkrock (2006)
• The Real Damage (2007)

Demos

• Frank Turner Demo (2005)

Singles

• "Vital Signs" (December 25, 2006)
• "Photosynthesis" (March 24, 2008)
• "Reasons Not to Be an Idiot" (June 23, 2008)
• "Long Live the Queen" (October 20, 2008) UK #65
• "Reasons Not to Be an Idiot" (iTunes Single of the Week, week commencing 26 January 2009)
• "The Road" (August 31, 2009) UK #62

Splits

• Xtra Mile Singles Club Split (January 30, 2006)
• Jonah Matranga / Frank Turner Split (July 17, 2006)
• Under The Influence - Volume 7: Frank Turner / Austin Lucas Split (???? ??, 2009) - Vinyl Collective. Frank covers Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road" (released on iTunes April 17, 2009).

Compilation appearances

• Public Service Broadcast #8 (April 17, 2006)
• "Photosynthesis" - "2000 Trees - Cider Smiles Vol.1", (Hide & Seek Records, June 2008)
• Xtra Mile High Club (Xtra Mile Recordings, 2008)
• "The Quiet One" - Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy (September 2009)
• "Sally" (Kerbdog cover) - Memoria : A Tribute To The Alternative 90s (Yr Letter Records, October 2009)

Videography

• Casanova Lament (unaired)
• Vital Signs (2006)
• The Real Damage (2007)
• Photosynthesis (2008)
• Reasons Not to Be an Idiot (2008)
• I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous (2008)
• Long Live the Queen (2008)
• The Road (2009)
• Poetry Of The Deed (2009)

DVDs

• All About the Destination (October 22, 2007)

References

External links

• Frank Turner's official website

Interviews

• YuppiePunk Q&A on pop songwriting, punk rock capitalism and social media
• Sept. 26th, 2009 Interview with ThePunkSite.com
• Stereokill Interview: 29th October 2008
• Stereokill Interview: 4th April 2009
• GiggingNI.com talks to Frank Turner

Other

• 'Think Black Flag' written by Frank Turner