Radio 4
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
Top
Radio 4
- Genres: Rock
Biography
Named after a P.I.L. song, Radio 4 revives the late-'70s/early-'80s post-punk of bands like Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, and P.I.L. by matching scratchy guitar riffs with danceable grooves. The band was formed in 1999 in New York City by bassist Anthony Roman, guitarist Tommy Williams, drummer Greg Collins, percussionist P.J. O'Connor, and keyboardist Gerard Garone, and quickly recorded a three-song EP for New Jersey's Gern Blandsten label.Their 2000 debut, The New Song and Dance, produced by Tim O'Heir, entered Radio 4 into the ranks of gritty, guitar-driven, N.Y.C. rock & rollers. In early 2001, Radio 4 went back into the studio with O'Heir to record the 12" Dance to the Underground, which included a dance remix of the title track. The remix signaled a new direction for Radio 4, one that would mine their funky riffs and dub-inspired bass lines to create a sound that would merge rock and dance. After cutting demos in a Brooklyn basement studio, Radio 4 went to work on their second album, Gotham!, with the acclaimed production duo DFA, made up of Tim Goldsworthy and James Murphy. The producers' experience with electronic artists such as James Lavelle's U.N.K.L.E. project and David Holmes, as well as bands that mix rock and electronica like the Rapture and Primal Scream, was the final ingredient necessary to realize Radio 4's genre-beating vision. Gotham!, released on Gern Blandsten in 2002, is a brilliant mix of guitars, dub, beats, squeaks, loops, keyboards, and handclaps that evokes the best post-punk dance bands like Gang of Four and gives it a modern boost of energy. The record garnered a great deal of positive press, exposure on MTV2, and expanded their fan base, both at home and in Europe, quite a bit. In 2003 the band landed a deal with Astralwerks and released an EP made up of a newly recorded version of "Dance to the Underground" plus a handful of remixes by acts like Playgroup and the Faint. The band recorded its third album, Stealing of a Nation, with producer Max Heyes in an underground studio in Brooklyn. It was released in September of 2004. ~ Charles Spano, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
Radio 4 (band)
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2011) |
| Radio 4 | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Genres | Dance-punk Post-punk revival Punk rock |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Astralwerks |
| Associated acts | Garden Variety |
| Members | |
| Anthony Roman Greg Collins P.J. O'Connor Dave Milone |
|
| Past members | |
| Gerard Garone Anthony Rizzo Tommy Williams |
|
Radio 4 is an American Dance-punk based in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1999, they claim their music is "made in New York, is about New York, and sounds like New York".
The band was a five-piece, comprising Anthony Roman (Vocals/Bass) (formerly of Garden Variety), David Milone (Vocals/Guitar) (who replaced original guitarist/singer Tommy Williams in 2005), Gerard Garone (Keyboards), Greg Collins (Drums), and P.J. O'Connor (Percussion) until April 2008 when Gerard Garone left the band.
The band was originally a trio, comprising Anthony Roman, Tommy Williams and Greg Collins.
They cite a variety of influences, including Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, Primal Scream and Zero Zero, though their lively punk sound combined with their militant political stance inevitably draws a strong comparison with The Clash.
Their name comes from a Public Image Ltd. song from that group's second album, which is itself a reference to BBC Radio 4.
|
Contents
|
Discography
Albums
- The New Song & Dance (May 2000, Gern Blandsten Records)
- Gotham! (April 2002, Gern Blandsten Records)
- Stealing of a Nation (September 2004, Astralwerks) - UK #157
- Enemies Like This (May 2006, Astralwerks)
EPs
- Dance to the Underground (June 2001, Gern Blandsten Records)
- Electrify (August 2004, Astralwerks)
- Enemies Like This Remixes (September 2006, Astralwerks)
- Packing Things Up on the Scene (October 2006, Astralwerks/EMI)
Singles
- "Beat Around the Bush" (1999, Gern Blandsten Records)
- "Dance to the Underground" (June 2001, City Slang) - UK #94
- "Struggle" (May 2002, City Slang) - UK #84
- "Eyes Wide Open" (May 2002, City Slang) - UK #182
- "Start a Fire" (August 2003, City Slang) - UK #130
- "Party Crashers" (July 2004, Astralwerks/City Slang) - UK #75
- "Absolute Affirmation" (September 2004, City Slang) - UK #61
- "State of Alert" (November 2004, City Slang) - UK #121
- "Transmission" (March 2005, City Slang) - UK #153
- "Enemies Like This" (May 2006, Astralwerks) - UK #162
- "Packing Things Up on the Scene" (October 2006, Astralwerks/EMI) - UK #175
- "As Far as the Eye Can See" (August 2007, Astralwerks/EMI)
Songs in other media
- Radio 4's song, "Caroline" is featured in "Rooney - Heart" in Nike's Joga Bonito series of advertisements.
- "Dance to the Underground" is featured in the musical score of Grandma's Boy, produced by Adam Sandler's production company Happy Madison in 2006.
- "Start a Fire" from the album Gotham! has been featured in Warren Miller's Journey, and commercials for FX's show Rescue Me
- "Enemies Like This" has been featured in commercials for the National Geographic Channel's documentary series Critical Situation.
- "Calling All Enthusiasts" was used in commercials for the new Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes in 2004.
- A pre-release version of "Give it to Me" was featured in Sharpie marker's TV commercial with David Beckham in the summer of 2008.[1]
References
- ^ Sanford L.P. (June 19, 2008). "David Beckham - Sharpie Markers ad (60 sec.)". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HKxAAip2sA. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
External links
 |
This article on a United States punk rock band is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
Radio 4
(Rock Band, '90s)
C band
(communications)
ExitheUXA
(2002 Album by Gogogo Airheart)
Robin Lustig
(reporter)
The New Song and Dance
(2000 Album by Radio 4)
» More