This is not another story of a band starting out on the road for glory, but one of a band already on the road doing what bands should do… And their story has already begun.

With tales of impending success including touring with the likes of the Pigeon Detectives, receiving national airtime across Radio 2, recording with Grammy Award winning Bob Clearmountain and signing their first record deal it seemed as if everything was about to happen… Yet with a turn of bad luck, what happened was they found themselves stranded at Heathrow airport, without money or jobs to return to and with a manager who had deserted them. Kindly before leaving though, he had amassed a trail of debt in their name. With a tarnished reputation, it seems Famous Villains was an obvious choice of name.

In spite of the financial and emotional fallout from their former band, “The Wallbirds,” Anthony Lindley (lead vocal/ rhythm guitar) and Chris Autey (drums) had no regrets and were not about to give up. In 2012, they got together with old school friend Neil Smith (lead guitar) and classically trained Tobin James (piano). Famous Villains were born and have been playing throughout their native Doncaster and South Yorkshire ever since.

Melding the raw and soulful melodies of Wilson Pickett with the edgier guitar driven music of bands like Jawbreaker, Famous Villains play energetic and harmony-laden rock. Remarkably they show no sign of past disappointment, instead just an up-beat infectious attitude evocative of The Beatles… Serious about music but unaffected by everything else.

2013 started off the way they intend it to end… On the road! Having just completed a tour of the north, they are happy to announce they will be appearing at Wilderness Festival this summer. In the meantime listen out for Spies on BBC Introducing Sheffield, Sine FM and keep an eye out for further shows on their facebook…

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