- The View (band)
Infobox musical artist
Name = The View
Landscape = yes
Img_capt = The View onstage at the Glasgow SECC,November 17 ,2006
Background = group_or_band
Origin =Dundee ,Scotland
Genre =Indie rock Post-punk Pop
Years_active = 2005 – Present
Label = Current1965 Records (Sony BMG /Columbia) Former Two Thumbs
URL = [http://www.theviewareonfire.com/ www.theviewareonfire.com]
Current_members =Kyle Falconer Kieren Webster Pete Reilly Steven Morrison The View are anindie rock band from Dundee. They also include styles such as punk and pop in their music.The band are currently signed to
1965 Records and their debut single, "Wasted Little DJs ", was released onAugust 7 ,2006 . The single entered theMTV Two /NME charts onJuly 9 ,2006 ,cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-spinto-band/23887|title=The View top NME chart|publisher=NME |accessdate=2006-07-09] eventually reaching number one onAugust 13 ,2006 . On the same day, the song reached number 15 in theUK Singles Chart .cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/shakira/23891|title=The View score massive chart hit|publisher=NME |accessdate=2006-08-13]The View released their debut album "
Hats Off to the Buskers " onJanuary 22 ,2007 , which entered theUK Album Chart at number one the following week.cite web|url=http://www.ilikemusic.com/music_news/The_View_Debut_Album_Tops_UK_Chart-3422|title=The View Debut Album Tops UK Chart|publisher=Ilikemusic.com|accessdate=2007-07-21] It was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6903225.stm|title=Mercury Music Prize: The nominees|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2007-07-19]History
Band beginnings (2005/06)
The View initially formed around a
cover band at school, playing their own versions of bands such asSqueeze and theSex Pistols .cite web|url=http://www.theviewareonfire.com/about.php|title=About The View|publisher=Official website|accessdate=2007-07-19] Lead singerKyle Falconer , guitarist Peter Reilly and bassistKieren Webster attendedSt John's RC High School , while DrummerSteven Morrison attendedHarris Academy . They began by performing a number of their own songs and cover versions at school talent contests. Following this, the band set up base to write their own material in a back room of The Bayview Pub, a bar owned by Falconer's cousin. They progressed to play many eventful cover gigs and weddings around the Dundee area, including the Centenary Bar in Central Dundee and a caravan park inArbroath . The band were later ejected from their base in The Bayview, following singer Kyle Falconer reportedly riding a scooter along the bar.cite web|url=http://www.fat-controller.com/site/content.cfm?id=52A10A41-0732-2AD4-99B343864C127085|title=An Interview with The View|publisher=fat-controller.com|accessdate=2007-07-21] [cite web
title = Sony BMG Artist spotlight on The View
url=http://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artist_spotlight/The_View/
publisher=Sony BMG
accessdate = 2006-07-18]Embarking on a 'World tour of Dundee', they continued to play and sharpen their craft at 'unlikely' local bars around the town. A live performance and band interview was professionally filmed at The Doghouse on
29 October 2005 (known as the "Halloween footage" as it took place on the nearest Saturday to Halloween) as part of a Lemuria video session night. From this performance, live recordings of "Posh Boys" and "Comin' Down" were made widely available for download. [cite web
title = Lemuria/Doghouse Halloween 2005 band interview
url=http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&n=2&videoid=820103684
publisher=Lemuria/Doghouse
accessdate = 2007-04-23]After their second billed gig at The Doghouse, they were signed to local Dundee record label Two Thumbs and released the self-titled "
The View EP " in early 2006. Alongside the EP, the band recorded a complete demo album at T-Pot studios inPerthshire and this was made available for download from the band's Two Thumbs management website. Videos were also made available to accompany the T-Pot recordings of "Face for the Radio" and "Wasted Little DJs". The Wasted Little Dj's video was filmed by the bands manager on a hastily arranged trip to Londonderry to play in Stephen Johnston's home town. This is when they first met Mickey Bradley from the Undertones who invited them back to Derry to support the Undertones at their New Year show 2005 / 2006.It was during this period, the band came to the attention of
BBC Radio 1 presentersZane Lowe ,Edith Bowman andJo Whiley as well asBBC Radio 2 presenterDermot O'Leary who gave them airplay nine months before the album hit number one. The band's live performance of "Wasted Little DJs" (later to be their first single) featured on Zane's8 February 2006 show. [cite web
title = One Big Weekend Launch Party
url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend06/zanelowelaunch/
publisher=BBC
accessdate = 2006-07-17] , alongside established actsThe Kooks and be your own PET. Soon after, tracks from the debut EP began to be played on Radio 1 and other local and national stations. In particular,Jim Gellatly , atXfm Scotland , featured the band heavily on X-Posure Scotland, his new music show. A live acoustic session was recorded for the show broadcast3 May 2006 . Tracks featured were: "Face For The Radio", "Wasted Little DJs", "Superstar Tradesman" and "Same Jeans" [cite web
title = X-Posure Scotland Sessions Archive
url=http://www.xfmscotland.co.uk/article.asp?id=201659#view
publisher=Xfm Scotland
accessdate = 2006-07-18]Hats off to the busker (2007-2008)
In mid-2006, they began to record their debut album, with
Owen Morris , who has previously produced albums by Oasis andThe Verve . Titled "Hats Off to the Buskers ", the album was released on22 January ,2007 and entered the UK album chart at #1 on28 January . [cite news| url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=view-from-the-top-&method=full&objectid=18532918&siteid=66633-name_page.html| publisher=Daily Record|title=The View From the Top.|date=26 January 2007 ]Co-writer and bassist
Kieren Webster , was voted No. 6 on the "NME " Cool List 2006 Top 50, in the issue dated25 November 2006 . The band took part in theNME Awards Tour 2007, beginning January 2007 [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-automatic/25221| publisher=NME |title=ShockWaves NME Awards Tour 2007 Indie Rock line-up.|date=27 November 2006 ] and "Wasted Little DJs" was voted Best Track of the year at the annual NME Awards 2007. [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/awards/news/26770| publisher=NME |title=The View win Best Track at Shockwaves NME Awards|date=01 March 2007 ]Taken from the album, their first single, "
Wasted Little DJs ", was released7 August 2006 . The single entered the UK top 75 at #73 on the week before full release, due to download sales alone, and climbed to #15 the following week. Four weeks prior to release, onJuly 9 ,2006 , the single entered the UKMTV /NME video charts at Number 9, [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/nme-chart/23530| publisher=NME |title=NME Chart9 July 2006 .|date=09 July 2006 ] climbing to Number 1 on13 August 2006 . [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-view/23887| publisher=NME |title=NME News Chart13 August 2006 |date=13 August 2006 ] The single was the BBC Radio 1Colin and Edith show's record of the week for week commencing Monday,10 July 2006 and entered the BBC Radio 1 daytimeplaylist on12 July 2006 . [cite web|title = BBC Radio 1 Playlist 2006-07-12|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/playlist.shtml|publisher=BBC |accessdate = 2006-07-14] The band followed up with their second single "Superstar Tradesman ", released23 October 2006 , also reaching #15 in the UK."
Same Jeans ", the third single from the album, was released15 January 2007 . It became their most successful single to date, reaching #3 in theUK Singles Chart and becoming a major hit for the band. Subsequent singles however, a double a-side of "The Don"/Skag Trendy and "Face for the Radio ", failed to receive such chart success, reaching only #33 and #69 respecively in theUK Singles Chart . "Face for the Radio" is the band's only single to not chart in the UK Top 40.In early 2006, the band signed to
James Endeacott 's new record label1965 Records , part of theSony BMG group and linked toColumbia Records . A rare live version of "Screamin' n Shoutin'", recorded at theUniversity of Abertay Dundee , headlined the NME/1965 Records cover CD featured with the NME issue dated25 November 2006 .econd album (2008-Present)
The band have recorded 4 songs for their new album. They have performed 3 of them during their winter tour; "Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy", about their mate Jimmy's conspiracy theories about the New World Order, "5Rebbeccas", and "One Off Pretender", about their time in an Aberdeen jail cell. A demo mp3 of "Jimmy's Crazy Conspiracy" appeared on their artist friend's [http://www.ryanmcphail.co.uk website] .
Drew McConnell fromBabyshambles appeared in the backing vocals of the rough recording.The video for '5Rebeccas', featuring animation mixed with live footage, appeared online in late September 2008. [http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/watch-the-view%2526%2523039%3Bs-%2526%2523039%3B5rebbeccas%2526%2523039%3B-video-here]
Notable Tour appearances
Their biggest performance so far was at
BBC Radio 1 'sOne Big Weekend in Dundee on14 May 2006 and this was followed, soon after, by their second major festival appearance atT in the Park on8 July 2006 . [cite news| url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/05/15/newsstory8338802t0.asp| publisher=D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd |title=Sun, fun and surprises at stunning Big Weekend| date=15 May 2006 ] [cite news| url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/07/10/newsstory8530069t0.asp| publisher=D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd |title= Legendary moment at safest-ever T| date=10 July 2006 ] [cite web |title=T in the Park report |url=http://www.xfmscotland.co.uk/Article.asp?id=243810 | publisher=Xfm Scotland |accessdate=2006-07-17] They played again in 2007, when they also performed at theGlastonbury Festival .On
26 August and27 August 2006 , The View were a last-minute addition to the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The NME reported the fans' chant of "The View, The View, The View are on Fire!" could be heard ringing loudly around the packed tent. [cite news |url=http://www.nme.com/news/streets/24105| publisher=NME |title=Action from this year's festival |date=August 27 2006 ] They also played both festivals in 2007.On
22 July 2006 , the band appeared , live in the studio, in an 18 minute long segment of theDermot O'Leary show onBBC Radio 2 . This featured an interview with the band as well as live performances of "Face for the Radio" and aSka version of theSqueeze classic "Up the Junction". [cite web |title=BBC Radio 2 Dermot O'Leary Live Sessions |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/dermot/galleries/ |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-07-23]On
9 August 2006 , theZane Lowe show onBBC Radio 1 , featured the band in a live session and interview. "Same Jeans" and "Up the Junction" were performed live from theMaida Vale studio. On15 August 2006 , theJanice Long show on Radio 2 featured the band live in the studio. The View performed acoustic versions of "Claudia", "Same Jeans" and "Superstar Tradesman".On26 October 2006 the band's complete 30 minute set for the BBCElectric Proms was broadcast live on Radio 1's Zane Lowe show. [cite web |title=BBC Electric Proms - The View |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms/view/ |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-10-28]On
11 August 2006 , The View performed "Wasted Little DJs" live for the first time on national UK television, on theChannel 4 show "Transmission".On
10 November 2006 the band appeared on theBBC2 show "Later with Jools Holland " alongsideKasabian ,Damien Rice andSmokey Robinson among others.In
2007 , the band performed shows inAustralia and performed "Same Jeans" on thetalk show Rove Live . Instead of waiting on-stage to shake hands with the host, the band immediately left the stage, leavingRove McManus with a simple pat on the back fromSteven Morrison .First headlining tour
In mid-2006, the band began a UK wide headline tour. During this tour the band played their first headline show in Scotland at the Liquid Room on
1 September 2006 , they then went on to play dates with other major acts and feature in theMTV Two Gonzo tour. [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-view/24198| publisher=NME |title=The View announce headlining tour| date=4 September 2006 ] [cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-view/24196| publisher=NME |title=Big names sign-up for annual 'Gonzo' tour| date=4 September 2006 ] . Documenting this, a half hour long special "On Tour With The View" was broadcast on MTV Two on18 November 2006 .During the tour, The View played with the Underground Heroes at the Tap'n'Tin in Chatham. At the end of the night The View and Underground Heroes joined forces on a version of 'Same Jeans'. The union prompted the band to be called 'The Underground View'.
Japan and U.S. mini tour
In December 2006, the band played gigs in
Tokyo ,Japan and made their first trip to theUSA , in January 2007, playing dates inNew York ,San Francisco andLos Angeles . [cite web
title = Tour Dates
url=http://www.theviewareonfire.com/live.php
publisher=The View
accessdate = 2006-12-28] .A follow-up U.S. tour due in March 2007 was postponed because of visa problems. This was reportedly due to singer Kyle Falconer's arrest forcocaine possession in August 2006. [cite news| url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=the-view-star-on-cocaine-charge--&method=full&objectid=18668789&siteid=66633-name_page.html| publisher=Daily Record |title=View star on cocaine charge| date=24 February 2007 ] . Falconer was convicted of cocaine possession and fined £1000. The tour was rescheduled for May 2007. This tour has now been cancelled. [cite web
title = New US tour dates
url=http://theviewareonfire.blogspot.com/
publisher=The View Are On Fire
accessdate = 2007-03-08] .Album headline tour
The band announced a national tour in April 2007 to mark the album release. Tickets for the entire UK tour sold out within 1 hour. In August, they headlined the NME/Radio 1 stage at the Carling: Reading and Leeds festival. [cite web
title = Album Tour Dates
url=http://www.theviewareonfire.com/story.php?newsID=136
publisher=The View
accessdate = 2007-02-02]Winter tour
The band announced a 6 date national tour for December 2007 to support their new album due out in 2008.They played the 2nd at Edinburgh Liquid Rooms, 3rd at Leeds Cockpit, 4th at Brighton Concorde 2, 10th at London Astoria, 11th at Stoke Sugarmill and the 13th at Dundee University. [cite web
title = Album Tour Dates
url=http://www.theviewareonfire.com/story.php?newsID=196
publisher=The View
accessdate = 2007-10-10]Members
*
Kyle Falconer -Rhythm guitar (and occasional bass), lead vocals and co-songwriter
*Kieren Webster - Bass (and occasionalguitar ), backing (and occasional lead) vocals and co-songwriter
*Pete Reilly-Lead Guitar
*Steven Morrison - drums & percussionDiscography
Albums
*"
Hats Off to the Buskers " (January 22 ,2007 )1965 Records #1
*"Untitled 2nd album" (TBA2008 )EPs
*"
The View EP " (March 2006) Two Thumbsingles
References
reflistExternal links
* [http://www.theviewareonfire.com/ The View's Official Site]
* [http://www.columbia.co.uk/artists/The_View/ The View's artist entry at Columbia Records]
* [http://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artist_spotlight/The_View/ The View's artist entry at Sony BMG]
* [http://www.stv.tv/out/showArticle.jsp?source=opencms&articleId=/out/hotnow/music/newArticle4776775 The View October 2006 interview at stv.tv]
* [http://yknow-interviews.blogspot.com/2008/02/kieran-webster-view.html Y'know - Interviews with the Famous]
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