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Drama
Pay For ISO Mini-Tour, Feb 2011
Background information
Origin	Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
Genres	Rock, Alternative Rock, New Prog
Years active	2007-present
Labels	Independent
Members	Ian Gordon Rob Heyes Rik Hindle Alan Taylor
Website	Official Facebook Page

Drama are a 4-piece rock band formed in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England in 2007. The band comprises vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Ian Gordon, guitarist and backing vocalist Rob Heyes, bassist Rik Hindle and drummer Alan Taylor. The band are currently preparing to record their first studio album at Outhouse Studios in Reading with producer John Mitchell.

History

Founding members Ian Gordon and Rob Heyes grew up in Westhoughton, Bolton. Sharing a passion for music, the two of them formed a creative partnership in the late 1990s. Gordon and Heyes spent 2007 writing and recording material for what would eventually become Drama. The band's debut gig took place at Bolton venue J2 on 13 September. By the end of the year, the band had been nominated for an INDY Music Award courtesy of the Hark 2 Towler in Bury.

Throughout 2008, Drama played solidly in and around the North West, headlining local shows in Bolton and Manchester. One of these shows was in support of a local venue, The Soundhouse, which at the time was undergoing a relaunch. In July, the band were picked to play Bolton’s Annual Music Showcase, but unfortunately the event was cancelled last minute due to a ‘glitch with funding’.

The band have supported and played with many up and coming bands including Doll and the Kicks, Heaven's Basement and To The Bones.

20 June 2009 saw the band play Westhoughton’s annual music showcase, Howfenfest, on the day of their promo album release.

After 12 months of writing and recording in 2010, Drama relaunched in January 2011 with a redefined look and sound.

Sound

Gordon and Heyes ‘grew up on a diet of classic and progressive rock’.

The band's influences include Rush and Muse. Literary figures are also cited as influences, including H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King.

In numerous reviews, the band has been compared to a variety of artists, including Queen, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin, and Nickelback

Sex Love Lies

Drama’s first album, Sex Love Lies, was released on 20 June 2009. Produced by Manchester-based producer, Paul Sadler, the album consists of 8 tracks, exploring sexual taboos and perversions, coupled with distinct, British humour. In his review of the album, Polish DJ and former Metal Hammer journalist Artur Chachlowski said, “You have to admit that this quite controversial unifying theme that runs throughout the record will draw the audience’s attention.” The album sleeve, designed by Bolton-based illustrator, Jen Collier, reflects this unifying theme.

In July 2009, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden played the opening track from Sex Love Lies, Sky Falling, on his BBC Radio 6 show, Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show. Dickinson acknowledged the band's classic rock element when he said, "Sounds like something that Justin Hawkins would nod his head to and thoroughly approve of."

Miles Bartaby of the Classic Rock Society reviewed the album in the August/September 2009 edition of the Rock Society magazine describing it as, "The finest debut I've heard in a while."

In June 2010, the band made all 8 tracks from the album available for free on Last.fm.

ISO Single Release

In October 2010, the band spent a week in London recording 3 tracks at The Animal Farm. Much of the week was filmed, resulting in the documentary, "Drama In London".

The band's first single of 2011, "ISO", was released on the 14th March. The release was foreshadowed by a 2-month tour of the North West, billed the "Pay For ISO Mini-Tour". The tour commenced on the 22nd January 2011 at the Bakers Vaults in Stockport.

In his review of "ISO", Colin Jackson of Loud Horizon wrote, "It’s one of those anthemic songs that will get right inside your head and have you metaphorically punching the air all day long." Jon Ashley of Manchester Music wrote, "ISO combines riffing, almost classic harmonious rock with the head charging power of some stadium bound alternative heavy melodics. This is a tight attack of thickly wedged guitars and intelligent guitar solos."

On February 28, 2011, the band announced that "ISO" would be appearing on Classic Rock Magazine's May Edition covermount CD.

The single's music video, directed by Ned Jackson, was "Video of the Day" on April 21 courtesy of Pure Rawk.

"Drama" EP Release

On June 28 2011, the band announced that their self-titled EP was to be released on August 12, and would be accompanied by a headline launch show at Manchester Academy 3. The EP consists of 3 tracks: Renée, Pretty Much and ISO, all of which were recorded at The Animal Farm in London during their October 2010 sessions.

In his review of the EP, Colin Jackson of Loud Horizon wrote of Renée, "It comes across as something between a stage production and a Freddie Mercury / Queen track, what with the dramatic little piano arpeggios in between the resounding guitars. Full marks for trying something different – if this is a one-off track, then that’s quite brilliant." Jon Ashley of Manchester Music wrote of Pretty Much, "“Pretty Much” offer(s) a consistency via infectious multi-layered guitars and Americanised metal pop – it’s a formula that can’t fail in the right hands and Drama certainly have the right number of fingers and thumbs."

Band members

• Ian Gordon – vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Rob Heyes – guitar, backing vocals
• Rik Hindle - bass guitar
• Alan Taylor – drums

Discography

• Sex Love Lies (2009)
• ISO (Single 2011)
• Drama (EP 2011)

References

Category:English rock music groups Category:British progressive rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 2007 Category:Music in Bolton Category:Musical groups from Manchester