The Fallen leaves

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Fallen Leaves


Img_capt = The Fallen Leaves, 2008 (l to r: Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans, "The Reverend" Rob Green, Rob Symmons, Ian O'Sullivan.)
Img_size = 250
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Thee Fallen Leaves
Origin = London, England, United Kingdom
Genre = Rhythm & blues, rock & roll, blues, rock, Garage_rock, Garage_punk, Beat_music, Freakbeat, Psychedelic_rock
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Parliament Records
URL = [http://www.thefallenleaves.net]
Current_members = Rob Green Rob Symmons Gareth Evans Ian O'Sullivan
Past_members = Daniel Strittmatter Paul Messis Phil King Paul Myers James Bradley Paul Cook

The Fallen Leaves are a British garage rock group that formed in Richmond in 2004. The group was formed by Rob Symmons (dustbin guitar) and Rob Green (vocals) with Paul Myers (bass), and for a very short time, Paul Cook (drums). The current line up features drummmer, Ian O'Sullivan and bassist, Gareth Evans.

Prehistory

Symmons and Myers, along with Vic Goddard, were founding members of the Subway Sect. During the recording of the first Subway Sect album, manager Bernie Rhodes sacked the band except for singer-songwriter Goddard. Myers went on to play bass with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in the Professionals. Symmons, unable to retrieve his guitar from the band lockup, gave up professional music for over twenty year until persuaded out of retirement by old friend, Rob Green. Green had built a reputation singing at Bernie Rhodes' "Club Left" and by performing with Vic Godard's later version of the Subway Sect, notably supporting Siouxsie & The Banshees at the Music Machine in 1980.

Formation of the band and changing line ups

Green and Symmons had been writing songs together on various occassions and in 2004, spurred on by a shared love of 60's garage, stylish vintage suits, and their long-held belief that a good idea played badly is better than a bad idea played well, got into action. The first incarnation of the Fallen Leaves featured Paul Myers on bass, and for a number of their first rehearsals, Paul Cook on drums. Cook could not commit to the band and for a couple of years drummers and bassists came and went frequently.

The Leaves made their debut at Richmond's [http://www.themonkclub.co.uk/images/RichmondMagazine.pdf Monk Club] in July 2004, with "King" James Bradley on drums, and reappeared at the Monk Club over the course of the next few months. In August the band ventured out of London to support The 5,6,7,8's in Nottingham.

Pete Townsend offered the band some free studio time at his Eel Pie Studios, near Richmond. The band, with a session drummer, quickly recorded the three tracks that would become the "Trouble" E.P.

Paul Myers left the Fallen Leaves in 2005 as the band was starting to play gigs outside of London, which was encroaching on his work as an addictions counsellor [http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm] . He was replaced by Phil King, ex Jesus & Mary Chain/Lush bassist.

2006 - Present

In 2006, the Trouble EP was released as a four track CD and a 7 inch single on the band's own Parliament Records.

Swiss eccentric [http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7823577 Daniel Strittmatter] , former drummer for Mike Scott, Ian McNabb, The High Llamas and [http://www.myspace.com/koala Koala] , began drumming for the band around this time. This line up of the band recorded seven tracks in a session at Gizzard Studio in Bow.

Phil King left the band and was replaced by Paul Messis. Messis played with the group up until March 2007 when he left to go travelling, and Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans, from Koala/The Prellies took over the bass guitarist's position. It was this line up that completed the Fallen Leaves debut album, "It's Too Late Now", at [http://www.barkstudio.co.uk/ Bark Studios] , working with producer Brian O'Shaughnessy.

By September 2007 the increasing workload of Strittmatter's other projects, including ex Adam & The Ants sidemen, The Wolfmen, led to his departure from the group to be replaced by Ian O' Sullivan, formerly of psych pop garage band, [http://www.myspace.com/theaardvarksuk The Aardvarks] . In February 2008 the Leaves recorded three tracks in the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_robinson/ 6Music Hub] for Tom Robinson.

In the Spring of 2008 The Fallen Leaves released "It's Too Late Now" on their own Parliament Records. The album was listed as an early album of the year [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3265625.ece?token=null&offset=120&page=11] by the Sunday Times, with a 4/5 star review [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3979335.ece] [Lee, Stewart. "The Sunday Times." May 25, 2008]

The Fallen Leaves have continued to play shows in the UK and in September 2008 crossed the Atlantic to play two shows in New York State and record another radio session, this time 14 songs at WFMU for the [http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/28636 Evan "The Funk" Davies show] , including 4 songs from their next album.

Musical Styles and Influence

Purveyors of pop played with passion rather than precision, the Fallen Leaves are very much based around Symmons' distinctive discordant, stinging guitar sound as well as Green's vocal style, reminiscent of Italian-American crooners such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Their preference is to use vintage valve amps & mics, and recording live with no overdubs and minimal technology. The Fallen Leaves hark back to DIY punk days and concentrate on delivering impressive songs and performances. Classic British beat such as The Who, Kinks, and Rolling Stones have been cited as influences, as well as The Pretty Things, The Outsiders and the Downliners Sect.

The Parliament Club

On the 26th November 2004, The Fallen Leaves began hosting [http://www.myspace.com/theparliamentclub The Parliament Club] at The Blackhorse, Richmond. The headliners for the first Parliament Club were the reformed Downliners Sect. Each Parliament Club evening features The Fallen Leaves, who have been joined by the likes of Billy Childish and the Buff Medways, The Masonics, John's Children, A Nation Mourns and Eater, to name a few. On the 21st November 2006 The Parliament Club relocated to the Inn On The Green, Ladbroke Grove and remains a bi-monthly fixture there.

Discography

7 inch Singles

Trouble
Side A: Trouble (Part 1)
Side B: Trouble (Part 2)

EP

Trouble EP
Tracklist:
Trouble (Edit)
Revenge Is Sweet
High and Dry
Trouble (Full Length)

Album

It's Too Late Now
Tracklist:
All That You Choose
Happy Times
Wednesdays With You
Go Now
Seven Years
Days of Summer
Back To You
Repetition
Higher And Dryer
Shining
Produced at Bark Studios.

Members

Current

Rob Symmons
"The Reverend" Rob Green
Gareth "Mountbatten" Evans
Ian O'Sullivan

Past Members

Daniel Strittmatter
Paul Messis
Phil King
Paul Myers
James Bradley
Paul Cook

External Links

[http://www.thefallenleave.net Official Site]
[http://www.myspace.com/theefallenleaves Official MySpace]