The Answer (band)
The Answer | |
|---|---|
| File:Drachten gig.jpg | |
| Members | Cormac Neeson Paul Mahon Micky Waters James Heatley |
The Answer are a hard rock and blues rock band hailing from Newcastle and Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. They have achieved moderate success with their debut album Rise selling in excess of 30,000 copies in the UK & Europe and 10,000 on day one in Japan. They are tipped for big things from many in the rock music industry.
Lineup
Cormac Neeson - Vocals
Paul Mahon - Guitar
Micky Waters - Bass Guitar
James Heatley - Drums
History
Influenced by Led Zeppelin, Free, Def Leppard, The Who and The Black Crowes, The Answer have a contemporary take of bluesy, harmonized, riff heavy, hard rock.
In 2004, after supporting the The Darkness at an open-air festival in Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Darkness and Alter Bridge asked them to support their winter tour.
The release of their debut EP Keep Believin' in July 2005 helped secure them a place on the successful "New School Of Rock Tour" in 2005 alongside fellow upcoming rock bands The Sound Explosion and Tokyo Dragons.
In 2005, Classic Rock magazine voted The Answer as 'Best New Band 2005' which brought them even more exposure. Shortly after, in November 2005 came their second official release - the single Never Too Late. They supported Deep Purple at an intimate show at the London Astoria on 17 January, 2006. Then came Into The Gutter which was released on 29 May, 2006 via 7" vinyl and download only, shortly followed by debut album Rise released on 26 June, 2006. The album has already received rave reviews from Kerrang! and The Sun amongst others, and has been nominated for Classic Rock magazine's 'Album Of The Year' and "Best British Newcomer" in the 2006 Kerrang! awards.
The Answer played several festivals over the summer months, as well as an enviable support slot with Whitesnake throughout their UK tour. The band have also managed to secure themselves another high profile support slot with Paul Rodgers at the Royal Albert Hall in early October 2006. This was followed by a co-headlining tour with fellow British Rockers Roadstar on a tour across the UK and Europe, with further support coming from American blues-rock band Rose Hill Drive. The band is once again on tour at the moment, with dates in Australia and across Europe before eventually returning for dates in Ireland and to start work on their follow-up to Rise. The band were an opening act for Aerosmith on June 24th 2007 at Hyde Park Calling, one of the biggest UK musical events of the summer.
Latest single Be What You Want was released March 19th 2007, and is currently available via download-only.
The Answer have decided to re-issue the Rise album as a promotion for their summer shows and because there have been so many people complaining about download only singles. A second disc adds to the original Rise, featuring all the relevant b-sides that have not been released physically and some tracks that were recorded for the album but left off. The second disc has 15 unreleased songs on it and was released 18 June 2007. The band are also now confirmed for the Lowlands Festival in Biddinghuizen, Holland.
Trivia
- The band played at a Phil Lynott memorial benefit gig in Dublin, as Lynott’s mother is a big fan. So big in fact that she allowed bass player Micky Waters to be the first since Lynott’s death to open his case and play the legendary black bass within. It’s the same instrument that appears in the music video for Keep Believin'.
- They also covered the Aerosmith song "Sweet Emotion" for a free Kerrang! CD. This was included on the second disc of the Special Edition of the Rise album. At Hyde Park Calling they shared a stage with Aerosmith.
- Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is a big fan of the band, and was in attendance at one of their recent London shows and watched from the side of the stage.
- Def Leppard's lead singer Joe Elliott is also a huge fan of the band and during an interview with AOL has sited them as a possible influence to the way their new album, yet to be released, will sound. He also said, "They're amazing--They could be the new Free!" [[1]]
Discography
Albums
-
Rise (2006) -
Rise: Special Edition (2007)
Singles and EPs
- 3 Early EPs: Breakdown Honey; End Your Day On A High; Come On Free Me
- 2005 Keep Believin' EP CD (Keep Believin', So Cold, No Questions Asked, Be What You Want, Keep Believin' Club Mix)
- 2005 Keep Believin EP 7" (Keep Believin', New Day Rising)
- 2005 Never Too Late EP CD (Never Too Late, Rock Bottom Blues, Never Too Late Instrumental, Keep Believin - Video)
- 2005 Never Too Late 7" (Never Too Late, Some Unity)
- 2006 Into The Gutter 7" (Into The Gutter, Take It Easy)
- 2006 Into The Gutter Download (Into The Gutter, Only The Strong Survive, Take It Easy, Into The Gutter Instrumental)
- 2006 Under The Sky Download (Under The Sky, I Won't Let You Down, Doctor [Live Session], Under The Sky Video)
- 2006 Come Follow Me Download (Come Follow Me, Preachin' (Acoustic), So Cold)
- 2007 Be What You Want Download (Be What You Want, Sweet Emotion, Into The Gutter [Acoustic], No Questions Asked [Live Radio Version])