Claytown Troupe

Bio:

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This is a nice place to hear more old CTT tracks

www.last.fm/music/Claytown+Troupe

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO CAME TO OUR SUPPORT WITH SPEAR OF DESTINY....

CHECK OUT THE REVIEW....

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CTT / SOD REVIEW - CDTIMES

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OUR NEW LOGO & DESIGN ABOVE IS AVAILABLE AS A T-SHIRT, JUST EMAIL US IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE.....

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“Claytown Troupe” have recently re-formed after a very long time away from the music scene, despite this, they put in an awesome performance have recently re-formed after a very long time away from the music scene, despite this, they put in an awesome performance at the Shepherds Bush Empire as support to 'The Mission'. ....

Their guitar and keyboard based rock was just perfect for a night like this, “Prayer” and “Hey Lord” from their album “Through the Veil” got a very warm reception from the crowd. Ending their set with “Alabama” the band left the stage with the audience wanting more"......

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www.myspace.com/chinnersgigreviews

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You can download & buy Claytown Troupe's 1st album 'Through the veil' from Island Records tunes here:

www.7digital.com/islandtunes

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CLAYTOWN TROUPE - Back in the late 80's this lot were the only real alternative to The Cult. More anthemic and more authentic than Astbury & Co's rawk; Moving a few hundred thousand units internationally over their short period in the limelight, they even broke the UK top 40 before disappearing.

Formed in Bristol in 1984 by lead singer Christian Riou (who claimed in a 2004 interview that a famous local clairvoyant advised him to form a band called the Clayton Troop!)

Claytown Troupe was an Alt-Rock act touted as a cross between The Cult's fake rock and the authentic crusty rock of Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead.

In truth there was more to them than that and they suffered much in coming from England at a time of 'Crusty'; a time when high expectations in Rock, and Rock itself, were generally frowned upon.

By 1986 they had an accomplished yet chaotic live show which earned them an exciting reputation on the underground scene.

They signed to Island Records in 1988 without management, Christian & Rick then assigned Steve Abbott, (known as Abbo, who had been the singer in seminal punk act UK Decay) who was introduced to them by The Bolshoi manager Pete McCarthy.

Abbo created Bedlam Management (which even today is still running), the CTT advanced Abbo the cash to release the first single for Carter USM, another unknown CTT story!

Ron Fair and Ralph Jezzard produced the debut 'Through The Veil' which was universally well received & achieved solid international sales (yet only made it to a criminally underrated number 74 in the UK album charts in the days prior to computer controlled sales stats).

The album was one of the last major label fully promoted vinyl releases with a double album containing 12" mixes by Ron & Ralph. The gatefold sleeve designed by Christian & Island art director Bruno Tilley, with logos that adorned many t-shirts & hand painted on the back of leather jackets.

'Through The Veil' shares The Cult's sensibilities for anthemic rock bluster coupled with a tinge of indigenous Americana and everyman lyrics: "If I could drink the world dry, then I could maybe cry."

It has a genuine atmosphere to it and sounds unlike anyone else, either then or now; there is a swagger and confidence on this album that promised great things and a stadium rock future.

What followed was a string of high profile tours and excellent releases. The Claytown's played the Marquee, Astoria and the Town & Country Club and supported The Cult on the 'Sonic Temple' tour, Pearl Jam, The Wonder Stuff, The Damned, Julian Cope, Jesus Jones and The Mission.

Switching labels to EMI Records in the 90's Claytown Troupe cut their next album, the excellent 'Out There', with David Bianco producing at the Hit Factory, New York.

They toured Britain in 1992 with Terrorvision supporting and subsequently opened for Seattle behemoth's Pearl Jam (It had been arranged the other way round with PJ to support CT but the Grunge kings were kind of riding the whirlwind in '92.)

The second album didn't relaunch the band further than where they had been previously & disagreements with EMI compounded the frustrations.

After parting company with EMI, drummer Andy Holt and bassist Paul Waterson made their exit.

Recently the band returned to the UK music scene, Christian Riou and Rick Williams reforming to headline the Whitby Goth festival to good overall reviews mixing old songs from their two previous albums with newer material.

And in 2008 the band had successful supports at the Shepherds Bush Empire with The Mission & Spear Of Destiny at the Islington Carling Academy.

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Member Since:

November 01, 2005

Members:

At present: Current line-up - Christian Riou (Vocals), Rick Williams (Keyboards), Tim Stephens (Guitar), Damon Williams (Bass), Dan Roth (Drums),

Influences:

In order of the first record I bought in 1977 & when music finally made sense, Sex Pistols (GSTQ)), The Damned (New Rose, on Skydog!), The Clash (White Riot), Generation X (ReadySteady Go), Xray Spex (Oh Bondage), Eater (Outside View), The Cortinas (Defiant Pose), Adam & The Antz (Deutscher Girls). You should have listened to: Never Mind The Bollocks, The Cult, The Doors, Led Zep II, Theatre Of Hate, New Model Army, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Leonard Cohen, Marc Bolan, Sinatra, Telephone, David Bowie, Elvis, The Stranglers, Kasabian, Tino Rossi, Morrissey, Gang of Four, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Orange Juice, The Sisters oF Mercy, Plastic Bertrand, The Southern Death Cult, The Death Cult, Play Dead, Danse Society, Balaam & the angel, Motorhead, A Certain Ratio, REM, The Wonder Stuff, The Mission, Ed Hardourt, Nick Cave, the entire Motown collection until 1969, PWEI, Raging Slab, UK Subs, Pearl Jam, Carter USM, EMF, Piaff, Magazine, Aztec Camera, Joy Division, Psychedelic Furs, Portishead, Dean Martin, Culture two sevens, General Saint & Clint Eastwood, NIN, G & R, Velvet Revolver, Gene Vincent, Claytown Troupe of course and your mother etc.. Current listening - MoonDogg, The Wonder Stuff

Sounds Like:

All of the above

Record Label:

Island '88 - '91, EMI USA '91 - '92