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Ez Jon Erikson, a traditional singer-songwriter who believes in being innovative, not immitative, represents the independent artist in the digital age. Ez, real name Eric Johnson, was born in the district of Saddleworth, near Manchester, UK, where he is still based. He has been described by his fans and critics as something of a cross between Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. As a very charismatic and flamboyant singer, songwriter and performer, Ez has been heavily influenced by the aforementioned and by a diverse range of musical styles and artists such as Billy Joel, Big Country, Kiss, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Bon Jovi, David Lee Roth, Hall and Oates, George Michael, Duran Duran and Bee Gees to name only a few. He began writing and recording his own songs at school, and formed the duo 'Vis-a-Vis' with his friend Julian Flindle, which later became 'Erikson Flindle'. The pair have remained close friends since, writing and recording many great songs together, and in 2001 they joined forces with Ez's brother Sam Johnson to form the acoustic rock pop trio DETOURS, writing, recording and performing their own material, drawing on all of their rock, pop, folk, country, soul, gospel and even brass band influences. Their music does not fit into any typical stereotype, but is very eclectic. Ez handles all of the booking, management, recordings, video editing and website construction of Detours and his own solo work under Detours Music, an independent record label which he set up out of frustration with the in-house politics that Detours experienced with major record labels. Ez now feels they have their artistic freedom rather than the restrictions that would otherwise be placed on them. All of their releases are available to purchase digitally on the digital music providers iTunes and Tunetribe, and by CD from their website Detours.Info through Paypal, for which a Paypal account is not required. They have achieved recording sales and support in UK, USA, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia and Iran. Detours have no particular political theory or ideology, but write from observations of the human condition. Their songs are influenced by life's many experiences, its highs and lows, its joy and challenges. They are songs of situations, analysis, questions, opinions, friendship, hope, unity, fear, successes and failures, love found and lost. Songs that everyone can relate to. They believe that the spirit of rock music is democratic, its pain redeemable, and its joy communal. In true British tradition their songs are full of poetry, social commentary, and a sense of humour. They have a talent for melodies, harmonies and rich instrumentation, and they know how to celebrate love and friendship, thought provoke, and entertain. Their name Detours represents their approach to their music, taking musical detours, covering a lot of ground and not staying in one place but moving on. Since they founded, Detours have performed at small theatres, cafés and bars around the Manchester area. Highlights include performances at the prestigious Saddleworth Festival Of Arts 2003, Manchester's Night and Day Café, Ashton's Witchwood, the Rock For Tsunami, Rock For Malawi & Saddleworth Unplugged festivals, and many legendary concerts at Millgate Theatre and Playhouse2 Theatre to name only a few. They have collaborated with the very talented, young singer songwriter Kristyna Myles and rock singer Morgan on 'The Bells Of St Mary EP' (Kristyna won BBC Radio 5 Live's 2005 Busk Idol and has since gone on to appear on 'Songs Of Praise', UKTV's 'Wogan: Now and Then', record and tour with multi platinum selling Chris De Burgh, and support Mick Hucknall), and have supported Mesh-29 who enjoyed Top 40 Chart success in Summer 2007. Their music has been played on BBC Radio Manchester, All FM Radio and Tameside Radio. Detours perform as an acoustic act in concert, which captures an urgency and immediacy, comprising of harmonised vocals, acoustic guitars, trumpet, harmonica, and minimal percussion. Their studio recordings bring in fuller arrangements, with the inclusion of drums, bass, electric guitars, keyboards, hammond organ, yet they always remain true to their acoustic roots with the inclusion of piano, accordion, mandolin, dobro, steel guitar, ukelele, banjulele, balalaika, cello, violin, saxophone, didgeridoo and other ethnic instruments that feel appropriate. To date, with the assistance of their multi-talented producer/session musician/sound engineer Paul Adshead, Detours have recorded four albums together, Debut, No Evil, A Dark Storm, and Sense Of Purpose. They have also recorded two EPs, Snowballed The Christmas EP, and The Bells Of St Mary EP (with Kristyna Myles and Morgan). With solo work from Ez to add to this catalogue, this is quite an extensive body of work! In 2006 Julian retired from live performances due to work and personal commitments, although is still involved with Detours in the studio. However, for live performances, Sam and Ez now perform as a duo with occasional special guests to celebrate the music of Detours. Although they are not actively seeking an immediate replacement for Ju, should they meet the right lead guitarist who shares their vision, they will contemplate collaborating with him or her. On 10th January 2007 disaster struck Detours when a van crashed into Sam Johnson's own van as he was loading it. Sam was lucky to survive the accident, but the impact severely damaged the ligaments in his knees, for which he has been receiving ongoing major surgery, and left him with facial and head injuries and badly damaged vocal chords. He was unable to sing at all from January until Summer 2007, when he was given the all clear to slowly build his voice back up. He is still receiving professional voice therapy to strengthen the top part of his vocal range. Due to the recovery process of his accident Detours’ live performance plans have suffered, so their concerts during 2009 will be infrequent. However, on a positive note, Detours digital releases continue on iTunes and Tunetribe, their music has been receiving regular radio airplay, and they are working on an extensive boxset and DVD project. They continue to epitomise the true independent act with their hands on DIY approach to all aspects of their music career, and retain their musical freedom. Ez Jon Erikson's solo recordings Prior to forming Detours, Ez recorded two solo albums 'Summers Of My Life' and 'Ramshackle World' under the label Ezstatic Music, which he originally issued himself to sell at local shops, gigs and around family and friends. He followed this up with an album entitled 'Ezposure (The Acoustic Performancez)' which included acoustic mixes and performances of songs from SOML and RW, and two new, "ezclusive" acoustic songs. 'Ramshackle World' and 'Ezposure' were digitally released during 2008, and 'Summers Of My Life' is due out in the summer of 2009, with a single remix of the opening track 'Fun In The Sun' due for 19th May release exclusively on iTunes. To appreciate the true depth and versatility in Ez's songwriting it is essential to study his own solo work along with the songs he has written for Detours. His lyrics contain a clever mixture of humour, observation, analysis, fear, isolation, rejection, hope, unity, anti-racism, romance and love. There is almost a schizophrenic quality to Ez's music, as he is able to balance humour and energy (Fun In The Sun, Mama's Goin' To The Ball Tonight, His Bark Is Worse Than His Bite, That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles, Snowballed, Fun In The Snow) with intensity (Half The World, Live To Die, Fear Of The World, Ramshackle World, To Feel Young Again, Escape (In The Night), One More Time, Reality, Been Here Too Long, A Dark Storm, Room To Breathe) and easy listening (Otiose). Above all, his songs make sense and the average person can easily relate to them, which is one of the reasons why they are so good. There is also a strong sense of melody and a variety of musical style in Ez's music. Sense Of Purpose Detours’ latest release ‘Sense Of Purpose’, their fourth studio album, is an incredibly mature acoustic rock pop album, full of thoughtful lyrics, melodies and harmonies, with rock, soul, gospel, folk, country, and bluegrass influences. Ez Jon Erikson wrote the title track after he took inspiration from the Native American Indian Chief Seattle’s reply to a Government offer to purchase their remaining lands. In 1854, the United States Government offered to buy two million acres of Indian land in the Northwest. Chief Seattle’s reply to president Franklin Pierce in December of that year has been described as the most beautiful and prophetic statement on the environment ever made. Kristyna Myles performs flute and additional vocals on the title track, which is also included on their EP ‘The Bells Of St Mary’ in aid of St Mary’s Church Greenfield Restoration Fund, as the building in Saddleworth needs to raise over half a million pounds from public support to survive. "I believe that the way the world is developing, mankind is losing its sense of purpose to a degree" Ez comments. The closing track to the album, 'Thrownaway', echoes these concerns asking the question "is nothing sacred anymore?" "I feel that we now live in a throwaway world" Ez continues. "It is easier and less expensive to replace a damaged product with a brand new one rather than mend it, and technology moves on at such a frantic pace that people throw away items that are in perfect working order. What disturbs me though is that many relationships seem to suffer due to the hectic pace in life. Although the computer age has improved communication and opportunities in many, many ways, we keep in touch by text messages, e mails and online social networks rather than taking the time to talk to people or spend quality time with them. So items and people are thrown away by society, as are buildings that have stood the test of time which are torn down to make way for shopping centres or housing developments, as the fat cats get richer. Is nothing sacred anymore?" The Bells Of St Mary EP is in aid of St Mary's Church Greenfield Restoration Fund, and a donation from the royalties of the title track to their new album 'Sense Of Purpose' will also be made to the fund. Check out www.detours.info for further info on Detours and Ez Jon Erikson.