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The Hyperjax Biography
North West of England Punk/Rockabilly foursome's music could be described as a mix of the rabble rousing swagger of The Clash and the early Meteors with sing-a-long anthems of Sham 69 and The Long Tall Texans to name a few. Brought to you with attitude and charisma. All this in a dynamic stage performance youll never forget.

In the summer of 1996, singer and guitarist Sam Woods began jamming along with double bass player Bob Corner both sharing the same interests in Rockabilly and Psychobilly music. Together they formed the first incarnation of The Hyperjax with drummer Martin Cox who was replaced by Fido Banks in 1997. They began gigging on the pub/club circuit as well as the so-called "Rockin scene" playing traditional 50s cover and a few of their own compositions. The line up was secured in Jan 2000, when Fidos departure saw powerhouse versatile tub-thumper Wally P. Parkinson joining the fold. By now bored of playing pubs and the Rockin' scene that to them had become too conservative towards their new streetwise punkier sound, the band continued to walk in their own shoes, and play all original songs even if it meant less money. That was the Motto!

This proved to be a wise move and their music began to appeal to a younger generation of new Punks and students. The new direction built them a following in venues in their own right and that year in October they landed a slot in New Jersey USA at its first and so far its only BIG RUMBLE WEEKENDER, along with their peers on the Psychobilly scene: Nekromantix, Batmobile and The Quakes. Together they appeared on film performing their then MP3 single 'Happy Pillz'. Not bad for a band who had not yet even released a full album! 2001 saw the band play Holland and Germany and up and down the UK in between recording their debut album and in early in 2002 it emerged on Raucous Records as 'Generation X-Rated' - 10 original tracks: echos of the Guana Batz' debut 'Held down to vinyl at last' sprung to mind with years of anticipation by the band and fans alike. It had been along time coming, but well worth it. Rave reviews followed, and the quest for glory gained momentum!

2003 saw the Hyperjax embark on the appropriately titled 'Seven year itch tour', taking in the length and breadth of the UK in a week, something the band had never achieved in their sometimes difficult 7 years of playing. In August they appeared two nights running at 'The Carling Reading Festival' playing one of their largest gigs to date in front of an all-new buzzing crowd. In December 2003's issue of UNCUT magazine, the Hyperjax' cover of 'Capital Radio' featured on their cover-CD. Entitled 'White Riot (a tribute to the Clash)', the band appeared alongside the likes of Billy Bragg, Stiff Little Fingers and the late great Joe Strummer himself.

In early 2004 the band was booked for what was to be The Macabre Festival in San Bernardino USA. It seemed that America was the place to be, especially after learning that tracks from 'Generation X-Rated' had been recieving major airtime on US radio stations since the debut album was given a US release. So with more extra dates booked up and down the west coast of the states, the boys headed across the Atlantic in June only to discover the festival had been cancelled! The promoter had booked the bands, taken people's ticket money and done a runner. After a few curses they joined the soup kitchen Psychobilly community of bands and punters who had travelled from all over the world to play this event and carried on with the salvage shows in San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles and they were amazed to see the people knew the songs over there!

Back home the band introduced a Rapper (Roskrypz an old mate of Sams) to the fold for a verse in one of their new songs entitled 'Rumble Fish'. This proved to be a controversial move in many peoples eyes, two different styles of music collaborating didnt impress the majority of the Psychobilly purists in the UK. This didnt bother the band in the slightest and thought it highly amusing to see folk shaking their heads in dismay. After all Rock n Roll is all about rebellion, right? But then again it was Roskrypz who would manage to up lift the crowd with his energy and banter, winning the band rave reviews in Metal Hammer and Big Cheese magazines for a sold out London gig supporting The Horrorpops in April of that year.

In 2005 the band toured with Tiger Army for their Jan UK dates winning over more new crowds. March saw ex-Short Cuts guitarist Matt Cooley bringing the sound a a new dimention which some thought worked and others thought took away their trademark raw charm. In August Wally decided after five years beind the drumstool that ennough was enough. The pressure to nail down a follow up album took all the fun away they once had. Another obstacle the band had to endure but before thay had time to think about what to do, it was suggested that long term friend and Cooley's former allie in the Short Cuts 'Bundie' should step. A phone call was made and he was delighted to be offered and accepted to join the ranks. A new Hyperjax we're soon gigging again and had mastered plan to put a more contempory punk rock sound with Cooley unorthodox riffs and Bundies fat beats to be fused with Sam and Bobs psycho/rockabilly influence. The band hit the studio's to record a track for the Stray Cats tribute album "Gina" (Japanese release only) Before the end of the year they appeared at The 1st Astru Psycho festival in main land Spain and for news eve they played the final night of a regular nightclub in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Into 2006. the line up gelled even more so and with more gigs coming in. The band hit the studio's to record "The Bottom Line" in March. A relief to finally complete but that frustration was soon to be replaced with another set back in having it released. The band contined there regular gigs but with unfortunatley nothing to promote or sell. The first album was discontinued. So the band soon found themselves lost in the system. New younger bands similar to them had now emerged and we're making waves. The Hyperjax held their own locally including a storming 10 year anniversary gig in Preston but struggled to get work further a field and missed opportunitys to get to play even the British festivals. The interest among members was slowly slowly started to wane as it felt like the general public's we're too. That Autumn Bundie jumped at the chance to join Punk/Oi' legends "The Business"and began to tour regulary around the world as a career. Which meant he had to prioritise The Hyperjax. So the future was not looking too bright for the band at that time at all.

Into 2007 Sam took a call off the first albums producer Alan Wilson which rejuvinated Sams drive he felt he lost. Alan was now running a new outlet label of prestigious indie label Cherry Red Records, "Cherry Bomb Recordings" and wanted The Hyperjax to cut their 3rd album for them. Sam delighted jumped at the chance and wanted to put the wheels into motion forth width. In March The Bottom Line album finally surfaced on Raucous Records after all the delays with the pressing plant, remastering ect. The album had some interest including some Radio 1 play on Mike Davis's show but sadly did not have the same fresh impact as the first album. Bundie left to fullfill his commitments with The Business for a long period over summer. The line up afterwards never really recovered even with the addition with the young prodigy Manning behind the kit. Bob had set up his tattoo business and could'nt find the time anymore especially to work an new album. Cooley had also took up tattooing and had his own ideas musically and did'nt want to rush to record so soon. The band limped on for three more gigs and them Sam felt at the time that there was no other alternative but to pull down the curtain on the band who just wer'nt functioning. Blogs and bullitons we're posted out announcing that they had split and obituarys came pouring back in. Was this the end of Hyperjax?.....Bob, Cooley (now taking up lead vocals as well guitar )and Manning (switching to guitar from drums) along with Wally P. Parkinson back on drums formed "A Sailors Grave" with the intent of playing casually whenever. and where ever on their own terms. Meanwhile Sam took a long deserved holiday to Calella in Spain. It was there at the "Just for fun festival" that he decided he was going to keep the name of the Hyperjax and make this album for Cherry Bomb. When he got back home he recruited on guitar Liam Revenge (former Revenge of the Psychotronic men) who he'd bumped into at the last gig who explained looking for a new band. On the second last gig Sam got chatting to double bass player Keith Green who explained was in a similar position so the timing could'nt had been better and on drums came along a skateboarding wolfman Neil Holden who lived a street way from Sam who could now keep his eye on the drummer finally. A rebooted Hyperjax with the same head but new limbs announced they we're back. This line up worked harder as unit than ever before and the baptism of fire was at The Solway Festival that August appearing just beofre The Levellers. A good gig to be well remembered and a turning point for Sam feeling he could continue just as well with his new line up. Gigs we're played to the end of the year and the band cracked on with the workings of a brand new album. 2008 is already writing itself

2008 saw two European tours and the release of 'The Wildest Card' to critical acclaim from the alternative press and the psychobilly scene, but also sadly saw the departure of bass man Keith Green, a man that had played an integral part in the rejuvenation of the Hyperjax. Rhythm guitarist Liam switched to bass, and the band reverted to a 3-piece for the first time in 5 years. A heavy gigging schedule saw the album promoted up and down the country and abroad, and 2009 sees the band pulling no punches with new material being written and no let up with the touring with festival and European dates as well as an extensive set of shwos throughout the UK.

We'll drink to that!

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