AC/DC, Aerosmith, Blur, BMX Bandits, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Guns n' Roses, James, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Prince, REM, Terence Trent D'Arby, The Clash, The Pixies, The Rolling Stones
“Charm laden Irish indie rock” – Captain Sensible (The Damned).
“Their brand of heavy pop sounds mighty enticing” – Jackie Hayden, Hot Press.
There’s a fine tradition of Vans in music: Van Halen, Van Morrison, Vanilla Ice… On the screen too: Van Damme, Van Dyke and of course the greatest cinematic badass of them all, Mr. Lee Van Cleef. As a band, Van Cleef are built on too much TV and not enough sleep, on rock guitars and pop hooks that could take your eye out. Formed in the ‘V’ section of a second-hand record shop in central Dublin in 2006, their common affection for the upbeat pop of early Blur, the acoustic-punk of the Violent Femmes, and the hard rock of Guns N Roses began to produce a flood of 3-chord 3-and-a-half-minute songs celebrating their pop culture obsessions, with titles such as ‘Meet Me in Vietnam’, ‘Scarlett Johansson’ and ‘One of the Cosbys’.
The release of their debut EP ‘No Shame’ in late 2007 led to increased radio play, good press reviews and a higher profile, with debauched Irish and Turkish tours following, as well as high-profile support slots including playing with The Damned on their Twisted Cabaret of The Damned tour. Increasingly confident shows continued across Dublin and Ireland, helping to refine the songs and road test them with growing audiences . Towards the end of 2008, they were ready to enter the studio again and work began with Marc Aubele (Jack L, Jinx Lennon, Bell X1, The Walls) to record a set of their 12 strongest songs. The end result is the first full-length VC album, entitled 'Supervillainesque' which will be released in May 2009, in full and digital formats, with an album launch in The Village, Dublin. Upcoming shows are already lined up for Whelan’s and Crawdaddy in advance of further dates across Ireland and Europe. Hail to the Cleef!
Van Cleef Downloads
The debut album from Van Cleef, entitled 'Supervillainesque' is now available at Tower Records & for download from the following online music stores - click on the images to access each music store.
'No Shame', the 2007 EP from Van Cleef is available to download from the above music stores.
The EP is also available to buy at Tower Records & Road Records in Dublin and Redlight Records in Galway.
Van Cleef Pictures
Below are photos of the band on stage, in the studio and posters from some of the live shows. Click on the photos to enlarge them.
Van Cleef Videos
'Prince' Live from 'SuperVillainesque' album launch at The Village, courtesy of Peter at 2uibestow
'Burst Your Bubble' Live from 'SuperVillainesque' album launch at The Village, courtesy of Peter at 2uibestow
Hi guys. Mail Order Messiahs premiere material from forthcoming debut 'Plain' in Whelan's this coming Sunday July 19th. Support from Star Crossed Enemies. Would be great to see you there. mom
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
Nice music, would fit to be a matching programme our music and yours. when the rest of the band returns from holiday maybe we can plan something. i know some suitable locations for a gig in the area here. check out the blues cafe in apeldoorn. thats a good spot for you lads as well.
Thanks for the add and giving us a chance! We are six hard working, passionate, down-to-earth, crazy guys creating the music that we love! Free Spirit is a hardworking and equally hard playing rock band hailing from Finland.Our music offers strong musicianship, soulful vocals and the essence of the great acts from the rock scene. Undercurrents of Celtic and folk music blend seamlessly with powerful guitars, souring harmonies and melodies that will get stuck in your head for days at a time; a wound healed only by listening to more and more, quenching the thirst of a Free Spirit hit.
Hi, PSYCHO FEST this Sat 13 June / 2pm - late! The Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey St. We'll be playing about 7.50pm. Full line up:
New Amusement / Humanzi / the Brothers Movement / Cheap Freaks / 202s / Boom Jackson / House of Dolls / The Hot Sprockets / Wounds / Sickboy / Hassle Merchants / Howlin’ Dowlin / Percolator / The Mighty Stef / Funeral Suits. with DJ’s Dandelion / Gib U:MACK and more
Online Now!
