All Hail Nik!!!!!
The VictorZulus, as they are now, formed in January 2009 with Ste moving from the guitarist/singer position to become the drummer, his true position. The vacant position was filled by Nik Southworth. Nik was initially approached about the position in 2006 when The VictorZulus were formed, however, because of his commitment to Robot War’s it never worked out.
Nik was always wanted by the band because of his strong energetic voice. His chords boast a mixture of Chad Kroeger and Kurt Cobain. Then add a sprinkle of Paul Heaton to soften it up and you have a perfect melodic rock mixture. Nik, who was a fan of the band before he joined, takes influences from Beautiful South, Linkin park, Maralyn Mansun, Westlife and Korn
Ste going back on the drums has really energised the band as he has always been a drummer first, then musician second. He takes control of the songs and adds many extra dimensions to what the band can achieve with his spectrum of beats. Also, thanks to the short stint as singer, he creates backing vocal harmonies that has never been heard before. Another dimension added
Timperley Taverners and the Altrincham rooms
The current line up decided to get together over a pint at a local pub where landlords allowed the boys to rehearse in the concert room. The band then moved to the Altrincham rooms where they completed 9 practices before completing there first comeback gig in Doncaster.
The gig was such a success that it lead the promoter Stating that the band were the best live band they had there for 4 months. Also, with members of the audience stating that everything has fallen into place. The band are in the best shape they have ever been in and its only going to get better…….
Next……
The lads are booked to go into a studio in May and are looking to expand their already impressive following to the good people of London…..watch this space
Before the revolution
Ste and Neil, who have been in various bands together over the years started playing acoustic sessions again. They invited Johnny & James along to practices in their basement where The VictorZulus were born.
Ste and Neil went to the same school and grew up together in Doncaster. They moved to Manchester forming a band called Supercell, which lined up Ste on drums, Neil on bass, Steve Dodd on guitar and Kate Forrester on vocals. They did heaps of gigs in and around the Manchester area as well as Liverpool, Bolton, The Wirral and Doncaster.
The band, Supercell, ceased to be in 2004, at which time Ste and Neil started to devise a plan to set up a new band. After meeting Jonny and James, through football the line up was complete. It was Richard Lambert who wanted to be in a band, brought us all together with the name "Victor Zulu" and it was just a matter of time before they would be performing. After flirting with a few names such as "The Pank" and "Give A Flying One" eventually settled with the original name "The VictorZulus". Rich moved to Burnham and because of this had to leave the band.
The band now consisted of Ste, Neil Jonny and James. Jonny who grew up in Wigan met the guys in Manchester through the football team and always wanted to be involved. He was briefly the manager to Supercell. James who had just learned to play the guitar was also desperate to join a band and his enthusiasm shone through.
The Basement Sessions
The Basement Sessions will go down as the most important part of the progression of the band. The first rehearsal sessions took place in one of the lads bedrooms. Unfortunately this never really allowed the band to reach there full potential and songs such as "Why, Cos I can" and "Tonight's another Night" never captured what the band was trying to achieve.
It wasn't until the suggestion of setting up all the equipment in the basement, and thrashing out the songs, did the band realise that they had something special.
It was the energy and the excitement that led the band to rehearse 3-4 times a week for 3 hours at a time. "It was crazy, I was coming home from work and all the lads were there every day, it was, like, I guess were practicing again then?" Ste said. "Which I didn't mind, we would get a few beers in and just go for it" things were really starting to happen.
The band also started to try things out to. When "The Girl With The Curl" was first introduced, the sound wasn't quite there. "The problem was, with other bands all we would do is go through the songs we had once and then call it a day, but now we were trying to improve things"
The band had made some noticeable changes to songs and was progressing in the correct direction until they had a minor set back at there first paid gig.
The problem was, and I think that this was the same with every band I have been in, that we had no set beginning, or end to songs. We just took that for granted, in fact there wasn't a great structure to the songs. A band insider said we had just done a really bad gig, so we had a chat, then realised that if we were serious we would have to put a bit more effort in this, which consequently completely changed the whole bands attitude.
The VictorZulus then practiced every possible night for 2 months leading up to the first Manchester Academy gig. Not one of the practices were hard work and this effectively took the band to the next level. The band was, most importantly, having fun doing it too. Some new songs were added "London City Sleaze", "It's Not The Place You Go It's The Friends That Steel The Show", "A Different Kind Of Grey" and "My Ticket Out".
Recording The first Demo
In the middle of April they went into a studio to get a few tracks on CD. The band until now hadn't been using any kind of demo to get gigs. They had just been getting them on the promise of people turning up. The recorded 6 songs in 4 days which was just about right for what they needed. Once again the band were just enjoying themselves and having fun. They were all happy with the result and most of all it gave them the self belief that they could actually make something of there music.
On the road
The new line-up all shared the same love of music, the same desire to play their songs live and the same determination to get their music heard by as many people as possible. Once their new material was ready to unleash on live audiences they set about gigging in the Manchester area. Their first gig was at James's house party with the band Milktheif. Set up in the corner of a room they played to about 30 people and it went well. The VictorZulus then entered and won a battle of the bands as their second live date, at The Orange Grove playing 4 songs. After a heavy schedule of practicing, the Zulu's played at the Academy 3 in January 2006.
Since then they have played at the Manchester Academy, the Late Rooms, Night n Day, The Roadhouse and ventured out of Manchester to Liverpool, Leeds and Doncaster.
The VictorZulus draw their influences from an eclectic mix of bands, old and new, ranging from The Beatles, The Stones, The Velvet Underground, The Sex Pistols and The Jam right through to The Stone Roses, The Cure, Oasis and the whole Brit pop movement.
These influences produce a great blend of catchy, melodic, indie rock anthems; wherever they are played they have the crowd dancing, the fans singing and everybody wanting more.
Make up your own opion of The VictorZulus by clicking on www.myspace.com/victorzulus for more music. CD's are also available on request, just send an email to info@thevitorzulus.co.uk. Check out the gig page for their next gig as that's where the magic really happens
We are finally ready to start promoting my 'I Surrender' single with my album, 'Ella Trip' coming right after -yey!! What d'ya think to the video teaser?
UK ELECTRO ROCKERS MY PASSION are
playing the Priory Doncaster!!!
With Support from SUMMERLIN!!
This ones going to be amazing and
Iit's also going to be the release show
for Summerlin's E.P launch
FRIDAY 5TH June
American Pop punkers Quietdrive are
playing the Priory Doncaster!!!
With Support from Summerlin!!
This ones going to be amazing and it's the only place in
the UK you can see them for this price.
Thursday 22nd Jan
