For the past six years no band has stood up
and flown the flag for rock and roll quite like Winnebago Deal
has. Mixing up hard rock sensibility with high-energy punk rock
they cast a suspicious and cynical eye over anybody stupid enough
not to appreciate this simple yet solid aesthetic. Surviving a
nuclear holocaust of bad fashion, bad ideas and short-lived
trends that music in the 21st century has thrown up,
the 'Deal always come out unscathed. Why? Because rather
than relying on a haircut and five minutes of fame Winnebago Deal
stick to something that will always be understood. Playing rock
and roll. Since Johnny B. Goode picked up that guitar and headed
down to those railway tracks, who in their right mind hasn't
wanted to turn it up some and break a few rules?
Winnebago Deal is Ben Thomas (drums) and Ben
Perrier (guitar/vocals). After early incarnations with expanded
line-ups the 'Deal weeded out its weak links and slimmed
down to its two founding members in 2000. In 2002 Winnebago Deal
began to make waves culminating with a gig with Fugazi at London's
Kentish Town Forum in November that year. From this the band were
picked up by well respected indie label, Fierce Panda Records,
who put out their first release, Plata O Plomo (March 2003).
From then on Winnebago Deal hit the road and toured the UK and
Europe extensively, with the likes of Blood Brothers, Burning
Brides, Andrew WK, Brant Bjork and the Bros and Nebula. They
played a clutch of festivals including Reading and Leeds and
began building up a loyal fan-base as well as strong support
amongst the press and radio. Picking up Radio One and XFM
sessions, good record reviews from everyone, be it Terrorizer or
Mojo magazine, the band were being hailed by everybody, including
the NME, as being one of the "best live acts around"
The record was fast, reckless and energetic; the live shows were
out control and the 'Deal were leaving a trail of smashed
glass and broken bones wherever they went. That year Winnebago
Deal were nominated as "Best British Newcomer"at
the Kerrang! Awards. Off the back of this the band released the
single Manhunt from Plata O Plomo with the ultra
low-budget, blood splattered, Dawn Of The Dead inspired
video receiving heavy rotation on Kerrang! TV and MTV2.
Winnebago Deal subsequently signed with
Sony/Double Dragon Music and went on to record the George
Dickel EP, released early 2004. After more touring including
a headline stretch and a support with Ash, Winnebago Deal went to
Seattle and teamed with legendary Sub Pop producer Jack Endino
(best known for his work with Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney)
to record their first full-length album, Dead Gone(2004).Dead Gone sounded far more polished than previous releases
and was met with further critical acclaim and led to another
round of Radio One and XFM sessions and a two singles, Cobra
and Did It, Done it, Doing it Again. UK and European tours
alongside Therapy?, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Mondo
Generator, Dwarves and High On Fire followed, as well as several
sweaty club headlining tours packed with fans wearing red
t-shirts bearing the 'Deal gunman logo.
From opening for ex-Queens Of The Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri's
band, Mondo Generator, Ben and Ben ended up joining Mondo in 2005
for over a year in what fans dubbed "Winnebago Generator".
As a three piece, Mondo toured Europe several times including
appearances at Download Festival in the UK, Festimad in Madrid
and German dates supporting Motorhead. Following this, Ben and
Ben went to Los Angeles to record songs for Mondo Generator's
third album, Dead Planet: Sonic Slow Motion Trails (2006),
at Dave Grohl's 606 Studio with producer Nick Rasculinecz.
Winnebago Deal returned to Fierce Panda
Records late in 2005. Once again working with Jack Endino in
Seattle, the 'Deal set about recording their second full
length album, Flight Of The Raven (2006). Darker and
heavier and putting an apocalyptic slant on life in a rock and
roll band, Flight Of The Raven included vocal
contributions from Nick Oliveri. More UK/European touring ensued
into 2007, including tours with The Bronx, The Datsuns and The
Answer as well as two more headline stretches. Flight Of The
Raven was released in Australia through Impedance Records in
2008, who brought the band out for a headline tour of Australia
in May that year.
Winnebago Deal started recording their third
full length album in late 2008. After taking a break from
recording to complete a second Australian headline tour in
January/February 2009, the band aims to finish work on the new
album by Spring for a release later in the year.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY: Full details at www.winnebagodeal.com
Albums
Flight Of The Raven July 2006 (UK & Europe - Fierce Panda Records), August 2006 (Japan - Supersonic Records), March 2008 (Australia - Impedance Records)
Dead Gone September 2004 (UK - Sony/Double Dragon Music)
Plata O Plomo March 2003 (UK - Fierce Panda Records), February 2006 (Australia - 3Wise Records)
EPs and Singles
Reeper 7" - November 2006 (UK - Fierce Panda Records)
Spider Bite 7" - July 2006 (UK - Fierce Panda Records)
Did It, Done It, Doing It Again - April 2005 (UK - Sony/Double Dragon Music)
Cobra 7" and CD - September 2004 (UK - Sony/Double Dragon Music)
George Dickel EP 10" and CD - April 2004 (UK- Sony/Double Dragon Music)
Takin' Care Of Business 7" (Split with US band Nebula) - December 2003 (UK & Europe - Sweet Nothing Records)
Manhunt 7" and CD - August 2003 (UK and Europe - Fierce Panda Records)
LATEST ALBUM "FLIGHT OF THE RAVEN" IS OUT NOW - BUY IT HERE!!!
We thank you for the add! We’re just a small band, but we’d be delighted if you listened to our Garage Rock songs and you sent us any kind of comment!! ☠
To make life easier Thee Big Black now have a Facebook page. Follow the link and add our page to get regular updates about shows, club nights and maybe even a 'zine . . . .
Just a reminder that we have these events coming up . . .
11/10/09 - Brightona bike rally at The Concorde 2, Brighton
