Blitz Kids (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Joe James, Jono Yates, Nic Montgomery, Billy Evanson, Eddie Hawx |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Nantwich and Crewe, Cheshire , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Blitz Kids were an alternative rock group originating from Nantwich and Crewe in Cheshire, England.
History
The band came together in 2006, founded by Joe James, Jono Yates, Nic Montgomery, Billy Evanson, and Eddie Hawx. Initially, they performed under the name "Rig Up Explosive" before adopting the name Blitz Kids in 2009. This new moniker paid homage to a WWII-era gang that belonged to Joe's grandfather.
Their early work includes two EPs released through LAB Records: Scavengers and Decisions. These were followed by their first full-length album, Vagrants and Vagabonds. In 2012, both Evanson and Hawx exited the band for personal reasons. Later that year, Matt Freer joined as the drummer, and the band put out a third EP titled Never Die.
The group's sophomore album, The Good Youth, was produced by John Feldmann in Los Angeles during the summer of 2013 and officially released on 20 January 2014.
On 3 July 2015, Blitz Kids publicly announced their friendly breakup and canceled an imminent tour.
Tours and festivals
Blitz Kids supported several prominent acts during their career, including opening slots for D.R.U.G.S. across the UK in March 2011, Mayday Parade in May 2011, and Australia's Tonight Alive in October 2012. To promote the Never Die EP, they embarked on a UK headline tour in December 2012 with Evarose providing support on most dates.
Their festival appearances featured performances at notable UK events such as the Red Bull stage at Sonisphere Festival (2010), Hevy Festival (2010), Slam Dunk Festival's Introducing Stage (2011), Download Festival (2011), and Radstock Festival held in Liverpool (March 2013).
In early 2013, Blitz Kids supported American pop punk band We The Kings during their UK tour. This was followed by main support duties for Lower Than Atlantis on their European tour. These tours occurred shortly after the band confirmed their participation in Download and Slam Dunk Festivals. April 2013 marked their departure from Hassle Records and subsequent signing with Red Bull Records. Following this transition, they supported British rock band Canterbury on a UK tour prior to Canterbury’s European dates. Later that year, Blitz Kids opened for Mallory Knox and served as primary support for All Time Low across Europe in early 2014. August 2014 saw them perform at Merthyr Rock alongside Reel Big Fish and Anti-Flag. Their own headline tour ran from late September into early October 2014 with Natives and Scholars as supporting acts.
Although a final UK tour was planned for summer 2015, it was canceled following their breakup announcement on 3 July. Before disbanding on 10 October 2015, Blitz Kids played two farewell concerts in October.
Former members
- Joe James – lead vocals (2006–2015)
- Jono Yates – guitar, backing vocals (2006–2015)
- Nic Montgomery – bass guitar, backing vocals (2006–2015)
- Matt Freer – drums (2012–2015)
- Eddie Hawx – drums (2006–2012)
- Billy Evanson – guitar (2006–2012)
Studio
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Vagrants & Vagabonds
|
| 2014 | The Good Youth
|
EP
| Year | EP Information |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Scavengers
|
| 2011 | Decisions
|
| 2012 | Never Die
|
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Story" | Vagrants & Vagabonds |
| "Hold Fast" | ||
| 2012 | "Never Die" | Never Die |
| 2013 | "On My Own" | The Good Youth |
| "Run For Cover" | ||
| 2014 | "Sometimes" | |
| "Perfect" | ||
| 2015 | "Keep Swinging" |
Nominations and achievements
In 2011, Blitz Kids earned a nomination for 'Best British Newcomers' at the Kerrang! Awards, where they were contenders alongside prominent groups such as Asking Alexandria.
External links
- Official website (domain no longer active)