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The Subways Information
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'The Subways' are a British indie rock group from the Home Counties, specifically Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Band members
Billy Lunn (guitars/vocals), Mary-Charlotte Cooper (bass/vocals), Josh Morgan (drums).
The Subways are 3 people who play various types of indie rock music, featured on their debut album "Young For Eternity", which was released on July 4th 2005.
Despite the obviously differing surnames, Billy and Josh are half brothers.
Billy has taken his mother's maiden name, though it has never been speculated upon as to the reason why they differ in surnames apart from an insinuation of a rift in the family.
It is believed he changed it to avoid the similar name to Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.
History
The Subways began by playing Nirvana and punk songs in Billy and Josh's lounge, under the name of Mustardseed.
They later changed their name to Platypus, and began to tour small, local venues, such as The Square in Harlow, Essex. An early CD of the band playing live was recorded at The Square which they sold at gigs.
As their fame grew, Billy in particular became uncomfortable with and unsure of all the different names the band were coming up with. He came up with The Subways, apparently from his days hanging out. "One of the only places where I felt I could refuge and find peace in my old town of Welwyn Garden City was in a subway under the roads and pavements. I would haunt there in between breaks at work and college." Feeling the most free at that time underneath the rat-race of economic town life, he thought it only appropriate to divulge this "free essence" he felt in that subway to the band, where he felt he could truly escape from the drudgery of everyday life.
The band was drawn to the attention of Britain's media and public first after playing relentlessly in front of crowds "as often as we could" on the London circuit, and then after entering, and eventually winning, the Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury New Bands competition. Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis was so impressed by them that he moved them up from the New Bands stage, where they were originally slated to play, to the Other Stage, where they played to a crowd of thousands on the Saturday afternoon.
After Glastonbury, The Subways went on to play The Carling Weekend 2004 in both Reading and Leeds, attracting yet more media and public attention.
The band's music caught the attention of many DJs, including the late John Peel, who was the first DJ to play single 1am on National Radio, and more recently Zane Lowe.
Unfortunately, some members of the British press, such as journalists at The Sun, only seem to notice the band because of Charlotte's excellent dress sense -- though The Sun did manage to stab the single of the week with 5 stars out of 5, beating the likes of 50 Cent, Jamelia, Estelle and Natalie Imbruglia to the top spot and being described as :
"Star quality, the next big thing? Oh Yeah! So prepare yourself for the awesome power of The Subways..."
The band signed to City Pavement & Infectious Records in late 2004. Their first album, Young For Eternity, which was released on the 4th of July 2005 was produced by Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie, with their debut single 'Oh Yeah' reaching number 25 in the UK Music Chart in its release week March 21st 2005.
Singer/guitarist Billy Lunn and bassist Mary-Charlotte Cooper revealed news of their engagement to the crowd at a gig at the Camden Barfly on July 18th.
Before playing the track 'Somewhere', Billy said: "I'm gonna dedicate this next song to my fiancée" as the audience erupted into rapturous applause.
Discography
EPs
* "The Platypus EP"
* "I Lost You To The City EP"
* "Summertime EP"
* "Rock & Roll Queen EP"
* "No Heart No Soul EP"
* "Young For Eternity EP"
* "At 1am EP"
* "Milk EP"
Singles
* '"1am"' - Early UK only Release, Limited to 500 copies. Released on Vinyl only.(Transgressive Records)
* '"Oh Yeah"' - Released on Single CD and 7"(released 21 March 2005) (Infectious/City Pavement - 2005) reached #25 in the UK charts
'Track listings'
'CD'
#Oh Yeah
#Take Me Away
'7"' (Released on Limited edition, Numbered, White Vinyl)
#Oh Yeah
#I am Young
* '"Rock & Roll Queen"' - Released on 2 CDs and 7" Vinyl (Infectious/City Pavement - June 20th 2005) reached #22 in the UK charts
'Track listings'
'CD 1'
#Rock and Roll Queen
#Automatic
'CD 2'
#Rock and Roll Queen
#Another Sense
#I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say (Radio 1 Zane Lowe session)
#Rock and Roll Queen Video
Enhanced PC only features- Album Sampler and information about the band.
'7"' (Released on limited edition, Numbered, Blue Vinyl)
#Rock and Roll Queen
#Under the Sun
*'"With You"'- Released on 2 Track CD, CD/DVD and 7" (Infectious/City Pavement - September 12th 2005) reached #29 in the UK charts
'CD Single'
1. With You
2. A Plain Above
'DVD'
1.With You (audio)
2.I Lost You to the City (audio)
3.With You (video)
4.Rock and Roll Queen Live at the Isle of Wight festival (video)
5.With You- Making the Video (Edited Version)(video)
The full version of the Making The Video could be viewed by entering a password into their website.
'7"' (Released on Limited Edition, Numbered, Clear Vinyl)
1. With You
2. Staring at The Sun (TV on the Radio Cover)
Albums
* Young For Eternity - (2005) #32 UK
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