First there was music, then came the music industry and now just the industry!
In the new age of digital downloads, mobile phones and online social networks music has become watered down to attract the attention of a supposed disposable generation. Nothing seems real and therefore the messages and inspiration often found in music seem to be lost. In other words; this is not a disposable generation, rather disposable music; we just have nothing to believe in.
Death of an Icon believe they have an answer to this dilemma and this is just the beginning
Death of an Icon can be described as a truly global band having no specific place or country of origin. The story begins in Cape Town, South Africa where in 2004 child-hood friends Owen Lowrey (Bass) and Bobby Addison (Guitar) pack their bags and head off to the UK in search of bigger and better things. They were successful with their previous band ill system in reaching a wide UK and South African audience from their EP International assassins, and won best unsigned band after a sold out show at the London Astoria. This gave them the opportunity to play the famous Taubertal festival in Germany performing alongside such names as The Blood Hound Gang and Fun Lovin Criminals. The future looked good for ill system until in 2006 Visa issues forced a split of the band and two members returned home to South Africa.
Whilst elsewhere, in Pontypridd, South Wales, to be exact, Mark Hicks (Drums) was paving his way in the South Wales music scene. After drumming for several local bands Mark first serious position was vocalist for hardcore band Trip cage which also featured Funeral for a Friends guitarist Darran Smith. They went on to release several demos and gained respect and a good following in the underground hardcore scene. After the split of Trip cage, Mark was offered the position of full-time drummer for Welsh band Panel whose highlights included support for Funeral for a Friend on their 2006 UK tour and playing main stage at the Full Ponty festival in South Wales alongside Lost Prophets and Kids in Glass houses. At the end of 2006 Panel decided that they had run their course and called it a day.
At the beginning of 2007 Mark, Bob and Owen met at a party through a mutual friend and started discussing the possibility of putting a band together. Discussions turned into a month of auditions and by March 2007 they had officially started Death of an Icon but it needed a voice!
Danny Coyle (Vocals) hails from Northern Ireland. His past remains a mystery as most of it is classified. All we can say is that he is from Ireland, he lived in Cyprus for a couple of years and his dad was in the R.A.F. After only 2 auditions, Danny was accepted as the voice of Death of an Icon
With the line up solid it was time to write some material and get out on the road so in September of 2007 Death of an Icon played their first gig for free in their rehearsal room to over 100 people. It did not stop there and from then until August 2008 Death of an Icon played over 100 shows around the UK. Due to the extensive touring and ever growing fan base a demand for an album became overwhelmingly apparent so DOAI went in search of a studio to record their debut album. After many interviews and demos DOAI where not satisfied that a recording studio would deliver the Real live sound they had hoped for and therefore made the decision to record the album by themselves. Enlisting the production skills of long time friend Jon Mellor, To Arms Citizens! was recorded in Aug/Sep 2008 and finally released on CD and digital download in Oct 2008.
'Death of an Icon is currently based in Cardiff/Pontypridd, South Wales, U.K. Taking influences and ethics from the British rock movement in the 70s and the Seattle alt/grunge scene; Death of an Icon balances soulful in-depth lyrics with bone-crushing rhythm force!
After receiving favourable press in publications such as 'Rocksound' and 'Plugged in' ,along with the release of their debut album 'To arms citizens!', 2009 looks bright for DOAI with a nationwide and European tour planned for the early summer and their single Ho monkey remained on the UK unsigned charts for 11 weeks peaking at number 7.
...Rock on!!!
![[gb]](/media/images/flags/gb.gif "United Kingdom")
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