Every time vocalist Spike self-confidently informs his enthusiastic audience We're the Quireboys ... and this is Rock n Roll everyone present has a pretty clear idea where this musical journey is about to lead. For fifteen years, the Quireboys have been synonymous with hand-made rock music, spiced with edgy riffs, driving rhythms and their frontmans unique voice.
The Quireboys have never felt the need to emulate their supposed idols; their originality, their charisma and their unequivocal Rock n Roll slogans have always guaranteed the band their very own place in rock history.
Having got together in 1986, the Quireboys were soon thrilling live audiences with their live shows.. Two singles released by a small independent label in England consolidated their fan community, which continued to grow with every gig. When Ozzy Osbournes wife Sharon signed the band in the late Eighties, everything went its apparently almost inevitable course: their debut album, A Bit Of What You Fancy, came out in 1990 and went straight to no. 2 of the Japanese and British album charts an amazing success for a new band. Live, the Quireboys developed a charm all of their own. Their stage set resembled an English pub, their songs were about the most tempting of all vices namely wine, women and good music.
In the early Nineties, the Quireboys were enlisted to play as opening act for the Rolling Stones and performed at Englands legendary Castle Donington festival. Only a few months later, Live Around The World arrived, an impressive stage document immortalising those first successful concerts. In 1993, the musicians ensconced themselves in a Vancouver studio with production legend Bob Rock to cut their second studio recording, Bitter, Sweet & Twisted. But in the meantime, the arrival of grunge had thoroughly influenced the zeitgeist of the scene, and the media reacted with restraint. In other words, there wasnt much more to be said on the subject of the Quireboys, and their 1994 best-of release gave the impression of a posthumous obituary. There was still the odd show, but life as a real band appeared to be a thing of the past for the time being.
For six long years, between 1993 and 1999, not much was heard from the band.
Then all of a sudden it was in 1999 that the band returned to the stage to the delight of their many faithfuls. A new recording contract and the albums Lost in Space (featuring older cuts) and This Is Rock n Roll resuscitated the groups career.
They played in Canada in Spring 2001 and embarked on a major European tour in October of the same year. Only a few months later, Danny Bowes (Thunder) invited them to play at the revived Monsters Of Rock festival, featuring Alice Cooper as headlining act. Their second live album, 100% Live 2002, was recorded during the Monsters tour.
In 2004, with their current line-up, consisting of the three original members, Spike, guitarist Guy Griffin and bassist Nigel Mogg, plus new additions Keith Weir (keyboards), Paul Guerin (guitars) and drummer Pip Mailing, they released Well Oiled, featuring 9 convincing new tracks.
The end of 2006 will see a DVD Release from the band, and will also see them continuing to work on their brand new album.
Source : http://www.myspace.com/thequireboys
