biography
New idols on the block, King Adora, have made a big impact since their first release in Summer Y2K. Their huge rock sound, incisive lyrics, brain drenching tunes and explosive ‘n’ lively live outings have won them a fervent following too. Great music with the added bonus of King Adora being genuine ear and eye catching pop stars. No wonder that their limited singles and live dates in 2000 have already inspired many King Adora websites and fanzines. Their musical prowess won them fans early in the media too - i.e. Steve Lamacq - King Adora are NEVER dull!
King Adora are Martyn “Nelsta” Nelson (guitar / backing vocals), Robbie G (bass), Dan Dabrowski (drums) and Matt “Maxi” Browne (vocals and guitar). Music obsessives from Birmingham, they had various experiences in bands previously but when the four of them came together, the magic really happened and by the start of 1999, that magic via their early demos and gigs was causing a buzz.
Superior Quality Recordings were knocked out by King Adora’s songs and in May 2000 their debut single, a limited double a-side “Bionic”/”The Law” was released on the label. (The band describe the latter track as being “about getting your leg over with a copper and being caught with your pants down”). The public and media reaction to the single was great and King Adora haven’t looked back since. Early comparisons - The Pixies, Ash, Three Colours Red, Suede, Manics, New York Dolls, Supergrass etc didn’t do them any harm, either. King Adora are highly distinct.
Their interviews also inspired the letters pages of the music press, as one called them “the band you love to hate. and vice versa”. There’s much more to them. King Adora follow their adored debut with “Big Isn’t Beautiful” at the end of July. The tongue-in-cheek title caused controversy, but as Matt pointed out “Big Isn’t Beautiful” is written from the point of view of an anorexic male! The song is both very personal to me and one which I am proud of. Real people will always scratch beneath the surface and see that King Adora will not be scapegoats for the blinkered and the shallow.”
The video for “Big Isn’t Beautiful” was partly shot in the window of the Ann Summers shop in Soho’s Tottenham Court Road - across the road from The Astoria, and features Bloodhound Gang fans who left the queue for the Bloodhound Gang gig to mosh in the street. This single also earned King Adora their first day time radio play on Radio 1. The band named after a giant dildo, returned to Soho to play a blinder at the famous Madame Jo-Jo’s drag club when “Big Isn’t Beautiful” was released.
By Summer King Adora were in demand. Constant touring had earned them appearances at T-In-The-Park and support slots at Mansun’s festival warm ups. By the end of the festival season at both Reading and Leeds Festivals, they completely packed out the second stage despite it being the middle of the day. Then King Adora made their TV debut in September (Channel 4, Barfly Sessions), and released a third single “Smoulder” in October and, having got on like a house of fire with Mansun, were invited to support the band’s October tour. Like the first two singles, “Smoulder” sold out of copies. New single, “Suffocate”, will be released on February 19th.
The band have spent the winter working on their album with producer John Cornfield at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall and are set to help make 2001 a sparkling year for punk-pop, glamour, attitude and noise!
Please click on the pictures below for information on each band member
