Nine Below Zero

Nine Below Zero - Both Sides of (Audio CD) - 2008 - Angel Air/Fenn

One of the U.K.'s finest RB bands was on the verge of its 30th anniversary in 2008, and what better way to kick off the celebrations than with a two-disc package highlighting the environment in which the group has always functioned the best? In concert, Nine Below Zero remain one of the club circuit's most incendiary sights, even when -- as is the case here -- they leave the electricity at home and go acoustic. Disc one of this two-CD package was recorded live across two nights in Cumbria, with the foursome unplugged but still raising the temperature to a boiling point -- a point that they then drive home with the accompanying DVD, shot in 2006 while the band toured the Balkans. Both of these performances have been released before, after a fashion; the acoustic CD essentially soundtracks the Bring It on Home DVD, and the live DVD adds pictures to the bonus CD included with the Sights and Sounds, Vol. 1 package. But they are an essential addition to the catalog regardless, and here's to the next 30 years Dave Thompson, All Music Guide

Legendary bassist, Gerry McAvoy, drummer, Brendan O’Neill, and harmonicist, Mark Feltham (all ex-Rory Gallagher’s band) have vast experience in the blues /R&B/ rock world. Together with guitarist Dennis Greaves (The Truth), the foursome known as Nine Below Zero show you how R&B and blues should be played. The audio CD from this 2 disc set (posted here) was recorded in 2006 during a tour of Croatia Serbia, Slovakia, and Macedonia. Listen to the band's "Live at the Marquee" and "It's Never Too Late!" albums

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. 11 + 11 - Greaves/Modern
2. DOWN IN THE DIRT AGAIN - Greaves/Lister/McAvoy/O'Neill
3. THE ROCKER - Jacobs
4. ONE WAY STREET - Greaves
5. THREE TIMES ENOUGH - Greaves, Burkey
6. DON'T POINT YOUR FINGER - Burkey, Greaves, Turner
7. MAMA TALK TO YOUR DAUGHTER - Trad.
8. RIDING ON THE 1 & N - Burley, Hampton
9. I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - Dozier, Holland
10. HOOCHIE COOCHIE COO - Ballard
11. PACK FAIR & SQUARE - Price
12. HOMEWORK/HIT THE ROAD JACK - Charles/Clark/Perkins/Rush

BAND

Dennis Greaves - Guitar, Vocals
Gerry McAvoy - Bass, Vocals
Brendan O'Neill - Bongos, Drums, Vocals
Mark Feltham - Harmonica, Vocals

BIO

Nine Below Zero started life in South London during 1977, in the midst of the punk rock boom in England — but their sound and inspiration were so totally counterintuitive to what was going on in punk rock that they scarcely seemed to be part of that movement, apart from their extremely energetic attack on their instruments. Rather than noise for its own sake or auto-destruction, their inspiration lay in classic Chicago blues (though John Mayall's early music and that of the Who and the Kinks from early in their careers also figured into their sound). Dennis Greaves (lead vocals, guitar), Peter Clark (bass), and Kenny Bradley (drums) — soon joined by Mark Feltham (who actually replaced a teacher of theirs who had sat in on the early gigs) on vocals and harmonica — were schoolmates and friends who shared a love of blues; all had all come into the world in the early '60s, and might well have resigned themselves to having missed the boat for the British blues revival by virtue of having been born in the midst of it. Instead, they reached back to that era and found themselves pegged as part of the "mod revival" in the midst of the punk era. Originally billed as Stan's Blues Band, they made a name for themselves locally in South London, sounding a lot like the Who from their "maximum R&B" days and the Kinks from their early days, and arrived as younger rivals to Dr. Feelgood. A couple of years later, they acquired a manager and a new name, taken from a song by Sonny Boy Williamson II, and cut a debut record on their own label. By 1980, they'd been signed to A&M Records' British division and took the bold step of making their major-label debut a live album from the Marquee Club in London — to judge from the results, one heartily wished that some of the earlier bands that inspired them had displayed similar daring. Live at the Marquee, recorded on June 16, 1980 — by which time Stix Burkey had replaced Bradley on the drums — was a success and led to their follow-up album. For their sophomore effort, Don't Point Your Finger, they were determined to translate their live energy into the studio and turned to no less a producer than Glyn Johns, who had worked with the Rolling Stones and the Who in their respective best years. The resulting record reached number 56 on the British charts. The band's upward momentum was slowed in the years that followed, with Clark's departure (replaced by Brian Berhall), though a third album, Third Degree, followed — but it seemed as though the moment had passed, as that record never got the attention or recognition it deserved from the press or the public. Greaves' involvement with an outfit called the Truth, who coalesced as a full-time band in 1984, seemed to bring an end to Nine Below Zero, and that might have been as far as the group got. But a 1990 reunion got them playing before sell-out audiences, and the group has been working ever since, with Greaves on lead guitar and Mark Feltham even returning to the fold in 2001. © Bruce Eder © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved Bruce Eder

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)

Nine Below Zero (also known as 9 Below Zero) are a blues band based in the United Kingdom, who have a cult following throughout Europe, and were most popular in the period between 1980 and 1982. The band was originally formed in South London in 1977, by guitarist Dennis Greaves. Taking bassist Peter Clark with him, they recruited Kenny Bradley on drums, a vocalist and harmonica player Mark Feltham, who soon became their vocalist as well. They originally called themselves 'Stan's Blues Band', and for two years built up a local following in London clubs. In 1979 while playing at The Thomas A'Beckett pub in the Old Kent Road they accepted an offer from former musician Mickey Modern to manage them, and it was he who persuaded them to change the band's name to something sharper. Greaves chose Nine Below Zero after the Sonny Boy Williamson II penned song. At that time Modern was a musician signed to A&M Records, after producing the band's demos he persuaded A&M to give him a record label with which to launch this band's career. Modern named the label M&L Records. Under Modern's creative direction and production, the band went full-time, and in 1980 released their first album, Live At The Marquee, which was recorded on 16 June 1980. By which time Stix Burkey had replaced Bradley on the drums. By the end of that year they were one of the most popular club attractions in London, pulling in audiences from other genres, particularly the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, attracted by their high-energy fast tempo sound. They headlined at the Hammersmith Odeon and featured respected bluesman Alexis Korner, a long-time champion of new electric blues talent. In 1981 they released second album, Don't Point Your Finger, produced by Glyn Johns. Johns complained the bass was too basic for the new songs, so taking his advice the band subsequently replaced bass player Clark with Brian Bethall. There was a period when Nine Below Zero were on TV almost weekly. They appeared on The Chris Tarrant Show, South Bank Show, O.T.T., the Old Grey Whistle Test, and The Young Ones as well as supporting The Kinks and The Who on tour. Nine Below Zero performed "11+11" on the first episode ("Demolition") of the BBC Television comedy series, The Young Ones. Don't Point Your Finger climbed to number 56 on the UK Albums Chart. Their third album, Third Degree, contained "11+11" written by Greaves and Modern, however the album was poorly received causing the band to argue, the record company got wind of the unrest and dropped them and interest in the band evaporated. However, the album was their highest placing appearance on the UK Albums Chart, spending six weeks within and reaching number 38. Nevertheless, the band decided to split, although Bethall later had some success with The Blow Monkeys whilst Feltham went into session work, most notably for Rory Gallagher. Modern often put the idea to reform Nine Below Zero to Arnold but the latter was managing The Truth and considered Nine Below Zero as a move backward. However, with IRS Records interest in The Truth waivering in 1990 Modern persuaded Feltham and Greaves to reunite for a tenth anniversary gig. He also persuaded Arnold who now worked at Harvey Goldsmith Ents to promote the band at the Town and Country Club, which they did to a sell-out success. Suitably encouraged, they decided to stay together, with Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O'Neill (ex-Rory Gallagher's band) added on bass and drums. In 1992 Feltham left due to musical differences and was replaced by the session harp-player, Alan Glen. Feltham subsequently returned in 2001 and the band have continued to tour and record, still popular in part, due to having developed a cult following. In 2005, their track, "Go Girl" was included in the Of Hands and Hearts: Music for the Tsunami Disaster Fund compilation album. In August 2008, Nine Below Zero appeared at the Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.