WHAT'S ON: Nine Below Zero to celberate 30 years in music at Liverpool Live Lounge on Wednesday 25th February
Nine Below Zero are one of British rock and roll's most enduring and respected R&B combos.
Emerging from the vibrant London Pub and Club scene of the late 1970’s, their arrival coincided with the punk explosion, although the band had more in common with the great Chicago blues heroes of the 1950’s than bondage trousers and pogo dancing.
Nine Below Zero gigs were - and still are - energetic affairs, a non-stop party where band and audience are whipped into a frenzy, sweat soaked, thrill-a-minute stuff.
This no-frills, punchy and direct approach quickly won Nine Below Zero a loyal following, and soon landed a record deal with the then hot A and M label.
The "Live at the Marquee" album was an instant classic, catching on tape a band in awesome full-on live effect.
Front man Dennis Greaves led Nine Below Zero (then as now), his rasping vocals and stinging guitar work winning a place in the hearts of fans, music critics, And fellow musicians alike. For a while, it seemed that the band were rarely off the road, covering many thousands of touring miles, adding new fans, selling out gigs, building up a loyal fan base.
Nine Below Zero were the first band to be featured in the classic sitcom The Young Ones, belting out a tough version of "Eleven Plus Eleven".
From 1979 through to 1982 the band played non stop eventually headlining the Hammersmith Odeon. Shortly after through sheer exhaustion the band split. Nine Below Zero reconvened in 1990, selling out the dear departed Town & Country Club in North London,
Playing to sell-out crowds of 2000 people a night, the shows were very much a homecoming for the band, and the incredible reception afforded to them saw Nine Below Zero reborn, rejuvenated.
Since then, the band have gone from strength-to-strength, never shy of taking there music out on the road, Nine Below Zero have played all over Europe and memorably, in Bangla Desh, at the invitation of the British Council. The band even provided backing for actor and part-time Blues musician Bruce Willis at a bash at his Planet Hollywood eatery.
The current Nine Below Zero line-up is bristling with superb musicianship. Apart from the acknowledged excellence of Dennis Greaves on vocals and guitar, harmonica player Mark Feltham has shared stages with the likes of Pete Townsend, Oasis, and Zuccero amongst many others, whilst the rock-solid rhythm section of Gerry McAvoy (bass, vocals) and Brendan Oneill (drums, vocals) were for many years the engine room of the late great Rory Gallagher’s band.
The band will be celebrating their 30th Anniversary in 2009 with a brand new CD.
The CD which is due to be released in March 2009 will be the first self penned CD since "Refrigerator".
Visit the Nine Below Zero website: www.ninebelowzero.com for more information.
NINE BELOW ZERO - Wednesday 25th February - LIVERPOOL LIVE LOUNGE – Baby Blue, Edward Pavilion, The Albert Dock, L3 4AF. - Tickets £12 adv
Tickets for Live Lounge @ Baby Blue can be purchased through the Liverpool Echo Arena on the
ACC Live Hotline on 0844 8000 410 (Mon–Sat 9am-9pm and Sun 10am–4pm)
Or online - www.accliverpool.com
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