The Spitfires
A mod-inspired act from Watford, England, the Spitfires enjoyed minor success in the U.K. over a ten-year period, before their disbandment in 2022. Comprising vocalist and guitarist Billy Sullivan, bass guitarist Sam Long, drummer Matt Johnson, and keyboardist Chris Chanell, they offered dynamic and powerful songwriting with resolute social commentary. The four friends came together in late 2012, sharing a love of artists such as the Who, the Jam, and the Small Faces. Naming themselves the Spitfires due to an obsession with mod culture and Sullivan's affinity for the aircraft since an early age, they wrote songs inspired as much by the mid- to late-'70s punk scene as '60s modernism. The band's first release -- November 2012's "Spark to Start" -- was a comment on attitudes and trends in the music industry in the 21st century.
After demo'ing additional material, they issued a couple more releases in 2013 -- the single "Tell Me" and a self-titled EP -- promoting these at venues such as Liverpool's Cavern Club, London's 100 Club, and at the Brighton-based punk festival Undercover. The following year, the Spitfires wrote and recorded their debut-full length effort, Response, which was eventually released in mid-2015 on Catch-22. The record graced the Top 70 of the U.K. album chart while hitting number six on both the independent and vinyl charts. Singles from the album -- such as "Stand Down" and "4AM" -- received widespread airplay on national radio, making 2015 the year in which their profile was at its highest. After touring extensively in support of Response, they returned in 2016 with a sophomore effort, A Thousand Times, which, in comparison to their debut, was cinematic in style and progressive in its scope. That record included the upbeat and determined "So Long," which reached number one on the U.K. vinyl single chart. The group's third set, 2018's Year Zero, nodded to a ska influence -- particularly on tracks such as "Remains the Same" and " Move On" -- as well as utilizing a higher production value and flashier sonics. Although Chanell had departed by the release of 2020's Life Worth Living, during this time the Spitfires' sound was bolstered with keys and brass by a number of auxiliary members, both in the studio and on-stage. That album was their first to be released by Acid Jazz, and featured the singles "(Just Won't) Keep Me Down" and "Tear This Place Right Down!", the latter bearing a distinct Style Council influence.
In December 2021, citing the challenges and uncertainties facing artists in a world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sullivan declared that the Spitfires' fifth album would be their last. Jazzy vignettes interspersed much of the material on February 2022's expansive and inventive Play for Today, which included song styles previously visited by the band, here tinged with a slight electronic influence. Although the Spitfires were forced to cancel a string of dates, they performed a bittersweet farewell show at Camden's Electric Ballroom a week after the album's release. This set was ultimately captured on a November-issued live album, but not before Sullivan launched his solo career with the May 2022 single "Overcome."
© Rob Wacey & James Wilkinson /TiVo
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Enough Is Enough
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Catch 22 Records el 19 jul. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
How Could I Lie To You?
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Acid Jazz UK el 11 sep. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Save Me
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Acid Jazz UK el 21 ene. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Full Throttle
Rock - Editado por Foottapping Records el 10 nov. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The New Age (Live)
Rock - Editado por Hatch Records Limited el 15 feb. 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Enough Is Enough
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Catch 22 Records el 10 jun. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The New Age
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Hatch Records Limited el 13 jul. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remains The Same
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Hatch Records Limited el 25 may. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
(Just Won't) Keep Me Down
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Acid Jazz UK el 18 mar. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
4am (Radio Edit)
Alternativa & Indie - Editado por Catch 22 Records el 14 ago. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Spitfires
Rock - Editado por Foottapping Records el 2 dic. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pull My String
Hard Rock - Editado por The Spitfires el 9 may. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cut Me Some Slack
Rock - Editado por Ausländer Music el 1 nov. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jukebox High (Single)
Rock - Editado por Ausländer Music el 9 jul. 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo