Dirty Pretty Things (band)

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This article is about the band Dirty Pretty Things. For the film of the same name, see Dirty Pretty Things (film).
Dirty Pretty Things
Carl Barât and Didz Hammond performing live at the Redbourn Festival on August 11th 2007.
Carl Barât and Didz Hammond performing live at the Redbourn Festival on August 11th 2007.
Background information
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Indie Rock
Post-punk revival
Punk Rock
Years active 2005–present
Label(s) Vertigo Records
Associated acts The Libertines, Babyshambles, Yeti, The Cooper Temple Clause, The Chavs
Website Official website
Members
Carl Barât
Didz Hammond
Gary Powell
Anthony Rossomando

Dirty Pretty Things are an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a former member of The Libertines. The formation of the band was announced in September 2005, after a dispute between Barât and Pete Doherty led to the breakup of The Libertines in 2004. Barât had worked with Vertigo Records and had previously revealed that his new project was with the label. Didz Hammond announced he was leaving the Cooper Temple Clause[1] to join the band alongside ex-Libertines drummer Gary Powell and guitarist Anthony Rossomando, who had filled in for Doherty following his departure from The Libertines. Dirty Pretty Things played their first shows in October 2005 in Italy and Paris, France.

Initially, the band's name caused problems. A four-piece band from Salisbury had been playing as "Dirty Pretty Things" since early January 2005, claiming to have already trademarked the name in the UK[2]; the two groups came to an agreement over the name, and the band was renamed Mitchell Devastation. An Australian band had been playing under "Dirty Pretty Things" since 2003, although it also opted to change it. The name was shared by Barât's club nights in venues throughout London; they assumed the name "Bright Young Things" to avoid confusion.

The bass player Didz Hammond is also renowned for his multi-talented displays as a stand up comic. He regualarly attends Edinburgh Festival and his most recent small tour was in Autumn 2007. Prior to becoming a musician and comic, Didz was a child actor in Grange Hill, playing the rebel character 'Joe Meegan'.

Contents

[edit] Formation and first album

Dirty Pretty Things began recording their first album in Los Angeles, California with high-profile producer Dave Sardy, and in Glasgow, Scotland with producer Tony Doogan. "You Fucking Love It", a track from the band's debut album, was made available on a free CD with the April 1, 2006 issue of NME entitled "NME and MTV2 present Best Newbands Showcase 2006".

The band's debut album, Waterloo to Anywhere, was released on May 8, 2006, reaching number three on the music charts and receiving critical approval. The first single (and first official band release) from the album, "Bang Bang, You're Dead", was released on April 24, 2006 and reached number five in the singles chart in its first week of sales. The second single, "Deadwood", was released on 10 July 2006 and reached number 20 in the singles chart. The album's third single, "Wondering", was released on September 25, 2006 and reached number 34.

The band toured extensively in the UK during the first half of 2006. They played their first American show at the SXSW festival in Texas. During the summer of 2006, the group played at several UK festivals, including the Gonville & Caius College May Ball 2006, Isle of Wight Festival, Wireless Festival, T in the Park, and the Irish festival of Oxegen. The band played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at their concerts in Ipswich and Coventry in July 2006. The band were supported on their debut tour of the UK by The Hurricanes, an unsigned Edinburgh based band.

On May 13, 2006 Barât and Hammond appeared on the football show Soccer AM. The pair appeared to be drunk following a night out after a gig in Wolverhampton, causing fellow guest Noel Gallagher to compare Barat's slightly incoherent rambling to that of his brother, Liam.[citation needed]

On holiday in Taipei, Barât broke his collarbone after falling from a motorbike during a drinking session, leading to speculation that Dirty Pretty Things would have to cancel upcoming performing dates in North America.[3] However, the band recruited Josh Hubbard, the guitarist from Hull band The Paddingtons, to play guitar while Barât's injury healed. Barât, sans guitar and his arm in a sling, appeared on stage in Edinburgh's Corn Exchange on August 28, 2006, as well as Reading Festival.[citation needed]

On 16 October 2006, the band released a DVD, Puffing On a Coffin Nail, which featured more than two-and-a-half hours of concert footage and documentaries. On 25 October 2006, Barât appeared as a special guest at Paul Weller's set during the Electric Proms, duetting on "Peacock Suite" and "In the City".

[edit] Romance At Short Notice

Anthony Rossomando revealed to NME on March 2, 2007, that the band planned to record the album in summer of 2007, to have it ready for a tentative September 2007 release.[4] In an interview on February 1, 2008, Barât revealed that the band were having problems with production and that the release date had to be pushed back.[5]

The band supported Muse at their June 16, 2007 Wembley Stadium show and supported the Red Hot Chili Peppers on June 24, at Goffertpark Nijmegen in The Netherlands. They also played at Glastonbury 2007 and performed several new songs. On July 22, the band supported Pet Shop Boys at the Eden Project in Cornwall, playing a slew of new songs including "Come Closer".[6]

"Radio Song" was released as part of the OST for Run, Fat Boy, Run, on September 7, 2007 for download, and on September 10, 2007 on CD. In October the band appeared on the Love Music Hate Racism CD, which was released on the cover of NME. "9 Lives" was Dirty Pretty Things' contribution to the free album and is in a finished studio form.

According to a news release on their official website on 2 May, 2008, the band had completed 12 tracks for their second album. They revealed the title to be Romance At Short Notice on 6 May, 2008[7]. The name is a reference to the final line in Saki's short story "The Open Window." Previously, the title This Is Where The Truth Begins had been circulated as the title of the album. It is scheduled to be released on 30 June, 2008, with the single "Tired of England" to be released a week earlier on 23 June.[8]

On 4 March, 2008, the band announced a full UK tour to promote the album as well as various festival dates throughout the summer.

On 12 May, 2008, the song "Hippy's Son" was made available for free download from the band's official website.[9]

Romance At Short Notice will be released on June 30.

[edit] Audio sample

"Bang Bang You're Dead"

29-second clip of the chorus of Bang Bang You're Dead
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
UK Singles Chart UK Download Chart US Modern Rock
2006 "Bang Bang You’re Dead" #5 #4 - Waterloo to Anywhere
2006 "Deadwood" #20 - - Waterloo to Anywhere
2006 "Wondering" #34 - - Waterloo to Anywhere
2008 "Tired Of England" - - - Romance At Short Notice

[edit] DVDs

  • Puffing on a Coffin Nail - Live at the Forum

[edit] Music videos

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Didz Hammond issues farewell statement
  2. ^ Exclusive: Carl Barat's New Band Name In Dispute
  3. ^ News From the Road
  4. ^ Dirty Pretty Things start work on new album
  5. ^ Dirty Pretty Things Having 'Problems' With Second Album
  6. ^ Dirty Pretty Things and Pet Shop Boys - Eden Sessions
  7. ^ Dirty Pretty Things | Official website | News | The title of the second album is…
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ http://www.dirtyprettythingsband.com/index.php/news/more/download_hippys_son_for_free

[edit] External links