The Violet May are a 5-piece rock act rooted in Sheffield, UK, but their sound is influenced by a much broader spectrum. Formed in early 2009, the band earned an early reputation for a raukus live show and were named by Alan McGee in The Guardian's “Top 15 Tips for 2010”[1].
The 5-piece went on to release their debut single “Bright Or Better” as a limited edition 7” vinyl single in May 2010 and consequently appeared on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6Music show as his “New Favourite Band”[2], headlined London’s Koko (venue)[3] for Club NME, shot their debut video with Douglas Hart of Jesus and Mary Chain[4], undertook a headline residency at Alan McGee’s Death Disco clubnight, played at Leeds Festival (Instigate debate stage) and Secret Garden Party, a sold out Italian tour throughout Rome, Venice and Florence, and won widespread support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, XFM, The Guardian, NME, Clash, Artrocker and the Daily Mail, amongst others.
With loud and lunatic tunes, leaving many a venue battered and bruised across the UK, audiences seemed hooked on the energy produced by a band in its raw stages. Singer Chris McClure’s aggressive charm is backed by the rough-edged guitar work of John Kubicki & Jono How, while the rhythm section of Dan Booth (Bass) & Alan Whitaker (Drums) have forged their own powerful live reputation.
The band's name was taken from a highly respected independent record store in Sheffield in the 1970s called Violet May. A book documenting the store called Shades of Violet[5] has been written by John Firminger and Gus Chapman and features an introduction by Sheffield singer-songwriter Richard Hawley, formerly of Sheffield acts longpigs and Pulp (band).
The Violet May's frontman and lead vocalist Chris McClure was the disheveled face on the front cover of the 2006 debut Arctic Monkeys album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not[4] and is also the brother of Jon McClure, the lead singer and frontman of Sheffield act Reverend and The Makers. Chris also appeared on the cover of Toddla T's 2009 album Skanky Skanky.
John Kubicki, formerly of Sheffield act Barricades, is The Violet May's main songwriter as well as playing guitar, synth, and vocals on all the tracks. Jono How, formerly of another Sheffield act Black Light Theatre plays lead guitar, Dan Booth plays bass guitar and Al Whitaker is the band's drummer.