Hitechjet

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Hitechjet
Background information
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genres Punk
Indie rock
Post-hardcore
Years active 2001–2006, 2012
Labels In At The Deep End Records
Associated acts The Megadudes
Old Major (band)
Website
Members Adam Gardner
Aydogan Mehmet
Brian Ayers
Micky Wyle
Paul Lefley-Evans

Hitechjet were a British rock band from Uxbridge, London formed in 2001 and consisted of Brian Ayers (lead vocals), Aydogan Mehmet (guitar, vocals), Paul Lefley-Evans (bass, vocals), Micky Wyle (drums, vocals) and Adam Gardner (guitar). Hitechjet released one mini album "If you take anything..." and one full length album "600 miles from..." through In At The Deep End Records (Gallows, Send More Paramedics, Architects, Beecher) . Hitechjet has been on hiatus since 2006.

Formation

Hitechjet formed in Autumn 2001 by Paul Lefley-Evans (bass), Adam Gardner (guitar), Aydogan Mehmet (guitar) and Micky Wyle (drums). They were joined at the beginning of 2002 by Brian Ayers(vocals) and became Hitechjet after a line from the Nena song 99 Red Balloons.[1]

Hitechjet recorded their first demo with John Hannon (Hundred Reasons, Kids Near Water) engineering and producing. The demo contained the songs 'The Score', 'If my best is not enough' and 'All this time'. The demo received positive reviews from dozens of fanzines and interest from several record labels interested in releasing their material.

Nottingham based label In At the Deep End Records were due to attend their band The Killerest Expression's show in Leeds when Hitechjet were added to the bill. Although this was only their second show, based on their performance that night offered Hitechjet a recording contract.[2]

If you take anything

In June 2003 Hitechjet released, 'If you take anything...', a 7 track mini-album which received critical acclaim in many magazines and fanzines including Kerrang (4K), Big Cheese (4/5) and Drowned in Sound (9/10).[3][4] This led to shows with Lagwagon, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Kasabian, Instruction, Red Animal War, Million Dead amongst others.

600 miles from...

At the beginning of 2004, Hitechjet took a 6 month break from playing live as their touring schedule had started to impact on writing their first full length album. The album was recorded, engineered and produced by long time cohort John Hannon. The album was then presented to In At the Deep End Records in Oct 2004.

A 14 date UK tour was booked for Feb 2005 to coincide with the release of the album. This would be their first tour as a headlining act. Artwork problems delayed the release of the album and this led to Hitechjet leaving for their tour with their friends Driving on the Right without the album they were due to promote. This was their most successful tour to date with several shows selling out.

As In At the Deep End Records had other albums due on their release schedule, Hitechjet had to wait for a gap to appear. Finally in October 2005 '600 miles from...' was released. Although Hitechjet were known for their "genre hopping" style, '600 miles from...' explored new areas for Hitechjet with elements of post rock, electronica and post punk and contained heavy use of samples.

The album was greeted with more critical acclaim receiving 8/10 in Rock Sound, 5/5 Big Cheese, 5/5 Zero Magazine, 4.5/5 Punktastic.com[5][6] amongst them.

After playing 'Making Movies' regularly on his show,[7] Radio One DJ Mike Davies (broadcaster) then invited Hitechjet to record a session for the Lock Up show at the end of 2005. They played live '(I should have left you at the) Roadside', 'Perfect Video (full band version)', 'This Lift goes down' and 'As though nothing happened'.

In April 2006, after touring with The Once Over Twice, Hitechjet felt their frustrations with their label and the band's future was beginning to cause tension within the band. Not wanting to damage long term friendships, Hitechjet decided to go on an "indefinite hiatus".[8]

In July 2012 Hitechjet reformed for two one off shows in London. One was with Milloy for their final London show and the other was for a friend's private party.

Line-up

  • Adam Gardner - guitars
  • Aydogan Mehmet (aka "Mem") - guitar, vocals, keyboards ('600 Miles from...' album)
  • Brian Ayers - lead vocals
  • Michael Wyle (aka "Micky") - drums, vocals, guitar ('600 Miles from...' album)
  • Paul Lefley-Evans (aka "Bev") - bass, vocals

Additional musicians

  • Mark Fraser- guitar, vocals, keyboards (additional live musician, '600 Miles from...' album)
  • John Hannon- keyboards ('600 Miles from...' album)
  • Robin Willott- bass (temporary)
  • Matt Oliver- drums (temporary)
  • Nick Mighall - bass (temporary)
  • Lee Macey - drums (temporary)

Discography

Albums

  • 600 miles from... (2005)

Mini album

  • If you take anything... (2003)

Compilations

  • Punk Academy Volume 1 - (2003, features "The Score- (original demo)")

References

  1. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/hitechjet
  2. ↑ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.swinney/hitechjet.htm
  3. ↑ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.swinney/iatde015.htm
  4. ↑ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3379/reviews/7275
  5. ↑ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.swinney/iatde023.htm
  6. ↑ http://punktastic.com/reviews/hitechjet-600-miles-from/
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20050927
  8. ↑ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=2477648&blogId=111286342
6. http://punktastic.com/reviews/hitechjet-600-miles-from/

External links

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