MP4 (band)

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MP4

Greg Knight, Ian Cawsey, Pete Wishart and Kevin Brennan
Background information
Origin United Kingdom (Parliament of the United Kingdom)
Genres rock
Years active 2004- (2004-)
Members Greg Knight, Ian Cawsey, Pete Wishart and Kevin Brennan

MP4 is a rock band made up of four British Members of Parliament.

Members

It was founded as MP3 in 2004 by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party, Perth and North Perthshire) on keyboards, Ian Cawsey (The former Labour MP, Brigg and Goole) on bass guitar and vocals, and Greg Knight (Conservative, East Yorkshire) on drums. They were later joined by Kevin Brennan (Labour, Cardiff West) on guitar, and changed their name to reflect this.[1] Wishart was previously keyboardist with Runrig and Big Country. Along with David Morris (Conservative, Morecambe and Lunedale) Wishart is one of only two current MPs to have appeared on Top of the Pops.[2]

The band first came to media attention in 2003, when the project was described as being in its "early stages".[3]

Three of the four members were re-elected at the 2010 General Election but bassist Ian Cawsey lost his seat. He remains a band member however, and the group has indicated they intend to continue with the same line-up.

Recordings

In 2005, MP4 recorded an EP entitled House Music, which was initially released as a download by EMI, and later in CD format by Busy Bee Records. The EP features cover versions of the Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love, Wilson Pickett's In the Midnight Hour and Steve Earle's My Old Friend the Blues, along with the Brennan-penned original Foolish Game.[4]

They have recorded their first full album Cross Party produced by Robin Millar, on Revolver Records http://www.crosspartymusic.com released April 2010 and launched at the Speaker's House at Westminster. Eight tracks on the eleven track album are band originals, with a bonus track remixed by Pete Waterman.

Appearances

In July 2007, the band backed Feargal Sharkey, formerly of the Undertones, in his first stage appearance in over 15 years, when he sang Teenage Kicks at the annual "Rock The Boat" party hosted by the British Phonographic Industry.[5]

In 2008, MP4 were the subject of a special television short biography programme made by Sky and broadcast on the Sky Arts channel during the year.

In January 2009, MP4 made a guest appearance on BBC1's TV programme 'Your Country Needs You' with the winning UK Eurovision hopeful Jade and the other two finalist acts – the Twins and Mark Evans. MP4 gave Jade some tips on 'how to win votes'.

In December 2009 they became the first rock group ever to play at the Palace of Westminster, when they performed a sell-out concert on the terrace of the House of Commons. For an encore they were joined once again on stage by Feargal Sharkey, who reprised his 'Undertones' hit "Teenage Kicks".

In September 2010 they performed at the Labour Party Conference in support of UK Music at a sell-out concert at Manchester's Night and Day Cafe.

On New Year's Eve 2010 they performed at a sell-out concert for MPs, peers and their guests, once again on the Terrace of the House of Commons. They were introduced to the celebrity audience (including amongst others government ministers, actor Ross Kemp and Welsh singer Duffy,) by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow MP.

In December 2011 they were recognised as the ‘Alternative Parliamentary Entertainers' of the year at the 4th annual GovNet Awards held in the House of Lords.[6]

In May 2012 MP4 became the first musicians to perform in the 900 year old Westminster Hall. The oldest building on the UK Parliamentary estate, Westminster Hall has played a central role in British history, famously being the venue for the trial of King Charles I. On 24th May 2012, MP4 entertained an audience of approximately 1,000 people including MPs, Peers and Parliamentary staff.

In March 2013 they appeared at a sell-out concert in central London organised to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support. During their set they were joined on stage by former Radio One DJ Mike Read, who performed the Cliff Richard hit ‘The Young Ones’ with the group.

Discography

Albums

  • House Music EP (2005) Busy Bee Records
  • Cross Party (2010) Revolver Records

References

  1. ↑ MP4 strike a chord with voters on BBC Humber, retrieved 2 September 2007
  2. ↑ Vote MP4! in The Observer, retrieved 2 September 2007
  3. ↑ House Music in the Daily Telegraph, retrieved 2 September 2007
  4. ↑ Rockin' MPs turn tables on Bono on BBC News Online, retrieved 2 September 2007
  5. ↑ Isaby, Jonathan (2007-07-09). "MP4 and Feargal Sharkey Rock The Boat". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-05-04. 
  6. ↑ http://crosspartymusic.com/2011/12/12/mp4-govnet-award/

External links

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