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| "THE INDEPENDENTS
is a unique, original, exciting, infectious, possessed new band. They
put the "fun" back in funeral. Great songs, punk meets ska
meets surf meets the Ramones, with a touch of Elvis. They hail from
"Hell" Florence, South Carolina. Daniel Rey and myself just
produced 14 songs. The record sounds great! There is nobody like them!"
- JOEY RAMONE |
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| Horrific and energetic,
THE INDEPENDENTS have just released their new album entitled "Back
From The Grave" produced by the late great Joey Ramone and world
famous producer Daniel Rey (Misfits, Ramones, White Zombie). The diabolical
duo have finally captured the spine-tingling live sounds of these
ghoulish fiends on record. Eighteen terrifying tracks of twisted tales
including a track with the master himself, Joey Ramone, on lead vocals.
Famed horror movie host Zacherle (Halloween Hootenanny) also makes
a ghoulish guest appearance giving a chilling intro to the track "Succubus".
Self-described as "horror punk ska", these fiends love to
put on a show. With a spooky stage set, pyrotechnics, smoke, and blood,
these creatures of the night will guarantee a screaming good time.
Lock up your doors and bolt your windows. The rude boys in black are
loading up the hearse and hitting the road, invading a town near you! |
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The Nightmare starts off on a hot humid night,
deep beneath a full moon in the swamps of South Carolina. Under
the moss covered dead oak trees, surrounded by the loud eerie
groans of bull frogs... five creatures of the night come together
to form The INDEPENDENTS....
Willy B was always into the unexplained.
His spaced-out eyes were already turning into headlights from
watching too many sci-fi TV shows. But after being abducted
by aliens as a teenager, he came back to this earth with an
"uncanny" ability to play guitar, and joined forces with Evil
Presly. |
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Evil Presly spent most of his childhood
playing with the gypsies around the broken down plantations of South
Carolina. It is in these swamps and the haunted house he was raised
in where he would experience the ghostly sounds and stories which
would form his musical ideas.
Blackie Levay was raised in his grandparents funeral home where
he became well-known for his organ playing. He'd play the services
by day and DJ at a local nudie bar by night.
Bradly Dahmer, after being kicked out of several seminary schools,
decided to give his soul to the cause of corrupting the minds of
the youth around the world.
Ed Hunter Spent most of his life working as well as living in the
grave yards of New orleans. It is there where he spent many years
playing drums behind some of the most legendary names in music.
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Formed in the early 90's by Evil Presly and
Willy B, The Independents was born out of the frustation of music
being stereo typed and just plain fucking boring. Willy and Evil
were in one of the first ska bands on the east coast, Spies On Sabbatical.
They loved ska music but didn't want to be limited to it alone.
They both loved all music, from Conway Twitty to Iron Maiden, from
The Ramones to the Beach Boys. Both loved horror and sci fi movies
and wanted to find some way include it in their music. When the
Spies went their seprate ways, Evil switched from bass to vocals
and started writing lyrics that told horror tales while Willy kept
the guitar in one hand and gave all of the world the finger with
the other. They rallied their friends together and started on their
long journey through members left and right, with only the goal
of playing the music they wanted when, where, and how they wanted.
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After a few years and a few members, the guys
had gathered a good following through rough demos up and down the
east coast. They signed a small indie deal with Rockduster Records
and recorded their first album "In For The Kill". It was
during this time that Evil met and befriended the bass player for
the legendary Ramones, CJ Ramone. CJ got the Independents on a few
opening dates of the Ramones' Acid Eaters tour. On their way to
the first show with the Independents, Joey Ramone listened to some
of the Independents demos given to him by CJ. He really dug what
he heard and within minutes of arriving to the venue was introduced
to the guys. After the shows, Joey made an offer the guys could
not refuse. He told them he wanted to manage the band.
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| The ghouls hit the road non-stop on tours with such
bands as THE RAMONES and VOODOO GLOW SKULLS and an early BLINK 182
to support "In for the Kill". But due to the lack of record
company support, they signed their next release to Elevator Music.
The Independents got back to work and recorded the "Stalker"
EP. They did several of their own national tours as well as playing
with RANCID, REEL BIG FISH, and GREEN DAY. Doing several dates on
The Ramones' Farewell tour, as well as many festivals from CMJ to
South by South West, the guys hit them all. After all this heavy touring,
the band went into the studio for several projects. They did a few
songs in the BRUCE MCDONALD movie "HARDCORE LOGO". Then
Joey Ramone and Daniel Rey produced the Danzig song "Mother"
for a compilation as well as the guys backing up Joey on a few tracks
that have yet to be released. |
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They soon found themselves with a few new
faces in the group and back on the road again in support of their
self-titled single on Hell Cat records. From the Warped tour to the
New England ska fest, and to opening up for RONNIE SPECTOR and CITIZEN
FISH, to CHEAP TRICK and SEBASTIAN BACH, there was never a break for
these fiends. Between every tour they were recording a song or two
for another compilation. Some of the times their tours lasted 10 months!
Joey and the guys finally decided to sit down and record the next
full length album "Back From The Grave". They once again
called on Daniel Rey to co-produce with Joey. They went into the studio
for two weeks, then took a break to appear in the mystery horror spoof
film, "FINAL RINSE" directed by ROBERT TUCKER. Then they
hit the road again. |
While in NY, their van and all their equipment
was stolen. They lost everything. Van, trailer, merchandise, and personal
items. It all was gone. Over $60,000 worth of stuff, gone. The cops
did nothing and the insurance companies did little more. The Independents
had to start all over from step one. A lot of bands came to the aid
of the group. Joey even threw a star studded benefit concert. There
was no way the Independents would give up now. They went back to work
getting all new equipment, van and trailor. Back in the studio, they
recorded 4 more songs and put one live track featuring Joey on the
album. They then had the album mastered by HOWIE WEINBURG. Two music
videos for the songs "Little Blue" and "Death Notice"
have also been shot by world famous director GEORGE SEMINARA (BEASTIE
BOYS, RAMONES, DANZIG).
The Independents did half the US. and Canada with THE QUEERS early
in 2001. After the passing of their manager, friend, and mentor Joey
Ramone, the band set off on a full US. tour with the MISFITS. They
cut it short for time to mourn. Now the guys have their heads and
hearts together. Before Joey passed he and the band put the "Unholy
Living Dead" EP and the album "Back From The Grave"out
themselves. They were tired of everyone trying to tell them how to
look and play their music. They Just wanted to play what they wanted
when, where and how they wanted. |
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The Independents:
evilindep@aol.com
PO BOX 1392
FLORENCE, SC 29503
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Management:
Drew Goldberg @ Cornerstone
71 W 23rd St
Suite 903
NYC, 10010, USA
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