Big News For Fans of London
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 12:01AM I received this release about London from LA Daily News writer Gerry Gittleson.
A star attraction on the Sunset Strip a generation ago, the band London was once a breeding ground for rock stardom for some of the early members like Nikki Sixx, Slash, Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin and Blackie Lawless, but there is now a lot to more to London after a flurry of creativity has breathed new life into the band.
Frontman Nadir D’Priest, the iconic pretty boy heartthrob now all grown up, still has the same star qualities that made London such a buzz band back in the day, and he is singing better than ever -- as the world will soon find out upon the release of a live new CD for “London Live,” recorded in Nashville and engineered by the legendary Michael Wagener.
“I knew the record would have to sound big, and it sounds humongous. That’s the best way I can put it,” D’Priest said. “There was a specific sound we needed. It had to sound large or it wouldn’t even be worth doing, and Michael Wagener is great because he’s one of the superstars of producing.”
Still in place is guitarist Sean Lewis, who has been in London since 1987, and bassist Brian West, whose London pedigree goes back to 1984. Also, London has pulled a big coup by re-uniting with legendary drummer Alan Krigger, a founding member of Giuffria who joined briefly in 1988 and has also played with Tina Turner, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys and other superstars.
“It’s an honor to play for London. It’s just a great band to be in,” Krigger said.
There are big plans. In addition to the heavily-anticipated “London Live,” there is a batch of new songs just begging to see the light of the day, and a large-scale tour is planned for the summer.
Instead of being a feeder best known for being featured in “Decline of Western Civilization Part 2,” London is primed and ready to carve a deeper niche with a revitalized comeback that is sure to make the band not just the talk of the town in Hollywood – a badge London has worn since the spandex days – but now the whole world.
“There’s also a lot of interest in this kind of music again, and it’s a worldwide interest,” D’Priest said. “The demand is there and it exceeds the Southern California area. Our number one goal is to show people a good time and have a good time ourselves, and that will never change.”
London was formed in 1978 by Nikki Sixx and Lizzie Grey. The lineup shuffled and at times including future Guns N’ Roses guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin future WASP singer/bassist Blackie Lawless and future Cinderella drummer Fred Coury.
Once D’Priest joined in 1984, London really began to take off. The band recorded “Non-Stop Rock” and “Don’t Cry Wolf” to critical acclaim, then was introduced to a worldwide audience in 1988 Penelope Spheeris film “The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years.”
A third album in 1990 called “Playa Del Rock” was released, and this point the band was sometimes called D’Priest. Frustratingly, the band was still trying to find its grip on mass appeal by this time – why London did not sell millions of records is among Rock’s great mysteries – but D’Priest refused to let go of the vision.
Sixteen years passed, and D’Priest dedicated his life to raising a family and being financially successful in business, but as the years went by he learned more than anything that rock and roll was in his blood. He has stayed in great shape – mind, body and spirit – and eventually an overwhelming urge not just to get up on stage again and the music flow through his body but also to finish what he started, D’Priest was more and more convinced that London is a band the singer could not turn his back on.
London is primed and ready to go from footnote to big toe, and the good news is the band has never sounded better. It’s easier than ever to reach fans at the simple press of a button, and London is ready to rock again – and this time they plan to play loud enough that everyone can hear. And they do mean everyone.
The live album is produced by London and engineered by Michael Wagener. Roy Z Ramirez (Halford, Bruce Dickinson) provided additional mixes, and Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Bruce Dickinson) did the mastering.
London is also releasing two new tracks, “Get Back Home,” written by D’Priest and West, along with “Tu Cultura y Tu Nacion,” London’s first Rock En Español single (written by D’Priest) also featuring renowned keyboardist Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis, who toured with Guns N’ Roses during “Appetite For Destruction” and “Use Your Illusion.” London is in pre-production for the filming of music videos for both new songs.
Also, London is re-releasing its cult classic LP “Don’t Cry Wolf” on both CD and vinyl (with two different album covers, too) through the website: londontheband.net.
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