Prima Donna (American band)

Prima Donna are an American rock and roll band from Los Angeles, formed in 2004. The band currently features singer/guitarist Kevin Preston, saxophonist/keyboardist Aaron Minton, drummer David S. Field, and bassist "Lights Out" Levine. The band have released 3 albums over their career.

This article is about the band from the US. For other uses, see Prima Donna (disambiguation).
Prima Donna
GenresRock and roll, alternative rock, glam punk
Years active2004–present
Websiteprimadonnarocks.com
MembersKevin Preston
Aaron Minton
David S. Field
Adam "Lights Out" Levine
Past membersErik Arcane
Daniel Nyby

History

The band formed in 2004 in Los Angeles, California with members Kevin Preston, Aaron Minton, Erik Arcane, David S. Field and Daniel Nyby. The band features a unique blend of saxophone, piano and organ alongside guitars, drums and bass to create what has been described as glam punk rock 'n' roll.

The band quickly gained a following and in May 2005, the band went on their first international tour in Europe with Texas Terri, with a quickly produced debut album entitled Kiss Kiss which was only sold at live shows. At the end of 2005, the band went on to play with original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and the Philistines American tour.

In 2008, the band recorded and released their true debut album, After Hours on September 2, 2008, which was produced by Messiaz and Prima Donna and was recorded at Reef Recorders. This album features re-recordings of tracks that were featured on Kiss Kiss. Kevin Preston would go on to join the Green Day side project, Foxboro Hot Tubs as their rhythm guitar player for live shows, which further boosted the profile of Prima Donna.

Prima Donna spent most of 2009 on tour, with US tours with Eddie and the Hot Rods and Duane Peters Gunfight. They would then go on to their highest profile slots yet, supporting Green Day on their European leg of their 21st Century Breakdown World Tour, with Kevin later joining the Foxboro Hot Tubs at a secret show in London during October 2009. They would go on to support Green Day on tour in 2010 throughout the Asian leg of the tour. David Nyby departed the band around this time, and was replaced by "Lights Out" Levine.

After this period of extended touring, the band started recording their next album with Chris Dugan at Jingletown Studios in Oakland, California[1]. The resulting album, Bless This Mess was released in February 2012, and the band would eventually go on tour in America and Canada supporting Adam Ant.

The band released their third album Nine Lives and Forty-Fives in 2015, featuring original tracks and 3 covers by Blondie, Dwight Twiley and The Rubinoos.

Over the years, Steven Van Zandt has featured three Prima Donna songs as the 'Coolest Song in the World This Week' on his Sirius radio channel the Underground Garage.[2]

The fourth album by the band was self titled and released in March 2018. Kevin Preston and David S. Field would then go on to playing live with Billie Joe Armstrong's new solo project, The Longshot.

Associated acts

Prima Donna has shared the stage with such notable acts as The Dollyrots, Green Day, Duff (gruppo musicale), Turbonegro, the Sonics, the Zeros, the Boys, the Weirdos, Angry Samoans, Backyard Babies, Steel Panther, the Skulls, Duane Peters, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Glen Matlock, the Vibrators, the Phenomenauts, the Joneses, Josie Cotton, Anti-Nowhere League, Texas Terri, the Undertones, the Muffs, the Stranglers, MU330, the Subhumans, Sham 69, UK Subs, Charged GBH, the Rezillos, TV Smith, the Avengers, the Business, The Libertines, 20/20, Chelsea, the Briefs, the Exploited, Toyah, 999, the Pointed Sticks, Demented Are Go, Stza Crack, the Polecats, the Electric Prunes, Nikki Corvette, Mystic Knights of the Cobra, Rikk Agnew, the Gears, Razor Dolls, Girl in a Coma, the Stitches, and the Bellrays.[3]

Members

Current members
  • Kevin Preston – vocals, guitar (2004–present)
  • Aaron Minton – saxophone, keyboards – (2004–present)
  • David S. Field – drums, percussion – (2004–present)
  • "Lights Out" Levine – bass guitar – (2010–present)

Former members
  • David Nyby – bass guitar (2004–2010)

Discography

After Hours

2008 album on Acetate Records. Produced by Messiaz & Prima Donna. Tracked at Reef Recorders by Josh Achziger. Overdubbed and mixed at Toneduff Studio by Bruce Duff and Frank Meyer. Mastered at Little Red Book by Mark Chalecki. Photography by Sawa. CD design & layout by Victor Dawahare/Dynolux Design.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kevin Preston, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Soul Stripper"3:55
2."Demoted"2:16
3."I Don't Want You To Love Me"2:10
4."Stray Doll"2:39
5."Double Crosser"2:34
6."Lady Strange" (Preston/Arcane)3:17
7."Doll Face Baby"3:08
8."Everything's Wrong" (Music by Minton. Lyrics by Preston.)2:46
9."Crucify"3:33
10."Dummy Luv"3:35
Total length:28:48

Bless this Mess

New album released in February 2012[4] to positive reviews.[5] While retaining a largely glam rock sound, this album also contains British invasion, new wave and surf rock influences.[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kevin Preston, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Sociopath" (Music by Preston. Lyrics by Preston/Field)2:51
2."Maxine"2:48
3."Feral Children"4:49
4."Broken"4:52
5."Let The Games Begin" (Music by Levine/Arcane/Preston. Lyrics by Prima Donna.)3:04
6."Bless This Mess"4:23
7."Miss Avenue" (Music by Preston/Minton. Lyrics by Preston.)3:34
8."Starging Daggers"2:33
9."Crismon Lust"4:09
10."Tryin'" (Music by Minton. Lyrics by Preston/Minton)4:01
11."Puta, Te Amo" (Music by Preston. Lyrics by Prima Donna.)2:56
12."She Says" (Music by Minton/Arcane/Field/Levine. Lyrics by Preston/Minton/Field/Levine)5:59
Total length:45:43

Nine Lives and Forty-Fives

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kevin Preston, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Pretty Little Head" 
2."Deathless" 
3."Born Yesterday" 
4."Living in Sin" 
5."Rubbish" 
6."Rock and Roll Is Dead" (Written by Alex Carlin/Jon Rubin/Tommy Dunbar.) 
7."Like Hell" 
8."I'm On Fire" (Written by Dwight Twilley.) 
9."Tattooed Love Girls" 
10."Rip Her to Shreds" (Written by Chris Stein/Debbie Harry.) 
11."Eat Your Heart Out" 

Prima Donna

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."4 Real"Preston/Field/Minton/Levine3:21
2."Press Your Luck"Preston/Levine2:48
3."Automatic"Preston3:20
4."Vulture Culture"Preston/Minton3:08
5."Recurring Nightmare"Preston2:48
6."Not for Nothing"Preston/Field2:49
7."Until I Break Loose"Preston/Field/Minton/Levine3:14
8."Love from Above"Preston/Levine3:18
9."Year of the Rat"Preston/Field3:08
10."Give It Up"Preston/Minton2:23
11."Sound the Alartm"Preston2:54
Total length:33:06
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References
  1. "Prima Donna Studio A Pics | Jingletown Recording Studios San Francisco Bay Area". Jtrecording.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. "Welcome to the Frontpage". Undergroundgarage.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  3. Archived January 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Archived February 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Prima Donna – "Bless This Mess" CD Review (Acetate Records) ~ BrooklynRocks: NYC Music Blog". Brooklynrocks.blogspot.co.uk. February 24, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  6. "Music Review: Prima Donna – Bless This Mess". Blogcritics. February 5, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.

Reviews
  • Kiss Kiss album:
    • High Bias:
    • Veglam:
    • Full Frontal: After Hours album:
    • Sonic Ruin:
    • Big Wheel:
    • No Front Teeth:
  • Live performances:
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