The Strypes

The Strypes were a four-piece rock band from Cavan, Ireland, formed in 2010 consisting of Ross Farrelly (lead vocals/harmonica), Josh McClorey (lead guitar/vocals), Peter O'Hanlon (bass guitar/harmonica) and Evan Walsh (drums). The band played the local scene with various members switching parts as they searched for their sound. They drew inspiration from 1960s blues boom and 1970s pub rock bands such as Dr. Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Lew Lewis and Rockpile as well as the original bluesmen and rock 'n' roll artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter, among others. The band members' current ages are 22 to 24 years.

Not to be confused with The Stripes.

The Strypes
The Strypes performing at the O2 Academy in 2013
Background information
OriginCavan, Ireland
GenresMod revival, pub rock, rock and roll, indie rock, blues rock, hard rock
Years active2010–2018
LabelsVirgin EMI Records
Websitethestrypes.com
MembersRoss Farrelly (Vocals)
Josh McClorey (Guitar)
Pete O'Hanlon (Bass)
Evan Walsh (Drums)
Past membersJack Hayden (Bass)

The band, with a shared love of blues and rhythm and blues music, formed in the town of Cavan, Ireland. After several months gigging around their hometown, the band began playing clubs and pubs around Ireland, playing sets mixing original material with rhythm and blues covers. Their set of fast-paced, gritty, garage rock "speed blues", which mixed the powerful approach of Dr. Feelgood with the intense rave-up format of The Yardbirds, quickly became well received by crowds across Ireland and their reputation as a live act grew. The band announced their split on social media in November 2018[1].

Music career

Formation and early years

The band formed in the town of Cavan in Ireland with the original line-up consisting of McClorey (10 September 1995), Walsh (30 October 1996), O'Hanlon (20 February 1996) on vocals, Jack Hayden (19 December 1995) and Conor Bates (guitar). The band made their debut at a primary school Christmas concert and started playing around Cavan and the surrounding areas. In a matter of months, however, Bates had left the band. Ross Farrelly (3 September 1997) joined on vocals and harmonica.

In November 2010, the then unknown band debuted on that year's edition of The Late Late Toy Show, leading to the launch of their career. In 2011, Hayden left the band. O'Hanlon then switched to bass.

2012–present: Breakthrough and debut album

In April 2012, they released a self-produced EP of four blues covers entitled Young, Gifted & Blue. It was led by a version of the Bo Diddley song "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" and also featured material penned by Billy Boy Arnold, Slim Harpo and Eddie Holland. All of the group's members were still in school at the time and merely recorded the EP as a fun side project. The band did all the preparation and promotion themselves and the EP reached No. 1 on the iTunes Blues Chart the day after release (a position it later held for a further six weeks). This came as a huge surprise to the band, and "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" became a minor hit on Irish radio.

The release of the EP also attracted record company interest, and a battle ensued between several major labels for the band's signatures. During this time they began travelling to London, playing clubs and venues around the city. During this time they were signed to Rocket Music Management, owned by Sir Elton John, a fan of the band. In December 2012, the band chose to sign with Mercury Records. Since signing, the band has begun playing venues across the UK and have appeared in music magazines such as NME and Mojo, as well as several national newspapers. Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Dave Grohl, Roger Daltrey, and Miles Kane are all known fans of the band.

During a February 2013 TV appearance on Chelsea Lately guest hosted by Grohl, Sir Elton said of The Strypes, "They have a knowledge of R&B and blues at 16 years of age that I have only amassed in my 65 years. They're just like a breath of fresh air."

On 28 March 2013 the band released its debut single on Mercury Records, an original track titled "Blue Collar Jane". The single was released on download sites and radio, featuring two digital B-sides, on 28 March with a special edition numbered gatefold vinyl released on Record Store Day (20 April). The reaction to the single has been uniformly positive, with the A-side peaking at No. 11 on the iTunes Alternative Charts. The Record Store Day gatefold double 7" vinyl release featured "Blue Collar Jane" plus B-sides on one 45 and a slightly altered reprint of Young, Gifted & Blue on the other.

During April 2013 the band featured live on the popular BBC2 television programme Later... with Jools Holland, along with other musical artists Suede, Laura Mvula and Cat Power. The band's second single, "Hometown Girls" (backed by live versions of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday Blues" and the traditional "CC Rider" recorded at King Tut's, Glasgow) was released as a download in May 2013 and on vinyl on 8 July.

The band's debut album, titled Snapshot, was released on 9 September 2013.[2] It was produced by highly acclaimed (former Beatles and Sex Pistols) record producer Chris Thomas. The band's third single, "What a Shame", was released on download on 26 July with a vinyl run to follow later in August.

On 27 June 2013 the band were announced to be supporting British indie-rock band Arctic Monkeys on their 2013 UK, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy Tour.

Concert during the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2014.

In July 2013 The Strypes supported British indie-rock band The Courteeners at Castlefield Bowl in Manchester, along with Miles Kane and Reverend and the Makers

In March 2014 they appeared at SXSW backing BP Fallon performing the song Vicious at a Lou Reed memorial concert. The same year they were presented with The Grulke Prize for Developing Non-US Act.[3]

26 March 2014 The Strypes play their biggest U.S. TV appearance to date, performing "What A Shame" on Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman enthusiastically ended the show with "The Strypes – that's all you need to know!"

In July 2014 The Strypes toured Australia, playing single dates in Melbourne(22nd) and Sydney(23rd).

In 2015, The Strypes released their second album, entitled Little Victories which reached number 1 on the Irish Charts and number 17 on the UK charts and announced a tour to promote the album. They also played in Brazil, during the 'Cultura Inglesa Festival', opening for Johnny Marr.

In November 2016, the band announced a limited edition run of 500 vinyl only singles available exclusively from their website with all proceeds going to the teenage Cancer charity Canteen. It is released on the Reckless Records label The double-A-side features versions of Nick Lowe's '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding' and Stefan Murphy's 'Down at the Radiotron'.

In March 2017, the band began touring smaller venues in Ireland to road test new material for a third studio album scheduled for release in June 2017. On 25 April 2017 it was announced that this album would be called Spitting Image and would be released on 16 June 2017. On 14 November 2018 the band announced their breakup through a post on their Instragram page. The band appeared in the movie Rocketman, playing Elton John’s backing band.[4]

In July 2017, the band supported main headliners, Nevada rock band The Killers, and Manchester band Elbow at a sold out Hyde Park, London for the BST 2017 festival. [5]

Influences

The Strypes have stated influences from artists such as The Beatles, The Who, Dr Feelgood, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, The Yardbirds, The Jam, Willie Dixon, Little Richard, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, The Undertones, Rockpile, Dave Edmunds, Lew Lewis, The Animals, Nine Below Zero, Jimmy Reed, Little Walter, Them, The Pirates, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Slim Harpo, Robert Johnson, Billy Boy Arnold, Lead Belly, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Lee Lewis. Josh McClorey stated that What A Shame was influenced by the Arctic Monkeys.

Band members

Former members
  • Jack Hayden  – Bass (2010)

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
IRL
[6]		 FRA
[7]		 JPN
[8]		 NLD
[9]		 UK
[10]
Snapshot
  • Released: 9 September 2013 (UK)
  • Label: Virgin EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
 2 75 13 45 5
Little Victories
  • Release: 21 August 2015 (UK)
  • Label: Virgin EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
 1 — 22 57 17
Spitting Image 8 — 45 — —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

EPs
Year Title Peak chart positions Notes
iTunes Blues Chart
[11]
2012 Young Gifted & Blue 1 4-track home-recorded EP of covers
that got the band noticed by record companies
2013 Blue Collar Jane EP — Two-disc gatefold limited vinyl edition
for Record Store Day featuring "Blue Collar Jane" 45
as well as slightly altered reprint of "Young, Gifted & Blue"
2014 4 Track Mind EP — Four new tracks to coincide with the beginning of their UK Tour starting 11 February

Later released under the name of "Hard To Say No EP" in Japan on 9 April.

2015 Flat Out EP — Three new tracks to coincide with the beginning of their UK Tour starting 30 April.
2017 Almost True — Three new tracks and one live track.
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

Singles
Year Title B-Side(s) Peak chart positions Album
UK
[11]
2013 "Blue Collar Jane" "What the People Don't See",
"I Wish You Would"		 125 Snapshot
"Hometown Girls" "C. C. Rider (live)",
"Stormy Monday Blues (live)"		 140
"What a Shame" "Beautiful Delilah",
"I Can Tell (live)"		 —
"Come Together" — — Non-album single
"Mystery Man" — — Japan-only single
"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" "You Keep Me Waiting", "Saved Me (From Myself)" —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.
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References
  1. https://www.facebook.com/TheStrypes/photos/a.686820004674220/3531623436860515/
  2. "The Strypes Announce Debut Album 'Snapshot'". contactmusic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  3. Park, Linda (2014). "2014 Grulke Prize Winners – Future Islands, The Strypes, Damon Albarn | SXSW 2014". sxsw.com. Retrieved 27 March 2014. The Grulke Prize winner for Developing Non-US Act
  4. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2066051/fullcredits/cast?ref_=m_tt_cl_sc
  5. https://www.bst-hydepark.com/events/detail/25
  6. "The Strypes – Irish Charts". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  7. "The Strypes – French Charts". lescharts.com. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  8. ザ・ストライプスの売上ランキング (in Japanese; retrieved February 7, 2018)
  9. "The Strypes – Dutch Charts". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  10. "The Strypes – UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  11. Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
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