The Aristocrats

[Mikey]

This sounds interesting

The Aristocrats is the eponymous debut album from instrumental rock/fusion's rowdy new power trio featuring guitarist Guthrie Govan (Asia/GPS, Dizzee Rascal) bassist Bryan Beller (Steve Vai, Dethklok, Mike Keneally), and drummer Marco Minnemann (Adrian Belew, UKZ, Necrophagist). Featuring three compositions from each band member, the album showcases a uniquely explosive band chemistry, translating each individual's well-known virtuosity into an aggressive, melodic, and sometimes even cheeky group dynamic...in which anything goes.

The band was formed practically by demand after a wildly enthusiastic response to a single performance at The Anaheim Bass Bash during the Winter NAMM show in January. With just one rehearsal the night before the gig, the trio unexpectedly floored the audience – and themselves – with near-telepathic interplay and boundless musical energy, leaving heads shaking in disbelief that it was their very first gig. "The chemistry was so great," recalls Govan,
who was just featured on the cover of Guitar Player, "that when we came offstage we all said to each other, 'This is working. We should record this.'"

Not content simply to rush together a remote recording, each far-flung band member left their homes (outside London; Nashville, TN; southern California) to meet in a Chicago studio and track the record in person, which took just under two weeks. The music became a melting pot of their respective influences, ranging from '70s fusion (Return To Forever) to prog (King Crimson, UK) to instrumental rock (Vai, Satriani) to groove metal (Rage Against The Machine) to just plain absurdity (Frank Zappa). Says bassist Beller, "We ended up using our different influences to write for each other. I wrote "Sweaty Knockers" specifically for Guthrie to have fun with, while Guthrie wrote "I Want A Parrot" with bass leads in mind. As for Marco's material, we're just lucky to be able to keep up with it!"

The ever-mischievous Minnemann's song titles – such as "Boing!...I'm In The Back" (borne from a publicly indescribable incident in Russia) and "Blues Fuckers" (in which a typical blues form is violated in every way imaginable) – along with Beller's shameless pole-dance rocker "Sweaty Knockers," prompted Govan to wonder if the band shouldn't be named The
Aristocrats, after the infamous dirty joke and movie of the same name. It stuck, and The Aristocrats were born. "We're going to have a raucous rock vibe and a sense of humor about the music," says Govan, "which you might not expect to find in other muso projects in which people are flung together to make an album in a hurry."

The Aristocrats will be released on the band's own label, BOING Music, and available both digitally and in hard copy through their website at http://www.the-aristocrats-band.com, as well as other major e-tailers. Internationally, the record will be also available from many distributors of Suhr Guitars, whose guitars Guthrie Govan plays and endorses. A full list of Suhr distributors carrying The Aristocrats is also available at the band's website

[Mouse]

Interesting indeed. I'll look forward to hearing what that's like.

[RacingHippo]

*Listens to sampler*

*Buys album*

Minneman confirming his place in the godhead of drumming, there. Splendid.

[fitzy]

Just ordered mine on CDbaby.......,what a 3pce.....

[fitzy]

Got the album today,and it does,nt dissapoint.....!!MM,s drumming makes me want to put my stick-bag away....permanently

[fitzy]

Playing in the Peel in March,....some great bands in that place ...and Dublin on the same leg   Result....!!

[Mikey]

Playing in the Peel in March,....some great bands in that place ...and Dublin on the same leg   Result....!!

Where did you see the tour dates? nothing on their website

[Mikey]

Free download of "Sweaty knockers" on the website

//http://the-aristocrats-band.com/news/

[fitzy]

Yeah Mikey,..nothing on the website,and so far only  American dates !!I might have been the victim of a rumour,resulting from a whisper generated by a load of drunken waffle... Doubtless my source is now sober,...and will deny all knowledge

[Mikey]

It's a good rumour, far enough ahead to be fully confirmed yet, hope they get up north

[MikeEvs]

Twang posted about the gig on facebook and as far as I'm aware is already selling tickets.

Plus Bryan Bellar tweeted me to say he was looking forward to me taking photos at the gig.

I know Bryan from having met him several times when he was part of Steve Vai's touring band

[MikeEvs]

Just spoke to Twang and booked my ticket and he said sales are going really well considering the gig isn't till March so don't leave it too long before getting a ticket

[Mikey]

I know Bryan from having met him several times when he was part of Steve Vai's touring band

Ah!!! That Bryan, doh !!! I couldn't place that name

[Mikey]

We've been given an amazing opportunity to play with new fusion band The Aristocrats.
For those of you unaware, the band comprises of guitar, bass and drum virtuosos Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann. It's fair to say that each of these musicians are hugely respected and are personal influences of each member of Godsticks, so you can imagine how much we're looking forward to this tour.  Here's a full list of dates with ticket details:

07/03/12 : LONDON, The Peel
08/03/12 : BILSTON, The Robin
09/03/12 : MANCHESTER, Night & Day
10/03/12 : NEWCASTLE, The Cluny
11/03/12 : EDINBURGH, The Voodoo Rooms

[RacingHippo]

Oooh.... 9th March next year might find me in Manchester