The King Blues were a politically motivated ska-punk band, infusing a plethora of genres including hip hop, rap, dubstep and even doo wop. Over their eight year history they released 4 studio albums, 5 EPs and a handful of singles, though never reaching the mainstream they became a huge name within their genre and reaching the attention of alternative music magazines, radio stations and bloggers world wide.
Throughout their history their line up changed substantially from album to album, they began as a two man set up with Jonny Fox, or Itch as he has become known, performing vocals and playing ukulele and Jamie Jazz on acoustic guitar and additional vocals. They later expanded to a full line up including drums and bass. Their first album release, being 'Under The Fog' released first in 2006, then with re-releases in both 2007 and 2008 with adjusted track listings. This was followed by 'Save The World Get The Girl' in 2008, 'Punk And Poetry' in 2011 and their final album 'Long Live The Struggle' in 2012 shortly after their split.
The band's message has come from their own personal histories. From a young age, lead singer Jonny Fox was made homeless, Living in squats with other homeless he learnt about punk music and it's history, he learnt of how the government pretty much does nothing for the homeless or the poor and uses the people for their own personal agendas. Obviously this had a profound effect on the young Jonny fox and lead him to write music about the state of the country, the people who run it, the banks and the police, as well as his own experiences and personal beliefs which often lead the narrative of their tracks, for example Everything Happens for a Reason, Let's Hang The Landlord, Five Bottles Of Shampoo and Wasted Words.
The band had a close relationship with other bands in the same and similar genres, touring with Sonic Boom Six, The Skints, King Prawn and others over their career, also featuring on the ska-punk collective 'Suicide Bid'.
Since the band has split both Jonny Fox and Jamie Jazz have go on to new projects with Jonny Fox beginning his solo career as 'Itch' and Jamie with his new band 'Bleach Blood' which also features 'The Automatic's' Paul Mullen.
Itch started his solo project on Red Bull Records with the release of an EP, 'The Manifesto Pt 1: How To Fucking Rule At Life', free of charge featuring four tracks; London is Burning, Spooky Kids, True and Bruises. This was followed by 'The Manifesto Pt: We're All In The Gutter', again being released for free and featuring 4 tracks; Diplomat, Soul, Like I'm Drugs and We're All In The Gutter. Both I found to be amazing pieces of work, they have been followed up by a UK only track 'Best Shot' and a US track 'Homeless Romantic' featuring Adam Lazzara. with an album to follow later in the year, all this while performing at The Great Escape festival in Brighton and Slam Dunk in Wolverhampton, Leeds and Hatfield, Hertfordshire. After this came Camden Rocks, this may have been Itchs most memorable solo gig to date based solely on the fact he jumped from the first floor of the Jazz Café and broke his leg, leaving him in a wheelchair while it heals. Even this has not prevented him from continuing to tour, he has performed almost every date of the Warped Tour throughout the US.
Jamie has continued his career with Bleach Blood signed to Transmission Records. They are a four piece punk band with an ever growing following and and EP and two singles already behind them, a support slot on a UK tour with the now defunct band Sharks. They've also played headline shows at The Water Rats in Kings Cross and a club night called Omega in The Finsbury, north east London. Their first EP 'The Young Heartbreakers Club EP', the EP contains four tracks, Let Your Heart Sing, Bleached Blood, The Young Heartbreakers Club and I Was Born In A Rave. This was followed by the single Anything Anything and another single Hope. The complete album will be released later this year or earlier next year, with heavy radio play and impressive support slots Bleach Blood are sure to find a loyal fanbase in time and have a bright future ahead.
I think what makes this band so important to me is that they show that no matter where you come from there's always a chance to get somewhere in life as long as you're committed and passionate and will work to change things and people's opinions. Before I listened to them I was oblivious to politics, I had no idea how corrupt the country is and the people who run it. I'm now much more aware, I'm far more vocal in my beliefs and equality, so much so I will argue with people while quoting The King Blues lyrics to them. This band has made it impossible for me to ignore intolerance and ignorance, for a band to make me this passionate they had to have done something right. Their message is something that has had a huge impact on my life, with this message being carried on with Itchs solo project and Jamie still making brilliant music with Bleach Blood, The King Blues legacy will continue for years and years to come.
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