Origin Glasgow Labels Ignition Albums Want It Need It, Put Out | Years active 2012–present Associated acts Slaves, Palma Violets | |
Genres Indie Rock
Punk Rock
Rock Profiles | ||
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Contents
Baby Strange are an indie/rock band formed in 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland. The band consists of Johnny Madden (vocalist/guitarist), Connaire McCann (drummer) and Aidan McCann (bass) who share their name with a T. Rex track from the 1972 album The Slider. However, there are conflicting reports as front man Johnny Madden states in an interview with Guestlist says, " unlike people think we actually made the name up and it really stuck, and then we realised it was a T-Rex song."
The three-piece from north Glasgow were friends for years. "Creating Baby Strange was a great way to show off our creative side which we didn’t have the opportunity to do beforehand" says frontman Johnny Madden, as this band seems committed on bringing their contemporary punk to the nation. A unique feature of Baby Strange is that the recording, videoing and artwork of all work is done by the band members themselves.
Some of the songs of the band include:
The band was formed in the summer of 2012, says frontman Johnny Madden. "We had no jobs, we were living for nothing. We were going out all the time, seeing the same faces, doing the same things. When we sing, "I’m tired of my generation", we mean that we’re part of this generation, and we were bored by ourselves." With the help of Connaire’s 17-year-old brother at the time, Aidan on bass, the trio began writing "fast, snappy, in-and-out punk-rock songs" in their bedrooms.
The band all met at a community music group in Glasgow.
The band portrayed their different side in their clip on YouTube where they emerge blinking, done simply but memorably, to mark the release of 'Pure Evil' on 27 May 2014. "California Sun" sees Baby Strange at their most confident in a pleas for sunshine by Johnny Madden's relentless, dark vocals.
Success
The Glasgow band as of late 2015 have been increasing their national reputation in the music industry, with the release of their 2015 single “Pleasure City”. The song itself has featured on the newly formed internet radio station Beats 1, on Apple Music, had strong BBC Radio 1 support from DJs such as Annie Mac & Huw Stephens, and was also played at Scotland’s national football stadium before the UEFA EURO Qualifiers Group stage match involving Scotland and Germany.
The band themselves have accompanied many other bands as a support, most notably however would be, Kent based punk rock duo, Slaves. The band also went on tour with Jamie T, NME’s ‘best new band’ of 2013, Palma Violets. They have also toured with the likes of Swim Deep and Iceage.
In August 2013, they performed a short but very sharp session for BBC Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway. They performed two songs, Friend and Pure Evil.
The band had a midnight residency in Glasgow bar “Broadcast” for around 1 month. The price of entry for these concerts was to simply buy a Baby Strange badge which cost £3. The trio recently however have started their own club night at The Priory
Bar in Glasgow called “Club Sabbath”. Baby Strange themselves feature on the night, usually providing a DJ set.
Baby Strange played their biggest headline show to date on Friday 16th December 2016 at O2 ABC in Glasgow, fresh from playing festivals such as Reading & Leeds, Y Not, Truck, Isle Of Wight and more.
Baby Strange has also played at the following festivals:
Musical Style
On record, they’re punk, but as a live band, Baby Strange seem to nail feeling both pop and punk without being anything that comes remotely close to pop punk. That is, they play grungy rebel rock with some fun choruses that are reminiscent of those of the indie pop world. Baby Strange additionally have a darker indie rock sound, prominently heard on their 2015 singles "VVV" and "California Sun". At their live sets they are said to have, a 60s garage influence but distinctly Scottish indie guitar riffs.
Album
The band released their highly anticipated debut album 'Want It Need it' on September 16th 2016 on Ignition Records.
Song Usage
Songs
Pleasure CityWant It Need It · 2016
Want It Need ItWant It Need It · 2016
Pure EvilWant It Need It · 2016