VEGA (UK rock band)

History

VEGA were formed following a meeting between Nick Workman, Dan Chantrey and twins James and Tom Martin at the Z Rock Festival at JBs in Dudley, 29/30 May 2009. The Martin brothers had been in a number of bands and had written songs for a selection of artists and bands including Khymera, Danny Vaughn, Joe Lynn Turner, House of Lords, Ted Poley and Tommy Funderburk, many of these for the Frontiers label. They had discussed forming a band with Frontiers management, proposing Nick Workman as lead vocalist.

It was during their time with Kryah (2004-2006) and The Station Club (2006-2009) that James and Tom first teamed up with Dan Chantrey, who played drums for both bands, and currently plays drums for VEGA. Frontman Nick Workman established a name for himself in Kick (1999 - 2004) and then Eden (2006 - 2009).

Following the meeting at Z Rock Festival, songs were penned for a debut album (with no one song taking longer than 24 hours to write), these recorded between the summer and November 2009. Kiss Of Life was released by Frontiers Records on 6 December 2010. The album was produced and mastered by John Greatwood and Dennis Ward, respectively. Drummer Dan Chantrey proposed the name VEGA for the band.

Following some live dates work began on a follow-up release, this essentially completed sometime before the band had secured a release deal. A deal was made with Spinefarm Records/Ninetone (distributed through Universal Music Group) in 2011, but it would be 18 March 2013 before What the Hell was finally released. What The Hell was produced by John Greatwood.

An early taste of the album came in October 2012 with the release of the single White Knuckle Ride. Following album release, a UK tour support-slot with FM followed, and then later in the year a few extra dates as headliners.

Between the recording and actual release of the What The Hell! album Marcus Thurston became a bona fide member of the band, officially joining in February 2013.

VEGA’s third album, Stereo Messiah was released by Frontiers Records on 17 October 2014. The album was recorded in Reading and produced by John Mitchell, guitarist and singer with It Bites. It included a cover of Def Leppard's "10x Bigger Than Love", with backing vocals by Joe Elliot. The artwork of Stereo Messiah is by Nello Dell’ Omo.

To promote Stereo Messiah VEGA did a short four-date headlining tour in November 2014, and in December 2014 supported Joe Elliot's Down 'n' Outz

VEGA had returned to Frontiers for Stereo Messiah as the band was dissatisfied with the promotion and limited release "What The Hell" received through Ninetone. While writing material for Stereo Messiah some demos were sent to Frontiers Records and a three album deal was signed. Frontiers subsequently re-released What The Hell worldwide and at the same time Stereo Messiah was released.

On 22 February the band announced their fourth studio album, Who We Are, was to be released on 13 May on Frontiers Records. Who We Are was produced by Harry Hess and recorded at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. As with Stereo Messiah, cover photography was by Steven Christie of Darklight Device.

Promoting Who Are We, VEGA toured from 11 May 2016 in Support of Magnum, and also did a headline gig at the O2 Academy 2, Islington on 28 May 2016. Also in 2016, VEGA appeared at the Steelhouse Festival, 23–24 July 2016, and in Italy on 1 October headlined Melodic Rock Night at the Grindhouse Club, Padova. There were also three dates in Spain in October - Bilbao (7th), Cartagena (8th), Madrid (9th).

On 17 January 2016 VEGA announced four dates for November/December, these at Troon (26 Nov.), Cardiff (30 Nov.), Underworld, Camden London (1 Dec.) and Cannock (2 Dec.). Further support dates for Magnum follow: Brighton (6 Oct.), Cambridge (7 Oct.), Wolverhampton (10 Oct.) and Edinburgh (11 Oct.).

VEGA appeared in Derby at The Spot (28 January 2017) as part of a multi-band line-up.

VEGA appeared (as part of a multi-band line-up) at Planet Rock's Winter's End festival at Sandford Holiday Park, Poole, Dorset between 24-26 February 2017, performing on the 26th

VEGA appeared in Pwllheli, Wales at Hard Rock Heaven AOR5 (9-12 March 2017), playing on 11 March.

Between 1 March and 15 March 2017 VEGA supported Dan Reed Network on 11 nights of the Fight Another Day tour.

VEGA will appear (as part of a multi-band line-up) at Nordic Noise in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 May 2017, scheduled to perform on the 12th

VEGA will appear (as part of a multi-band line-up) at the Summer In The City festival in Swansea (16-17 June), scheduled to appear on Friday 16 June

VEGA will appear (as part of a multi-band line-up) at the Rockingham Festival in Nottingham (20-22 October)

Musical style, influences etc.

In an interview with Midlands Rocks Radio, Nick Workman likened the band sound/style to that of classic era Bon Jovi/Def Leppard with a few other smaller influences in the mix. He also referred to VEGA as having a rock sound, and not necessarily an AOR sound. He lists his vocal influences as Ray Gillen (Badlands), Joe Elliott, Kip Winger and Joey Tempest.

During an interview for Rock Radio NI, on the subject of VEGA’s song-writing style, Workman said: Normally what will happen is that either one or both of them (Martin twins) will come up with a backing track and they’ll send it over to me and I’ll always do the lyrics and melodies for it. Occasionally Tom will come up with a backing track and I’ll put something together with it and then Jim will come in and say I think we should go for this note here or that note there. So between the three of us we’ll always do it. There’s always three inputs into any song.

Band members

Discography