Biography

Liberty 37 are:

Ishmael Lewis: Vocals

Tim Batcup: Guitar

Andrew Watkins: Bass

Cliff Harris: Drums.

Liberty 37 formed in Swansea 3 years ago, calling themselves Travis Inc until some other band had the same idea, and then opting for Applecore, which wasn't favourably received by the Apple corporation. So far, no-one's objected to name no. 3, but there's still time for the director of the cult Western China 9 Liberty 37 to come out of the woodwork.

Travis Inc made enough of an impression during their brief incarnation to feature as "ones to watch" in Kerrang!'s Class Of 1998 feature, where they were described as "Soaring, uplifting, but still bruising - Radiohead gone hardcore." That snap assessment was a neat encapsulation of Liberty 37's strength - an ability to pile up intense layers of guitars without sacrificing melody or obliterating delicate shades of feeling. The band first demonstrated the trick on vinyl for Org Records release on their debut single - "No Beauty", a record which won them more friends and clinched their deal with Beggars Banquet. Their debut record for Beggars was the Stuffed EP, released in May 1998, which saw them "sending waves of emotion crashing against solid, abrasive guitars" (Kerrang !). A UK tour with Bullyrag saw Liberty 37 spread the word around the country for the first time.

This year has been the most eventful to date for the band. They released "Revolution" in January - Kerrang ! had this to say : "Liberty 37 are yet another cool Welsh band out to seduce our hearts and minds with mammoth riffs and brain-hugging melodies... "Revolution" is an uplifting slab of poised noise which promises good things for these bruising boyos in '99."

Since then, the action has come thick and fast. Liberty 37 joined Pulkas and One Minute Silence on a 22 date festival of riffing and moshing which lurched its way around the UK in February. They finished recording their debut album. They lost one drummer, borrowed another, and finally found a third one to join them full-time. And in May, they released their best single to date in the shape of "Oh River", which was playlisted by MTV in the UK, following it up with another jaunt round the UK in the company of A on an 18 date UK tour. The band have also played at the Reading / Leeds festival last August.

And The Greatest Gift, released in July, is set to confirm Liberty 37's status as one of the country's most promising rock bands - intelligent, unpretentious, powerful and passionate, it's a convincing selection of songs which deserves to win the band a wide audience.