Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Dinosaur Pile-Up are an English alternative rock band who formed in late 2007. Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire. Current members are lead singer and guitarist Matt Bigland, drummer Mike Sheils and bassist Johnny Seymour. Their past members include Steve Wilson (2008-2010), Tom Dornford-May (2008-2010) and Harry Johns (2010-2011)
History
Formation and Name
Dinosaur Pile-Up formed after Matt Bigland's (Lead Singer and Guitarist) old band Mother Vulpine split up back in 2007 (however Matt had been creating songs used for Dinosaur Pile-Up whilst he was in Mother Vulpine). Matt recorded a Demo tape consisting of songs such as; 'My Rock 'n' Roll', 'Love Is A Boat And We're Sinking', 'Melanin', 'Lets Get Up', 'What Howard Said' and 'I Get My Direction' whilst he was still in Mother Vulpine. A short time later, after Mother Vulpine broke up. Matt recruited Tom Dunford on Bass and Steve Wilson on Drums to finish the line up.
Matt Bigland has said he thought of the name 'Dinosaur Pile-Up' after watching the 2005 film King Kong. Matt Bigland has said in an interview; "I watched the remake of King Kong. Which was pretty bad! It was ages ago, before this band, or even the idea of this band ever existed. Anyway, there was this part in it where this stampede of dinosaurs, the front one is shot in the leg or something, and it trips up, and then all these huge dinosaurs trip up, roll down this hill, and it just ends up in this massive pile up, and everything in between them survives. I thought it was ridiculous, and as a joke I said, I have to start a band called Dinosaur Pile-Up."
Early Releases and Line-Up Change
Dinosaur Pile-Up then released My Rock 'n' Roll EP in late 2008 and the Traynor 7" and The Most Powerful EP In The Universe in 2009; . Also in 2009, they played on the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds Festival and were invited on tour with Alternative Rock group The Pixies on their European tour. Then in 2010, Tom Dunford (bass) and Steve Wilson (drums) left the band. Steve Wilson joined the band Japanese Voyeurs (whom Dinosaur Pile-Up would later tour with on the 'Rock Sound Exposure Tour' along side The Xcerts), and Tom Dornford-May joined a punk rock band called 'Fake Death'. This meant that Matt would have to bring in new members Harry Johns (formerly of Old Romantic Killer Band) on Bass and Backing Vocals and Mike Sheils on Drums. Matt Bigland then went into the studio to record Dinosaur Pile-Up's debut album Growing Pains.
Growing Pains and Recording Follow Up Album
The recording of Growing Pains took place between late 2009 and early 2010 in the space of about 2 and a half months. Growing Pains was recorded solely by Matt Bigland playing all the parts on the album in a home studio in Bridlington. After the release of Growing Pains in October 2010 Dinosaur Pile-Up Began a full UK tour. Also playing in the rock exposure tour and various dates across Mexico, as well as supporting slots with bands such as Feeder, Cage The Elephant, Turbowolf and Twin Atlantic. By August 2011 the band had finished their tour and are set to record their follow up album due to be released at the beginning of 2012. They uploaded Demo's of 2 tracks called 'In My Room' and 'Thread' to their SoundCloud and Facebook accounts on the 1st of December which are said to be featured on the new up-coming album.
In November 2011. Matt Bigland posted on the Dinosaur Pile-Up website that Harry Johns has left the band to concentrate on his solo project and that 2 people known as Alessio and Scott were filling in on bass and second guitar. Also, On March 8th 2012. Japanese Voyeurs had announced their breakup and said on their facebook that their bassist Johnny Seymour has joined Dinosaur Pile-Up. Matt Bigland has also said he's currently in the studio recording the second album.
Musical style
Dinosaur Pile-Up usually play in Drop D tuning, however, several new songs at recent live gigs have been played in standard tuning. They have listed alternative rock bands like Foo Fighters, Weezer, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins and Pavement, rock acts from the 60s like The Beach Boys and The Beatles, and metal groups such as Slayer and Deftones as influences. They are also often compared with the Seattle grunge scene of the early 90s.
