Everyone loves Frank Turner. This is the mantra in Diverse. If some old punk comes in looking for something a bit ranty – Frank Turner, a youngster looking for a singer songwriter that isn’t boring – Frank Turner, Billy Bragg fans – Frank Turner, emo kids, folk fans, everyone, young and old, everyone loves Frank Turner. The Joy Collective loves him too as he contributed to last year’s end of year review. Nice guy.
OK so the occasional person doesn’t but they’re a bit silly. For those of you that are totally unaware of Mr Turner, he used to sing in post hardcore band Million Dead. They were pretty damn good and is important to know if you’re listening to Turner’s music. He played all the shitty little venues and crap stages at festivals with the band. He spent weeks in vans on roads and was part of the D.I.Y. punk rock fraternity. He sings about this a fair bit.
He calls his music ‘campfire punk rock’, you get the idea. First album ‘Sleep Is For The Week’ was released in 2007 and was Frank and his guitar singing acoustic songs about waking up in a stranger’s house the morning after, getting older, being skint, generally a lot of things the average twenty something can relate to. The following year saw him release ‘Love Ire & Song‘ which had more of an electric influence but followed similar lyrical lines. This led to Radio 1 pricking up their ears. Soon enough when Frank’s single ‘Long Live The Queen‘ was released in October ’08, it made the R1 C-list, was Single Of The Week on Sara Cox’s show and helped sell out Frank’s largest UK headline tour culminating in a bursting-over-capacity-finale at London’s Scala. The following single ‘Reasons Not To Be An Idiot‘ released in January of this year eclipsed those successes by graduating to the R1’s B-list, 6Music’s A-list and XFM’s daytime playlist, prompted a Live Lounge session for Sara Cox, a Hub Session for George Lamb as well as making iTunes Single Of The Week all helping to recruit a new army of Frank followers.
It was around this time that America started to get it. He played the punk stage at Reading and Leeds alongside bands from over the water, toured with Chuck Ragan and The Gaslight Anthem and it was inevitable that Frank’s brand of folk songwriting, catchy melodies and punk passion would reach the ears of a US label eventually. That label was Epitaph Records, run by Bad Religion’s legendary guitarist: Brett Gurewitz. Excited by what he had heard and seen when Frank headlined LA’s notorious Viper Rooms in March, Gurewitz got in contact and soon enough plans were formulated and a worldwide deal was inked. With loyalty and integrity firmly intact, Frank kept his relationship with his existing label Xtra Mile Recordings for all releases in the UK and Ireland and so the two labels will work closely for what will undoubtedly be an exciting new era in Frank’s ever evolving career.
“Frank Turner’s music is a revelation to me,” says Gurewitz. “I can’t stop listening to it. It’s a real privilege to get out there and help Xtra Mile spread the Frank Turner gospel.”
Frank’s third album ‘Poetry Of The Deed’ (the man likes a pun), came out in September and sees more of a band effort. Admittedly one of the songs sounds like the Levellers but as he’s spent a lot of time on tour with them I’m going to let him off. All of this history gives an insight into his music and you can just click his name to go and listen on his myspace but it’s live that Frank Turner really makes sense.
I think the first time I saw him was in Clwb Ifor Bach, since then I’ve seen him at Reading, twice at 2000Trees and in Bristol with The Gaslight Anthem, he’s been brilliant every time and even as the support act had the crowd singing every word. I don’t even know if there are tickets left for the Cardiff or Bristol dates so I’m being somewhat irresponsible here but keep on the phone until some idiot returns a ticket!!
