Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was formed in 1998, and took its name from motorcycle gang in the movie The Wild One with Marlon Brando. Peter Hayes and Robert Been met in high school and decided to create a band. They were looking for the drummer, and soon they found Nick Jago, who came to California after studying in England. Originally trio was called The Elements, but members had to change it into Black Rebel Motorcycle Club when they found that band with such name already existed. First records were indebted to classic rock, and influenced by Led Zeppelin. Musicians also were fond of psychedelic rock and space rock. Among all other components of their creativity the atonality played a great role. In 2001 band released their first album, titled Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and that record made them a part of so-called “garage revolution”, which was started by The Strokes. In 2003 the second album titled Take Them On, On Your Own appeared. Its sound was more aggressive and raw, lyrics was politically-themed.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is often called “a band that who broke the floor”, due to the cancelled concert in Leeds Town Hall in 2003. Officials of City Council were worried by the fact that floor in 150 year old building could collapse. Atmosphere in the band was tense in 2003, and it was seen by many fans who watched NME Awards: Nick Jago during the prize giving did not say a single word. In 2004 relationship between drummer and Peter became even worse, and that made Nick quit the band. Third album Howl was released in 2005, and received favorable reviews. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club managed to create new sound, resembled to folk. As members of the band said, many of songs from Howl had been written before BRMC was formed. During Howl tour guitarist Spike Keating was performing with the trio from San Francisco.

In 2007 Nick Jago reunited with band, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club started to work on their fourth studio album – Baby 81. In comparison with Howl, the whole sound of new record was tougher and more aggressive. In 2008 Jago quitted again, and Leah Shapiro became a new drummer of trio. Later it was stated on the band’s MySpace page that they would record the next album independently: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club started their own Label called Abstract Dragon. The Effects of 333 consisted only of instrumental songs. In 2009 DVD Live recorded during Baby 81 tour was released. The sixth studio work titled Beat The Devil's Tattoo appeared in 2010.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club established their own sound: they have something from folk, classic and psychedelic rock. And that cocktail, consisting of such diverse components, is just to taste of numerous fans all over the world. Everyone may find his or her own “motorcycle club”, as the musicians always experiment with the sound, and every new album sounds fresh.