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With a range of influences from T-Rex
to Johnny Cash , Speedtwinn
play a unique blend of American roots and British rock & roll.
Two Brits, Gary Twinn and Derwood Andrews (formerly of "
Twenty Flight Rockers " and " Generation
X " respectively), and two Yanks, Mario Barmosca
and Dale Daniel are Speedtwinn.
In their short time together they have written and recorded a
self produced album and are out to stake a claim in Americana
and alt-country music. Derwood and Gary are the songwriting, vocal
core of Speedtwinn . They have taken the Rockn'roller-coaster
from London to Arizona back to London by way of Sydney and now
to the California desert. Gary's first band, Supernaut
, had a #1 hit in Australia while he was still in high
school. The song "I Like it Both Ways" is
regarded as a milestone in Australia's rock history.
Derwood, the youngest member of Generation X ,
was at the front line of the London punk revolution. He is widely
respected as a wild and innovative guitar player. Johnny Marr
of the Smiths names Derwood as his guitar hero. Generation
X made a huge impact on the British music scene with
hits "Ready Steady Go" "King Rocker" and
"Dancing With Myself" . Derwood felt the need
to move on and formed a new band with drummer Mark Laff. Empire's
album "Expensive Sound" is considered a classic. American
punk band U.S. Bombs recorded a cover of Derwood's
" Hot Seat" and Henry Rollins
is a huge Empire/Derwood fan. With the demise of Empire,
Derwood and Laff went their separate ways. Having recently moved
back to London, Gary Twinn met Mark Laff one night at a Johnny
Thunders show and together the formed Twenty Flight Rockers
. They were loved by the British music press and fans
a like. Named as the best live band in the U.K. they were the
first ever to play live to air on BBC Radio One. The single "Tower
Block Rock" charted well and their self-titled album
has recently resurfaced on Japanese label Revel Yell. Across the
River Thames Derwood and singer Elizabeth Westwood were changing
the face of British pop with Westworld. Using a clever combination
of hip-hop beats and Bo Diddley guitars they stormed the charts
with "Sonic Boom Boy" and "Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo"
.
Derwood and Gary had crossed paths a number of times. Not only
through music and mutual friends but because they were both part
of the London motorcycle scene. In fact love of motorcycles and
the freedom of the open road is no doubt the reason they found
themselves living in the U.S., Derwood in Arizona and Gary in
California. While cruising the highways of America, Derwood was
experimenting in electronica/rock with his project Moondogg, and
Gary was singing with rockabilly outfit The
Honeydippers . They were soaking up the myth of the American
West and taking a crash course in country, roots and folk music.
When Andrews and Twinn did eventually team up it was ironically
in London with two old friends and icons of the punk days; Ratt
Scabies (The Dammed ) and Glenn Matlock ( Sex
Pistols ). This was Dead Horse ; a short-lived
band, but it gave Derwood and Gary the chance to work together.
They chose California as their new base and were drawn to the
desert land of Joshua Tree, east of Los Angeles. This part of
the world is seemingly sparse, wild and untamed and yet it is
also very spiritual and almost supernatural. Many musicians and
other artists have been inspired by this place. Gram Parsons and
Keith Richards spent many an evening under the vast starry sky.
The locals of Joshua Tree's "Pioneertown"* didn't know
what to make of these two guitar slinging, motorcycle riding Brits
when they first showed up. But soon they had the Pioneer Bowl
(the local tavern) rocking and formed a lasting connection. This
was the backdrop to their first series of videos, all shot in
Pioneertown with locals. The contrast of desert wilderness, the
music of Nelson, Cash, Dylan and Parsons against their background
of urban punk and the Rock'n'Roll of Bolan, Bowie and Lennon inspired
Andrews and Twinn to write new songs by the truckload.
They started playing undercover gigs in Pioneertown and most recently
at Hollywood's Lava Lounge. One night, Mario Barmosca, of Long
Beach blues band Bourbon Jones, saw this fledgling version of
Speedtwinn . Mario, the most charismatic bass
player in Southern California, immediately invited himself into
the band. The completion of SPEEDWTINN was solidified with Dale
S. Daniel. Dale is one of the hardest working drummers in Los
Angeles, simply because he is the best. With his addition to Speedtwinn
the line up was complete.
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