09.02.10 - Loyd on the Steve Wright Show, Radio 2
06.03.09 - The Independent - Review : 'Observations: Who'd play in a pub like this?'
By Mark Williams
Friday, 6 March 2009
Pop comebacks may be all the rage, but they rarely involve headlining in grubby pubs in north London. Equally rarely does a millionaire TV presenter and businessman clamber on stage, strap on a Les Paul and act the rock god. But that was the deal at Tommy Flynn's when Loyd Grossman led the band originally known as Jet Bronx and the Forbidden in an exuberant set.
The erstwhile Mr Bronx and his combo managed No 47 in the charts in 1977 with "Ain't Doing Nothing" an engagingly punkish din marketed on "terrific red vinyl", followed in 1978 with "Rock'n'Roll Romance" whose failure prompted Grossman's odyssey elsewhere into the public arena, first as a broadsheet journalist, then TV chef, vicarious observer of rich folk's domiciles and finally, upmarket pasta sauce-meister.
None of this detracts from the fact that the New Forbidden is a serious effort to forge new careers for Grossman, bassist James Baring (of the banking dynasty), singer Valentine Guinness (of the brewing dynasty) and keyboardist Orlando Harrison (of the Alabama 3 dynasty). Clout is added in the shape of Geoff Haslam, legendary Atlantic Records producer, who's now overseeing recordings.
One might expect this to be trying-too-hard posh rock, but happily it isn't. Guinness exercises a vaguely camp, if vigorous and good-humoured swagger, while Grossman imbues proceedings with hard-edged rhythm-cum-lead guitaring that reminded me of The Band's Robbie Robertson. Charlie Wright's solid, infectious backbeat drove things, and Baring's bass was workmanlike. The sum of the New Forbidden's parts is plainly considerable, although several songs are somewhat samey. But, steeled by unassuming pub gigs such as this, they'll clearly be capable of commanding the festival stages they're booked for this summer.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Pop comebacks may be all the rage, but they rarely involve headlining in grubby pubs in north London. Equally rarely does a millionaire TV presenter and businessman clamber on stage, strap on a Les Paul and act the rock god. But that was the deal at Tommy Flynn's when Loyd Grossman led the band originally known as Jet Bronx and the Forbidden in an exuberant set.
The erstwhile Mr Bronx and his combo managed No 47 in the charts in 1977 with "Ain't Doing Nothing" an engagingly punkish din marketed on "terrific red vinyl", followed in 1978 with "Rock'n'Roll Romance" whose failure prompted Grossman's odyssey elsewhere into the public arena, first as a broadsheet journalist, then TV chef, vicarious observer of rich folk's domiciles and finally, upmarket pasta sauce-meister.
None of this detracts from the fact that the New Forbidden is a serious effort to forge new careers for Grossman, bassist James Baring (of the banking dynasty), singer Valentine Guinness (of the brewing dynasty) and keyboardist Orlando Harrison (of the Alabama 3 dynasty). Clout is added in the shape of Geoff Haslam, legendary Atlantic Records producer, who's now overseeing recordings.
One might expect this to be trying-too-hard posh rock, but happily it isn't. Guinness exercises a vaguely camp, if vigorous and good-humoured swagger, while Grossman imbues proceedings with hard-edged rhythm-cum-lead guitaring that reminded me of The Band's Robbie Robertson. Charlie Wright's solid, infectious backbeat drove things, and Baring's bass was workmanlike. The sum of the New Forbidden's parts is plainly considerable, although several songs are somewhat samey. But, steeled by unassuming pub gigs such as this, they'll clearly be capable of commanding the festival stages they're booked for this summer.
| loyd_grossman_interview_30_september_2008.pdf |
| loyd_gets_punkd_interview_august_2008.pdf |
| loyd_-_daily_mail.pdf |
| loyd_-_ft_-_12_april_2008.pdf |
