Buster James Band
Norwich, England, United Kingdom | INDIE
Music
Press
Awesome!!!
"Incredibly tight and powerful. I'm enthusiastic!. What a huge band!"
Radio Basile is playing 6 tracks instead of the usual 3 given to other bands.
Carlo Basile
RCA A&R (retired)
Owner - Radio Basile.
The Web's No. 1 music site - Carlo Basile - Radio Basile
Stephen Foster Grapevine Review
The Buster James Band could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel long ago. The Norfolk based group have had more ups and downs than a ride on Great Yarmouth's roller coater but through it all they have managed to retain their own
identity and musical integrity. As well as being one of the local music scene's good guys founder member Roger James has the uncanny knack of hitting the spot both on stage and in the studio. In all the years I've followed the band (and we're talking nearly 30 of them) I have yet to witness a below par performance. Quite the opposite in fact. I've seen The Buster James Band play to only a handful of people and still give 100 per cent. I've also been lucky enough to witness the group playing a several thousand punters in the open air and if I'd have been a member of the band that followed them I think I'd have hoisted the white flag.
It's little wonder that The Darkness cite Buster James as a big influence. I wouldn't mind betting that Justin Hawkins learnt much in the way of working an audience by watching Roger James. I only hope Roger wasn't responsible for Justin's stage outfits.
I can't quite see Mr. James in a spandex jump suit but if you know otherwise feel free to spill the beans!
After three albums of mainly original material the group have gone back to their roots and recorded no fewer than 16 rock covers. The CD is entitled "Sold Out" and while some may see this project as simply treading water I see it as giving people what
they've always wanted. ZZ Top's "Tush" and "Balinese" have been in the Buster James set from The Kingfisher days while more recent material like Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" and the Bryan Adams rocker "The Only Thing That Looks Good On You" also lend themselves perfectly to this album. Keyboards maestro Richard Young and guitarist Mark Holmes have come up with a stunning
intro to the Albert King classic "Born Under A Bad Sign" and the whole band has given T-Rex's "20th Century Boy" a new lick of paint without straying too far from the original. It takes me back to my earlier point. It's all done with integrity and I'm sure
Roger will take his hat off to co-producer Richard Hammerton at Purple Rain for managing to bottle the live sound and uncorking it in the studio. That is no mean feat.
There are four bonus tracks on "Sold Out" letting people know or reminding those already in the know that the group can knock out a great tune of their own as well. The additional songs are taken from previous albums and should persuade recent
converts or lapsed members of the cause to seek out the other CDs too. You can buy any or all of the Buster James Band albums by visiting www.busterjames.com.
Go on spoil yourself.
Stephan Foster Suffolk Radio DJ.
- Grapevine
Indie Showcase
Wendy “Shashona” McCall
The Buster James Band
www.myspace.com/busterjamesband
www.busterjames.com
Buster James Band will wake you up and have you rocking ! The New CD called “God & Greed” is a blend between the rocking days of your youth and the future of hard hitting , guitar lead rock!! This is dazzling Rock at its best! The Lyrics are well thought out, Guitar work is stellar! In fact all the Instruments are well defined and perfectly played. I'm sure The Drmmer, Paul has sixteen arms!! Hes that good!! This is an amazing group of musicians ! Vocals are amazing , sung by a sexy Roger James Mark & Richard.
I highly recommend Buster James Band's “God & Greed” It is something you will not regret !! This Music is timeless!!! See Them live if you can. Check their websites out for tour dates.
Shashona
Indie Showcase
www.myspace.com/indishowcase
www.awesomeradio.net
P.O. Box 647
Campbelltown NSW 2560
Australia
+6124625 6605
www.myspace.com/Indieshowcase
Shashonadj@gmail.com
- Wendy Shashona Goodman
We have had to opportunity to review and play CD music submissions from The Buster James Band on our Electric Blues Radio and British Blues Radio network, and have received some wonderful response from our listeners.
Buster James demonstrates the talent and fresh music innovations that will keep listeners coming back for more of their great music. They expand the horizons of Blues - Rock and stretch musical boundries.
I for one will look forward to hearing more from The Buster James Band in the future!
Ron Ryder
Program Manager
Classic Blues Radio - Classic Blues Radio
The Brickmakers, Norwich
This lot are one of those bands who seemed to have been around on the local music scene forever.
Formed in the late seventies, they have been pumping out their own energetic brand of blues and boogie for two decades.
Ask your dad and he'll probably remember them - in fact he may well have been here in the audience. Their crowd is now very much middle aged rock, for guys with middle aged spread. I think I spotted Steve Coogan's ageing roadie Tommy Saxondale in the corner.
Still you don't rock crowds on stage up and down the country for so long without picking up a trick or two and despite having left their youthful verve behind, they still no how to deliver.
It helps that they're all accomplished musicians. The line-up contains players who have performed and recorded with artists as diverse as The Animals, Dire Straits, Dave Stewart, Mungo Jerry, FM and Iron Maiden.
In Roger James, they have an arresting frontman, complete with grey ZZ Top style beard, cap and sunglasses. Even if his stage banter is delivered in a strange cod-American accent, his big voice is perfect to compete with the powerhouse rhythm section of drummer Paul Hale and Chris Warnes' bass. Guitarist Mark Holmes and the multi-instrumental Richard Young, who flits between keyboards, guitar and harmonica, complete the line-up.
Musically it very much down and dirty blues boogie - a cover ZZ Top's Tush in amongst their repertoire - and solid classic rock, mostly their own material but the odd well judged cover such as Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well and the Kinks You Really Got Me.
It went down well here, helped by the fact that that the band have built up a loyal following over the years of planning venue ranging from pubs to festivals.
The fan club had turned out in force, including several blokes in Buster James T-shirts who took up their position at the front of the stage lost in admiration - and no doubt re-living their youth.
- Norwich Evening News 24
With a flavor that reminds you of the good ole days of rock, the Buster James Band simply shreds your earhole. Blues riffs mixed with what tastes of Van Halen, Stevie Ray and other rockers of the toe tapping variety. Simply put, The Buster James boys pour high octane kickass into each riff, lick, song and performance!" - Bob Marino - Official FN Radio
Discography
God and Greed
Sweet Thing
Millenium Beach Party (Live)
Dog Days
Sold Out
Plugged In (Live)
God and Greed - Remastered (16 Tracks)
Buster James Band was featured artist on Blues Deluxe Radio out of Arlington, TX April 20 - 26, 2008, with over 2,000,000 listeners world wide. BJB also has broadcast airplay in Europe, Canada, Middle East, South America, and the US. They are also the most requested band on awesomeradio.net out of Australia, with DJ's world wide, for over 8 months. Tracks from all albums being played to great response.
Photos
Bio
Formed in the Early '70's, Buster James Band came out of the British rock and blues scene. Playing to great crowd reaction, they supported many top name groups from that era. They scored a major record deal and booked a recording session in 1972, but their guitarist decided not to play full time professional. The recording session was offered to and accepted by the next band signed, Queen!!!!
Buster James signed a record deal with Independant Company in 1978 with interest from all major labels, but the majors wanted no part of the Independant label owner. However, the recordings did emerge on bootleg cassettes. (How did that happen?) They took a 3 year break, and members played with other groups throughout Europe and the UK.
In 1981, the group reformed with it's present line up, and picked up where they left off. Influenced by groups such as Free, Led Zepplin, Mountain, Hendrix, and ZZ Top, the group formed their own Indie Label, Beardtunes, and began writing with a vengence! Buster James continued to back up, open for, as well as, record with such music industry greats as Cream, Rory Gallagher, The Police, Faces, Small Faces, Steve Marriot, Thin Lizzy, Traffic, Spencer Davis, Eurythmics, Mott The Hoople, Dire Straits, John Mellencamp, Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden, Mick Ralphes and Dave Cowell of Bad Company, Pat Travers and Mungo Jerry. Buster James has headlined at the legendary Marquee Club and Camden Palace in London. Thin Lizzy and Steve Gibbons said their live shows were some of the best they have seen. Lead Singer Roger James has been called "The ultimate big voiced crowd pleaser" by the British music press, and he still owns that great distinction today.
Whether playing at local clubs or for 45, 000 people at outdoor festivals, Buster James plays the same driving music that keeps your head moving to the groove, and your air guitars smoking!
"Once seen, never forgotten"
Roger James - Lead Vocals has just completed a cover of "All The Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople to be included on a CD for Parkinson's Disease. CD to be released in the near future.
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