Phil Stanmore
Eastleigh, England, United Kingdom
Music
Press
REVIEWS
(South of England music publications)
Southscene – September 2002
How Refreshing! If you, like me, are a little jaded by rock interpretations of the new bands coming through, then I'm sure Sacred Ace will restore your faith. Sacred Ace suck you in, spitting out melody, lyrical moods and sophisticated guitar methods.
Their recent acoustic set at All Saints Church in Baddesley was performed for charity. But for those of us who remember the heydays of Bon Jovi, Thunder, Def Leppard, we were treated to a young band influenced by the super groups. It would be wrong to consider them stuck in the past however. Their music is very definitely new century rock, but certainly not Nu-Metal. Sacred Ace played tracks from their ep The Spirit Lives On. I particularly liked, "High Enough", an up-beat number with an excellent rocky guitar solo. The dual voice chorus is strong and harmonic. The singing method is a particular strength of the band and is very much predominant in most of their music.
Probably the last number, their own Field of Lives, was the one I enjoyed most. The unusual inclusion of harmonica from Phil put the icing on this enticing number. A very close second would be a track from their album, "Angel of my life". This is very Bon Jovi like, a soft and sensitive love song with 2 voices. A soulful guitar sings a sympathy and provides real atmosphere.
To sum up Sacred Ace are a band that play their music with thought and precision, especially ensuring that the two guitars render sympathetic chord progressions and the guitar solos, provided by the talented Dave Peck, sing out true and clean. I look forward to seeing the band again soon.
Nick Reynolds
Music Gazette – May/June 2003
Promising local band Sacred Ace recorded this four track eponymous EP in February, it features songs penned by vocalist Phil Stanmore.
The numbers are refreshingly original with well-crafted music and some fine lyrics. My favourite, the second track, Chase the Sun, is a classy melody with great instrumental backing. Tracks one and three, Sacred Ace and High Enough, are nicely worked.
This is definitive rock music that draws heavily on both Phil Stanmore’s powerful vocals and some quality guitar rifts from Dave Peck.
The band has played several local gigs in recent months, including Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms and the Talking Heads and Ferryman & Firkin in Southampton.
Further information about the band, including details of up-coming gigs, can be found on their website: www.sacred–ace.co.uk.
Nigel Milchem
Southscene – September 2002
The Spirit Lives On
People may well knock Sacred Ace for the music they play, but hey, it’s not like they are trying to fit in with current trends, so you’ve got to admire them really. Drawing influences from pretty much every hair band that has ever graced the pages of Kerrang! they play hard rock and that’s the way they like it!
The guitar playing is very good they are a very solid band. They may not have honed their sound yet but when they do, anyone into unashamed, big fat rock music we’ll love it. Good luck guys.
Mike
- Southscene & Music Gazette
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
My interest in writing, recording and performing music, came at an early age, as i grew up listening to the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. From these artists i gained a real respect for the music they created, raw, magical, exhilarating music, that would capture the imagination, taking you on a story book ride from start to finish. It was this style of songwriting that most appealed to me and led me to become an avid listener of the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. The idea of storytelling through lyrics/songs, grasped my interest and became the foundation of my passion for songwriting. But i did also enjoy the punch, rock music could produce, which led me to enjoy rock bands the 1980's produced, for example Bon Jovi and Def Leppard.
In 1997, along with a couple of friends we put together our first band, Liberty, a band which gave me my first taste of performing live. This band was short lived but myself and the lead guitarist, strived to keep the momentum going and over the period of ten years plus, kept ourselves in the game, with our band Sacred Ace.
Unfortunately we had a bumpy ride throughout the years, which resulted in many a line up change and in the end the demise of Sacred Ace early 2007. But through these ten years i was able to write and perform many songs, experience recording in studio's and be part of some memorable gigs, such as a charity event organised local to us, to raise money for the Tsunami Earthquake Charity Appeal and also a showcase performance in Birmingham @ The Hard Rock CafĂŠ, for Epic, Columbia & Atlantic records.
Since the demise of Sacred Ace i have still kept myself busy songwriting and am allowing myself the opportunity on two fronts, one as a solo artist and one in a new band i share with my long time friend and music collaborator Dave Peck, called Ninety Seven. And whilst still performing live, i have recently been promoting my work, through songwriting competitions, of which i received an honorable mention for my entry in the November 2006, Song Of The Year Competiton.
What my future as a songwriter holds is obviously waiting to be seen, but with positive responses to my entries in songwriting competitions and positive feedback to the early stages of the music of Ninety Seven, i have lots to look forward to and work towards.
Band Members
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