Sly Willie Down

SOUNDS LIKE…..
In terms of genre, Sly Willie Down would probably be classified
under rock/ hard rock. Songs consist of keen, listener-friendly
hooks and melodies, lyrically often with tongue planted firmly in
cheek, wrapped in thoughtful carefully arranged grooves. As far
as who they sound like, fans always seem to give the same answer:
“They just sound like Sly Willie Down.” The combination of Stacy
Gregory’s soulful and passionate vocals driven with the rage and
precision style of guitarists Jeremy Ferguson and Dave Bice, the
intense, in- your- face bass of Chris Collis, and the unique,
incredibly diverse, powerhouse drumming of Andy Jones, seems to
have given life to some new monster, one that crowds of listeners
seem to become instantly passionate about.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
Sly Willie Down, now based out of Chattanooga TN, has been gaining
momentum over the last few years since the release of their self
titled debut album. Nominated for 4 Independent Artists awards
including “ Best Hard Rock Band” and “Best Single” for “The Hippie
Song”, a song which also reached the top 60 of the worldwide
Garageband.com, Sly Willie Down has had an opportunity to play
most of the top venues in the southeast, from Knoxville TN, to
Orlando Fl. Favorite stops being The Local in Chattanooga TN (the
bar they refer to as their “home”) Atlanta GA’s Masquerade, and a
show at Full Sail Music School in Orlando Fl (a show they were
hand-selected for, past artists selected for this include Seven
Mary Three and Rob Zombie. In June, 2002, Sly Willie Down played
with rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd at Chattanooga TN’s Riverbend
Festival. Though musically, and era-wise there was little
similarity between the two groups the guys knew it as a great
opportunity to learn from a legend while having the opportunity to
showcase themselves to a mass audience, as bassist Chris Collis
said. “playing for thousands of people doesn’t suck”……estimated
Riverbend attendance about 70,000.

In 2005, they competed in the international Emergenza Festival competing their way to the final stage in Atlanta.

SO WHERE DID THEY COME FOM:
Formed from the ashes of garage rock band Flippin Pennies at Betty
(FPAB), Sly Willie Down was born in the sleepy little town of
Morganton Georgia in the North Ga. Mountains. From a graffiti
covered, gutted out old trailer original FPAB members Stacy Gregory,
Andy Jones, and Chris Collis, developed a following with their
bouncy “punkametalbillyblues” as they called it. Known nearly as
much for their out of control parties, unpredictable behavior, and
drunken antics as for their music FPAB put in place the attitude,
the uniqueness and fire that now defines Sly Willie Down. Sly Willie
Down was officially formed in 1999 with the addition of local phenom
Dave Bice. The band took its name from a filthy street term Chris
Collis brought back from the New Orleans ghetto… (long story). The
group released a 6 song Ep in 2000, and then a complete album by the
end of 2001. The self titled debut garnered national interest and
every available printed copy has been sold (barely leaving the band
any for their own use). However, the band still felt it was missing
something. Enter guitarist Jeremy Ferguson. His intensity, grit and
heaviness were perfect. SWD now with Ferguson on board began the
process of writing a new album in the spring of 2002. The band spent
that year writing, recording, and touring -a grinding schedule- and
as the new album neared completion…….a fire destroyed the master
copy…the only copy. Devastated, the band took a hiatus …and so 2006
Sly Willie Down is wrapping production on their long awaited
follow-up, tentatively entitled “7 Years, Lost Souls and Broken Angels”,as an ode to their unbelievable
misfortune. They’re back. For SLY WILLIE DOWN, the band once hailed
as “the best new band since Nirvana” on the WB Network’s Fuel TV
website, they are making this their time.
…………see ya on the road.