The Ruling Class
Gig Seeker Pro

The Ruling Class

London, England, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom
Band Pop Rock

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"LEVIS' ONES TO WATCH - The Ruling Class"

Whils other bands may revel in exoticism that accompanies a multi-national line-up, it's not that way for The Ruling Class. "There are a few interesting accents, but that's it really - we're completely united by a common goal", Mancunian singer Jon tells The Fly. That goal, it would seem, is to create timeless anthems; songs that evoke memories of The Stone Roses and Arthur Lee's Love, but that are defiantly disconnected from any trend, past, present or future. When guitarist Tomas and bassist Anton arrived from Sweden, they were sure of one thing - they wanted to transcend the post-Libertines scene dominating the London they found themselves in. Hearing The Ruling Class' chiming guitars, effortless, floating melodies and insistent rhythms, it's quite clear they've easily achieved this and much, much more. "You'll have to keep an eye on us," says Jon, "things are moving quickly it's untrue." The Ruling Class' dominion, then, looks set to grow. - The Fly


"TOP 10 TRACKS TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK - Marian Shrine"

Woah! Did we drop through a wormhole into late-'80s Manchester? Beacause this bowl-cutted London five-piece are baggier than a rhino's granny knickers. Devoid of Kasabian's bluster, their stoned groove also weaves in elements of shoegaze to create something very special indeed. Get your maracas out. - NME


"SINGLE OF THE WEEK - Flowers"

THE RULING CLASS - Flowers/If You Wonder. It's been a long time since beats this baggy were taken seriously. Taking the Sixties melodies of The Stone Roses, with looped grooves and laidback beats, these London-based revivalists might well have the tunes to herald the third coming of baggy. - The Sun


"NEW BAND OF THE DAY - The Ruling Class"

Hometown: North London.

The lineup: Jonathan Sutcliffe (vocals), Tomas Kubowicz (lead guitar, backing vocals), Andrew Needle (rhythm guitar), Anton Lindberg (bass), Alfie Tammaro (drums).

The background: The Ruling Class are so 1989 it's not true – they're a little bit shoegazey, and a lot baggy. Let's call what they do shaggy! But probably not boogazey. The Ruling Class are based in London – although their members hail from places as far-flung and glamorous as Italy, Sweden and, er, Harrogate – but they sound like they come from the Thames Valley area via Manchester. Has there previously been a band before that combined elements of the two major musical movements of the late 80s/early 90s? There have been baggy revivalists, for sure, and this year there has been a flood of neo-noisepoppers in thrall to the guitar haze of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive et al, but to our knowledge the Ruling Class are the first to do both at once. It's an astute move: the Madchester-era bands and the FX pedal merchants from Oxford and Reading made music to bliss out to. Different drugs, same aim. Granted, the one was heavier on the boogie while the other prioritised feedback and white-out, but they both were big on fey, wispy vocals and an atmosphere of mellow, stoned insouciance. After all, the Berlin Wall was coming down, everyone was high on Glasnost, and people wanted to party like it was 1989, mainly because it was 1989.

The Ruling Class are living in the past – in that past – but that's OK because the museum's done up like Spike Island. Their summer 2008 debut single, Flowers, sounds so much like early Stone Roses you will do a double-take: is that an unreleased Roses B-side you hear? If You Wonder, the other track on their debut single, is equally uncannily Roses-like. Their new single, Marian Shrine, takes things further by evoking memories of the Charlatans when they were Roses copyists (no surprises that TRC have toured with Northwich's finest) while Sleeping Beauty adds shimmery guitar to the mix. My Bloody Roses? Oh, go on then.

Peaches Geldof loves them, but that's hardly their fault. So do the Horrors, Glasvegas, the Courteeners and SCUM, which ought to guarantee them column inches as long as their fringes. They've got a convoluted recent history: they sacked their first singer, got in a new one, dumped him as well, toured with the Twang with their songwriter/guitarist on vocals, before getting their original singer back. Now they're banging the baggy drum, they're mates of stone, they wanna be adored, they're what the world is waiting for, they are the resurrection, they are the one, etc etc, repeat to fade ...

The buzz: "Old-school indie-pop and gentle sonic chaos which sounds a little bit like the Stone Roses if they'd signed to Creation."

The truth: Remember that semi-notorious joint front cover of NME bearing the floppy bowl-cuts and pouty lips of Mark Gardener of Ride and Tim Burgess of the Charlatans? That's the Ruling Class, that is.

Most likely to: Get high.

Least likely to: Tour with the High.

What to buy: The single Marian Shrine b/w Sleeping Beauty is released by Loog on 20 July.

File next to: Stone Roses, Ride, Chapterhouse, Paris Angels. - The Guardian


"THE RULING CLASS - Marian Shrine"

Woah! Did we drop through a wormhole into late-'80s Manchester? Beacause this bowl-cutted London five-piece are baggier than a rhino's granny knickers. Devoid of Kasabian's bluster, their stoned groove also weaves in elements of shoegaze to create something very special indeed. Get your maracas out. - NME


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

The Ruling Class have stealthily made themselves one of the most talked about bands on the underground scene in the UK. With the release of two singles, debut ‘Flowers’ and follow up ‘Marian Shrine’, their psychedelic tinged 60’s influenced pop has seen a diverse fan base from the uber cool East London scenesters to hardcore football fans flocking to their banner. Support dates with the likes of The Charlatans, Glasvegas and The Drums have emphasized the enormous potential for their music, whilst headline shows across the UK and Europe have seen the band create unique environments for their shows that encapsulate the ethic that drives these five diverse characters.

With praise from the UK media ringing in their ears, NME praising ‘something very special indeed’ whilst The Fly suggested ‘The Ruling Class dominion looks set to grow’, it is little wonder that the band’s appearances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals saw them singled out by NME as one of the best new bands at the festival.

The Ruling Class then decided to create their own club night, a place where they along with their favourite bands could play an undiluted show and give the fans a real sense of occasion. In keeping with their name they chose to call it ‘The High Society’ and its success has been instant, giving them enough money to record their debut album. Enter producer Ed Buller of Suede, Pulp and more recently White Lies fame. It was thought with his past roster and a real enthusiasm to work with the band, he would be perfect.

As we speak The Ruling Class are in Belgium at ICP studios recording the debut long player, ready for the next chapter.