Superstar Taylor Swift’s label sign Welsh rockers
AWELSH band look set to make it big in America after signing to the recording company which is home to global superstar Taylor Swift.
Pretty Vicious are the first UK band to sign with the Big Machine Group, the Nashville-based record company, which is renowned for its multi-million selling country acts.
The Merthyr group will be part of the Big Machine/John Varvatos label which was launched last year to discover the next generation of rock bands. The label is a collaboration between Big Machine Group founder, Scott Borchetta – the man who discovered pop queen Swift, and renowned US fashion designer John Varavtos,
It’s a mighty statement of intent from the Stateside label helmed by two giants of the music and the fashion world who firmly believe that the young Welsh group are set to be the next big rock band in the States.
It appears Borchetta, one of the most influential music industry executives in America was looking forward to working with the Merthyr band.
The Big Machine
Label Group President said: “This band lives up to its name and I cannot wait for these lethal young men to come and conquer the US. The British are coming!”
Pretty Vicious were understandably enthusiastic themselves. They said: “We’re absolutely buzzing to work with Big Machine and John Varvatos and can’t wait to finally play in the States with their full support and belief behind us.” The band’s signing to the American label signals a remarkable turnaround for the headline-hitting outfit who last year parted company with their record label Virgin EMI. As part of the then headlinegrabbing deal in 2015, it was understood the band were handed a slice of priceless rock ’n’ roll history – the actual contracts The Sex Pistols put their signatures to when they signed for Virgin Records in 1977, as well as original albums signed by The Pistols.
Pretty Vicious were formed in the summer of 2014, when thenteenagers Brad Griffiths (vocals and guitar), Thomas McCarthy (guitar), Jarvis Morgan (bass) and Elliot Jones (drums) got together.
The band, renowned for their high-octane, full-throttle live shows, released several wellreceived singles, and built a dedicated fanbase, as well as securing support slots with Manic Street Preachers, Noel Gallagher and Stereophonics.
However, a highly-anticipated debut album failed to materialise.
Little is known of the reasons for their departure from Virgin-EMI in the summer of 2017, but a spokesperson for the band said in June last year: “Pretty Vicious and Virgin-EMI have agreed, mutually and amicably, to go their separate ways. The band will be recording new songs very soon.”
Since then the band have completed sessions for what is hoped will be their debut album at Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouthshire.
The band last week announced they would be playing the Leeds and Reading Festival, and The Great Escape Festival in Brighton.
A new single is scheduled to be released in the coming weeks.
■ Find out more at: www.facebook.com/prettyviciousuk