BIOGRAPHY:
Band formed
in June 2004 by Liam Davis (vocals / guitar), Stevie Black (guitar / vocals, ex-Strand),
Billy Kay (bass / vocals, also with Mr Nice),
Steve Honeyman (keyboards, ex-Small
Mountains) & Johnny Rough (drums, ex-Circle).
A month later they played their debut gig at the Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow, and continued playing small venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as London,
Southampton & Brighton (which were hosted by ex-Jam drummer Rick Buckler). An
early member may have been Alan Gilchrist (guitar) who went on to play with Akolayd)2005 saw the band play a fortnightly residency in Best Bar None, Stirling, whilst continuing a busy live schedule. Their sound was described as a mixture of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Paul Weller and The Bluetones.
In October 2005 Five Park Drive played as part of the "Way To Blue" festival, and at the end of the year got through to the final of a Scotland wide "Battle of the Bands" sponsored by Carling. This led to a support with The Bluetones at The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh in March 2006, by which time Rough had been replaced by Daniel Adam (drums, also with Mr Nice). Rough went on to play with Sleeper Train. The band continued their live schedule, including a date at Big In Falkirk in April, whilst recording tracks for a new EP. The band had to take a rest from live work in the summer due to a wrist injury substained by drummer Adam, and then were dealt a further blow by the departure to London of bass player Billy Kay (he would later return to the area, and was seen helping out Ross Fairweather and The North Country Ramblers). He was replaced by Stirling bass player Iain Hamilton (ex-Encierro), only for the band to then lose Daniel Adam. Drummer Mark Feeney, also with Blue Vintage City, replaced him. The group then threw themselves into live work again, ending the year with a support slot to former Jam drummer Rick Buckler.
2007 saw them continue their live work, with a UK tour in spring, taking in a date at Liverpool's Cavern, and a support to the Complete Stone Roses. Towards the middle of the year they parted company with Honeyman (who went on to join The Vesparados), continuing as a four piece. The band then went into Glasgow's Q10 studios and recorded their debut single, "Panic", with Franz Ferdinand and Idlewild producer Larry Primrose. By the end of the year Black was also playing (bass) with The Doledrums.
2008 saw the band drop from public view, only to return at the end of the year with a line-up of Davies, Hamilton, Feeney & Jamie Haffey (guitar). The band then supported former Seahorses frontman Chris Helme, and former Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss, as well as a date at the Barrowlands supported "From The Jam".
Feeney went on to play with The OK Social Club.
RELEASES:
"Panic" (CD single, Double Plus Records, 2007)
WEBSITE:
http://www.myspace.com/fiveparkdrive