This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2010)

A cover band (or covers band), is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band.^{[citation needed]} A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is often called a top 40 band. Many bands, however, start as cover bands and then grow to perform original material. For example, the Rolling Stones released three albums consisting primarily of covers before recording one of original material.

Music[link]

Cover bands play songs written and recorded by other artists, usually well-known songs (as compared to "original" bands which play music they themselves have written). There are a wide variety of cover bands - some cover bands play material from particular decades, for example a 1980s cover band. Others focus exclusively on the music of a particular group, usually iconic groups, and are called tribute bands: it is not uncommon to find The Beatles tribute bands, Led Zeppelin tribute bands, Kiss tribute bands, Pink Floyd tribute bands, Oasis tribute bands, Aerosmith tribute bands, or U2 tribute bands. Some cover bands will play a variety of song styles, of widely different artists, genres and decades. Another type of cover band is one that covers songs in a different genre or style than that of the original composition (e.g., jazz versions of what were originally hard rock songs).

Some cover bands perform covers that are of a different musical genre from the originals. For instance:

• Richard Cheese covers rock and rap songs in the style of lounge music.
• Gregorian covers pop and rock songs in the style of Gregorian chant.
• Gabba covers the pop songs of ABBA in the punk style of the Ramones (the name is also a reference to the chant "Gabba Gabba Hey" from the Ramones' song "Pinhead" from their Leave Home album).
• Nouvelle Vague covers new wave-era bands with a bossa nova twist.
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is known for punk covers of other artists, with each album picking a different genre or era (i.e. hits of the 1970s, showtunes, etc.)
• Dread Zeppelin specialized in reggae versions of Led Zeppelin songs, with an Elvis impersonator on lead vocals.
• Hayseed Dixie started as a "hillbilly tribute to AC/DC" and has become a bluegrass tribute band covering many well known rock bands in their own "rockgrass" style.
• Run C&W performed bluegrass arrangements of '60s soul music, primarily classics from the Motown catalog.
• Turetsky's Choir, a former synagogue choir from Moscow, is famous for its remakes of music pieces from different styles, ranging from opera classic to pop hits. The band's repertoire usually includes covers only. Some of them are arranged into medleys.
• Ten Masked Men is known for death metal covers of pop songs.
• The Baseballs are a German band, known for doing rockabilly covers of modern pop songs, like Bleeding Love and Umbrella (song)
• Mallavoodoo, a Brazilian band from Recife, plays instrumental covers of hard rock with keyboards and saxophone.
• Fretted Wall, a American band from Idaho Falls, mostly covers 80s hairband songs from bands like ACDC

Examples of cover acts[link]

• Dark Star Orchestra - Widely renowned Grateful Dead cover band that recreates the feel of individual Grateful Dead performances.
• Three Dog Night - Tremendously successful '60s and '70s rock band that almost exclusively recorded covers of songs from many different artists and genres.
• Sha Na Na - Another successful '60s and '70s rock band that plays rock and roll music from the 1950s and early-1960s. They burst onto the scene in 1969 when they performed at the Woodstock music festival and went on to have their own variety show similar to The Monkees.
• Joe Cocker - The "Sheffield Soul Shouter" has covered music by many artists including The Beatles, Dave Mason, and The Lovin' Spoonful.
• Jimmy and the Soulblazers - Covers of '60's and 70's Soul music.
• Liquid Blue - Cover band from San Diego, California that mixes covers and originals and has performed in over 100 countries.

• The Zoo - Philippine cover band featuring Arnel Pineda, who went on to join Journey in 2008.
• Apocalyptica - Finnish metal band with covers of Metallica, Faith No More, Sepultura, Slipknot, David Bowie, and Pantera performed by four cellists and a drummer, among original music.
• Laura-Jayne Hunter - Singer in one a cover and function bands
• Camp Freddy - Cover band featuring Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction, and several other successful musicians.
• Ty Taylor (author) - Ty Taylor and the Powder River Band, a Top 40 Country music Cover Band.

Fictional cover acts[link]

• Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg who had a small group that performs cover songs from a fictional band called Steel Dragon. He eventually became the lead singer of the said band when a recorded performance was seen by the band members.
• The Wedding Singer features Adam Sandler as a cover singer who performs for wedding parties.
• Detroit Rock City is the story of four teenagers in the '70s who are in a Kiss cover band called "Mystery".
• Saving Silverman features three friends who are diehard Neil Diamond fans, and they form a cover band called "Diamonds in the Rough".
• In an episode of The Simpsons, Otto Mann hires a cover band called "Cyanide", which he says is a tribute to Poison.
• In the American Dad! episode "Finances with Wolves", Klaus the goldfish swaps brains with the lead singer of an Earth, Wind and Fire cover band.

See also[link]

• Tribute act
• Elvis impersonator

Man are a rock band from South Wales whose style is a mixture of West Coast psychedelia, progressive rock, blues and country-rock. Formed in 1968 as a reincarnation of Welsh rock harmony group ‘’The Bystanders’’, Man are renowned for the extended jams in their live performances, and having had numerous line up changes.

The Bystanders[link]

Man evolved out of The Bystanders, a successful close harmony pop group from Merthyr Tydfil who played numerous club residencies in Wales, often playing several clubs a night. The Bystanders issued eight singles, including "98.6" (#45 in UK Singles Chart, in February 1967)^[1] which featured in the 2009 film, The Boat That Rocked (although Keith's version was the bigger hit, reaching #24 in the UK) and "When Jesamine Goes", written by their manager Ronnie Scott and Marty Wilde under the pseudonyms of Frere Manston and Jack Gellar, which was later covered by The Casuals as "Jesamine" and got to #2 in the UK Chart. They also recorded sessions of cover versions for the BBC as rules restricting needle time required "live" performances between the records during the 1960s; ^[2] becoming regulars on the ’’Jimmy Young Show’’, "The David Symonds Show" and others.

When formed in 1962 The Bystanders included Owen Money, then known as Gerry Braden,^[3] but he was replaced by Vic Oakley, giving the classic line up of Micky Jones (guitar), Ray Williams (bass), Jeff Jones (drums), Clive John (aka Clint Space) (keyboards) and Vic Oakley (vocals). By 1968 the other members wanted to change musical direction to a more psychedelic/American west-coast guitar sound, so Oakley left, to be replaced by Deke Leonard; and the band changed its name to Man.^[4]

Pye years[link]

Man were initially signed to Pye Records, for whom they recorded their first two albums:- Revelation noted for the simulated orgasm on "Erotica", which received a UK ban,^[5] and 2 Ozs of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle. Whilst mixing the second album, Leonard left, and was replaced by Martin Ace from Leonard’s previous band, Dream. At this time, Man were recording three demo sessions a week for Leeds Music, including Down the Dustpipe which they taught to Status Quo.^[6]

Man then toured Europe, predominantly Germany, where they supported Chicago, but on their return, were stopped as suspected terrorists, then jailed for drugs offences in Belgium. Leonard then rejoined, but Ace stayed on as a multi-instrumentalist. Shortly after, Ray Williams and Jeff Jones were fired, with Terry Williams joining on drums and Ace moving to bass. Leonard, Ace and Terry Williams having been together in “Dream”, this was seen by some as a take-over.^[6]

A bootleg of the first gig by this line up, October 1970 in Hamburg, was issued as To Live for to Die and was later re-bootlegged by the band.^[7] Despite good reviews in Britain Two Ounces of Plastic ... was more popular in Germany, so the band spent a year in Germany, where, having to play 4–5 hours a night, most numbers became extended jams.

United Artists years[link]

Their manager, Barrie Marshall, obtained a new record contract with Andrew Lauder of United Artists Records, for whom the band recorded the eponymous Man album, which received mixed reviews. Their media break came when outperforming Soft Machine, Yes and Family at a concert in Berlin, but they continued to play on the continent.^[8] Having appeared on the United Artists sampler album, All Good Clean Fun, they undertook a tour of Switzerland, to promote the album, together with Help Yourself and Leicester band Gypsy.

The next album Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? recorded at Rockfield Studios by Kingsley Ward, received good reviews, and the band played German TV and Iceland with Badfinger.^[9] Constant touring was creating internal pressures, and in January 1972, John left the band, to form “Iowerth Pritchard and the Neutrons” with Phil Ryan and Will Youatt.

The new four piece supported Hawkwind and Brinsley Schwarz at a charity gig at The Roundhouse on 13 February 1972, recorded and issued as Greasy Truckers Party, a limited edition double album which rapidly became a collectors' item.^[10] United Artists' A&R man, Andrew Lauder, persuaded them to follow this up with a live album.^[11] Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth was recorded on 8 April 1972. It was sold at a reduced price and only 8000 copies were pressed, which sold out in a week, making it No 1 in the “budget” album chart.^[12] Man recorded the first of their three Peel Sessions on 29 August 1972, (the others being 18 September 1973 & 31 October 1974)^[13]

The band then tried to write a new studio album, but lacked inspiration. Martin Ace left, to form "The Flying Aces" with his wife George, so Micky Jones and Terry Williams sacked Leonard, and John rejoined together with his new band members, Ryan (keyboards) and Youatt (bass).^[14] The new band recorded Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day which received good reviews. A party on 19 December 1972, with Dave Edmunds, Help Yourself, The Flying Aces and others, was issued as Christmas at the Patti, a double 10” album, which again topped the “budget” album chart, but on tour John fell out with Micky Jones, and left again.

The four-piece started to record Back Into The Future, but felt the need for a second guitarist, so Alan “Tweke” Lewis joined from Wild Turkey. On 24 June 1973 they recorded the live half of this double album at Man’s spiritual London home, The Roundhouse, backed by the Gwalia Male Voice Choir, who had previously sung with Man at The Oval,^[15] when they supported Frank Zappa. The album initially sold well, rising to No 23,^[16] and again, this was tipped to be album that would make the band, but pressing was restricted by a lack of plastic during the oil crisis. The follow-up tour had Deke Leonard’s Iceberg as support. During the tour, Micky Jones and Leonard discussed a new Man line-up, so when Ryan and Youatt left to form The Neutrons in December 1973, Leonard disbanded Iceberg and rejoined Man along with two former members of Help Yourself; Malcolm Morley (keyboards) and Ken Whaley (bass), who had also played in Iceberg.^[8]

The next album Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, noted for his work with Queen, and spent 4 weeks in the UK album chart, peaking at No 24.^[16] In March/April 1974 Man supported Hawkwind on The 1999 Party, a 5 week US tour. At the Los Angeles Whisky a Go Go on 12 March, Jim Horn joined on saxophone, which was issued as a bonus disc with the reissue of the Rhinos ... Album in 2007. The 21 April gig in Chicago, was recorded for radio, and issued on CD as The 1999 Party Tour in 1997, but omits Morley from the credits, although he is on the recording.

Morley left the day before recording started on the next album Slow Motion. Before the album was released, the band toured the UK (again with Badfinger) and USA in August–October 1974. They returned to the USA in March 1975, to promote the album by touring with REO Speedwagon and New Riders of the Purple Sage, but the tour collapsed on the first night. A new US tour, with REO Speedwagon and Blue Öyster Cult broke up two-thirds of the way through.^[8] Additional dates were arranged, but most were cancelled when Micky Jones developed pneumonia, so the final gigs were to be at the San Francisco Winterland. These were a great success, and promoter Bill Graham paid them a bonus, and rebooked them, but Whaley had had enough, and left.^[17]

Martin Ace flew out as a stand in, and the band met and rehearsed with John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service, who played with them at Winterland, and agreed to play a UK tour. On this tour, the Roundhouse gig was recorded, but it is rumoured that Micky Jones had to over-dub Cipollina’s guitar, as it was out of tune, before the Maximum Darkness album could be released.^[18] The album eventually reaching no 25 in the UK album chart.^[16] and Martin Ace continued as “stand in” bassist, until the end of a French tour, with Hawkwind, Gong and Magma, when he returned to the Flying Aces.

MCA[link]

The band changed label to MCA Records, Ryan rejoined on keyboards, but as no bass players they knew were available, the band had to audition for the first time in their history. Auditions went badly, until the final audition, of John McKenzie of Global Village Trucking Company, who was immediately offered the job.^[19] They then recorded The Welsh Connection which reached No 40 in the UK Album Chart^[16] and was toured in March/April 1976 in Britain and June/July in the US. During the US tour differences arose again, and on the subsequent European tour Ryan and McKenzie announced they would be leaving, and the rest of the band agreed to call it a day.^[19] The MCA record deal, however, was for 3 albums, but nobody was willing to contribute new material, and their attempts at covers were poor, so MCA eventually agreed to a live farewell album. All's Well That Ends Well was recorded at the Roundhouse on 11–13 December, although the final gig was in Slough on 16 December 1976. The band agreed that they “would never, ever, be one of those bands who reformed in a futile attempt to recapture past glories ...”.^[20]

Interval[link]

After the 1976 break up, band members undertook numerous projects, often with other former members.

Martin Ace[link]

Ace left Man before The Welsh Connection to reform The Flying Aces with his wife George (guitar), Mickey Gee (guitar), Phil Ryan (keyboards) and Stuart Halliday (drums). Ryan returned to Man and Halliday joined ‘’Alkatraz’’ being replaced first by Dave Charles, (ex Help Yourself) and then Mike Gibbins (ex Badfinger)

In the 1980s Ace & Micky Jones occasionally backed Welsh Elvis impersonator, Peter Singh in The Screaming Pakistanis and Ace also played with guitarist David Tipton with John 'Pugwash' Weathers (ex Gentle Giant) on drums.^[21]

Micky Jones[link]

Shortly after the break-up, Micky Jones recorded some demos with John McKenzie (bass), Malcolm Morley (guitar & keyboards) and Derek Ballard (drums). In 1978 he formed the Micky Jones Band, with Tweke Lewis (guitar), Steve Dixon (drums), Al McLaine (bass) and Steve Gurl (ex Wild Turkey & Babe Ruth) (keyboards).

Lewis & Gurl left, so Jones, Dixon & McLaine continued as three-piece Manipulator occasionally known as ‘’The Acidtones’’. In 1981 Jones disbanded Manipulator and formed The Flying Pigs with Mick Hawksworth (bass) and Phil Little (drums).^[22]

Deke Leonard[link]

Leonard reformed Iceberg, with Lincoln Carr (bass) and Terry Williams (when not playing with Rockpile). He still had a record contract and initially recorded with Martin Ace and Terry Williams, but needed two attempts to complete the album ‘'Before Your Very Eyes’', release of which was delayed for five years, when EMI took over United Artists.^[23] A later line up included 2 musicians Leonard had played with in Help Yourself, Richard Treece (guitar & bass) and B.J. Cole (pedal steel guitar), plus Reg Isadore (drums). Leonard took up writing, and briefly moved to the USA, where he worked on a Walter Egan album.

Leonard formed The Force with Sean Tyla (ex Ducks Deluxe) (guitar), Micky Groome (bass) and Paul Simmons (drums). Their album Force's First also included Terry Williams and Martin Ace. The Force disbanded after Tyla suffered severe stage fright in 1982, and Leonard reformed the band as another Iceberg^[23]

John McKenzie[link]

McKenzie initially joined Ryan and Pete Brown, before joining Steve Hillage appearing on some tracks of the ‘'Live Herald'’ album. He then became a session/backing musician, touring with Dr John, Albert Lee, Davy Spillane, The Christians, Seal, Alison Moyet and Everything but the Girl and recording with Bob Dylan, The Pretenders, Eurythmics, David Bowie, Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, Moya Brennan, Andrea Corr, Damien Rice, and Wham.

Phil Ryan[link]

Ryan rejoined his former Piblokto partner Pete Brown and briefly formed The Brown & Ryan Band with McKenzie (bass), Taff Williams (ex Neutrons) (guitar) and Steve Jones (drums). A second line up of Pete Brown, Phil Ryan, Taff Williams, Dill Katz (bass) and Jeff Seopardie (drums) known as both ‘’Pete Brown and the Interoceters’’ and ‘’Ray Gammond and the Interoceters’’ recorded some tracks issued on Pete Brown’s 1984 album ‘’Party in the Rain’’. He also played a few gigs with the Flying Aces.^[21]

Ryan then moved to Denmark, where his wife Bolette came from, and wrote music for films and TV

Terry Williams[link]

On the breakup of Man, Williams immediately joined Rockpile with Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Billy Bremner. They continued until 1982, issuing several successful albums & singles and touring the USA and Europe. Williams briefly worked with Meat Loaf, before receiving an offer from Dire Straits, who he was still working with, when Man reformed.^[21]

Reformed[link]

The band reformed in 1983, with a line-up of Micky Jones and Deke Leonard on guitars, Martin Ace on bass and John “Pugwash” Weathers (formerly of Gentle Giant) on drums. This line up was to stay constant until 1996, except from a short spell, when Weathers was unwell, and Rick Martinez temporarily took over

After rehearsals, their first gig was on All Fools Day at the Marquee Club in London, and in June they recorded Friday 13th (Picasso PIK 001) at The Marquee, but this comprised old numbers, not new material. Not having a recording contract to promote them, albums were issued on several labels, e.g. Friday 13th was also issued as Live at the Marquee (Great Expectations PIPCD 055) and Talk about a Morning (Dressed to Kill DRESS 600). Later that year they played the Reading Festival which was recorded for Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show and released as Live At Reading '83 in 1993.^[24]

In 1983, they also recorded an album of new material in Germany, but fell out with the producer, who was also the album’s promoter, so the album was never issued.^[25] The first studio album to be issued, The Twang Dynasty was issued in 1992 and included the track "Fast and Dangerous" which was used on trailers for Paul Whitehouse’s Fast Show, although the band were not paid for this.^[25]

Their performance at 1994’s Glastonbury Festival was issued as Live 1994 - Official Bootleg (and reissued as Live Official Bootleg), and in 1995 they recorded Call Down The Moon issued on the Hypertension label, and produced by the band and Ron Sanchez – a US musician and DJ, who had long championed their cause.

Weathers left in 1996, allegedly because Gentle Giant were about to reform,^[26] and was replaced by returning drummer Terry Williams, who in the interim, had served in bands such as Dire Straits. Williams recorded some tracks, later released on the Undrugged album, and then Leonard suffered a minor stroke, so the band played a few gigs as a 3 piece. When Leonard returned in 1997, Williams left, to be replaced by drummer Bob Richards formerly of The Wild Family and The Adrian Smith Band.

Former keyboardist Phil Ryan returned in 1998 taking the band back to the classic 5-piece line-up, which recorded a live double album at The Star Club, Oberhausen, West Germany, in March that year. Ryan played a major role in producing 2000's Endangered Species, but then had to withdraw from the band for personal reasons. Ryan was replaced by Gareth Llewellyn Thorrington, who missed the recording of Down Town Live at the Down Town Blues Club, Hamburg, in May 2001, as his flight was cancelled due a bomb-scare, but appeared on part of the Undrugged album (an “unplugged” album with a twist in the title), which had been started in 1996, and was finally issued in 2002. Undrugged has some classic covers, including Brian Wilson's Sail on Sailor and Ray Charles's Georgia On My Mind both lead vocals being by Micky Jones.

In 2002 Micky Jones was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to take time off for treatment. Micky's place was temporarily taken by his son George Jones, but when Micky had recovered enough to rejoin, in 2004, Leonard decided to leave, again, so George became a permanent member of the band. In 2005, Micky Jones' health deteriorated due to the re-occurrence of his brain tumour^[22] and he was replaced by Martin Ace's son Josh Ace.

In 2006, the album Diamonds and Coal was released, after which Thorrington was sacked, and the band continued as a 4-piece. The 40th anniversary tour in 2008, saw the return of Ryan on keyboards, giving a multi-generational line up, with two early members (Martin Ace and Phil Ryan), two sons of early members (George Jones and Josh Ace) and Bob Richards, who had been in the band since 1997. This line up also recorded a studio album, but before this was mixed, the band split.^[27] Josh Ace, Martin Ace and Phil Ryan recruited James Beck (guitar, vocals) and Rene Robrahn (drums, vocals) to the new line up and wiped parts of the album to replace George Jones. Bob Richards parts were kept on as they were unable to record over them, due to the lack of a click track. This latest album Kingdom of Noise was finally released in June 2009.^[28]

After leaving Man, Micky Jones continued to perform for a while, but was then diagnosed with another tumour, he spent the next year and a half in and out of hospital, his health meant he remained at a care home in Swansea for the next 3 years until he died peacefully, at the age of 63, on 10 March 2010.^[29][30][31] Fans paid tribute to Micky Jones online,^[32] calling Man the greatest Welsh band of all time.

Clive John, AKA Clint Space, another of the founding members, died after a long fight against emphysema on 24 August 2011.^[33]

Discography[link]

For a full discography see "The Manband Archive". In August 2011 this listed 412 releases, on 71 labels, in 24 countries.^[34]

Band member timeline[link]

 id:guitar      value:yellow       legend:Guitar
 id:bass        value:yellowgreen    legend:Bass
 id:drums       value:powderblue2  legend:Drums
 id:keys       value:orange      legend:Keyboards
 id:lines       value:black        legend:Albums

 bar:Micky      text:"Micky Jones"
 bar:Deke    text:"Deke Leonard"
 bar:Ray   text:"Ray Williams"
 bar:Jeff   text:"Jeff Jones"
 bar:Clive    text:"Clive John"
 bar:Martin   text:"Martin Ace"
 bar:Terry      text:"Terry Williams"
 bar:Will     text:"Will Youatt"
 bar:Phil  text:"Phil Ryan"
 bar:Tweke     text:"Tweke Lewis"
 bar:Ken    text:"Ken Whaley"
 bar:Malc    text:"Malcolm Morley
 bar:Cippo     text:"John Cippolina"
 bar:John     text:"John McKenzie"
 bar:Pugwash     text:"John Weathers"
 bar:Rick     text:"Rick Martinez"
 bar:Bob     text:"Bob Richards"
 bar:Gareth     text:"Gareth Thorrington"
 bar:George     text:"George Jones"
 bar:Josh     text:"Josh Ace"
 bar:James     text:"James Beck"
 bar:Rene     text:"Rene Robrahn"

 width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Micky     from:01/11/1968 till: 16/12/1976 color:guitar
 bar:Deke    from:01/11/1968 till: 15/08/1969 color:guitar
 bar:Deke    from:16/03/1970 till: 15/04/1972 color:guitar
 bar:Deke    from:01/01/1974 till: 16/12/1976 color:guitar
 bar:Ray   from:01/11/1968 till:15/10/1970 color:bass
 bar:Jeff   from:01/11/1968 till:15/10/1970 color:drums
 bar:Clive    from:01/11/1968 till:15/01/1972 color:keys
 bar:Clive    from:16/04/1972 till:15/04/1973 color:guitar
 bar:Martin   from:16/08/1969 till:15/10/1970 color:guitar
 bar:Martin   from:16/10/1970 till:15/04/1972 color:bass
 bar:Martin   from:16/03/1975 till:31/08/1975 color:bass
 bar:Terry      from:16/10/1970 till: 16/12/1976 color:drums
 bar:Will     from:16/04/1972 till:31/12/1973 color:bass
 bar:Phil   from:16/04/1972 till:31/12/1973 color:keys
 bar:Phil     from:01/10/1975 till: 16/12/1976 color:keys
 bar:Tweke    from:16/06/1973 till:31/12/1973 color:guitar
 bar:Ken    from:01/01/1974 till:15/03/1975      color:bass
 bar:Malc    from:01/01/1974 till:15/07/1974 color:keys
 bar:Cippo    from:01/05/1975 till: 31/07/1975     color:guitar
 bar:John     from:01/10/1975 till:16/12/1976 color:bass
 bar:Micky     from:01/04/1983 till: 30/06/2002 color:guitar
 bar:Deke    from:01/04/1983 till: 30/06/1996 color:guitar
 bar:Martin    from:01/04/1983 till: end   color:bass
 bar:Pugwash    from:01/04/1983 till: 31/12/1986 color:drums
 bar:Terry    from:01/03/1987 till: 15/02/1988 color:drums
 bar:Pugwash    from:06/02/1988 till: 30/11/1989 color:drums
 bar:Terry    from:01/01/1990 till: 31/01/1990 color:drums
 bar:Rick    from:01/02/1990 till: 31/10/1990 color:drums
 bar:Pugwash    from:01/11/1990 till: 31/12/1995 color:drums
 bar:Terry    from:01/01/1996 till: 31/01/1997 color:drums
 bar:Deke    from:01/02/1997 till: 30/06/2004 color:guitar
 bar:Bob    from:01/02/1997 till: 31/12/2008 color:drums
 bar:Phil    from:01/01/1998 till: 30/06/2000 color:keys
 bar:Gareth    from:01/07/2000 till: 01/11/2006 color:keys
 bar:George    from:01/07/2002 till: 31/12/2008 color:guitar
 bar:Micky     from:01/07/2004 till: 30/06/2005 color:guitar
 bar:Josh     from:01/07/2005 till: end     color:guitar
 bar:Phil    from:01/07/2008 till: end     color:keys
 bar:James    from:01/01/2009 till: end     color:guitar
 bar:Rene    from:01/01/2009 till: end     color:drums

 at:01/01/1969 color:black layer:back
 at:01/09/1969 color:black layer:back
 at:01/03/1971 color:black layer:back
 at:01/11/1971 color:black layer:back
 at:28/04/1972 color:black layer:back
 at:01/09/1972 color:black layer:back
 at:01/10/1972 color:black layer:back
 at:01/04/1973 color:black layer:back
 at:01/09/1973 color:black layer:back
 at:01/05/1974 color:black layer:back
 at:01/10/1974 color:black layer:back
 at:01/09/1975 color:black layer:back
 at:01/03/1976 color:black layer:back
 at:01/03/1977 color:black layer:back
 at:01/01/1984 color:black layer:back
 at:14/11/1992 color:black layer:back
 at:01/03/1995 color:black layer:back
 at:01/07/1998 color:black layer:back
 at:12/07/2000 color:black layer:back
 at:01/04/2002 color:black layer:back
 at:23/11/2006 color:black layer:back
 at:09/06/2009 color:black layer:back

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Leonard D. (1996 & Rev. 2001) Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics. Northdown Publishing ISBN 1-900711-00-1 & ISBN 1-900711-09-1
• Leonard D. (2000) Maybe I Should’ve Stayed in Bed? Northdown Publishing ISBN 1-900711-09-5

External links[link]

• Comprehensive fan site
• Original fan site
• Micky Jones Official site
• Deke Leonard Official site
• The Harvard Man Home Page
• Tribute Album download page
• Man at Discogs.com

Deborah Lynn "Debbie" Friedman (February 23, 1951 – January 9, 2011)^[1][2][3][4] was an American singer-songwriter concerning Jewish religious content. She was born in Utica, New York, but moved with her family to Minnesota at age 5. She is best known for her setting of "Mi Shebeirach",^[4] the prayer for healing, which is used by hundreds of congregations across America.^[2] Her songs were used by some Orthodox Jewish congregations, as well as non-Orthodox Jewish congregations.^[5] Ms. Friedman was a feminist, and Orthodox Jewish feminist Blu Greenberg noted that while Ms. Friedman’s music impacted most on Reform and Conservative liturgy, "she had a large impact [in] Modern Orthodox shuls, women’s tefillah [prayer], the Orthodox feminist circles.... She was a religious bard and angel for the entire community."^[5][6]

Biography[link]

Debbie was the daughter of Freda and Gabriel Friedman.

She wrote many of her early songs as a song leader at the overnight camp Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in the early 1970s. Between 1971 and 2010 she recorded 22 albums.^[7] Her work was inspired by such diverse sources as Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and a number of other folk music artists. Friedman employed both English and Hebrew lyrics and wrote for all ages. Some of her songs include "The Aleph Bet Song", "Miriam's Song", and the songs "Not By Might" and "I am a Latke". She also performed in synagogues and concert halls.^[7]

Friedman had suffered since the 1990s from a neurological condition,^[4] with effects apparently similar to multiple sclerosis.^[8] The story of her music, as well as the challenges she faced in living with illness, were featured in a 2004 documentary film about Friedman called A Journey of Spirit, produced by Ann Coppel, which followed her from 1997 to 2002.^[9][10]

In 2007, Friedman accepted an appointment to the faculty of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's School of Sacred Music in New York (now called the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music) where she instructed both rabbinic and cantorial students.^[11]

In 2010, she was named to the Forward 50 after the release of her 22nd album As You Go On Your Way: Shacharit – The Morning Prayers.^[7]

She was a lesbian.^[12]

Death and legacy[link]

She was admitted to an Orange County Hospital in January 2011, where she died January 9, 2011, from pneumonia.^[13]

Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, announced on January 27, 2011, that the School of Sacred Music would be renamed the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. On December 7, 2011, it was officially renamed as such.^[14][15]

Discography[link]

• Songs of the Spirit- The Debbie Friedman Anthology
• Light These Lights
• Debbie Friedman Live at the Del
• The Water in the Well
• The Alef Bet
• Debbie Friedman at Carnegie Hall
• The World of Your Dreams
• And You Shall Be a Blessing
• Ani Ma-Amin
• Not by Might Not by Power
• Sing Unto God
• One People
• As You Go On Your Way: Shacharit - The Morning Prayers
• It's You
• Shalom Aleichem

Affiliations[link]

• Friedman was a 1969 alumna of Highland Park High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1999.^[16] She was also an honorary member of the American Conference of Cantors.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Debbie Friedman website
• Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution from the Jewish Women's Archive
• Judaism Wikia's article on Debbie Friedman
• A Journey of Spirit
• Debbie Friedman Tributes Page (URJ)

Boys Noize
Boys Noize
Background information
Birth name	Alexander Ridha
Origin	Hamburg, Germany
Genres	Electro House Techno
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Boysnoize Records
Website	www.boysnoize.com

Boys Noize is the stage name of Alexander Ridha, a German electronic music producer and DJ.^[1] It is similar to the name of Ridha's label, Boysnoize Records, which he established in 2005.^[1] Ridha has remixed a number of other artists work, including Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode.^[2]

Biography[link]

Ridha (born in 1982, Hamburg) started producing and DJing at early age, period in which he supported Felix Da Housecat and DJ Hell. Today, Ridha himself is known as one of the most valuable electronic artists, awarded with the Independent Music Award in 2010 as well as 3 years in a row Best Electronic Artist on Beatport. His music is known to merge various styles and having a unique and innovative sound, with influences of hip-hop and disco roots as well as heavy noise and electro sounds. His DJ sets are equally praised and have gained worldwide recognition for the mixing and visuals.

Ridha released his early work on labels such as International Deejay Gigolos Records, Kitsuné Music and Turbo Recordings. In order to retain full artistic freedom however, he established his imprint Boysnoize Records in 2005. Both of his LPs "OI OI OI" and its successor "POWER" were recorded under this label, as well as the singles "Don't Believe The Hype", "&Down" and "Jeffer" as well as "Transmition"

He remixed David Lynch, N.E.R.D, Depeche Mode, Snoop Dogg and The Chemical Brothers amongst many other well-known artists and became a producer of note, having worked with Kelis, UK rapper Kano,The Black Eyed Peas, and the South Korean band Big Bang. Chilly Gonzales' "Ivory Tower" is his first fully produced and co-written album, released in August 2010. He has further collaborated with his friend and fellow Erol Alkan: The first record "Death Suite" / "Waves" was released on Ridhas imprint BNR, followed by "Lemonade" / "Avalanche", which came out on Erol's label Phantasy Sound. An "Avalanche" re-release, a new version featuring Brit-God Jarvis Cocker, is due for early 2011. Ridha is currently working on his forthcoming Spank Rock album, and is also collaborating with the New York band Scissor Sisters. His recent release of original Boys Noize tracks in September 2010 celebrated the 50th release on Boysnoize Records as well as the launch of the first sublabel BNR TRAX, which presented its first release in October 2010.^[3]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Compilations[link]

EP's[link]

Collaborations[link]

^[4]

Collaboration Singles[link]

Mix albums[link]

• Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck (Mixed by Boys Noize) (2008)
• I ♥ Techno 2008 (Mixed by Boys Noize) (2008)
• Radio Soulwax Mix (2009)
• Mixmag presents Electro Techno Thunder! (2009)
• South West Four Clapham Festival Preview (2010)

Remixes[link]

• Modeselektor – "Monkey Flip (feat. Nazizi & Abbas)" (Monkeytown Records 2011)
• Daft Punk – "End of Line" (Walt Disney Records 2011)
• David Lynch – "Good Day Today" (Sunday Best 2011)
• N.E.R.D. – "Hot-n-Fun" (Interscope 2010)
• The Chemical Brothers – "Swoon" (EMI 2010)
• Charlotte Gainsbourg – "Trick Pony" (Because, 2010)
• Scissor Sisters – "Invisible Light" (Polydor 2010)
• Editors – "You Don't Know Love" (Pias 2010)
• Sebastian Tellier – "L'amour Et La Violence" (Record Makers 2009)
• CJ Roland – "Horsepower" (R&S Records 2009)
• The Black Eyed Peas – "Let The Beat Rock" (Interscope 2009)
• Röyksopp – "Happy Up Here" (Wall Of Sound 2009)
• Depeche Mode – "Wrong" (D.I.M. vs. Boys Noize Remix) (EMI/Mute Rec. 2009)
• Cut Copy – "Lights & Music" (Modular Records 2008)
• Apparat – "Arcadia" (Shitkatapult 2008)
• Gonzalez – "Working Together" (Mercury Rec. 2008)
• Farley Jackmaster Funk – "Love Can't Turn Around" (Backyard Rec. 2008)
• Maurice – "This Is Acid" (TRAX Records 2008)
• Late Of The Pier – "Focker" (EMI/Parlaphone 2008)
• Feist – "My Moon My Man" (Universal Music 2007)
• Marilyn Manson – "Putting Holes in Happiness" (Interscope 2007)
• Justice – "Phantom Pt. 2" (Ed Banger FR 2007)
• Snoop Dogg – "Sexual Eruption" (Interscope/Geffen US 2007)
• Bloc Party – "Banquet" (Kitsuné 2006/7)
• Para One – "Du-Dundun" (Institubes 2006)
• Tiga – "Move My Body" (Pias 2006)
• Depeche Mode – "Personal Jesus" (Mute Rec. GB 2006)
• Kaiser Chiefs – "Every Day I Love You Less and Less" (Polydor, 2004)
• Monster Magnet – "Space Lord" (White Label 2004)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Boys Noize

• Official website
• Boys Noize on Myspace
• Boys Noize on Twitter

Taylor Swift
Swift performing during the Australian leg of her Speak Now Tour in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Taylor Alison Swift
Born	(1989-12-13) December 13, 1989 (age 22) Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Country-pop, pop, country, alternative rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, actress
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, piano
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Big Machine
Website	TaylorSwift.com

Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Swift moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of fourteen to pursue a career in country music. She signed to the independent label Big Machine Records and became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house. The release of Swift's self-titled debut album in 2006 established her as a country music star. "Our Song", her third single, made her the youngest sole writer and singer of a number one song on the country chart. She received a Best New Artist nomination at the 50th Grammy Awards.

Swift's second album, Fearless, was released in late 2008. Buoyed by the chart success of the singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", Fearless attracted a crossover audience and became the top-selling album of 2009. The record won four Grammy Awards, with Swift becoming the youngest ever Album of the Year winner. Fearless also received Album of the Year plaudits at the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards, making it the most awarded album in country music history. In 2010, Swift released her third album, Speak Now, which sold over one million copies in its first week. She then embarked on the 111-date Speak Now World Tour, which was attended by over 1.6 million fans and has become one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. The album's third single, "Mean", won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. Swift is currently recording her fourth studio album, due for release in the fall of 2012.

Swift's work has earned her numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards, ten AMAs, seven CMAs, six ACMs and 13 BMI Awards. She has sold over 22 million albums and 50 million song downloads worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Swift has endorsement deals with Target, CoverGirl, Sony, Elizabeth Arden, Walmart and American Greetings. As a philanthropist, Swift has placed particular emphasis on arts education, children's literacy and natural disaster relief funds. In addition to her music career, Swift has appeared as an actress in the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2009), the romantic comedy Valentine's Day (2010) and the animated film The Lorax (2012).

Early life[link]

Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania.^[1] She is the daughter of Scott Swift, a Merrill Lynch financial adviser,^[2][3] and Andrea (née Gardner), a homemaker who previously worked as a mutual fund marketing executive.^[1][4] Swift was named after singer James Taylor; her mother believed a gender-neutral name would help her forge a successful business career.^[5][6] She has a younger brother, Austin, who attends Vanderbilt University.^[7] She spent the early years of her life on an eleven-acre Christmas tree farm in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and was educated at the fee-paying Wyndcroft School.^[8] When Swift was nine years old, the family moved to Wyomissing, Pennsylvania,^[9][10] where she attended Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School.^[11] Swift spent her summers at her parent's vacation home in Stone Harbor, New Jersey^[12] and has described it as the place "where most of my childhood memories were formed".^[10]

Swift's first hobby was English horse riding. Her mother Andrea put her in a saddle when Swift was nine months old and she later competed in horse shows.^[13][14] Her family owned several Quarter horses and a Shetland pony.^[14] At the age of nine, Swift turned her attention to musical theatre and performed in Berks Youth Theatre Academy productions of Grease, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and The Sound of Music.^[15][8] She travelled regularly to Broadway, New York for vocal and acting lessons. However, "after a few years of auditioning in New York and not getting anything”, Swift became interested in country music.^[16] She was inspired by LeAnn Rimes's Blue^[17] and her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, an opera singer.^[8] When she was in fourth grade, Swift won a national poetry contest with a three-page poem, "Monster in My Closet".^[18] At the age of eleven, after many attempts,^[19] Swift won a local talent competition by singing a rendition of LeAnn Rimes’s “Big Deal”, and was given the opportunity to appear as the opening act for Charlie Daniels at a Strausstown amphitheater.^[15] She spent her weekends performing at local festivals, fairs, coffeehouses, karaoke contests, garden clubs and Boy Scout meetings.^[20][4] This interest in country music isolated Swift from her middle school peers.^[21][22]

After watching a Behind the Music episode about Faith Hill,^[23] Swift recorded a demo of karaoke covers, and travelled with her mother to Nashville, Tennessee for spring break to leave a copy of the demo with record labels along Music Row. She received label rejections and realized that "everyone in that town wanted to do what I wanted to do. So, I kept thinking to myself, I need to figure out a way to be different".^[23] Swift began performing the "The Star Spangled Banner" at many sporting events, hoping she would be offered a recording contract. On one occasion, an eleven-year-old Swift high-fived Jay-Z after singing the national anthem at a 76ers game in Philadelphia.^[24] At the age of twelve, Swift was shown by a computer repairman how to play three chords on a guitar, inspiring her to write her first song, "Lucky You".^[25][26] She then recorded a second demo of original songs.^[15] In 2003, Swift and her parents began working with music manager Dan Dymtrow, after he spotted her singing at the US Open.^[27] Swift's second demo then caught the attention of RCA Records, who offered the eight-grader an artist development deal. In 2004, Swift modelled for Abercrombie and Fitch as part of their "Rising Stars" campaign and had an original song included in a Maybelline Cosmetics compilation CD.^[28]

When Swift was fourteen, her father transferred to the Nashville office of Merrill Lynch and the family relocated to a lake-shore house in Hendersonville, Tennessee.^[1] Swift has said her parents "presented it as a move to a nice community" rather than as her chance to become a star.^[29] Her mother has said, "We've always told her that this is not about putting food on our table or making our dreams come true."^[30] In Tennessee, Swift attended Hendersonville High School for her freshman and sophomore years.^[31] Later, to accommodate her touring schedule, Swift transferred to the Aaron Academy, a private Christian school which offered homeschooling services, and earned her high school diploma in 2008.^[32]

Music career[link]

[edit] 2004–08: Nashville songwriting sessions and Taylor Swift release

Swift moved to Nashville at the age of fourteen, having secured an artist development deal with RCA Records. Her musical influences included the Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill,^[29] Tom Petty,^[33] Sheryl Crow,^[34] Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar,^[35] Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks,^[36] Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.^[37] Swift had writing sessions with experienced songwriters such as Troy Verges, Brett Beavers, Brett James, Mac McAnally and the Warren Brothers,^[38][39] but eventually formed a lasting working relationship with Liz Rose.^[40] Swift saw Rose performing at an RCA songwriter event and suggested that they write together.^[41] They began meeting for two-hour writing sessions every Tuesday afternoon after school.^[42] Rose has said that the sessions were "some of the easiest I've ever done. Basically, I was just her editor. She'd write about what happened in school that day. She had such a clear vision of what she was trying to say. And she'd come in with the most incredible hooks".^[43][42] Swift also began recording demos with producer Nathan Chapman.^[41] After performing at a BMI Songwriter's Circle showcase at The Bitter End, New York,^[39] Swift became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Tree publishing house.^[44]

Swift performing at the Maverick Saloon & Grill in Santa Maria, California in 2006

Swift left RCA Records when she was fifteeen; the company wanted her to record the work of other songwriters and wait until she was eighteen to release an album, but she felt ready to launch her career with her own material.^[45][19] She also parted ways with manager Dan Dymtrow, who later took legal action against Swift and her parents.^[28] At an industry showcase at Nashville's The Bluebird Café in 2005, Swift caught the attention of Scott Borchetta, a Dreamworks Records executive who was preparing to form his own independent record label, Big Machine Records.^[40] Swift was one of the new label's first signings.^[40] As an introduction to the country music business, Borchetta arranged for Swift to intern at the CMA Music Festival; she acted as the artist escort for Darryl Worley.^[46][47]

Swift began working on her self-titled debut album shortly after signing her record deal. After experimenting with veteran Nashville producers, Swift persuaded Big Machine to hire her demo producer Nathan Chapman.^[19] It was his first time to record a studio album but Swift felt they had the right "chemistry".^[19] In the end, Chapman produced all but one of the tracks on Taylor Swift.^[19] She has described the album as the "diary" of her early teens^[48] and most songs were written during her freshman year of high school.^[19] As a result, the songs describe coming of age experiences such as insecurity, young love, and teenage angst.^[19] She has said that, although "it sounds like I've had 500 boyfriends", a lot of the songs are observational.^[19] Swift wrote three of the album's songs alone, including two singles, and co-wrote the remaining eight with writers such as Liz Rose, Robert Ellis Orrall and Angelo Petraglia.^[49] Musically, the album has been described as "a mix of trad-country instruments and spry rock guitars".^[50]

Taylor Swift was released in October 2006 and received generally positive reviews from music critics.^[51] PopMatters hoped Swift would be "able to find an accomodation between the country tradition and her very obvious pop sensibilities, because Taylor Swift suggests she has much to offer".^[52] The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones described Swift as a "prodigy". She noted that "Our Song" "stop[ed] me in my tracks" and praised the lyrics: “He’s got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel, the other on my heart".^[53] Country Weekly felt Swift demonstrated "an honesty, intelligence and idealism with which listeners of any age will be able to connect" and noted that "the more thoughtful material suggests a talent poised to last well past high school".^[54] AllMusic stated that, while listening to the album, it was "never in doubt" that "Swift is a talent to be reckoned with".^[55] Rolling Stone described Swift as "bright-eyed but remarkably seasoned", and admired "Our Song"'s "insanely hooky sing-song melody that's as Britney as it is Patsy".^[50]

Swift performing at Yahoo HQ in Sunnyvale, California in 2007

Big Machine Records was still in its infancy upon the release of the lead single "Tim McGraw" in June 2006, and Swift and her mother helped "stuff the CD singles into envelopes to send to radio".^[30] She spent much of 2006 promoting Taylor Swift in a radio tour and later commented, "Radio tours for most artists last six weeks. Mine lasted six months."^[19] Swift painted canvases (inspired by Jackson Pollock) to gift to radio station managers who played her music.^[56] She took part in "GAC Short Cuts", a part-documentary, part-music-video series designed to introduce her to country music fans.^[57][58] She also made television appearances on Good Morning America,^[59] The Megan Mullally Show,^[59] America's Got Talent,^[60] and TRL.^[61] Swift, a self-described "kid of the internet",^[62] used MySpace to build a fanbase. She wrote her own blog posts, left comments on her fans' accounts and personally respond to the messages that were sent to her.^[63] This was, at the time, "revolutionary in country music".^[64][57] Borchetta has said that his decision to sign a sixteen year old singer-songwriter initially raised eyebrows among his record industry peers^[57] but Swift tapped into a previously unknown market: teenage girls who listen to country music.^[1][57]

Following "Tim McGraw", four further singles were released throughout 2007 and 2008: "Teardrops on My Guitar", "Our Song", "Picture to Burn" and "Should've Said No". All were highly successful on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with "Our Song" and "Should've Said No" both reaching number one. "Our Song" made Swift the youngest sole writer and singer of a number one country song.^[65] "Teardrops on My Guitar" became a minor pop hit; it reached number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100.^[66][67] The album sold 39,000 copies during its first week^[68] and, as of March 2011, has sold over 5.5 million copies worldwide.^[69] Swift also released a holiday album, Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, in October 2007 and an EP, Beautiful Eyes, in July 2008.^[70][71]

Swift toured extensively in support of Taylor Swift. In addition to festival and theater dates, Swift performed as an opening act for several country artists' concert tours. She opened for Rascal Flatts on several dates in late 2006.^[59][72] In 2007, she served as the opening act on twenty dates for George Strait's 2007 United States tour,^[73] several dates on Kenny Chesney's tour^[74] and selected dates on Brad Paisley's Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour.^[75][76] Also in 2007, Swift appeared as the opening act on several dates for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's joint Soul2Soul II Tour.^[77] Swift again opened for Flatts for their Still Feels Good Tour in 2008.^[78] In addition to performing her own material, Swift played covers of songs by Beyoncé and Rihanna.^[79] She conducted meet-and-greet sessions with fans before and after her concerts; these lasted for up to four hours.^[80][81]

In 2007, Swift and Alan Jackson were jointly named the Nashville Songwriters Association's "Songwriter/Artists of the Year". Swift was the youngest person ever to be honored with the title.^[82] She also won the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award for Best New Artist.^[83] In 2008, she won Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards^[84] and Favorite Country Female Artist at the American Music Awards.^[85] She won seven BMI Awards for songs featured on Taylor Swift.^[86] Swift was also nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award in the category of Best New Artist, but lost to Amy Winehouse.^[87]

[edit] 2008–10: Fearless release, MTV VMA incident and media backlash

Swift's second studio album, Fearless, was released in November 2008.^[88] She wrote seven of the album's songs alone, including two singles, and co-wrote the remaining six with songwriters Liz Rose, John Rich, Colbie Caillat and Hillary Lindsey.^[49] While Swift wrote many of the songs on tour, she made a conscious effort not to include "road songs": "As a 16-year-old girl, I could never relate to those songs about playing a different city every night. I want to write about feelings and love and the lack of love".^[89] She has said that the album title "means you’re afraid of a lot of things, but you jump anyway".^[90] She co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman.^[49] Musically, the record is characterized by "loud, lean guitars and rousing choruses", with the occasional "bit of fiddle and banjo tucked into the mix".^[91]