Happy birthday, Justin Sullivan

Posted on April 8 2016 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Rock, #Punk, #Post Punk, #Alternative Rock, #1956, #April

Justin Sullivan, guitarist and main songwriter of the band New Model Army

Happy birthday, Justin Sullivan...
Born Justin Edward Sullivan on April 8 1956 in Jordans, England, Justin Sullivan is a singer-songwriter and musician best known as the vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter of the band New Model Army.
In 1980, alongside bassist Stuart Morrow and drummer Phil Tompkins, he formed the band New Model Army. The band played its first concert in October 1980 in Bradford. The band played mostly covers of punk rock and Northern soul songs without gaining much recognition until the release of their first singles Bittersweet and Great Expectations in 1983.
The following year they released both an EP, The Price, and a studio album, Vengeance (lineup: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar), Stuart Morrow (bass, vocals), Rob Heaton (drums)). Vengeance reached Number 1 in the UK independent chart after New Model Army performed on music show The Tube.
Soon after the release of their single The Price the same year, the band was signed by label EMI.
Their first album on EMI, No Rest for the Wicked, was released in 1985 and reached number 22 in the UK albums chart. The band was joined by Moose Harris (then still called Jason Harris) after Stuart Morrow left during the No Rest tour. Yet, the band had to end their tour earlier than planned as they were refused work permits for the United States and were then not allowed to perform in the country.
It was only in December 1986, after the release of the album The Ghost of Cain, that New Model Army were finally allowed to tour in the U.S..
After the tour, the band was put on a short hiatus as Robert Heaton and Justin were recording the album Hex (released in 1987) with Joolz Denby.
In 1989, New Model Army released Thunder and Consolation, a more folk-rock oriented album. The album reached number 20 and is still their most successful album.
Their last album on a major label, The Love of Hopeless Causes, was released in 1993 (lineup: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Nelson (bass, backing vocals), Robert Heaton (drums, backing vocals)). After the release of the album, the band was put on hiatus for year.
After reuniting in 1994, New Model Army released a compilation of songs which had only been released on singles and EPs called B-Sides and Abandoned Tracks.
While starting to work on a new album, Robert Heaton and Justin realized they wanted to follow different musical paths. Released in 1998 on Attack Attack Records, the band's own independent label, Strange Brotherhood was the last studio album featuring Robert Heaton.
In 1998, Justin also started to play in Red Sky Coven with Rev Hammer and Joolz Denby. The band released the album Volumes 1 & 2 the same year.
Following the tour promoting the album Eight, released in 2000, New Model Army was once again put on hiatus because Justin wanted to work on a solo album.
Justin's debut solo album, Navigating By The Stars, was released in 2003. To the promote the album, Justin toured with his New Model Army bandmates Dean White and Micheal Dean.
In 2007, New Model Army released the album High (lineup: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar), Marshall Gill (guitars), Nelson (bass), Michael Dean (drums), Dean White (keyboards)). After the release of the album, the band embarked on a world tour.
From September to December 2010, New Model Army played special shows all around the world to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
In 2013, the band released its 12th studio album, Between Dog and Wolf. Reaching number 34, it was the first New Year Army album to be in the Top 40 of UK Albums Chart since 1993 The Love of Hopeless Causes.
One year later, they released Between Wine and Blood, an album which featured six new studio tracks as well as eleven live tracks.
In October 2014, Between Dog and Wolf: The New Model Army Story, a documentary about the band's career, was released.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Justin Sullivan!

Justin Sullivan (2013) - Bearded Theory

Justin Sullivan, New Model Army - credit: Matt Reid

[ french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Justin Sullivan ...
Né Justin Edward Sullivan le 8 avril 1956 à Jordans, Angleterre, Justin Sullivan est un chanteur, auteur-compositeur et musicien mieux connu en tant que chnateur, guitariste et principal compositeur du groupe New Model Army.
En 1980, aux côtés du bassiste Stuart Morrow et du batteur Phil Tompkins, il forme le groupe New Model Army. Le groupe joue son premier concert en octobre 1980 à Bradford. Le groupe joue principalement des reprises de chansons punk rock et northern soul sans se faire vraiment connaître jusqu'à la sortie de leurs premiers singles Bittersweet et Great Expectations en 1983.
L'année suivante, ils sortent un EP, The Price, et un album studio, Vengeance (lineup : Justin Sullivan (chant, guitare), Stuart Morrow (basse, chant), Rob Heaton (batterie)). Vengeance devient numéro 1 au UK independent chart après que New Model Army soient passés dans l'émission musicale The Tube.
Peu après la sortie de leur single The Price la même année, le groupe est signé par le label EMI.
Leur premier album chez EMI, No Rest for the Wicked, sort en 1985 et est numéro 22 au UK albums chart. Le groupe est rejoint par Moose Harris (alors toujours appelé Jason Harris) après que Stuart Morrow les ait quitté pendant la tournée No Rest tour. Cependant, la tournée doit se terminer plus tôt que prévu car les membres du groupe se font refuser leur permis de travailler aux Etats-Unis et ne peuvent donc pas faire de concert sur le territoire.
Ce n'est qu'en décembre 1986, après la sortie de l'album The Ghost of Cain, que New Model Army peuvent finalement faire une tournée aux Etats-Unis.
Après la tournée, le groupe est mis en pause pendant que Robert Heaton et Justin enregistrent l'album Hex (sorti en 1987) avec Joolz Denby.
En 1989, New Model Army sortent Thunder and Consolation, un album plus tourné vers le folk-rock. L'album devient numéro 20 et est leur album ayant rencontré le plus de succès jusqu'à présent.
Leur dernier album sur un label importan, The Love of Hopeless Causes, sort en 1993 (lineup : Justin Sullivan (chant, guitare, clavier), Nelson (basse, choeur), Robert Heaton (batterie, choeur)). Après la sortie de l'album, le groupe est mis en pause pour un an.
Après s'être réunis en 1994, New Model Army sortent une compilation de chansons qui n'avaient été sorties que sur des singles et des EPs appelée B-Sides and Abandoned Tracks.
Alors qu'ils traveillent sur un nouvel album, Robert Heaton et Justin se rendent compte qu'ils ne sont plus en accord musicalement. Sorti en 1998 sur Attack Attack Records, le label inépendant fondé par le groupe, Strange Brotherhood est le dernier album sur lequel joue Robert Heaton.
En 1998, Justin a aussi commencé à jouer dans Red Sky Coven avec Rev Hammer et Joolz Denby. Le groupe sort l'album Volumes 1 & 2 la même année.
Après la tournée promouvant l'album Eigh, sorti en 2000, New Model Army est à nouveau mis en pause car Justin veut enregistrer un album solo.
Le premier album solo de Justin, Navigating By The Stars, sort en 2003. Pour promouvoir l'albuù, Justin fait une tournée avec ses camarades de New Model Army Dean White et Michael Dean.
En 2007, New Model Army sort l'album High (lineup : Justin Sullivan (chant, guitare), Marshall Gill (guitares), Nelson (basse), Michael Dean (batterie), Dean White (claviers)). Après la sortie de l'album, le groupe fait une tournée mondiale.
De septembre à décembre 2010, New model Army font des concerts spéciaux toutautour du monde pour célèbrer leur trentième anniversaire.
En 2013, le groupe sort son douzième album studio, Between Dog and wolf. Atteignant la 34e place, c'est le premier album de New Model Army à être dans le Top 40 du UK Albums Chart depuis The Love of Hopeless Causes en 1993.
Un an après, ils sortent Between Wine and Blood, un album comprenant six nouvelles chansons enregistrées en studio et onze chansons enregistrées en concert.
En octobre 2014, Between Dog and Wolf: The New Model Army Story, un documentaire sur la carrière du groupe sort.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Justin Sullivan ! ]