BIOGRAPHY

The Amphetameanies played their first gig together in 1997, an unlikely alliance of Glaswegian scooter boys, punker girls and indie kids, united by a common love of 2Tone and a desire to make people dance.

On that first night, a pub pipedream became runaway reality, and by 1999, the ‘Meanies were opening the main stage of T in the Park with a set of their own songs, while no less than Joe Strummer stood in the wings cheering them on.

Their chaotically tuneful live shows have since been seen far and wide, as they’ve toured across the UK and all over Europe, played more festivals than they can remember, and supported everyone from The Skatalites to Rancid, Toots and the Maytals to Franz Ferdinand. No-one’s backstage booze has been safe...

Alongside all that live knees-up, The ‘Meanies have worked hard to record and release their own songs, throwing everything they’ve got at adding to the world’s ska playlist.

To date, there’s been eight singles on 7" vinyl and two long-players on CD and vinyl. Their first, ‘Right Line in Nylons’, was a fast and furious collision of ska beats, wonky melodies and colourful language, earning plays on Radio One and rave reviews in likes of Kerrang and Scootering Magazine.

Their second LP, ‘Now! That’s What I Call...The Amphetameanies’, saw the songwriting go up a notch, as their punky scratch was tempered with pop sensibility and playful lyricism, although still peppered with gratuitous swearing.

BBC DJs Mark Lamarr, Phil Jupitus and Vic Galloway seized on the album’s single releases, and rash reviewers dared to draw comparisons with Blondie, Dexys... and Madness.
Autumn 2014, The ‘Meanies’ album number three – ‘Last Chance Bordello’ – is in the can for December release, and there are gigs booked far and wide.

Most importantly, after 18 years, a thousand sweaty nights and a million drinks, the various boys and girls who have been, are, and will forever be The Amphetameanies, are all still friends.

UPCOMING GIGS

*Saturday November 29th*
Glasgow, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
headline show
tickets