Marquis Drive of Cannock sign to Alan McGee's new label
Cannock rockers Marquis Drive are celebrating after being signed up by the record label of music industry executive Alan McGee - the man who first signed Oasis.
The seven-piece outfit have signed a deal with McGee's Creation23 for future releases.
Founded last summer, it is a the latest 7-inch label founded by McGee who was behind the legendary CreatioN Records and reformed Creation Management - counting the likes of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, and The Libertines as current and former clients.
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"We are incredibly exited by the opportunity to work with the man who discovered Oasis and managed The Libertines, and are looking forward to a single release just before Christmas," said keyboardist Matt Drury.
"As if that weren't good enough, our first single with the label is set to coincide with the film about Alan's life - Creation Stories - produced by Danny Boyle and written by Irving Welsh, so there's a real buzz around the indie scene at the minute."
It continues a busy period for the band, who released a double A side single as recently as June to continue growing the Marquis Drive brand.
The Brit pop-infused Shine On and Unite were released together and a spokeswoman for the band said at the time: "They want to help you to escape the 9-to-5 and remind you that there will always be a Friday just around the corner. They write about frustration, dreams and hard work. The songs are upbeat to the point of euphoria, the anthemic choruses are set alongside the verses of everyday life."
Unite has a political theme, and guitarist and vocalist Eddie Thomas said: "Written out of the country being pulled apart, it looks at separation of the classes and lack of empathy."
Shine On looks at more personal struggles, with Thomas adding: "I've struggled with anxiety and depression, and this was written after I came round to understand what was up with me."
To accompany Shine On, they also put together a pub-based video oozing the atmospherics of the back street boozer, that was engineered and produced by George Shilling at Bank Cottage Recording Studio in Shipston-on-Stour.
Formed under a wandering star somewhere next to the Wetherspoon's in their hometown, the indie lads are "born of a mutual love of football, clothes and great music," the spokeswoman added.
Marquis Drive have built a strong reputation up and down the country supporting major acts such as The Farm, Reverend and the Makers, Stourbridge aces The Wonder Stuff, Shed Seven and many more.
As well as Thomas and Drury, Marquis Drive are Mark Hillier on vocals and acoustic guitar, Chris Eardley providing rhythm guitar and vocals, drummer and vocalist Con Saha, bassist Mal Flynn, and Leon Harrison providing vocals and percussion.
Marquis Drive can be found on Twitter @MarquisDrive1 and Facebook @marquisdriveuk
