ROOKIES OF THE YEAR

Rookies of the Year are a 5 piece emo/punk band from the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border between Lutterworth and Market Harborough. Their main influences are Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy and Billy Talent.

Rookies of the Year were formed in August 2004. Joe and Ryan started off jamming late 2003 going through many bassists and drummers before asking 1 guy Joe knew through another mate of a mate etc. Anyway Joe and Ryan got together with Ashley at Big Noise Rehearsal studios in Northampton. After spending a good 20 minutes looking for the place, all 3 met up and got jamming by playing 3 covers. After 1 hour they had clicked and you could say that was how they were born. After then Ryan started focusing on his original punk band Emphasis which he has been in for 3 yrs. They played a successful gig in June at Roadmender in Northampton. To their luck a scout from republic records spotted them and had a chat with Ryan. The idea was that they could get a record deal but only if they had a demo. Anyway as the rest of the summer went on Ryan found it very awkward to get his other band mates together for personal reasons. Anyway at this time Ryan and Joe decided to arrange practices with Ash at Big Noise every week for the whole summer holidays. At the first practice after writing down a list of names Rookies Of The Year was decided upon. Not just for the pure utter cheese but for people to look and say "What a sad ass name, but wait?! I like what they're playing!" As everyone knows nothing goes to plan. Out of 7 weeks 7 practising sessions, all of them together managed to make 2, Ryan Joe making 4 with another bassist. Anyway as with not yet having a full time bassist, let alone having an experienced proper singer. Joe wasn't cut out for lead vocals. So by the end of August Rookies of The Year was looking very doubtful. As it happened practices at Big Noise were cancelled due to financial reasons (arseholes who won't turn up!!) etc. As it happened Joe with his mighty social skills managed to nose his way to find yet another bassist and singer who was yet again, another mate of a mate. His name being Paddy. So anyway with a bassist/vocalist in the picture the only thing now was getting him to practice. Anyway after getting their first gig at a mate's party at Creaton village hall on October 1st, they all had their first practice together 4 days before. As you may have guessed no way could anyone pull off a set of 5 songs (3 covers, 2 of their own) in just 2 practices before playing a gig. But no, they did. After another successful practice on Thursday night before the gig, Paddy had to take most of the credit for learning 3 completely new songs to him. Lyrics and bass. Thankfully he already knew Dammit but only had to learn bass for Buck Rogers, but also had to learn bass/vocals for First Time Failure and Use Your Brain. All of this was done in about 5/6 hours of practice time. Anyway they played the gig. Went OK for their first time. Could have been 10 times better but then again could have been 100 times worse. But to be honest First Time Failure said it all.

Anyway now it's April 2005 and the band have come along way since their 1st gig. They have played The Shed, The Attik a dozen or so times and have played FRENZY 13 in Kettering. They have produced one 4-track demo with Paddy as singer/bassist but since then they have acquired a new more experienced singer and have produced a new 5-track demo (this one) it will be titled Dreaming With Open Eyes. So now Rookies Of The Year are a 5 piece. There is Chris Lead Vocals, BaJa Rhythm guitar/backing vocals, Paddy Bass guitar/backing vocals, Ryan Lead Guitar/backing vocals and Ash on drums. They are hoping to gig many more places this summer and improve their growing fan base, a new website has been designed and is up and running whilst a new logo and CD Cover design is in the process of being made. The band already have 9 of their own songs and 2 covers. They are thinking of re-recording in August/September time and are going to make an album. They have supported Uncle Brian and many Local bands such as Chief Libido, Switch NX and 3 Gun Pete.