Massive Wagons

Massive Wagons are a British rock band from Lancaster founded in 2009.[1][2][3]

Massive Wagons
OriginLancaster, England
Genres
Rock
Years active2009 (2009)–present
Labels
Casket Records, Off Yer Rocka, Earache Records
Associated acts
Status Quo
Websitewww.massivewagons.com
MembersBarry 'Baz' Mills
Adam Thistlethwaite
Stevie Holl
Adam 'Bowz' Bouskill
Alex 'Roy' Thistlethwaite

The band are currently signed to Nottingham-based independent record label Earache Records[4] (having inked their deal in October 2017) and in 2018 released their fourth studio album Full Nelson,[5][6] in doing so securing a Top 20 album in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 16.[7]

The band caused controversy in their home town of Lancaster by erecting a large mural of their new album cover on the side of a pub wall. Initially condemned by the local council due to not having the relevant planning permissions, public outcry led to the council dramatically reversing their decision and allowing the art to stay.[8][9]

Following the release of Full Nelson in the summer of 2018 the band went on to play at Download Festival[10] and also open for Status Quo at Kendal Rugby Club.[11]

They cite their influences as being artists such as Status Quo, UFO, Rainbow and Slade amongst others.[12]

History

Formed in 2009, the band remained nameless until their first gig was booked and they needed a name to perform under. Jokingly adopting the temporary moniker of 'Massive Wagons', the playful nickname of a local barmaid, the band eventually stuck with it and it remains to this day.[13]

The band's initial commercial release, entitled "Sniff The Riff", was self-released but by the time their debut LP Fire It Up came along in 2012 the band had signed to London-based independent label Casket Music.[14]

in 2013 the band entered a UK Battle of the Bands competition entitled 'Highway To Hell'. Having won the competition the band went on to sign a multi-album contract with Ibiza-based independent label 'Off Yer Rocka'.[15] Their second studio album, Fight The System, was released in 2014 on Off Yer Rocka and a live/rarities album, The Good The Bad And The Ugly, was released in late 2015.

Returning to the studio in April 2016, Massive Wagons recorded their third studio long player, Welcome To The World, which featured singles "Tokyo" and "Ratio". Welcome To The World saw the band's first chart success, entering the iTunes Top 100 charts in several territories. Later that year the band went on to support The Wildhearts on a national UK tour.

In 2017 the band released a charity single for the Teenage Cancer Trust entitled "Back To The Stack", notable as a tribute to Rick Parfitt of Status Quo.[16] Rick Parfitt Jnr, son of the late Rick Parfitt, has since publicly acknowledged his support of the track.[17] Late 2017 saw the band's first line-up change, with Stephen Holl replacing Carl Cochrane on rhythm guitar.

In June 2019, the band embarked on their first arena tour in the UK, as opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Last of the Street Survivors" farewell tour. The tour comprised four dates at major UK arenas: SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Manchester Arena, London's Wembley Arena, and Resorts World Arena Birmingham[18]

Massive Wagons ended their Road Dogs tour on 7 December at Gorilla in Manchester, with support from Bootyard Bandits, a country metal band from Gloucestershire. The band played a song called Hero from their fifth studio album, which the band recorded in early 2020. The album, House of Noise, was released July 17th 2020 and charted at number 8 in the UK album charts.

References
  1. "Massive Wagons". Earache. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  2. "Lancaster rock band Massive Wagons hits number 12 in UK album charts". Lancasterguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  3. "Massive mural marks Lancaster band's Top 40 album mission". Lancasterguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  4. "Massive Wagons". Earache. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  5. "Massive Wagons". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  6. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". Pressreader.com. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  7. "MASSIVE WAGONS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  8. "Lancaster band 'gutted' after council order removal of painting". Lancasterguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  9. "Campaign To Save Pub Mural". Heart North Lancashire & Cumbria. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  10. "Download Festival 2018: Napalm Death & Massive Wagons Join Line Up". Rock Sins. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  11. "Lancaster band to share stage with Status Quo". Lancasterguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  12. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". Pressreader.com. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  13. Rock, Henry Yates 2016-06-09T15:30:00 160Z Classic. "In praise of… dogging?! Inside the grubby world of Massive Wagons". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  14. "Massive Wagons on the Casket Music website". Coprorecords.co.uk.
  15. "Massive Wagons". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  16. "LISTEN: Massive Wagons unveil charity single in tribute to Status Quo's Rick Parfitt". Planet Rock. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  17. "Rick Parfitt Jnr talks about playing big events, his Dad, and the band Massive Wagons!". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  18. "LAST OF THE STREET SURVIVORS: UK ARENA TOUR". mwonline. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
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