John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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John Peel Wiki
Million Dead

Million Dead were a post-hardcore band founded in 2000 by Cameron Dean and Julia Ruzicka, after both came to London from Australia. They were joined by Ben Dawson, who had worked with Dean in a record shop in the city. The band's lineup was completed with the addition of vocalist Frank Turner, an old bandmate of Dawson's. The name was chosen from a lyric in the song “The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax”, by Swedish hardcore punk band Refused.

The first Million Dead demo was recorded in September 2001.The band's touring career began with support sets for Cave In, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, The Icarus Line and Alec Empire. In late 2002, the band signed to Integrity Records / Xtra Mile Recordings, and released their first single, “Smiling At Strangers On Trains”. The video for the single, directed by Adam Mason, proved controversial as it featured scenes of a homeless man urinating through a letterbox, as well as on Dean. The band entered the studio in April 2003 to record their debut album, A Song To Ruin, released in September, along with the single “Breaking The Back”.

In December 2003, following a tour with Funeral For a Friend, Million Dead embarked on their first headline tour of the UK in support of the album, supported by Jarcrew and Minus. In 2004, guitarist Cameron Dean announced he was leaving the band and was replaced by Tom Fowler. After a series of festival dates over the summer, the band re-entered the studio to record a new album. Written and recorded in eight weeks, Harmony No Harmony was released in May 2005, followed by another UK headline tour with Engerica and Days of Worth,and support dates on Finch's UK tour. In September 2005, it was announced via the band's official website that Million Dead were to call it a day at the conclusion of their September tour, as “irreconcilable differences within the band mean that it would be impossible to continue”. The band played their final concert at Southampton's Joiners venue on September 23, 2005.

Since the band's breakup, vocalist Frank Turner has made a career as a solo folk/punk artist. Tom Fowler and Julia Ruzicka played guitar and bass in another band, Quiet Kill (2005–2006) and then Who Owns Death TV (2007–2009), and The Idle Hearts in 2009. Ben Dawson currently plays drums for Palehorse, Mothlite, Queen of Swords and Armed Response Unit. Ruzicka also currently plays bass with Future Of The Left, who have had entries on Dandelion's 2009 Festive Fifty, 2012 Festive Fifty and 2013 Festive Fifty

Links To Peel[]

Peel first heard the band when they released their first single "Smiling At Strangers On Trains" in 2002 on Integrity Records. He also selected the song as one of his records of the month in January 2003 (Peel's Record Box). The single also got attention from other DJ's including Mike Davies, Mary Anne Hobbs and Steve Lamacq. The group recorded a session for Peel's show on BBC Radio One in 2003.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

Sessions[]

No known commercial release.

John_Peel's_Million_Dead_(Peel_Session)

John Peel's Million Dead (Peel Session)

Million Dead's only Peel Session

1. Recorded: 2003-10-02. Broadcast: 25 November 2003. Repeated: 04 March 2004

  • Pretty Good Year / Sasquatch / Its A Shit Business / Mute Group

Other Shows Played[]

Million_Dead_-_I_am_the_party

Million Dead - I am the party

'I Am The Party', #21 in the 2003 Festive Fifty

2002
2003
2004
  • 14 April 2004: 'I Gave My Eyes to Stevie Wonder (CDR)' (White Label)
  • 22 April 2004: 'I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder (Single)' (Xtra Mile Recordings)

See Also[]

External Links[]