As you sit down to watch your TV and flick through the music channels or simply turn on the radio, you become more and more aware that the British music scene is now dominated by US R&B/rap and European dance music acts. So when exactly was "the day the music died?" (The Independent, May 2011)
No more do you hear energy fuelled music from Rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, who spent years perfecting their art whilst carrying heavy equipment, playing to small crowds, living on fast food and sleeping most nights in a renovated Ford Transit.
Does rock really stand a chance? Well!!! If mass chanting after every performance was anything to go by, then Xander and The Peace Pirates certainly prove that rock isn't dead and this band should be leading the music charts and headlining the festivals around the UK.
Liverpool band Xander & The Peace Pirates are one of the most energetic, entertaining and musically competent bands around. They have shared the stage with legends Buddy Guy, Eric Bibb, Richie Kotzen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Van Morrison, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy) & Sam Brown and are resident band in the world famous Cavern Club. They have recently been featured alongside Keith Richards, Steve Cropper, Jeff Beck and Albert Lee in a documentary on the history of Leo Fender's Telecaster guitar called 'Original Twang', released late 2010.
Drawing influences from Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Bill Withers, Foy Vance and Stevie Ray Vaughn, the band is an eclectic mix of guitar lead blues-rock with whispers of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. With two superb vocalists, a lead guitarist with one arm, and performances that will have you screaming for more, this band is a must see.
The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Keith 'the one-armed wonder' Xander and Irish bass player and vocalist John Bird. They are joined on stage with Keith's brother Stuart on rhythm guitar, Chris Howard on keyboards/percussion and drummer Jake Woodward. Independently the Peace Pirates are all skilled musicians. Brothers Keith and Stuart spent their formative years growing up in Shropshire, writing and playing together most of their life. John has been featured in Bass Guitar magazine as "bass guitarist to the future" and Chris Howard from Bolton and Jake Woodward from Wallasey have recently been accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of music.
Fresh off a tour of Ireland and currently promoting their first album '11', Xander and The Peace Pirates will be embarking on some big things in 2011, one of which will be opening for Bon Jovi on June 24th at Old Trafford, Manchester in front of 50,000 people.
Xander and The Peace Pirates '11'' is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
