What should go in a band biography?

What should go in a band biography?

Author
Discussion

stompboxx

Original Poster:

309 posts

191 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
I have to write one, and have no clue where to start....anyone ever written one?

Ultuous

2,248 posts

197 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
What are we talking about? A 3 paragraph promotional blurb or a 300 page epic?

davepoth

29,395 posts

205 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
You need: Where and when the band formed, what record label they're signed to or have released on, a few of the biggest gigs they have done, and their plan for the next record. Make sure to sprinkle in a load of superlatives, and possibly "like xxxxx on acid". wink


stompboxx

Original Poster:

309 posts

191 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Ultuous said:
What are we talking about? A 3 paragraph promotional blurb or a 300 page epic?
I think the former....but I've never done one...each one i've read so far sounds like complete tosh!!

Ultuous

2,248 posts

197 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
As above then, I think that covers most bases - just try to make it sound inspiring (maybe going into how they formed, what influenced the main members musically/ environmentally during their up-bringing without rambling on too much!!).

Also make sure it's kept up to date/ timeless if required (I speak more from a DJing perspective, but it's amazing how many promoters in the internet age will copy and paste a Googled blurb that ends with something along the lines of '2004 promises to be an even bigger year for so and so!)... biggrin

StevieBee

13,403 posts

261 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
The band member's first musical likes - first single / album / etc

First gig - how it came about, what was it like, etc.

First record deal - how they got it.

On-the-road stuff. Smattering of links to relevant place names is always good as readers like to see their own towns mentioned in print. I read the Rolling Stones biog a few years back and of the few things I can remember was it was how Mick Jagger was arrested for pissing up a wall at a petrol station in Romford. Years earlier, I learnt from another Rock Book that Paul Simon used to live down the Ongar Road in Brentwood - both places I used to live near.

chevy-stu

5,392 posts

234 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
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Look at other bands websites and Myspace pages to see what seems to work..

From experience as a promoter, I'm not interested in what grades you got in piano at school or what music course you studied. I brief half page on how the band formed, influences, gigs played, direction and future plans is enough.

gbbird

5,193 posts

250 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
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If keeping it short, avoid the banal and pointless stuff such as what album the drummer first purchased or what influenced the guitarists dad. No one gives a a hoot.

Where formed, ages, style of music, band influences (not individuals), theme of lyrics (if any), big gigs to date, demos etc. Good luck