To mark next year’s re-release of their two critically-acclaimed A&M studio albums from the 1980s, Nine Below Zero are reforming their classic Young Ones line-up for a UK tour this Autumn.
The two classic albums, ’Don’t Point Your Finger’ and ‘The Third Degree’ will be released through Universal in Spring 2014.
The band’s original drummer Mickey ‘Stix’ Burkey will rejoin NBZ for the tour.
He recently played live with the band for the first time since the 80s, in
November 2012 at the 30th Anniversary of The Assembly Room in Islington. Mickey ‘Stix’ and frontman Dennis Greaves co-wrote many of the songs on ‘Don’t Point Your Finger’ and ‘The Third Degree’.
Don’t Point Your Finger, released in 1981, was NBZ’s second album. Recorded in 12 days at Olympic Sound Studios in Barnes and produced by the legendary Glyn Johns. Dennis says, “We were walking in the footsteps of some of the
all-time greats. Led Zeppelin’s first album was recorded there, along with
“Who’s Next” and “Beggars Banquet” by The Stones.
It was the most inspiring experience”. The double CD will also include a live performance recorded for the BBC in 1981 at The Granary Club in Bristol.
The Third Degree, released in 1982, included the single 11+11 which was performed on the first episode of cult TV show, The Young Ones. This was to be the bands final album with A&M and spent six weeks in the album chart. David Bailey, renowned photographer of The Beatles, The Stones and the Kray Twins (to name a few), took the photograph for the album front cover artwork.
NBZ originally recorded the album, again with Glyn Johns, at his studio in Sussex. However, with it’s raw sound, it was rejected by A&M. The band went on to re-record it with Simon Boswell. Now available for the first time, Johns’ original recording will be available on the re-release along with the more familiar version of the album.
Dennis says “I think it will be interesting for fans to see how a series of songs can sound so different and how the production process affects the finished article”.
