New Model Army

New Model Army is a modern punk band, more melodic than many of their classic counterparts, and are widely respected for their masterful songwriting and their unwavering political stance. The band was named after the English revolutionary army of Oliver Cromwell. Led by guitarist / vocalist, Justin Sullivan (who performed under the name Slade The Leveller in the early 1980s) it was formed in 1980 together with drummer Robert Heaton and bassist Stuart Morrow in their hometown of Bradford, England. The group quickly grew an extremely loyal cult following, sometimes referred to as "the Family" by members. The band collaborated with electric violinist Ed Alleyne-Johnson, who worked with them on their Top 30 single "Vagabonds", and their album Thunder And Consolation, as well as touring extensively with them for five years. The group also tours as 'Justin Sullivan and Friends' which means a more acoustic set without some players (which ones varies), and is linked to Red Sky Coven, in which Justin Sullivan also plays. In early 2003, Sullivan released Navigating by the Stars, a solo album recorded with other band members and featuring Danny Thompson on double bass, and Mark Feltham on harmonica. After a short tour at the end of 2004, the group returned to the studio to record their ninth studio album, Carnival. EMI recently released a couple of remixed earlier albums. As the band themselves say it: "Although there is nothing new within the packages they have been very sympathetically re-packed and remastered and do sound very, very good." In 2004 their founding drummer, Robert Heaton, died of pancreatic cancer. Heaton was a key part of the band and formed a formidable song writing partnership with Sullivan. Other noteable previous members include Dave Blomberg, Jason 'Moose' Harris, & Ricky Warwick. Warwick went on to form The Almighty while Bloomberg left to form the band Nozzle. The current members of the band include Nelson on Bass, Dean White on guitar, and Marshall Ward also on guitar. The band's drummer is Micheal Dean. In August of 2007 the Band released the album High (the North American release was in September). An extensive tour through N+S America and Europe as well as some other places was short-circuited by the band's inability to secure a U.S. visa. This is the second time in the band's history the INS has refused them entry. www.newmodelarmy.org/fhome.htm