Massive (band) explained

Massive
Origin:Melbourne
Years Active:2012 – present
Label:Earache Records, Off Yer Rocka, Wreking Crew Records
Website:massiveoz.com
Current Members:Brad Marr
Ben Laguda
Andrew Greentree
Brenton Kewish

Massive is a hard rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The current line up consists of Brad Marr (vocals, guitar), Ben Laguda (lead guitar, backing vocals), Brenton Kewish (bass) and Andrew Greentree (drums).

In the edition of 20 April 2016 of Kerrang Magazine they were described as a band "more than ready to follow in Guns N Roses footsteps".[1] They have also been featured in Rolling Stone[2] Classic Rock Magazine[3] and Metal Hammer[4] The band are signed to Earache Records.[5]

History

Massive formed in 2012 when past high school friends Brad Marr and Jarrod Medwin, who were in separate bands at the time, joined up to co-write some songs. The pair spent three months in a farm house attic demoing what would become the foundations of the band's debut album Full Throttle. Later that same year the line up was completed by brothers Aaron (bass) and Ben Laguda (lead guitar).

Having all played in several local bands previously, Massive wanted to get into the studio immediately and in December 2012 they booked three weeks at Light Hill Studios in Melbourne's north west.to start work on their debut album.

In March 2013 the band announced a short Australian tour with Glenn Hughes[6]

Having previously been a fan of the band, Aidan McGarrigle joined on bass in May 2013.

The band were signed by Earache Records in February 2014 after owner Digby Pearson fell in love with the album.

Full Throttle was featured and given away free on the May 2014 edition of Classic Rock Magazine.[7] and also made available for free download on Google Play[8] in the UK before its official release date.

In mid 2014 their first ever European tour was announced supporting UK rock act The Treatment and American southern rock band Blackberry Smoke[9] as well as a festival appearance at Hard Rock Hell 8

Immediately after the tour, the band once again moved into Light Hill Studios to start work on their follow up album "Destination Somewhere" The band completed 5 songs before deciding to halt recordings so they could write some more.

Brendan Forward having moved from Newcastle, Australia to pursue his music career joined Massive on his 27th birthday in April 2015 while the band were in the middle of an Australian tour.

In late 2015 it was announced that Massive would be supporting Screaming Jets[10] for 30 dates around Australia.

Almost a year after recording the album "Destination Somewhere" was released worldwide through Earache Records on 22 April to critical acclaim and immediately went back on the road around Australia for a second support tour with the Screaming Jets who had personally asked for the band. In August 2016 they announced their first European headline tour which they called the Aussie Wrecking Crew Tour,[11] an all Aussie line up spanning 25 dates. They also played main stage at Hard Rock Hell 10. The Massive "Round 2" UK tour was announced immediately after for November adding another 16 shows to their lengthy European visit.[12]

The band took a well earned break at the beginning of 2017 but in April they announced they will be supporting American Funk Rock band Living Colour on their Australian tour[13] as well as brand new single titled "Calm Before the Storm" and a return to the UK in June, their 4th tour in as many years: This time with original lead guitarist Ben Laguda back in the band, and playing a handful of summer festivals including the first instalment of Amplified Festival, Ramblin' Man Fair, and Stone Free Festival alongside bands such as ZZ Top, Glenn Hughes, Extreme, Rainbow and Rival Sons[14]

In late 2017, the band announced that drummer Jarrod Medwin will be leaving the band. Former Black Diamond drummer Andrew Greentree was named as Massive's new drummer in early 2018 after an exhaustive process of over 100 applicants.[15] Later in 2018, Massive also announced a new 5 year record deal with European hard rock label Off Yer Rocka with the band's 3rd studio album to be released by the label on February 1, 2019.[16]

The band immediately announced 52 date tour stretching across 10 countries to promote the release of the new album. On February 11, 2019, Rebuild Destroy entered the official Australian Independent charts at #1.[17]

Band members

Current members

Previous members

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum Release detailsChart Peak
Aus (AIR Charts)[18] UK (Rock Charts)[19]
Full Throttle
  • Released 9 February 2013
  • Label: Independent
Full Throttle
Destination Somewhere
  • Released 22 April 2016
  • Label: Earache
1933
Rebuild Destroy
  • Released 1 Feb 2019
  • Label: Off Yer Rocka
1[21] -

Music videos

YearTitleAlbumDirector
2012One By OneFull Throttle
2015Ghost[22] Full ThrottleDani Nolan
2016One for the RoadDestination Somewhere
2016Blood Money Blues[23] Destination SomewhereRom Anthomis
2018RosesRebuild Destroy
2019Long Time ComingRebuild Destroy
2019BulletRebuild Destroy

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Massive . 20 Apr 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170424085504/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/kerrang-uk/20160420/281569469903920 . 24 Apr 2017 . PressReader.
  2. News: Rolling Stone Australia – Album Review: Massive – Destination Somewhere. Rolling Stone Australia. 23 April 2017.
  3. News: New Band of the Week: Massive. 25 April 2016. TeamRock. 23 April 2017.
  4. News: Massive: Full Throttle. 19 August 2014. Metal Hammer. 23 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Massive Sign World Deal With Earache Records Beat Magazine. www.beat.com.au. 23 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Rock Legend Glenn Hughes Announces 2013 Australian Tour – Tone Deaf. tonedeaf.com.au. 23 April 2017.
  7. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE: FREE DEBUT ALBUM 'FULL THROTTLE' WITH CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE. Digby. 28 March 2014. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  8. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE: DEBUT ALBUM FREE ON GOOGLE PLAY IN UK. Digby. 24 April 2014. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  9. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE TO SUPPORT BLACKBERRY SMOKE ON SELECT EUROPEAN TOUR DATES. Digby. 26 September 2014. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  10. Web site: MASSIVE going on tour with SCREAMING JETS + new album news. 2 September 2015. Rock And Roll. 23 April 2017.
  11. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE ANNOUNCE AUSSIE WRECKING CREW UK/EURO TOUR. Digby. 5 August 2016. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  12. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE KICK OFF "ROUND 2" OF UK TOUR TOMORROW. Digby. 11 November 2016. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  13. News: [AUS NEWS] MASSIVE Announced As Support For LIVING COLOUR]. HEAVY Music Magazine. 23 April 2017.
  14. Web site: Metal-Temple.com :: MASSIVE: Festival Dates, UK Tour, New Single. (News). Press. Duff. metal-temple.com. 23 April 2017.
  15. Web site: Greentree beats his drum for Massive opportunity in Europe. Leeson. Josh. 2018-08-02. Newcastle Herald. en. 2020-01-28.
  16. Web site: MASSIVE announce new album and new deal. 2018-09-29. R o c k 'N' L o a d. en-GB. 2020-01-28.
  17. Web site: Albums Chart (100% Independent). www.air.org.au. en. 2020-01-28.
  18. Web site: Albums Chart (100% Independent). air.org.au. 23 April 2017.
  19. Web site: Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company. www.officialcharts.com. 23 April 2017.
  20. Web site: EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE: MASSIVE: DEBUT ALBUM 'FULL THROTTLE' OUT NOW IN EUROPE. Digby. 21 July 2014. EARACHE NEWS RELEASES ARCHIVE. 23 April 2017.
  21. Web site: Albums Chart (100% Independent). www.air.org.au. en. 2020-01-28.
  22. News: Massive Unveil New Video For Ghost – Kerrang!. 16 April 2015. Kerrang!. 23 April 2017.
  23. News: Massive Premiere Blood Money Blues Video – Kerrang!. 6 September 2016. Kerrang!. 23 April 2017.