Music Banter - Godfathers Reunite Their Original Lineup for UK Tour

Press Release from Peter and Chris Coyne

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Legendary British rock and roll band The Godfathers are reuniting their original line-up to reissue an expanded 21st anniversary edition of their debut album Hit By Hit in February 2008, which has been repackaged to include 19 extra tracks. Selected headline shows and festival dates to promote this will include their traditional Saint Valentine's Day Massacre concert at the Kentish Town Forum [formerly the Town & Country Club] in London on February 14th 2008.

After 19 years away from the world’s stage the original classic line-up of The Godfathers is reforming to play some selected dates to promote the reissue of their seminal debut album ‘Hit By Hit’. The influential 80s band were regarded as the finest exponents of Brit-based rock ‘n’ roll and were regularly hailed as one of the best live acts in the world. The re-issued Hit By Hit album comprises all the single recordings from the band’s early career on their own independent label Corporate Image, augmented with studio and live extra tracks culled from international live shows and BBC Radio One Sessions.

The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne from the ashes of The Sid Presley Experience, which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Touring extensively the UK, Europe and the USA, they earned a reputation for their no-holds barred live shows and electrifying brand of primal rock 'n' roll. After acclaimed independent single and album releases The Godfathers signed to Epic Records in 1987. Their guitar-driven unique brand of alternative rock sound stood out in the synthetic UK music scene of the time, while laying the foundations for the Brit Rock resurgence of the nineties.

The Godfathers' raw lyrics and garage punk sounds were featured in several BBC Radio 1 Sessions despite the fact that mostly middle-of-the-road DJs dominated the station, then the main youth pop radio channel in the UK.

Particularly epic storming rocker 'Birth, School, Work, Death' made the top 40 US Billboard charts in the late eighties after heavy College Radio play but, despite their music standing the test of time much better than other music from this era, they were only marginally recognised in the UK. Nevertheless the super-loyal following never gave up on seeing the fabulous five at least one more time and rumours of a return to the stage for a new installment of their traditional Valentine's Day Massacre in London have kept thousands of dedicated fans guessing in anticipation for years.