Based in Liverpool, Merseyside, this UK duo was formed in 2002 by Lolly Hayes (b. Lorraine Hayes; guitar, samples, vocals) and Davo (guitar, samples, vocals). The duo took the name of their band from the character played by
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Based in Liverpool, Merseyside, this UK duo was formed in 2002 by Lolly Hayes (b. Lorraine Hayes; guitar, samples, vocals) and Davo (guitar, samples, vocals). The duo took the name of their band from the character played by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s classic 1973 movie, Mean Streets. Their debut ‘Johnny Boy Theme’ was released on the Welsh independent label Boobytrap Records at the start of 2003. The single, which paid obvious homage to 60s girl groups, attracted the attention of Vertigo Records who signed the duo and brought in the Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield to produce the follow-up single. ‘You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve’ more than lived up to its wordy title. This thrilling slice of indie guitar pop was part Phil Spector ‘wall of sound’, part New Order, with an insistent melody adding extra impetus to the anti-consumerist lyrics. The single was floored by record company disinterest and, despite excellent reviews, disappeared without a trace. The duo parted company with Vertigo at the end of the year, putting their recently completed debut on hold, although it later received a limited release in Europe. Sadly, the album failed to live up to the excellence of the two singles, with the magpie genre jumping dulled by the lack of memorable melodies and a cohesive sense of purpose.
