DUB PISTOLS

Barry Ashworth and Jason O'Bryan Dub Pistols have done everything it's possible to do in a band and still want more. They've toured the world more times than most of us have changed channels, they've spent years breaking America down into tiny, eager pieces via extended jaunts with punk-rock roadshows. They've had their music appear on so many Hollywood films they can't remember them all, though they do remember recording the title track for Y Tu Mama Tambien in Mexico with Molotov and working with Busta Rhymes on the Blade II soundtrack.

They've appeared in Australia and six south-east Asian countries in less than a week and they've played live with Fatboy Slim on New York's Hudson river twelve hours before those two planes flew into the World Trade Center towers, then watched as the "shit hit the fan" from their hotel room across the country in LA. Now, rather more happily, they've recorded the best music of their lives, and they've recorded it with reggae legend and Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy, ex-Specials hero, Terry Hall, Cali Agent rapper Planet Asia and New York crew Sight Beyond Light. But it wasn't always this way.

T.K Lawrence and Johnny RockstarA Brief History of Time: Dub Pistols Founder Barry Ashworth in his own words "I started running clubs in 1987, I took over Ziggy's in Streatham when Paul Oakenfold had finished there. Then I did the Monkey Drum, which was where the (Stone) Roses and the (Happy) Mondays used to come when they were in town. I opened a record shop in Covent Garden, which folded, so I started a band called Deja Vu - I really hate that name - and we had a hit record with 'Why Why Why', the old Woodentops song. I went on to run Naked Lunch at the SW1 club and Sprucesters Balls in Kensington with Charlie Chester. Then I did the first Monkey Mafia record with Jon Carter, and from there I moved on to start the Dub Pistols".

Barry originally employed Engineer and Bass player Jason O'Bryan in 1996 as recording began for the Dub Pistols first album "Point Blank", initially hired as engineer and beat programer (On the back of his productions with Wall of Sound act "Ceasefire".) Jason soon became Barry's partner and an integral part of the group, from co-producing, writing and engineering "Cyclone" and "Problem is" and everything in between, to playing Bass guitar live onstage.

Barry continues "Soon afterwards our manager went in for a meeting with Jimmy Iovine of Interscope, he was playing a track we'd done, but he didn't know it was us. He told our manager - who'd gone into see him in his guise as manager of Crystal Method - that he reckoned it was the best record he'd heard in fifteen years. Two days later I was on a plane to LA, first class, and agreed a million dollar deal. It was the start of a beautiful nightmare."

Dub Pistols A beautiful nightmare indeed. A nightmare of private jets, stretch limos, and remixing Moby, Korn, Limp Bizkit and a host of others. The Dub Pistols party never stopped but home was always calling. The punk rock guys they toured with in the States might have looked the part, but Barry and the Dub Pistols knew there was more to being punk than having a Mohawk.

"I grew up on The Clash and living in West London," says Barry, "there's always been dub around too, so punk's always been natural for me. Dub Pistols are punk, because punk, as an ethic, means anything goes." And it's that anything goes approach that typifies the band's new album, Six Million Ways To Live, an album where the blood-warm pulse of hip-hop, dub and ska receive a thorough seeing to via the needle-sharp miracle of modern technology. From Horace Andy's dub-soaked, butter-soft croon on album opener 'Crash Crazy', past Cali Agent rapper Planet Asia's hymn to hip-hop on 'Architect', to the future Ibiza anthem at the heart of '3AM''s electro-jazz chill. More upbeat is the dancehall vibe that New Yorkers Sight Beyond Light bring to 'Riptides' and the ska-pop shake of 'Problem Is' with Terry Hall, a track that provoked Xfm's biggest ever listener response when it was aired entirely without permission recently. Make no mistake, this the perfect album to give your stereo the summer work-out it so obviously needs. "We've always been a massive Terry Hall fans," says Barry. "We thought he'd never, ever do another ska record as long as he lived, but he loved the track and recorded the vocals in my front room. As did Horace Andy, who arrived dressed in a gold lame suit."

Original 'Six Million Ways to Live' artwork Lyrically, the album has its dark moments, "Submarine sinks, Concorde falls from the sky, the tallest buildings burn and all the mothers they cry," sings Horace Andy on 'Crazy', while rhymes like "Blowing up the White House like I was an alien, Independence Day cos we ain't seen no liberation" show that Dub Pistols are no say-nothing, do nothing party rockers - these are serious, thoughtful pieces of music. In preparing to record the album the band spent six months making "a load of shit." They tried rock, reggae rock, Georgio Moroder-ish electro, full-on house, then they did 'Architect' with Planet Asia and everything all fell into place.

"The album Six Million Ways to Live has been so deeply thought about and considered, it's not a breakbeat record, not a DJ record, it's a personal thing. We're fighting prejudices, but we refuse to be turned cynical. Were musicians and we want to make what we feel excited about, and what we feel more excited about than than anything else right now is people finally getting the chance to hear 'Six Million Ways To Live'.

This Biography appears courtesy of Distinctive Records



Six Million Ways To Live L.P. The following review of the album 'Six Million Ways to Live' by the Dub Pistols was written by John Davidson and appears on Popmatters.com

Dub Pistols 'Six Million Ways to Live' (Distinctive Records)

'Six million ways to live, and just as many folks out there trying to express themselves, waiting to be heard. There are as many genres now as there used to be songsmiths. What's a conscientious reviewer to do?

Well, for one thing, help weed the good from the naff. All these sounds, all these voices, you listen and you ask yourself: is this record necessary? If these sounds didn't exist, would anyone miss them? Do they contain a truth that somehow informs me? Do I like the forms and patterns of the sounds themselves? All of which is to say -- is this stuff any good?

Chances are, for the most part you won't find much that changes your existence. Over the course of a life, or even a year, there are only so many weddings and birthdays and funerals, only so many days when you'll meet the love of your life or of the weekend. Most days aren't full of epic grandeur, but hopefully the majority offer small moments to sustain you and offer the sense that it's all worthwhile.

And so with music: the discovery of an artist or band that you know will be with you forever, or at least for a generation or so, it happens but seldom. In between, you're looking for glimpses, something you can relate to, enjoy under its own terms. With a new disc, sometimes it's sufficient to play a few times, enough to enjoy and know you'll be able to wake up the next morning and still respect yourself.

For me, the Dub Pistols offer such pleasures. They are one of a small handful of bands that you sense creating music primarily because they too want to hear what they have to play. In a sense, they are a heartwarming story of DIY. Dub Pistols music is always likely to slip beneath the mainstream radar because it is utterly without compromise. They present a sound-clash of ska and punk, dub and hip-hop, a feast of fat beats laced with slick raps, and whether you like it or not is of no concern to them.

Unique Freak artwork Their new album, Six Million Ways to Live, opens with the fine vocal nuance of guest Horace Andy, primarily known for his work with Massive Attack, and less well known for his prodigious output of progeny -- 16 children from a variety of mothers at last count. Also less well-known is the quality catalogue of solo work that he's produced over a couple of decades or more, work that if you're unfamiliar with you should check out.

"Problem Is" follows, and it features a real-live ghost in the second guest-vocal slot: Terry Hall. Terry Hall, as in the Specials, Fun Boy Three, the Colourfield. That Terry Hall. The result of this particular collaboration is a ska track that both honors Hall's past and recommends his future. Hall is a man who's thrown enough individualistic, stylized music our way over the years that, truth be told, he should be permitted the tranquility of his retirement if he wants, should shun us forever if he feels so inclined. Which is probably what he'll do.

Perhaps the highlight of the album is the title track, a rap tenderly crafted over a beautiful acoustic backing track. Once it's gone, the beats and rhymes get heavier, and while those in the world of rap and hip-hop lay down hours of tracks shouting out credentials as to who's "most street," few, if any of them, offer a sound that so authentically replicates the urban experience as clearly as this.

I once saw the Dub Pistols spin a pre-dawn DJ set in an abandoned warehouse just south of Los Angeles Airport, a gritty urban enclave that was neatly hidden on the outskirts of the golden city. This was around the time of the last Dub Pistols release, 1998's Point Blank, and what most clearly resonates both here and at that time is a sense of defiance in the face of decay. His are street tales told within music, not some ill-conceived boast served at the expense of the music.

Hip-hoppers out there, they ought to take note. This is keeping it real.'

Video

1. 'Official Chemical' Video Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Electronic Press Kit' Video Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Dub Pistols U.S.A Tour 1999' Video Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'Dub Pistols vs Molotov in Mexico City' Movie Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Dub Pistols & Terry Hall' interview by Zoe Ball Real Player Windows Media Player
6. 'Dub Pistols & Terry Hall' XFM Live Session Real Player Windows Media Player
7. 'Problem Is' Video Real Player Windows Media Player
8. 'Westway' Video Real Player Windows Media Player
9. 'Day in Age' Beatscape Real Player Windows Media Player
10. 'Bullrun' Video Real Player Windows Media Player

Live Concert Videos Dub Pistols

Dub Pistols Live Videos City Hi-Fi proudly presents World exclusive Dub Pistols live videos. The Videos were shot on recent Dub Pistols tours and feature the full Band with vocalist T.K. Lawrence.
1. 'Soul Shaking' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Unique Freak' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Big World' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'Riptides' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Architect' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
6. 'Official Chemical' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
7. 'Cyclone' Live Video Real Player Windows Media Player
8. 'ACDP' Bestival 2004 Real Player Windows Media Player

Point Blank L.P. Dub Pistols

Point Blank L.P. Point Blank was recorded in 1996 at the Dub Pistols studios in Acton, London for Concrete records.
Click here to purchase Point Blank. Purchase
1. 'Unique Freak' Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Best got Better' Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Cyclone' Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'Ghetto' Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Point Blank' Real Player Windows Media Player
6. 'Blaze the Room' Real Player Windows Media Player
7. 'Kill the D.J.' Real Player Windows Media Player

Six Million Ways To Live L.P. Dub Pistols

Six Million Ways To Live L.P. Six Million Ways To Live L.P released on Distinctive Records in 2003. Features the guest vocalists Horace Andy, Terry Hall, Sight Beyond Light and Planet Asia. The album was recorded over the space of three years in London, New York and Los Angeles.
Click here to purchase Six Million Ways To Live. Purchase
1. 'Sound Clash' Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Crazy' (Feat Horace Andy) Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Problem is' (Feat Terry Hall) Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'Six Million Ways To Live' Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Riptides' Real Player Windows Media Player
6. 'Soul Shaking' Real Player Windows Media Player
7. 'Soldiers' (Feat Planet Asia) Real Player Windows Media Player
8. 'Still Breathing' Real Player Windows Media Player
9. 'Architect' (Feat Planet Asia) Real Player Windows Media Player
10. 'Official Chemical' Real Player Windows Media Player
11. '6 Am' Real Player Windows Media Player

Y4K Dub Pistols

Y4K, L.P. The Dub Pistols contribution to the Distinctive Y4K compilation series. Includes exclusive tracks from The Chemical Brothers, Mint Royal, Audio Bullies and Afrika Bambaata

Blade 2 Soundtrack feat Busta Rhymes

Blade 2 Soundtrack. A collaboration between Busta Rhymes, Silkk the Shocker and the Dub Pistols. Recorded in 2002 for the soundtrack to the motion picture Blade 2. Track 2 is exclusive to www.cityhifi.net and was never available on general release.
Click here to purchase Blade 2 Soundtrack. Purchase
1. 'The One' (Feat Busta Rhymes & Silkk the Shocker) Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'The One' (unreleased mix) Real Player Windows Media Player

Bad Company Soundtrack Dub Pistols

Bad Company Soundtrack. The Dub Pistols song 'Six Million Ways To Live' was chosen as the title track on the soundtrack for the 2002 motion picture 'Bad Company' starring Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock.
Click here to purchase Bad Company Soundtrack. Purchase
1. 'Six Million Ways To Live' Real Player Windows Media Player

Mystery Men Soundtrack Dub Pistols

Mystery Men Soundtrack. The Dub Pistols 'Ska' remix of 'Keep Moving' from the album Point Blank entitled 'Keep Keep Movin' appeared exclusively on the sound track to the motion picture 'Mystery Men'.The film stars Ben Stiller,William H Macy,Claire Forlani and Tom Waits.
1. 'Keep Keep Movin'

Y Tu Mama Tambien Dub Pistols & Molotov

Blade 2 Soundtrack. A collaboration between The Dub Pistols and Mexico's no 1 band Molotov for the sound track to the cult Mexican film "Y Tu Mamma Tambien". The recording took place in Mexico City in 2001. It was a truly amazing trip. Check out the 'Dub Pistols Vs Molotov in Mexico City' Movie to see some of the recording in progress.
Click here to purchase Y Tu Mama Tambien. Purchase
1. Here comes the Mayo Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Dub Pistols vs Molotov in Mexico City' Movie Real Player Windows Media Player

Remixes by Dub Pistols

Six Million Ways To Live L.P. Dub Pistols have done many high profile mixes to date.
1. 'Raw Power' Apollo 440 Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'Eat Me' Arkana Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Faker' Audioweb Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'I love cheesy baby' Banco de Ghia Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Eastern Promise' Bow Wow Wow Real Player Windows Media Player
6. 'History' Bush Real Player Windows Media Player
7. 'Who's the badman' De Patten Real Player Windows Media Player
8. 'Nothing Personal' Dust Junkies Real Player Windows Media Player
9. 'The Best Things' Filter Real Player Windows Media Player
10. 'Napalm Bomb in Bohemia' Girl Eats Boy Real Player Windows Media Player
11. 'Unknown' Hurricane Real Player Windows Media Player
12. 'Dolphins were Monkeys' Ian Brown Real Player Windows Media Player
13. 'Good God' Korn Real Player Windows Media Player
14. 'My Way' Limp Bizkit Real Player Windows Media Player
15. 'Warm Strong Numb' MLF Real Player Windows Media Player
16. 'James Bond Theme' Moby Real Player Windows Media Player
17. 'Rock the party' P.O.D. Real Player Windows Media Player
18. 'Spookshow Baby' Rob Zombie Real Player Windows Media Player
19. 'Aisle 10' Scapegoat Wax Real Player Windows Media Player
20. 'Fatigue Chic' Sly and Robbie Real Player Windows Media Player
21. 'You Know its Hard' The Crystal Method Real Player Windows Media Player
21. 'Pop Muzik' U2 Featuring 'M' Real Player Windows Media Player
22. 'Faces in a Dream' Hurricane No 1
23. 'Gotta Learn' Dan Mass
24. 'Smoke' Natalie Imbruglia
25. 'B Boy Stance' Freestylers
26. 'Life is Free' Arkana

Remixes of Dub Pistols

Remixes of The Dub Pistols Dub Pistols have also been remixed by some great artists in the past, here are a selection of some of the best remixes of the Dub Pistols.
1. 'Soul Shaking' DJ Touche Remix Real Player Windows Media Player
2. 'ACDP' Unknown Bootleg Real Player Windows Media Player

Live and Exclusive Dub Pistols

Dub Pistol's Exclusives Dub Pistols have perfomed some memorable live gigs, here are a few that were captured on tape as well as some exclusive recordings
1. 'Problem Is' Live on XFM 104.9FM Real Player Windows Media Player
2. Zoe Ball interview / Barry Ashworth & Terry Hall Real Player Windows Media Player
3. 'Big World' BBC Radio One Live Session Real Player Windows Media Player
4. 'Six Million Ways to Live' BBC Radio One Live Session Real Player Windows Media Player
5. 'Cyclone' BBC Radio One Live Session Real Player Windows Media Player