If ever there was an eighties group of totally obscure proportions, then A.O.K fitted that bill perfectly. Founded in Manchester, England in 1988, they were made up of ex members of Sam Thunder, Circus and Strutz, to name a few, and tore it up on Oxford Road - Manchester's answer to Sunset Strip - playing the Banshee and Rockworld and as opener in larger venues for Dare and Danger Danger.
Their history is well documented in Tony Bell's excellent book "Life In The Bus Lane". In the late eighties, early nineties they stood shoulder to shoulder with a plethora of unsigned acts, ultimately doomed to a life of obscurity. A slew of promising demos quickly followed. Setting up camp in Shabby Road studios, the journey towards their debut album began in earnest. With the basics intact, and with original Drummer, Andy Chemmey, along for the ride, they moved to Mad Hat studios (Magnum) and under the guidance of Sheena Sear and Mark Stuart, they put the finishing touches to "The Kings Of Nowhere". They are the people's band - winning a fan voted appearance at this year's final Firefest proved that - and they deserve your utmost attention. They were stripped down to a final 10 who were then played on the Steve Price radio show. A final three made it through to a final. A.O.K. won, achieving over 3,500 votes. They have also just been added to Hard Rock Hell festival in March 2015 which is being headlined by NightRanger. It's a little over twenty years since they called it a day, but these kings of nowhere are here to stay this time. They've loved and lost along the way but that's just put some grit under their fingernails, enabling them to provide an album that is both honest and real. This is British songwriting at its absolute best!
1. Any Other Girl
2. A Harder Place
3. Ice Turned To Rain
4. Real Life
5. Same Star
6. Someone To save Me
7. Left Me In Love
8. A Night Like This
9. Another Lost Boy
10. Same Old Love
11. If Her Tears Would Talk
12. Kings Of Nowhere
Rob Naylor (bass)
Steve Kenny (guitar, keyboards)
Baz Jackson (vocals)
Tony Bell (guitars)
Angels Or Kings – Kings Of Nowhere 2014
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