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  Former Verve Members Announce New CD and Shows. 


06-18-02 antiGUY
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Good news for fans of the Verve, we got the following press release from Epic concerning The Shining a new band featuring former Verve bassist Simon Jones and guitarist Simon Tong. 

Press Release:

POST-VERVE PROJECT LIGHTS THE WAY
The Shining Announce Debut Album And First Ever U.S. Performances

New York, NY - Epic Records is proud to announce the upcoming release of the debut album by The Shining, an exciting new rock band formed by ex-Verve bassist Simon Jones and guitarist Simon Tong.  Their debut record, True Skies will be available in the United States this Fall.  Prior to the U.S. release, The Shining will make their U.S.  live performance debut on July 8 in New York at the Bowery Ballroom followed by their July 11 show in Los Angeles at The Troubadour.

Just over two years ago, Jones was not a very hard man to find.  Still reeling from the break up of The Verve, the wildly successful but troubled band he dedicated over a decade to his life to; he hardly left his flat.  It wasn�t until he received a phone call from ex-Stone Roses guitarist John Squire that the urge to actually create new music resurfaced.  Not before long, Jones found himself once again playing the bass along side Squire and several other unknown musicians, including drummer Mark Heaney and vocalist Duncan Baxter.  

After a short time, it became apparent that the band as it stood was not coming together.  Jones amicably parted ways with Squire, however, the veteran bassist saw something in Heaney and Baxter.  Along with Tong and fellow guitarist Dan MacBean, the quintet began rehearsing in London�s east end.  Almost immediately they realized that something special was beginning to form.      

Owing more to the legacies of Led Zeppelin and the Stooges than the balladeer offerings of recent Verve, the sound of The Shining clearly stands alone.   Jones� unique bass style blends perfectly with the Bonham-esque rhythms of Heaney, layered under the atmospheric offerings from Tong and MacBean and the intensely powerful vocals of 22 year old Baxter.  The band�s driving yet melodic songs make you want to simultaneously grit your teeth and smile.  More information about the band and a preview of the videos for the upcoming UK singles �Quicksilver� and �Wonder How� can be found at www.theshiningarehere.com.

The Shining, aptly named after the Stephen King novel and Kubrick film about a boy who can see into the future, represents a promising post-Verve future for Jones and Tong. 

Of course nobody really knows exactly what will come next, however anticipation is building for what very well could be the biggest thing in Brit Rock since... well, since The Verve.