King Missile IV is making their first ever visit to perform in New Zealand in February 2015.
The latest, perhaps greatest version of the unique and hugely influential King Missile is led by poet, songwriter, author, and intellectual property analyst – whatever that is - John S. Hall, who will be bringing his current band members Azalia Snail and Dan West (who are also known as the duo LoveyDove).
Respected local musician A. J. Sharma has been announced as the Dunedin show's resident support act.
From the band’s formation in 1986 and right throughout the 1990s, King Missile released a string of singles - and albums - that were resoundingly embraced by New Zealand’s student radio network: songs of note include ‘Take Stuff From Work, ‘Sensitive Artist’, ‘Jesus Was Way Cool’, ‘Gary and Melissa’, ‘Cheesecake Truck’, ‘Martin Scorsese’ and the hugely popular ‘Detachable Penis’ – just to name a few.
King Missile disbanded in 1994, and in 1996 Hall released a solo album, ‘The Body Has a Head’, and in 1998 formed King Missile III. Hall has also had two books published: 1997's Jesus Was Way Cool, a collection of 40 poems which became songs on King Missile/Hall albums; and 2007's Daily Negations, a dark-humoured satire of self-help books. Hall went on to study law, co-founding a small entertainment law firm, and later taking on a law-related job at a major law firm.
John S. Hall continues to perform on a regular basis - solo, as a poet and musician – and more recently with the newly-formed King Missile IV, comprising Snail and West.
Dan West
Multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer Dan West made his name in a scene known as The Paisley Underground (best known for The Bangles; Mazzy Star also had ties to the genre, and Prince named his label Paisley Park Records after the movement).
He has also performed on stage and on record with artists ranging from Sky Saxon of The Seeds and Bryan MacLean of Love to jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Maynard Fergusson and Paula Kelly. He has fronted many of his own groups, including Aguafantastica (Smile Records, LA) and Sidewalk Society (Fruits De Mer Records, UK)and is currently one half of LoveyDove. He scored the music for the upcoming documentary ‘Mr. Movie Poster’ about the life of artist Paul Crifo. http://www.mistermovieposter.com/about.html
Dan's solo album 'Hot Corners' was released last summer on New Zealand-based label Powertool Records, and his new album ‘Does It Suit You’ is just about to be released.
Azalia Snail
Azalia Snail has recorded 11 critically-acclaimed albums, and is recognized as a pioneering force in the lo-fi movement of the 1990's. Many influential labels have released her music, including Sub Pop and Dark Beloved Cloud, who launched their label with a split 7” by Azalia Snail and Sebadoh. In 1996, she was commissioned by MTV to score the music for the program Ain't Nuthin' But A She Thing, and she il has also composed music for several indie features and short films. She has toured consistently throughout the USA and Europe with such acts as Low, Sebadoh, The Black Heart Procession, Sportsguitar, and Illyah Kuryahkin. In 2000 Snail won the LA Weekly Music Award for Best New Genre.
She is currently in LoveyDove with Dan West.
LoveyDove
This duo make deliciously chewy soulful pop with a penetrating groove. And here’s the story of LoveyDove in a nutshell - East Coast girl (Azalia) meets West Coast guy(Dan) , and together they create a shimmering, alluring dose of melodic pop n’ roll.
And as the perfect twist to this tale, Azalia and Dan were married in April this year.
