Atlas exploded onto the New Zealand music scene with a number one chart
performance not experienced since 1987's 'Slice of Heaven'. From April 2007
'Crawl' charted for seventeen weeks and owned the top position for seven
weeks.
The band's music pedigree gives it a killer punch.
While the genesis is perhaps in Zed which had a nine year run as a leading
New Zealand act up until 2004 and featured Ben Campbell and Andy Lynch,
Atlas was conceived at the legendary Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. Ben
and his sister, Beth were there working with friends Robert Lamm (Chicago) and, LA based producer, Hank
Linderman (The Eagles, America, Chicago) discussing solo album concepts.
Hank introduced them to American performer, Sean Cunningham, who hails from
Hank's home state of Kentucky, thinking that they may combine their talents
to write songs for separate solo careers.
'It was immediate.' says Ben. 'There's great music in us all and when we
hung out, jammed and played we discovered songs, riffs, connections,
melodies and ideas that were a lot stronger through the connection.
Also in Los Angeles at the time, playing with the legendary Sting was Ben's
former Zed bandmate and future ATLAS lead guitarist, Andy Lynch.
Cunningham needed little persuasion to head half way around the planet to
Christchurch where Atlas started to take shape through a number of
development line ups while the inventory evolved. 'Is This Real', a mix of
searing vocals over guitars charted, followed by the ground-breaking
'Crawl'.
When ATLAS re-located to Auckland, Andy Lynch settled into his edgy lead
guitar slot and the line up was completed with the discovery of drummer, Joe
McCallum who was extracted from Christchurch.
ATLAS rocks. There's something special happening here and whatever, the reason for voyaging.
The debut album, 'Reasons For Voyaging' will be released in November 2007.
Band Members:
Ben Campbell (guitar, vocals)
Beth Campbell (vocals, guitar)
Sean Cunningham (vocals, guitar)
Andy Lynch (lead Guitar)
Joe McCallum (drums)
www.atlastheband.net
press kit.pdf
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