Some transformations take you by surprise, but Frank Turner's evolution from frontman of Million Dead to arena star has been more of a slow burn.
Having played main stage sets at Reading and Leeds during the course of last weekend, complete with a Nirvana-aping wheelchair entrance following recent back problems, Turner promptly announced his first headline arena tour, having already played a triumphant one-off show at Wembley Arena.
The folk-punk troubadour has gone from clubs, through theatres, to the Olympic Games since the release of 'Sleep Is For The Week' back in 2007, and here we chart just a few of the twists and turns in what's becoming a remarkable story.
Million Dead – I Am The Party
Well, Million Dead was fun while it lasted. A ferocious post-hardcore quartet, they released two great records, 'A Song To Ruin' and 'Harmony No Harmony', played a lot of shows and eventually disbanded under the banner of 'irreconcilable differences'. “Once the end of Million Dead rolled around, I just didn’t want to be in a band anymore,” Turner later told Punk Ska Press. “The last year of Million Dead was just murderous. Four people who want to kill each other, sat in a van driving around Europe…it’s no fun.”
Frank Turner – Vital Signs
The lead single from Turner's solo debut, 'Sleep Is For The Week', was backed by another cult favourite, Heartless Bastard Motherfucker. The straightforward acoustic rock format also brought a different lyrical approach, with the complex, socio-political words of Million Dead replaced by more personal, reflective lines.
Frank Turner – Reasons Not To Be An Idiot
Turner's second album, 'Love, Ire And Song' arrived in 2008 and represented a leap in terms of confidence and delivery. The paths it walked were similar to 'Sleep Is For The Week' but on tracks like Reasons Not To Be An Idiot, one of three singles along with Photosynthesis and charity release Long Live The Queen, Turner displayed a further knack for writing rousing alt-rock songs.
Frank Turner – Poetry Of The Deed
Turner's third album took on another different hue, largely as a result of its writing process. In the liner notes for 'Poetry Of The Deed' Turner detailed the collaborative approach that was undertaken, with his band far more involved than on previous records. It certainly shows in the final product, with these songs some of the most complete and anthemic of his career.
Frank Turner – I Still Believe
It's good to know that you can still be surprised, and Turner's appearance at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games was nothing if not a surprise. Perched on a grassy hill at the centre of the Olympic Stadium, Turner and the Sleeping Souls ripped through a rendition of I Still Believe, from the 'England Keep My Bones' record, as actors in period dress farmed crops and played football below. It was weird, but good weird.
Frank Turner – Losing Days
Turner's journey to the top reached new heights with the release of 'Tape Deck Heart' in 2013, with the record landing with a satisfying thud at number two in the UK album chart. For fans, the pleasing fact remained that Turner hadn't changed his ways. The record was another collection of heartfelt, well-crafted rock songs with a conscience, and also betrayed a more personal edge. “There’s a lot of stuff on this record about loss and failure in relationships, about what happens when something that was supposed to be timeless runs out of time,” he told Danceyrselfclean.
Thu February 6th 2014 - CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
Fri February 7th 2014 - NOTTINGHAM Capital FM Arena
Sat February 8th 2014 - EDINBURGH Corn Exchange
Sun February 9th 2014 - MANCHESTER Phones 4u Arena
Tue February 11th 2014 - PLYMOUTH Pavillions
Wed February 12th 2014 - LONDON O2 Arena
Thu February 13th 2014 - PORTSMOUTH Guildhall
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