Four Bath Spa Commercial Music students have signed their first major record deal after winning an international competition running by one of the world's leading videogames companies.
The band Showing Off To Thieves was named European winner of the 2007 Burnout Bandslam, sponsored by EA Games. The competition received entries from more than 2100 bands from all over Europe, and culminated in an intense public ranking process, with over 2500000 myspace users participating, followed by final selection by an expert panel. The two worldwide grand prize winning bands have been confirmed as 'Never Heard Of It' (USA) and 'Showing Off To Thieves' (UK & Europe).
The winning bands will each receive a demo recording deal in a collaboration between Virgin Records and EA and a chance to have their song included in a future 'Burnout' videogame.
Showing Off To Thieves consists of Bath Spa students Phil Maggs (bass), Tom Lloyd (drums), Andy Bradshaw (guitar), and Bath Spa graduate Andy German (voice). They formed in 2005 at Bath Spa University, and began recording together as part of the Commercial Music degree course, which also requires students to undertake a national tour to promote their work. The band signed their first independent record deal in 2006 with Bath-based independent record label Lockjaw records.
Bassist Phil Maggs said "we're really excited because it means that our track 'Everyone Has Their Secrets' will be on the next Burnout game on the PS3 and Xbox 360 – so millions of gamers worldwide will get to hear our songs. We're looking forward to starting work on the demos for Virgin Records in the USA." Guitarist Andy Bradshaw added; "The Commercial Music course has given us the opportunity to develop our sound and get started on the live circuit, so when we graduate this summer we'll be able to launch straight into the music industry as a signed band."
Head of Department of Music Joe Bennett said; "Everyone here at Bath Spa is delighted for 'The Thieves'. The Commercial Music team affectionately describes them as 'the hardest working band in rock'. Throughout their time here they have been relentlessly writing, rehearsing, recording and gigging – this success is the result of two years of intense hard work, and it's richly deserved".
The band's winning track 'Everyone Has Their Secrets' is available on their
myspace page . More information about the Commercial Music course at
the music department website