Pittsburgh, PA (Reuters)- With the untimely demise of the "King of Pop", Michael Jackson, the young, relatively unknown rock group The Takeover UK are holed up in their compound/Head Quarters here in their hometown on the edge of Western Pennsylvania. The band, according to spokesman Charmaine DeLillo, are reeling from the news. "Each member of the band has the utmost respect and regard for Michael Jackson's music. He was the best singer, the best dancer, and at one point, the best-looking motherfucker on the block. We are saddened and dismayed to hear of his unfortunate and far too early passing. We ask for our privacy at this difficult time to mourn the loss of such a revered figure", said DeLillo.

The Takeover UK first collaborated with Mr. Jackson, or Wacko Jacko as they lovingly nicknamed him, on the previously unreleased B-side "Come Get Sum", which was to appear as the flip side of Jackson's smash hit, "Black or White" released in 1991. A controversy over the lyrics and artwork to the song forced Sony, Jackson's label, to replace it with a less sexually/politically offensive number. The two artists never collaborated again.

hey.. i wanna introduce myself.

I'm Derek, the new bassist of Takeover. It took me a while to post here because I wanted to feel like a member of the band first. I joined in February, I've been on a couple tours and had a few screaming matches with the guys. I paid my dues man... now I finally feel like a true member of the band. That said I wanna share a bit of myself. Believe it or not.. the guys in the band made me responsible for recording our upcoming release. I feel honored but I also hate them for it, I'll be going deaf at a young age.

So I'm not gonna lie, I'm "trying" to find optimism in the world of music. I truly believe that our current day industry is the biggest pile of horseshit in the world. I hope you are with me. At the end of the day I just want peace in my heart. I want songs with longevity. Did you notice that modern pop singles are hot when they're first released, and 2 months later it's considered "old, or outdated?" Why is that? I'll tell you.. there's no passion put into the songs anymore. All the wrong assholes are in charge of everything. We could really use some radio play but we're gonna do honest work until we get there. That means no fucking people over.. I thought of breaking the law or burning certain venues down, that won't help, it will only put me in jail and then the band won't do shit. fuck getting press for doing stupid shit. I'm over that idea.

People know me as being a close minded person who only listens to 60's girlgroups.. That's kinda true. So I guess my point is.. don't fall into an unsacred path. Here's some shit to move your soul, if it doesn't then keep watching till it does.

Here's a song that I just adore lately. it was written by Carol King and Gerry Goffin. performed by the beautiful Dusty Springfield. this crazy bitch used to throw plates back stage before performances to relive stress. I love it...






love,
derek

Not too long ago I asked you dear readers to request a song of ours on Sirius/XM radio. Well I'll have you know, you did well!

This past weekend we reached #15 on the AltNation Weekend top 18. From all of us, I'd like to extend a very sincere thank you to every one that emailed a request for "Ah La La". It worked!

Being the insatiable, avaricious lot that we are, obviously we want that #1 position. And I hope you can help again. This time, in addition to personally emailing a request for "Ah La La" by The Takeover UK, if you could email as many friends as you can and tell them to do the same. If they've never heard us, by damn, turn them onto us! I don't mean to start some shitty chain letter. Nothing bad will happen to you if you don't, I assure you. We don't wield any such magical, karmic powers. But if we could climb even higher, perhaps even to the top spot, well, life would be sweet not only for us, your humble entertainers, but also for you. Just knowing what power you hold in determining what is popular can be a mighty swell feeling. So please go forth, ye mighty power brokers of pop music justice, and request away.

Please send your requests for "Ah La La" by The Takeover UK to :

AltNation@siriusxm.com

Any and all help is appreciated immensely. We're at #15, but let's get it. Let's get high..er!!

In other news, we'll be taping a few songs for the FOX music show FEARLESS TV later this week in New York. I'll keep you posted on when it will air. Oh well, I'm off to the studio (aka Derek's basement) to record some guitars for a new song.
Keep on the lookout here in the near future for a new feature. I promise you it will be entertaining.

Later,
Mark

I have something to ask of you, dear reader/music lover. The whole thing makes me a bit apprehensive, but fuck it. Here goes:
Our first single "Ah La La" has been getting some play on the AltNation channel on Sirius/XM radio. We need your help to get it into the weekend top 18. If you could please, please, please email them and request "Ah La La" by The Takeover UK, we'd be mighty obliged.
Send your requests to:

AltNation@siriusxm.com

And please, tell your friends to do the same. The more people that do, the more likely they'll play our songs. The more our songs are played, the more people will hear our music. The more people hear our music, the more popular we will become. The more popular we are, the more kids, who otherwise would be left with disturbed and panic at the disco, will get into better music in general. The more young kids into great music, the better popular music will become. Advertisers follow the 18-35 age demographic. Imagine if all these young people were requesting their radio to play bands like us and the hundreds of other worthwhile bands/singers out there. The face of popular music would change. Gone would be the days of complaining about how much the radio sucks, how today's pop music is all manufactured drivel, how music was so much better in the old days.

You, the listener, hold all the power in your blog reading hands. I think most people don't even realize it.

Often times, we'll be driving in the van on the way to another gig, listening to the ipod. A song will come on that was a hit in it's day, be it the 70's, 80's, 90's. And usually someone will remark, "This would never be a hit today". And they're usually right.
If you've caught yourself lamenting the state of popular music before, you are right in every way. It IS worse today than it was ten years ago. Granted, the charts have always been filled with stupid, meaningless bubblegum balderdash. But like our politicians, the media gate keepers sorely underestimate the public's intelligence. The basic thought is: if it isn't dumbed down, easily identifiable, lowest common denominator sentiments (i.e. "I love you, I miss you, I really wanna kiss you, I like your pants around your knees") being expressed in the song, then it will undoubtedly be over the audience's collective heads.

I SAY, BULLSHIT.

Do you think, in the modern pop climate, "Come as you Are" by Nirvana would make it onto your local Kiss/Star FM Top 40 pop station, sandwiched in between Katy Perry and Nickelback on your drive time commute? Hmm. Food for thought.
Of course, back in '91 it was probably played in the middle of a stellar block of C&C music factory and Vanessa Williams songs. But you get my point, right? There will always be dumb pop songs on the radio, but why not make the other 40% of popular music, especially rock music, worthwhile, artistically credible music. Our standards have been lowered I'm afraid. The radio's dead, shouts the peanut gallery. It's dying, I retort. But your typical nurse or construction worker still flicks on the radio when they're driving to work, be it terrestrial or cosmic interstellar overdrive.
YOU CAN MAKE IT BETTER. IT'S ALL IN YOUR HANDS, DEAR FRIEND.
Now what was my original point? Oh yeah.

Please email Sirius/XM and request our song, "Ah La La" by emailing:

AltNation@siriusxm.com

Just had to remind you. Lest we forget, this whole self-righteous spiel was motivated out of shameless self promotion. I too hate all those lame bands that leave you a myspace comment asking you to vote for them in some weenie battle of the bands or some or other wack contest. I hope you aren't lumping us in with all those yahoo's and actually find great value in our music. We do it for the kids, and as everybody knows, Trick love the kids.

Later,
Mark

Email AltNation@siriusxm.com and request our song "ah la la."

Even if you dont have satellite radio, it doesn't matter, it still helps us out!

You wont get any spam bullshit back from this, it's just a radio station request email.


thanks!

josh
ttuk

we shot this when we were in nyc last week. very fun time, and very funny gentlemen, these jake and amir guys are.

check it!!

this is one of my favorite articles about us ever.

http://www.hippiesaredead.com/2009/04/takeover-uk-played-hotel-utah-pictures.html

"There's a difficult contradiction that's emerged in rock and roll.
While there's an undeniable quest for authenticity and legitimacy as
musicians, there's also a bizarre skepticism turned towards bands that
wear their hearts too much on
their sleeves. It's as though one should be legitimate, but not care
about being legitimate. It manifests in many ways, from Pavement's
slacker-rock aesthetic, to Radiohead's Thom Yorke lamenting the
trappings of celebrity. Here at HAD we tend to think of ourselves as
skeptics in this regard. Sure, a band with some legitimacy doesn't want
to sell its songs for deodorant commercials, but at the same time,
there's nothing wrong with being successful. What's more, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful and trying hard.

And yet, as we entered The Takeover UK's show at the Hotel Utah
last week, we found ourselves inadvertently siding with Yorke and
Malkmus. As the band blasted out a killer set based around their record
Running With The Wasters, our mental checklist was subtracting points just because the band was so tight.
The songs were perfectly constructed, the vocal harmonies dead on, and
the guitar tones immaculate. What's more, the members were painfully
earnest in their delivery. The show was a bulletproof delivery of
completely legit rock and roll. And we were skeptical.

Huh?

It was after this mental wrestling match that we realized that we had
descended far too deep into the indie rock abyss, and had perhaps taken
our high horse of musical legitimacy a little too far. We felt like a
Bowie fan in 1977, looking down our nose at the glam rock world of Marc
Bolan. But here's the thing: despite the fact that Bowie had moved on
musically, he certainly didn't forget Bolan, much less scoff at his earnest rock sensibility. It was then that we realized that being exposed to more music, more complicated music,
doesn't obviate that which came before. It just allows you to
appreciate it that much more. Because, in many ways, successfully
delivering a completely earnest rock record is the most difficult thing
a band can undertake.

By now, if you're even somewhat sober, you realize where we're going
with this. The Takeover UK are successfully delivering a rock and roll
record, and one of the best unabashed rock performances we've seen in a
long time. We already sang the praises of their debut album,
and its vibe is only further solidified by the band's live show.
Granted, it helps to know what you're in for: four dudes who are
totally on top of their craft, delivering a set that is so well bound
together that you find yourself doubting if it's real.

But it is in fact very real.
These four guys have clearly worked long and hard to create a set and
an experience that represents their very earnest desire to play rock
and roll. What's more, they present their work unabashedly, with soul,
and their hearts very much on their sleeves. Sure, you could be a
skeptic and wonder why they care so much about being great. But the
reality is that the rock music landscape is wrought with bands that are
incredibly busy not caring. To see one band who so clearly wants to deliver, well, it's great."

on AOL's spinner.com

http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/17

let us know what you think of the album!

cheers,
ttuk

"The Takeover UK - Running with the Wasters

Pittsburgh-based rockers the Takeover UK don’t waste any time living up
to the country they’ve tacked onto the end of their band name. They
swagger in with horns and handclaps while frontman Nic Snyder slurs his
way through, “My backseat was made for you, if only for tonight,” like
he’s a direct descendant of an Arctic Monkey. The more rocking
numbers—of which there are many—are filtered through echoes of
glam-rock, Brit-pop and ’70s punk with Wall Of Sound production (score
one for the U.S.!), infectious pop hooks and an unmistakable
enthusiasm. The band slow down nicely, too, recalling the earliest days
of the British Invasion on the pining “Evelyn” and the best of the
Kinks on the wistful “Sleep It All Away.” 4 stars"

you can check us out in the march issue of spin magazine.

what is the write up about you ask? bands with misleading names. what else??

cheers!

ttuk