NINE BELOW ZERO
THE STORY SO FAR...
1977-78 As punk hits the UK, Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham form STAN’S BLUES BAND. They quickly develop a reputation as an excellent high energy live act.
1979 The band find management with MICKEY MODERN after a blistering show at THE THOMAS A BECKETT pub, Old Kent Road. This swiftly promotes a change of name, one that preserves a Blues flavour as the guys adopt one of SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON’s song titles and become NINE BELOW ZERO.
1980 NBZ sign to A&M RECORDS. On July 16th, they release their first album, LIVE AT THE MARQUEE and sell out the HAMMERSMITH ODEON.
1981 The band’s second album DON’T POINT YOUR FINGER, produced by the legendary GLYN JOHNS is released and enters the charts twice, remaining there for five weeks. NBZ play with THE WHO and The KINKS, and make TV appearances on THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST, and THE SOUTH BANK SHOW with DR FEELGOOD and THE BLUES BAND.
1982 NBZ record their third album, THIRD DEGREE at GLYN JOHNS’ studio in West Sussex. The classic 11+11 is written here. NBZ appear on the first episode of BBC TV’s anarchic comedy hit THE YOUNG ONES, performing 11+11. The album is completed with producer SIMON BOSWELL and legendary British photographer DAVID BAILEY takes the photos for the cover. Probably the most under-rated NBZ album, it fails to deliver the progress the band is expecting and results in a ’time out’ for the boys.
1983- 1989 Dennis forms soul/pop outfit THE TRUTH producing two Top 20 singles in the UK and a Top 5 R&B hit in the US. Mark Feltham, having earned a high reputation as a harmonica player, enters the session world.
1990 10th Anniversary sold-out gig at London’s Town and Country Club. The public welcomes back NBZ with open arms at a sold-out gig at London’s Town and Country Club to celebrate the band’s 10th Anniversary. The new rhythm section of BRENDAN O’NEILL (drums) and GERRY MCAVOY (bass), formerly of RORY GALLAGHER’s band, is premiered and a sell-out UK tour follows.
1991-93 NBZ sign to CHINA RECORDS. The album’s ON THE ROAD AGAIN recorded and OFF THE HOOK are released and the band secures a support slot on STING’s European tour.
1994 NBZ invited by ERIC CLAPTON to join him for 12 nights at THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL. Long-time NBZ fan RAY DAVIES books the band for his UK tour, including a date at WEMBLEY ARENA and BRIAN MAY invites the band to play 6 shows during his UK solo tour.
1996 NBZ release the album ICE STATION ZEBRO, with several tracks co-written with NIK KERSHAW. The band are invited to play with BRUCE WILLIS at Planet Hollywood, London after the premiere of TWELVE MONKEYS.
1997 Nine Below Zero form their own record company, ZED RECORDS.
2000 The band celebrates the 20th anniversary of LIVE AT THE MARQUEE with two stunning shows back at THE THOMAS A BECKETT, Old Kent Road.
2007 GARY MOORE joins the boys on stage to promote their new acoustic DVD release BRING IT ON HOME.
2008 NBZ open for CHUCK BERRY at THE 100 CLUB.
2010 A chance meeting with GLENN TILBROOK from SQUEEZE results in an offer to record a new record entitled IT’S NEVER TOO LATE at his 45 RPM STUDIOS in London. During the touring that followed this release both JOOLS HOLLAND and PAUL JONES asked the band to guest on their shows.
2011 The band are approached to make a new record together with GLENN TILBROOK under the name of ‘THE CO-OPERATIVE’. One of the tracks from this album, the Lennon-McCartney song 'You Never Gave Me Your Money' is used on the cover of a MOJO magazine special celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of 'Abbey Road'. The end of 2011 saw GERRY MCAVOY play his last show for NBZ and pursue a new solo career.
2012 saw the return of BRIAN BETHELL who played bass on THIRD DEGREE and was a natural replacement for Gerry.
Universal released a new version of LIVE AT THE MARQUEE in September, complete with bonus tracks and a never-before-seen DVD of the band playing at the world-famous WARDOUR STREET CLUB. The band toured with DR FEELGOOD and EDDIE AND THE HOTRODS.
2014 kicked off with NBZ celebrating their 35th anniversary playing a UK tour with THE STRANGLERS.
Universal released re-mastered versions of the two classic albums, DON’T POINT YOUR FINGER and THIRD DEGREE and GLYN JOHNS’ original recordings for THIRD DEGREE were released for the first time as bonus material.
The band’s original drummer MICKEY ‘STIX’ BURKEY re-joined the band for the classic line-up tour in the Autumn.
2015 Drummer MICKEY BURKEY re-joined the band on a permanent basis to once again hook up with BRIAN BETHELL, MARK FELTHAM and DENNIS GREAVES, "the classic Young Ones line up".
The band toured with BRUCE FOXTON and FROM THE JAM.
Mark and Dennis released their first ever work as a DUO, with the CD released in April. As well as playing unplugged versions of NBZ material, the duo cover songs by blues legends such as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo and Leadbelly.
Bassist BEN WILLIS joins the band for overseas touring.
The band return to GLENN TILBROOK’s 45 RPM STUDIOS to set about recording their own versions of rare blues and soul tracks for inclusion on the upcoming album 13 SHADES OF BLUE to be released in 2016. The 4-piece band is augmented on these tracks by the addition of a horn section, keyboards, violin and backing vocalists to create an exciting new NBZ BIG BAND vibe.
2016 The band tours France, Italy and Slovenia before debuting the NBZ BIG BAND live on the ACOUSTIC STAGE at GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL 2016.
The new line-up consists of DENNIS GREAVES (Guitar/Vocals), MARK FELTHAM (Harmonica/Vocals), MICKEY BURKEY (Drums), BEN WILLIS (Bass), CHARLIE AUSTEN (Vocals), ANDREW NOBLE (Keyboards), CHRIS RAND (Saxophone) & PAUL JORDANOUS (Trumpet).
13 SHADES OF BLUE Is released in September and the band embark on a 30-date tour of the UK in support of it.