Fearless Vampire Killers (band)

Fearless Vampire Killers
FVK live at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands (February 12, 2016)
FVK live at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands (February 12, 2016)
Background information
OriginBeccles, England
Genres
Years active2008–2016, 2021, 2022–present
LabelsGoremount, PIAS Recordings
MembersKier Kemp
Laurence Beveridge
Drew Woolnough
Shane Sumner
Luke Illingworth
Past membersNick Hill
Chester Elven
Luke Fairhead
Websitewww.fearlessvampirekillers.co.uk

Fearless Vampire Killers (FVK) are a five-piece English theatrical alternative rock band formed in Beccles in 2008. Their line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Laurence Beveridge, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kier Kemp, bassist Drew Woolnough, lead guitarist Cyrus Barrone (Shane Sumner) and drummer Luke Illingworth (Pilnahn). The name of the band originated from the 1967 Roman Polanski comedy horror film The Fearless Vampire Killers.[1]

Their debut studio album Militia of the Lost was set for release on 7 May 2012 through Goremount Records,[2] but the physical release was pushed back to 14 May 2012.[3] The digital release went ahead as planned. A deluxe version of the CD, containing more exclusive artwork, was released at the same time. In 2014, they were an opening act for Black Veil Brides' tour. They released a mini-album, Bruises in 2015.

The band announced their breakup on July 4, 2016, in a Facebook post,[4] due to Kier Kemp's decision to leave. The band briefly reunited for a one off performance in memory of their tour manager Stevie D on May 7, 2021.[5] The band returned on March 11, 2022, after a previously teased secret show under a false band name, then releasing their new songs Delicate and Something Terminal on April 1, 2022.

  1. ^ "FVK – Interview". Rock N Review. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012. Kier Kemp: "Laurence and Shane were in our tiny flat in London talking into the early hours. They were discussing what a band should be, why it should be and what inspired them. Laurence scrawled the name of a film he’d watched extensively as a child onto a piece of paper... (which we still have). That film was The Fearless Vampire Killers by Roman Polanski."
  2. ^ "FVK debut album Militia Of The Lost lands May 7th 2012". Altsound. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Fearless Vampire Killers announce staggered album release". HevyPetal. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  4. ^ "FVK - A difficult announcement. Last Friday, Kier... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ^ "FVK on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[user-generated source]