The Automatic

Not to be confused with Automatics.
For the American rock trio, see Automatic (American band).

The Automatic
The Automatic performing in 2008, left to right: Paul Mullen, Robin Hawkins, James Frost and Iwan Griffiths.
The Automatic performing in 2008, left to right: Paul Mullen, Robin Hawkins, James Frost and Iwan Griffiths.
Background information
OriginCowbridge, Wales
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock, post-punk revival, post-hardcore, dance-punk (early)
Years active1998–2010
LabelsArmoured,[1] B-Unique, Polydor, Columbia
Past membersJames Frost
Iwan Griffiths
Robin Hawkins
Alex Pennie
Paul Mullen
Websitewww.theautomatic.co.uk

The Automatic (also known as The Automatic Automatic in the U.S.)[2] were a Welsh rock band. The band's last-known lineup was composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesisers, James Frost on guitar, synthesisers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesiser. Mullen joined after the departure of Alex Pennie, who provided synthesiser, percussion and vocals.[3]

Signing to a deal between B-Unique Records and Polydor Records in 2005,[4] the band released their platinum selling debut Not Accepted Anywhere in 2006, which spawned three UK top 40 singles – "Raoul", "Recover" and "Monster". The band released their second album This Is A Fix accompanied by only one single, "Steve McQueen" in 2008, which due to a dispute between the band's labels – B-Unique and Polydor – was plagued with distributional and promotional problems.[5] The dispute led to the band withdrawing from their 5-album deal with the labels and instead formed their own label, Armoured Records, distributed through EMI.[6]

After independently releasing their third album Tear the Signs Down in 2010 and three singles – "Interstate", "Run & Hide" and "Cannot Be Saved",[7][8] the band began what was meant to be a temporary break while members concentrated on other projects. James Frost began playing guitar in Effort, while Paul Mullen provided vocals and guitar in Young Legionnaire.[9]

  1. ^ "Armoured Records". November 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  2. ^ "The Automatic Automatic interview". They Will Rock You (Mary Ouellette). June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Automatic now Pennie less". icwales (Gavin Allen). 7 November 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  4. ^ "The Automatic interview". Sound Nation (James McLaren). September 2005. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  5. ^ Adam Zacharias (5 November 2009). "The Automatic Tear The Signs Down interview". Khaleej Times.
  6. ^ The Automatic sign sales and distribution deal with EMI Label Services Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine EMI, 9 November 2009
  7. ^ 19.09.09 Cardiff Barefly Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine theautomatic.co.uk, 20 September 2009
  8. ^ Best Laid Plans Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine theautomatic.co.uk, 20 September 2009
  9. ^ Young Legionnaire: Sonisphere Festival YouTube/NME, 1 August 2010