Artist description Power rock/pop band from Sheffield, UK. Featuring former members of Weedy.

Music Style Rock

Musical Influences Gene, Glen Phillips, Elliot Smith, Muse.

Artist History Amber Eleven are, Lee Barkley (drums), Martyn Whyman (guitar, bass, vocals) and Paul Keating (guitar, bass, vocals). Formed at the beginning of 2001 when Paul and Martyn finally tired of playing songs in one and others living rooms, got off their arse's and secured the skills of drummer Lee. The final piece of the jigsaw was complete and Amber Eleven were born. The band had existed unofficially for around two years in the form of Paul and Martyn writing acoustically driven songs with strong vocal melody. As their song writing partnership developed they began to realise that even though there songs were getting better there was no way anyone would hear them without a drummer. Enter Lee. Not only did Lee complete the line up, he also gave each song a different slant. He gave the band an edge. The three members are no strangers to one and other. All were born in the same Yorkshire village and all had played together in various different bands at some time in the past. It all started with Martyn forming a band with his brother Ian, two other brothers Neil and Sean Carden and frontman Daz Allport collectively known as Total Outcasts. After a series of gigs in the Rotherham and Sheffield area Daz Allport decided to leave the band. His place in the line up was filled by Paul Keating. Total Outcasts enjoyed a little local success culminating in a gig at Doncaster Dome and receiving airplay on both Jane Kitsons Radio Sheffield show and Jeff Coopers XS show for their EP, How Insults Used To Be. Total Outcasts never really split up but simply just faded away as each member became occupied with different things. Martyn then formed Punk Pop outfit Lovely which featured none other than Lee Barkley on drums. The band went through both name and line up changes and finally settled into a three-piece offering named Weedy. They consisted of Martyn, Lee and bass player Andrew Bailey. Weedy were by far the most successful band Martyn had played in to date releasing a number of CD singles and enjoying a tour the length of the country. As Martyn's musical direction changed from a punkier to a softer type of sound this spelled the end of Weedy. There penultimate gig on the main stage at the Leadmill in Sheffield featured a guest appearance from Paul Keating on rhythm guitar and backing vocals who was by this time working on songs with Martyn that were to become part of the Amber Eleven collection. Quite what the future holds for Amber Eleven only time will tell, but the desire between the three to make original music drawing on there own varied influences will surely stand them in good stead. If you haven't seen Amber Eleven yet then don't just take my word for it, check them out yourself! Matt 'Chopper' Conley

Group Members Lee Barkley (drums), Martyn Whyman (guitars, bass, vocals), Paul Keating (guitars, bass, vocals).

Albums Small Town Stories (single)

Location Sheffield, South Yorkshire - United Kingdom

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