Music Style Emo/Pop Punk

Musical Influences New End Original, Thursday, Hundred Reasons

Similar Artists Think Ataris meets New End Original, with a side dressing of Thursday.

Artist History The legacy which is known as the band: “Known Joke”, began with a dream of 4 young and very na�ve 13 year old students from Ashfield Technology College in Nottinghamshire, England. This dream was to start up their own ‘band’. This seemed like the perfect thing to do to keep them from being bored after school! But it turned out to - as well as keep them from being bored, it also influenced their dreams and passions more so to the extent of where members were dreaming of being “the rock star” in the future as a serious career. These four young 13 year olds, Jono Ayres, Niki Worrall, Michael Chisholm, and Craig Wetton, grew up over the next year or so, but also they somewhat grew apart with their own musical influences and dreams etc, some being more passionate than others. Once Craig (the keyboard player) was threatening to leave…on came Darren Williams to fit Craig’s job, as yes, the Keyboard player. All things were perfect within the band for a short period, until the dreaded Mobile phone craze hit, grasping Michael (Drums) by his collar with it. This was for as instead of getting the drums, he instead bought a mobile phone. Once again the Known Jokers (aka “saltwata” as they were known then) were in a sea of vastness looking for a new drummer… However! This did not deter the-now-three piece group, now consisting of Jono Ayres (Vocals/Bass), Niki Worrall (Guitar), and Darren Williams (Keyboard), They marched on creating ‘interesting’ music, with Jon on vocals, forging hits such as “Sun And The Rain”, “No Money”, “Rescue Me”, “Appearance Doesn’t Matter”, and others. At the time, to the group itself the songs seemed revolutionary and great sounding! However remember the band were Na�ve back then. These songs stated were great ‘n’ all but something was missing, the Known Jokers thought to themselves…Drums! The band needed a drummer badly. Without one the band was history. Niki (guitar) scanned the local youth/military centre he attended, the ATC -at that point, and came across the god- send known as Ben Ansaldo, who played the drums. This was the greatest feeling to the band as they had craved the vital percussion section for many months. To finally have a drummer seemed like moon dust to them. They wasted no time in getting him to band practise, but the problem being he lived 5 or 6 miles away, so the only practise we often got was after school in the music block from 3:15pm until 4:30pm. Not long to be honest at all; and this is where the saga of Known Joke goes sour… After the joining of Ben to the group, they did often seek refuge in the practises at Niki’s - Dad’s Factory every weekend or so, but with Jono attending Football at weekends and Darren sometimes being ill etc, the band for some horrible reason grew apart within themselves. Jon was the first to grow away form the band. As the practises we attended Jon made it to roughly 4 out of 10. And then Niki and Ben did seek a new dream of another band, just for curiosity purposes, and there fore forming the band badly known as “Mewk”, a Post- hardcore/metal line up. But unfortunately the forming of this band caused the Known Joke scene to slip away through our fingers. As Ben became into drugs, Darren, Niki and Jon all grew apart in friendship as well, Niki and Darren went through many arguments over bands, as Darren followed on to join a band known as “No Alibi” (now known as “Half Time Show”), where he inputted his full energy. The band members and friends of which were Niki Worrall, Jono Ayres and Darren Williams…..Had dwindled into a sacrificial burial of both the band AND Friendship. The time after the break up was well spent on all sides, as Niki (guitar), broke away from the drug sodden life of “mewk” Seeking to bring Known Joke back together, but with Niki and Darren not on speaking terms it was difficult for Niki to offer. So He stayed to himself about the idea and things on that subject, although he was friends with Jon still, he found it hard to confront him with the idea of the reforming. As time went on, Half a year past roughly bringing us into the year 2000, and Niki and Darren grew back together gradually sub conciously. As they began to talk again, Niki descovered that Darren was now going to be “No Alibi’s” drummer, and he was getting a drum kit For his birthday. Niki was intreged naturally especialy with the prospect of the band in his head. Upon a cold wintery Monday morning before school Niki confronted Darren with the idea straight out hoping for the best off both Jon and Darren. What he got was more than pleasing, They were both up for it certainly, and that week they began to practise at Niki’s house on Niki’s drum kit which he had purchased a month before for himself. The practise went surprisingly well. As the passion and flame in the bands eye lit once again for the passion of music and performing they grew very strong music wise, and tackled their first performance/gig in early March 2000, at their home school. Shortly after this recording their very first EP, titled: “Elemonate” featuring tracks such as “Bad Confession”, “Immoral” and “Dreams. This 6 track EP would be finished within 5 weeks of the first writing of the songs! With their following performance only a month or two after that. Once they got the word that they were wanted to play at the Brown Cow in Mansfield, they hesitantly jumped at the chance, for as this would be their real 1st gig in Known Jokes new line up. The band pulled it off to a pleasing extent, although there was doubt in the back of members mind of to how successful the gig actually was for them, was it actual doubt or just paranoia? Who knows?… As the months of the new line up in Known Joke passed by the 3 guys’ ears pricked up as on one Saturday night at Band practise at Jono’s house, the band played simply as a harmless joke with Niki on drums and Darren on guitar. All the three members eye lit up that night with exitment at the prospect of a new line up which could be better than ever before. Known Joke Proceeded to record their 2nd record/LP, named “Facein The Crown”, a 14 track LP, including some of the bands very first ideas and songs in the new line up. Known Jokes' first performance in the very new line up was for a group of Germans on exchange, the performance itself went down a treat for everyone. (apart from the PA blowing). But there was no doubt that this line up was better far better in fact. Known Joke then proceeded to play many gigs in local pubs and clubs, aswell as up in Liverpool, and go into a professional recording studio to record there 3rd release, named: "Absense Makes The Heart Grow Fonder", there most mature record yet.

Group Members Darren James Williams - Guitar/Vocals Jonathan Michael Ayres II - Bass/ Vocals Niki Worrall - Drums

Albums "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder"

Location Mansfield, Nottinghamshire - United Kingdom

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