Artist description Petrol is a sonic car wreck 30 years in the making, with Keith Moon behind the wheel of a go-cart, Rod Stewart in another, and Johnny Rotten on a souped-up minibike. The resulting ruckus makes you lose control of your limbs and groove like a spastic on speed.

Music Style rock

Musical Influences Small Faces AC/DC Faces ELO Van Halen Sex Pistols

Similar Artists Small Faces AC/DC Faces ELO Van Halen Sex Pistols

Artist History PETROL began in the minds of Graham and Michael Shaw, two brothers from Belfast, Northern Ireland who spent their pre-teen years religiously watching the cream of Britain's glam, pop and punk crop perform on Top of the Pops. Sitting goggle-eyed in front of a TV blaring the sights and sounds of The BUZZCOCKS, ELO, Sweet and T-REX inspired the Shaw brothers to form several bands in their teens, and in late 1998, after several years and countless transitory members, the lads discovered Jeremy Fisch to be the perfect fit for the low-end seat. In June 1999, with the addition of Corky Carter providing a solid skin 'n tin beat, the four became San Francisco’s sole purveyors of a guitar-heavy, bratty groove they dubbed "maximum pop." PETROL's songs evoke images of drag races and kung-fu, Steve McQueen and Spiderman, and their cheery, beery disposition brings to mind an whiskey-stained Banana Splitz raised on videogames and Big Daddy Roth. The lads have been known to write songs that focus on anything from a 70's afterschool special about a pre-pubescent outcast (unhinged singalong "Duffy Moon"), to anti-art school anthems (the sleazy, glammy "Canvas Tongue"), to a FACES-style romp celebrating what Graham calls "the Saturday morning vibe," ("That’s Alright for You ") a Monkee-esque state of joy unattainable at anytime other than a sunny weekend morning. PETROL’s live show is about entertainment; the boys shun the sarcastic cynicism that dogs a lot of end-of-millennium rock groups and let loose with an energetic boozy, good-time vibe that led BAM’s Greg Heller to write that PETROL has the "cocky British stage snarl down pat," while Melinda Whitehouse likens the band to "Sweet on testosterone injections." The release in December ‘98 of their 7 song debut CD "HOME OF THE FAMOUS…", recorded in 2 days for under $500, proves that from the opening sounds of a roaring crowd (lifted from AC/DC’s "If You Want Blood…" LP) through the raw versions of 6 live favorites, to the fade-out of the untitled final track (featuring a voice over from Lee Majors, courtesy of a Six Million Dollar Man LP) PETROL are a force to be reckoned with, even on plastic. With previous San Francisco shows at the Paradise Lounge, 330 Ritch Street, Cafe DuNord, Slim's and Bottom of the Hill under their belt, as well as shows around Northern and Southern California, PETROL have picked up the motorized skateboards left behind by the WHO, the MOVE and the UNDERTONES and are rolling down the glittery road of maximum pop, bringing the Fun Machine to the people.

Group Members Graham Shaw - Lead VocalsMichael Shaw - GuitarJeremy Fisch - BassCarter - Drums

Instruments bass drums guitar voice

Albums Home of the Famous...

Location san francisco, ca - USA

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