History of Horrors
Lilygun's history is one of extreme measures! The band was formed by the enigmatic singer/songwriter/guitarist Anna-Christina, who is the driving force behind the group. With a turbulent history of her own, Anna-Christina has a remarkable story to tell. On Lilygun's climb to success, the singer suffered a Subarachnoid Brain Haemorrhage. The shock hit hard. Her life stood on a knife's blade for a few deadly months but it was not to be the end.
Her operation and recovery was a miracle. Words could not describe her hardship and pure determination to return to music and she eventually came back with a vengeance. Clawing out from the pit of despair and defying all odds, she made an astonishing comeback. The charismatic singer proved what a courageous little being she is and her spirit showed that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Her light was music.
What had gone before was a band with countless line-up changes which
meant that endless and rather obsessive auditioning often kept them
out of the limelight. Lead guitarists were making a nuisance of themselves
and generally Anna-Christina was immersed in the very distinct smell
of bullshit provided by her band members! What followed was at least
3 more years of constant illness which hugely held back progress.
Lilygun, as we know it today was born in 2007. Blood, sweat and cursing
led a new band to find their heavier, darker routes and a blast of
raw energy rejuvenated them, catapulting them back into the edgier
Alt Rock medium. With a slight gothic sensibility, the performances
were more aggressive and the band began to grow to new heights.
Never a band to be predictable though, Lilygun rolled up at one of
their shows without a drummer (he decided to go for dinner instead
of fulfilling his duties) and dazzled with the first unplugged set
in December 2007. They effortlessly glided through beautiful renditions
of songs taken from their repertoire and ended with the ever ethereal
Moonlight. Greeted with rapturous applause from an audience demanding
more, Lilygun obliged with an amazing encore. One thing's for sure,
when you turn up to see a Lilygun gig you never know what you're about
to see but can trust in the fact you'll always get a nice surprise!
Ironically due to the success of this gig, it turned out to be the
beginning of a series of successful unplugged gigs that the band have
since played and are still currently playing today.
Anna-Christina and Piranha, Lilygun's previous bass player for many
years, had begun playing with guest lead guitarist and solo artist
Aaron John. He became a key ingredient in the development of Lilygun's
sound of today. It's no secret that Lilygun have had many guitarists,
every type and style of player but in all the years no one had actually
changed the course of Lilygun or its sound to such an extent as this
remarkable musician. Aaron John's unparalleled talent to invent, changed
Lilygun forever.
By 2008 Lilygun were creeping into the media's attention and received
good demo reviews on several music websites, published in Devolution
Magazine, London Tourdates, Time Out and The Talk Magazine. That same
year the band cooked up a magnanimous creation and recorded Diamonds
with a rather special producer, David Ryder Prangley (Rachel Stamp).
This recording was Lilygun's first single, self-released in March
and went on to receive fantastic reviews. A string of gigs followed
through the year including The Women in Music Festival in Birmingham,
the Surface Unsigned Festival and the first gigs with drummer Belle
Star (Killing Miranda/Lahannya) at Bar Carling Academy and
the Borderline.
Lilygun were joined by special guest drummer Robin Guy (Faith
No More/Bruce Dickinson) in 2009 for a few shows including Gotham
Festival at 02 Academy Islington and they recorded their debut EP
Peace of Mind. Recorded at the famous Britannia Row Studios - it's
the direct descendent of the original Pink Floyd's studio, Anna-Christina
took control of the recording, taking part in engineering and mixing.
The single Conversations, self-released 28/8/09, earned brilliant
write-ups, a review featured in Devolution Magazine and made the Playlist
on Radio Rheinwelle in Germany on The John Peel Show.
The highlights of 2010 saw Lilygun support Anna-Marie Hurst at the
Scala, The Eden House in Colchester and Bristol and an awesome show
at Camden Underworld where they were joined on stage by David Ryder
Prangley on bass to end the year's work of gigging. The band's first
EP Peace of Mind was self-released that summer and Anna-Christina
had a full page article published in the Observer newspaper in November.
During 2011 Lilygun began to record their debut album. Live performances
grew to new heights with successful shows at 02 Academy Islington
(for the last ever Gotham Festival), The Garage, Electrowerkz and
other venues in and around London. After the success of the band's
first two singles, notably the second single Moonlight receiving rave
reviews and making XFM’s Playlist on the Ian Camfield Rock Show,
Lilygun's self-titled debut album is out now on A Line Records/Cargo.
Lilygun has been through a hell of a lot but a new era has begun.
The extraordinary comeback of a singer who has been to the gates of
hell and back has become a major part of Lilygun's history. Where
will it go from here?
The story continues...
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