Anna-Christina, has
a remarkable story to tell. A story about a band, like no other,
that almost drove her to insanity! Some of you will already know
the story behind Lilygun but for those of you that are encountering
this band for the first time, here's what's gone before...
On
the 8th of October 2005 at around 2pm, Anna-Christina suffered
a Brain Haemorrhage. The shock hit hard. Her life stood on a knives
blade for a few deadly months but it was not to be the end. (The
story in her own words... Read
it here)
Her
operation and recovery was a miracle, though there were many grueling
months ahead, Anna-Christina
didn't take advantage of her bed rest but instead schemed and
plotted her
"spectacular comeback"
and return to the stage.
By
July 2006 Anna-Christina was back with a vengeance... Clawing
out from the pit of despair and defying all odds, she made an
astonishing comeback. She proved what a courageous little being
she is and was red hot on form. Not only was it a return to stage
and a conquering of many obstacles driven by an extremely determined
mind but something evidently had changed in the charismatic singer.
Her
spirit showed that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel
and her light was music.
No words can describe her hardship and pure determination to return
to music but it wasn't easy. 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 lime light,
lead guitarists making a nuisance of themselves, and
generally
Anna-Christina being immersed
in the very distinct smell of bullshit provided by her band members!
What followed was at least 2 more years of constant illness which
hugely held back progress.
The Lilygun as we know it today was born in 2007.
Blood,
sweat and cursing
led the
new band
to return to their heavier routes and a blast of raw energy rejuvenated
them, catapulting them back into the edgier Alt Rock medium.
Now they were on fire!
The
music became heavier and darker. With a slight gothic sense to
their image, the performances were more aggressive and the band
began to grow to new heights. More guitars, more noise, more hair!
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 Lilygun unplugged set in December for
their last gig of the year. They played a mesmerizing set and
truly made magic. They effortlessly glided through beautiful renditions
of songs taken from their repertoire and ended on 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 will 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 Lilygun have since played and are still currently playing
today. It was truly a great way to end an astonishing year.
Click
here
to read the review.
Anna-Christina and Piranha, Lilygun's bass player for many years
were 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
and Anna-Christina has tried 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 unparalleld talent to invent, changed Lilygun forever.
www.myspace.com/aaronjohnmusic (or
text 118 118 for more info on him).
By
2008, Lilygun were creeping into the media's attention and were
receiving great demo reviews on several music websites, published
in Devolution Magazine, Londontourdates Newspaper, Time Out and
The Talk Magazine and were
played on Raiders
Broadcast, Rivergibbs FM, Dandelion Radio, TotalRock and American
based Church Of Girl Radio.
In fact, Anna-Christina's music was so popular by DJs, her songs
were featured prominently on radio shows almost every day for
months.
That
year Lilygun cooked up a magnanimous creation and recorded Diamonds
at Zed One Studios with a rather special producer, David Ryder
Prangley
(of Rachel Stamp fame). This
recording was Lilygun's first single, self-released in March and
went on to receive amazing reviews.
With
illness and excess waste being conquered, now all that was left
was the world...
Continue
t0 2009/2010
