The Characters

The Characters formed in London (UK), with Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Ray Mercieca and fellow Maltese Band Mates Rayvin (Guitar), Adrian (Drums) and Gino (Bass). After gigging in London's top venues for a couple of years and doing some studio recordings, the band called it a day and everyone went on to do his own projects.Ray returned to Malta,and Gino after a stint in Germany touring with High & Dry, a Swiss/German/Maltese Rock band, returned to his home country as well.
Ray met Tony Griscti (Drums) in Malta, who previously played with Alternative band 'The Faith' and decided to continue 'The Characters' with Gino in Malta. After a couple of gigs the band teamed up with Antoine Faure (Piano/Hummond/synth) player and took the music to a higher level. In 1993 the band had their first break when they where invited to perform and tour in Austria and record their first Album (CD) called 'Destination Red' in Vienna produced by 'Leo Bei'. After some gigs and concerts, some tracks from the Album became hits in Malta, especially the tracks 'Destination Red' and 'Which way does the wind blow'.
After a short break and with the help of the band's management under the direction of Mr. Mike Williams (RIP) and Steve Urpani the band where already in the Studio in Malta to record the second Album (CD). The Album (CD) was finished and launched in 1994 and called 'The Truth' produced by 'David Vella', this Album was the big break the band worked so hard for and the band was rewarded with many Malta Music Awards for Best Band, Best Album (CD) plus other Awards from Maltese Radio Stations for the single 'Down by the Water' which is still today a popular radio song. In 1995 talented guitarist Adam Bonello just back from Hollywood Los Angeles after a 3 year USA tour joined the band.
The Album 'The Truth' followed with more gigs and a large scale concert of 6,000 people at the Luxol football grounds (1996), After another break the band started to create new songs for the third Album which came into fruition in (1998) with the title name 'Face to Face' produced by 'Paul Zammit Cutajar and Ray Mercieca' again this ablum got the Characters another Malta Music Award for Best Band in 1998.
The Album followed with another big concert at Luxol grounds. It was another magical night for the band, exactly as the concert held there 2 years before.
After a couple of months the band decided to have a long break...with some gigs here and there but in 2000 the band decided to call it quits for personal reasons. By this time all the Characters had projects with other musicians and Adam left for Australia and New Zealand. In 2005 the band had met to see if there was a possibility to start creating music together once again. The discussions started but took their time, finally in January 2007 the band started to rehearse again.
The band is now performing live once again. 2007 has been a busy year for the band apart from taking part in 'The Malta Jazz & Rock Festival' supporting the legandary reggae band 'The Wailers', plus loads of smaller scale gigs, a small tour in Belgium and Holland and the release of 2 singles 'So Alive' and 'One in a million' both reaching No.2 on two major Maltese radio stations charts and being awarded a Bay Radio 'ICON award'. The band will now focus on writing and recording a new album which is scheduled to be released sometime in 2008.
Stay tuned for more info...