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BIOGRAPHY
The Compulsions are a New York City rock 'n' roll band, formed in the summer of 2002.
Compared to other new bands, the Compulsions offer a grittier, more traditional take on rock music and have won many fans who admire their obvious authenticity.
Critics have compared the group favorably to the Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, the New York Dolls, Lynyrd Skynyrd and many other classic and legendary artists.
They've been hailed by the underground press as "The World's Greatest Obscure Rock Band," "The New Gold Standard For Real Rock 'N' Roll" and "The Heir Apparent To Guns N' Roses' Long Vacant Mainstream Hard Rock Throne."
Since the band's inception, club deejays have spun self-released Compulsions tracks at downtown nightspots like Bar 13, the Delancey, Don Hill's, the Double Down Saloon, Lakeside Lounge, Lit, Motor City, Niagara and Three of Cups.
In December 2004, the Compulsions' Laughter from Below EP was featured on the “Best of 2004†installment of Out of the Box---Jonathan Clarke’s weekly radio show on New York’s Q104.3FM, showcasing “the best in new music and local, undiscovered bands.â€
By 2006, over 100 radio stations across North America added Laughter from Below to their playlists, with album cuts "Down on the Tracks," "Howlin' for You" and "Shake Hands with the Devil" charting at more than 60 influential CMJ/Core stations.
The Compulsions' loud 'n' loose live show has been generating a significant buzz; their final performance at CBGB inspiring one critic to proclaim, "If there is a God, the Compulsions will get signed, then immediately head down to the Mercury Lounge and beat the living sh*t out of each and every member of the Strokes."
The Compulsions are led by New York native, Rob Carlyle (vocals, guitar).
Like many bands in their formative years, the Compulsions have consisted of a rotating lineup; with special guests Jay Dee Daugherty (drums) of the Patti Smith Group, Frank Ferrer (drums) and Richard Fortus (guitar) of the revamped Guns N' Roses and Hubert Sumlin (guitar) of blues legend Howlin' Wolf, to name a few.
In June 2007, Carlyle and longtime Compulsions member, Jon Weber (drums), solidified the lineup with the addition of Brian Gabriel (guitar) and Joe Merrigan (bass). The quartet's first show together was at Make Music New York's citywide street festival.
The Compulsions' Laughter from Below EP was co-produced by Hugh Pool (Deborah Harry) and Ken Rich (Joseph Arthur, Tracy Bonham) at Excello Recording and mastered by Ted Jensen (Lenny Kravitz, Kid Rock) at Sterling Sound.
In March 2008, the Compulsions released Demon Love (aka the Cocaine EP). Demon Love features five new originals: "Betrayed," "Big, Fat, Sexy Mama," "Can't Get Through to You," "Groove On," "My Heart Still Aches for You" and a drastic reworking of J.J. Cale's classic, "Cocaine." Once again, the group enlisted producers Pool and Rich, with mastering by Fred Kevorkian (Iggy Pop, The White Stripes) at Kevorkian Mastering, Inc.
According to the band, the Compulsions plan to put out another CD later this year, tentatively titled Davy Jones' Locker. Among the tracks slated for inclusion are "Demon Love," "Desperation" and a current staple of the group's live set, "Jungle Disease."
More news coming soon.... check back for updates.