Intro2 was born from the desperation of Steve Leonard and Pete Warden to make a life from music and be heard. From writing and recording timeless future classics, dodgy demos were thrust enthusiastically into the hands of perspective band members. The first drummer and bass player to show a passing interest climbed on board without hesitation, and with Matt Ware and Dave Nanson Intro2 was slapped into life.
The cold part of 2001 became rehearsal time for the band, and a whole set of edgy pop rock american radio rip-offs were thrown into an energetic set, performed by a band of mates who had found a tightness and groove that gave their live performance a genuine life and vibe, and something very different to the nu-metal that had just exploded onto the music scene at the time. Lee Phillips of 4Ground (www.myspace.com/4ground) recognised the talent and became the band's manager. Gigs and fan base began to grow rapidly. Music lovers of London and Kent agreeing that the 4-piece were carrying the torch of classic British rock bands; the less is more approach, the plug in and play attitude, the un-choreographed spontaneous spasmic moves of all those holding instruments and feeling every note.
Demos were recorded, gigs were played and genunine industry interest grew. But like all good record deals, writing good songs and playing tight live shows wasn't enough: you need a 'product', something to show the decision makers that you have everything a signed band needs, minus the contract. Intro2's product came along in the form of a music video. But anyone can make a music video. But not everyone can get their music video played on music TV.
With Lee's tenacity and wealth of knowledge of the entertainment industy, the band managed to enlist the help of Norman Lovett, comedian and actor most notable for 'Holly' in the BBC's 'Red Dwarf'. His enthusiasm for the video, the band and the music was thrown in the genral direction of Craig Charles, also of 'Red Dwarf' fame, with Danny John Jules of the same show bringing up the rear. Together they provided outstanding cameo roles in the music video, partly in character. Attracting the attention of Red Dwarf fans worldwide and the shows producers, the video went on to be aired on MTV Europe and Asia and Canada's 'Much Music', and even on BBC Radio 6 courtesy of Craig Charles' funk show.
And so the fans grew, as did the band and the music. Hopes were high after this notable success, but perhaps too high. With both Sony and Roadrunner records in attendance at the video premier party and the subsequent live show, frustrations grew when an offer of a deal did not materialise. Intro2 had achieved more in their 2 years than most bands manage in a lifetime, but to the band in felt like a lifetime. What next?
The simple fact remained that if you could not secure a record deal with a video on MTV, a set full of awesome edgy fresh songs, a website hit rate of around 1000 per day and a promise of inclusion on a film soundtrack, then you were probably never going to secure a record deal. With that thought buried deep in the back of everyone's minds, and rapidly burrowing it's way to the forefront of everyone's thoughts, band feelings began to sour as rapidly as the bond and music had grown. The band were itching to take the next step, but with blame blindlessly thrown around the ladder had been burnt.
And so Intro2 became another cliché. Another band who came so so near, yet remained so so far, too far to keep going. Intro2 spontaneously combusted unceremoneously in the winter of 2003 and never recovered. Was it a lack of patience? Did they have too much too soon and get greedy? Was there a lack of demand for their style of music? A combination of all and more most probably. It is interesting that their style of melodic, punchy and edgy sing-a-long-a rock could slot straight into the charts now....ahead of their time? We like to think so.... ;)
Unlike most cliches however, Intro2 have left a legacy. The now infamous music video, 'Clear', can be found talked about all over the internet for what it achieved, and most notably for it's inclusion as a bonus feature on a BBC DVD of Red Dwarf Series VIII. Before the end Intro2 also managed to record 12 of their finest songs, selected from a much larger set, but 12 songs which best sum-up what the band were about: exciting, edgy, melodic and fresh rock that music lovers of any genre persuasion could enjoy. And so we create this space, this small corner of the internet, to document and acknowledge the existance of a band who you have never heard of, yet who genuinely deserve an acknowledgement for their achievements. We hope you enjoy the leftovers.
