Posted on: June 5, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 3

Man Raze, a newly formed rock outfit featuring Phil Collen of Def Leppard, Simon Laffy from Girl and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols, have announced the release of their full-length album “Surreal” on June 3, 2008 via VH1 Classic Records. 

Mixing the raw energy of the Pistols mixed with the immaculate pop rock of Def Leppard, Man Raze is a unique clash of 70’s simplicity with 80’s excess, punk clubs with stadium rock. Whether it’s the punk vibrancy of “Turn It Up”, the beautiful rock craftsmanship of “Every Second Of Every Day” or the reggae-soaked dub mix of “Runnin’ Me Up”, Surreal is an album that continuously pumps out the rock hits that these three members are most notorious for.

Recently, Man Raze filmed a private show in Los Angeles that will premiere on VH1 Classic.com later this year. The band plans to launch a U.S. tour in 2008. “The fun part about Man Raze is that musically we can go off in any direction from rock to alternative the next,” said Phil Collen. We are looking forward to playing live this fall.”

Before joining Def Leppard, London born Phil Collen played in Girl, who were one of the great unsung UK rock acts of the early 80’s (singer Phil Lewis would later front LA Guns – who were at the vanguard of the LA sleaze rock scene that eventually produced Guns N Roses). While Phil went on to join Def Leppard he maintained a strong friendship with Simon Laffy, Girl’s bassist. Reconnecting in 2004, and joined by Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, Man Raze was born. Eschewing their illustrious past, the band have spent the past two year getting back to basics, writing and recording – they also played a sold out show at London’s Spitz Club and released a limited edition EP Skin Crawl in October 2005 on their own label, Surrealist Records in the UK. To learn more about Man Raze and their music, tour dates, sign up for their street team, go to www.ManRaze.com

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of rock, soul and pop artists from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, including The Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more.  Learn more at www.vh1classic.com.

3 People reacted on this

  1. As is often the case, the most exciting and inspiring new music regularly comes from the most unexpected of sources. You see, Man Raze is not your average debut artist – they are a band whose members have already achieved multi-platinum sales worldwide in previous guises but are going back to their roots in the form of a straight up rock three piece.

    Man Raze is:
    Phil Collen (vocals/guitar) – Phil joined Def Leppard in 1982, and with band mate and best friend Steve Clark was able to create the bands highly influential and incredibly successful trademark dual guitar sound. Def Leppard have sold over 60 million albums world-wide to date. 20 years on from the release of their seminal “Hysteria” album, the band are fresh out of a sold out UK arena tour and critically acclaimed new album “Songs From the Sparkle Lounge”.

    Paul Cook (drums) – Founder member and mainstay with one of the most influential bands of all time – the Sex Pistols. The band’s 1977 album “Never Mind The Bollocks…” has launched a thousand imitators and is constantly name checked by generation after generation of musicians. Paul Cook has also played with the likes of Johnny Thunders, Edwyn Collins and Greedy Bastards (alongside Phil Lynott and Scott Gorham) and is currently back touring with The Sex Pistols.

    Simon Laffy (bass) – long time friend of Phil Collen and member of Collen’s pre Def Leppard outfit Girl. Simon handles the bulk of Man Raze’s production duties also.

    “Surreal” is a band at its very best. From the punky punch to the face opener “This Is” to the dub tinged “Runnin’ Me Up”, from the pop fused “Every Second Of Every Day” to the angular guitar rock of “Skin Crawl” (originally a limited edition single in late 2005), from the dirty riffage of “Turn It Up” (already used extensively across ESPN sports channel) to the mid tempo ballsy chorus of album closer “Shadowman”, Man Raze is much more than a sum of its parts. Freed from the expectations of their former (or current) outfits, the band can play whatever they like. The sound is truly eclectic – a mix of the classic and contemporary influences that have shaped the individual members as musicians – From the Police and Trojan Records through to Bowie and Nirvana. All recordings are self recorded and produced.

    Already given a critically acclaimed release in the USA, the UK album will come with a special European edition bonus disc. The bonus disc will feature 5 previously unreleased tracks – You’re So Wrong, Low live in Burbank 08, Turn It Up (Deep Dub), Runnin’ Me Up (Instrumental Dub) and Can’t Find My Own Way – Live Acoustic (Gary Crowley show).

    Man Raze are set to tour the UK in late 2008

    Wed 3rd Dec Manchester Roadhouse 0871 2200 260
    Thurs 4th Dec Birmingham Barfly 0844 847 2424
    Mon 8th Dec London, Barfly 08444 771 000
    Tues 9th Dec London, Water Rats 08700 600 100

    Tickets are priced £9 (London £10), subject to booking fee. Tickets available through http://www.barflyclub.com (both Barflys), http://www.gigsandtours.com (Manchester) and http://www.ticketweb.co.uk (Water rats). Doors will be at 7pm. Man Raze will be onstage at 9pm. Support tbc

    “Surreal” is released through Surrealist Records on the 17th November 2008. Surrealist Records is released in the UK by Essential Music & Marketing

    http://www.man-raze.com http://www.myspace.com/manraze

    For further information: Duff @ Duff Press 020 77367611 / 07904 385308 [email protected]
    Regional: Jon @ Duff Press 020 7736 7611/ 07772 377127 [email protected]

  2. Hello. I have been looking for s physical address ( not home off course) to mail Phil Collen a one of a kind t shirt i created for him but i can not find any in usa. Could you give me SURREALIST RECORDS physical address so i can mail it there? Thank you.

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