Longview - Mercury (2003)

On a Cricklewood backstreet there is a beacon amongst the broken down, brick ballasted vehicles and the regiments of roller shuttered garages. A shining bright light box bearing the baffling legend COMPANY IMAGE ANDORT. Behind the sign is a refuge. It was here that, in 2009, Longview came to die.

In the history of Longview we find encapsulated, the story of the music industry in the 21st century. The band was born in Manchester in the autumn of 2001 and in the autumn years of the industry as we all knew it. The young band got involved with a tired old major label regime that was chasing its tail as digital youth was pulling the rug out from underneath. Whilst balking at the hoops Longview were made to jump through by their label 14th Floor, front man Rob McVey, drummer Matt Dabbs, bassist Aidan Banks and guitarist Doug Morch somehow managed to carve out an impressive live career and one critically lauded album named Mercury...