The Sway (London)

The Sway (London) Bio:

The Sway, born out of London suburbia, are David Casson - Vocals and Guitar, Jim Kook - Guitars, Paul Hogan - Bass, Sean Kelly - Drums and Percussion and Matt Smith - Keyboards and Samples

The Sway started life as 'Heavens Echo', in June 1989. At this stage the band were a three piece, consisting of school friends David and Paul and Sean, the fiesty new comer to an established gang of friends. The change of name to The Sway occured in January 1991, following the addition of Jim, a fella seemingly from the right side of the tracks, to the line up.

The boys paid their dues on the London indie scene during 1991 and 1992, which culminated in a deal with Bad Habits records.

Between 1993 and 1995, they went on to headline three UK tours, including two sold out gigs at the legendary Marquee club in London. They also premiered their single and video (for their second EP - Going Blind), at the world famous Planet Hollywod in London.

Support shows with staples on the indie scene, such as Midway Still, Manta Ray, Passion Fruit and Holy Bread, Bang Bang Machine and the Wishplants were a regular occurance and the music press drew comparisons with The Cure, The Bunnymen and The Smiths.

Ian Fortnum of the NME remarked that, "the set's closer, 'Silk', is a bona fide classic; an immense, brooding epic, evocative of vintage U2". High praise indeed.

In May 1995, after over one hundred and twenty shows, two top 100 singles (Silk and Going Blind), one ridiculous video featuring dancing girls (for Going Blind), and seemingly on the verge of fulfilling the prophecy, of being the next big thing, the band called it quits.

The Sway played their last ever show at a live event for BBC radio, in Birmingham City Centre and disappeared.

The decision to go their separate ways is still no clearer but the members remained firm friends throught the years.

In 2006, a comeback attempt was aborted, following some promising demos.

The band did eventually get back in the public eye:

"On the 3rd May 2008, after thirteen years away, all four original members of The Sway, David Casson (Vocals/Guitar), Jim Kook (Guitar), Paul Hogan (Bass) & Sean Kelly (Drums) ventured into the rehearsal studio to plot their return. David Casson, having penned some new tunes, initially to be a solo project, decided, after being approached to play The East Barnet Music Festival , to contact his former bandmates about playing his new songs live and it was agreed and the set will include the new tunes and some old Sway favorites. The band are joined by keyboard player Matt Smith"

The gig was on Saturday 5th July 2008. The Sway had returned big time.....................or so it we thought but this time they dropped off the radar, even more quickly than they had shown back up on it!

So here we are in 2010. Rumour has it the band are once again together, writing and recording the first new Sway material for public consumption, in fifteen years.

Maybe the new songs will provide some clues as to what went on in the past.

The Sway, as well as everything else, are a band shrouded in mystery.