DATE: JANUARY 12, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK

KILLERSTAR SHARE THE NEW SINGLE “GOT ME ALL WRONG”
LISTEN HERE / WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
FROM THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM,
OUT MARCH 1ST – PRE-ORDER HERE

LONDON HEADLINE SHOW AT THE 100 CLUB ON MARCH 16TH

“Their sound is distinctively Bowiesque: crunchy power chords leading the way into a supremely catchy tune whose infectious hook will immediately have fans finding parallels with their late idol.”
– Louder Than War (UK)

“…new band with a fresh art rock aesthetic…impeccable musicianship”
– Andy Kaufmann, Music Connection (January 2024)

“A universe where modernist touches intertwine with classic harmonies, guided by the influence of legendary collaborators associated with David Bowie.”
– House of Solo (UK)

As heard on their introductory singles “Falling Through” and “Should’ve Known Better,” Rob Fleming and James Sedge’s new band KillerStar expresses timeless ‘70s musicianship and art-rock invention through a contemporary prism. And if you’re reeling back the years, where better to look for inspiration than the late great David Bowie? The duo have called upon an array of his key collaborators for the project—Earl Slick (guitar), Gail Ann Dorsey (bass), Mike Garson (piano), Emm Gryner (backing vocals), Mark Plati (bass), Tim Lefebvre (bass) and Donny McCaslin (saxophone)—and collectively they’re created the seemingly impossible: a band that’s new and essential for 2024, but also one that channels the creative ethos and independent spirit of the man himself.

Today (January 12), KillerStar take another big step towards the March 1 release of their self-titled debut album by sharing the new single and video “Got Me All Wrong.” Opening with an instant earworm of a guitar riff, it’s a song which has the immediacy of an old favorite: sophisticated pop-rock with a strut in its step, effortlessly cool vocal harmonies, and the space for every musician to bring their personality and flair to the fore. Musicians playing on “Got Me All Wrong” are Rob Fleming (vocals, guitar, synths) and James Sedge (drums) with guests from the David Bowie band: Earl Slick (guitar), Gail Ann Dorsey (bass), Mike Garson (piano), and Emm Gryner (backing vocals).

Rob Fleming says, “‘Got Me All Wrong’ has a groove and a high energy reflective of the lyrics and playful joy of the tune. James and I are joined by ex-David Bowie bandmates and collaborators Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Mike Garson, and Emm Gryner. It was fantastic to have them come together again and work on this new music with us and throughout the whole album. The song ends with something of a musical tour de force of angular crunchy guitar riffs and a virtuoso signature piano solo from Mike.”

Just as the track playfully subverts throwback influences for a new era, the accompanying video does likewise by reimagining visual motifs inspired by the 1920s with a magnetic new performance from Sophie Allen. The video was premiered January 10 by The Big Takeover.

As director JJ Eringa (The Anchoress, Asylums) explains, “What I loved most about the song was its brilliant contrast of angular guitars with swirling sequences that are really quite hypnotic. This video uses sequences from Dada films by Hans Richter, Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray, which I love because this video is an opportunity to do a variation on what they were doing back then, recontextualising materials for a new purpose and giving them new life! This is all built around a brilliant central performance from Sophie Allen, who captured the exact balance of playfulness and undeniable cool that I was looking for, and which I think is present in the song too.”

KillerStar was formed by Rob Fleming (vocals, guitars, synths) and James Sedge (drums) to capture a sound that had previously felt missing: one that linked the current resurgence of psychedelia, the contemporary indie and alternative scenes, and the primal rush of early ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll. While they were definitively David Bowie fans, the idea of assembling a team of his collaborators arose more by chance than design when Rob invited Emm Gryner to contribute vocals before the other members arrived almost fortuitously.

With songs exuding gritty rock ‘n’ roll and time-honoured glamour, the record was full written and arranged by Rob and James before being completed by some suitably top tier collaborators. Mixing was provided by Dave Eringa, best known for his long-term creative connection with Manic Street Preachers, while mastering was provided by Miles Showell at Abbey Road.

The result is the band’s debut album, which is available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on limited edition 180-gram gold vinyl, black vinyl, CD and digital formats.

KillerStar will play a special UK album launch show at London’s 100 Club on March 16th. Rob and James will be joined by three of the key musicians on the album in the shape of Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Mark Plati and Emm Gryner (who will also play an opening solo set) along with keyboardist Dom Beken (Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, The Orb). Remaining tickets are available HERE.

Follow KillerStar:
Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

For U.S. press inquiries regarding KillerStar, contact:

SRO PR:
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

DATE: NOVEMBER 3, 2023

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK

SHARE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “FALLING THROUGH”

WATCH THE IMAGERY-RICH VIDEO NOW HERE

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE OUT TODAY HERE

FROM THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM OUT MARCH 1

PRE-ORDER HERE

HEADLINE ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW AT LONDON’S 100 CLUB
ON MARCH 16

“Crunchy hooks form the bedrock of the track, which weaves together interstellar synths, kaleidoscopic electronic soundscapes and ethereal harmonies.” – Guitar World

“Their sound is distinctively Bowiesque: crunchy power chords leading the way into a supremely catchy tune whose infectious hook will immediately have fans finding parallels with their late idol.” – Louder Than War (UK)

Photo by Jimmy King

As unveiled on their debut single “Should’ve Known Better,” Rob Fleming and James Sedge’s new band KillerStar weaves modernist touches into the classic harmonies and exemplary musicianship of classic rock and art-rock from the ‘70s. And they’ve joined forces team of musicians known for their work with David Bowie: Mike Garson on piano, Earl Slick and Mark Plati on guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey and Tim Lefebvre on bass, Emm Gryner on backing vocals, and Donny McCaslin on saxophone.

Today (November 3), KillerStar take another step towards the March 1 release of their self-titled debut album by sharing the video for their second single “Falling Through.” It’s an ambitious, audacious adventure of a track, a song of two halves which recalls Pink Floyd in the way that it begins as a ballad before taking off on a journey into the cosmos via a soaring saxophone solo from Donny McCaslin (a contributor to Bowie’s Blackstar album). Watch the imagery-rich video HERE and listen to the song, out November 3, HERE.

Rob Fleming says, “‘Falling Through’ is about a moment in time and finding tranquility and taking in the surroundings, the ocean, sky, sun. The song builds and takes a left turn with Donny McCaslin providing soaring saxophone, full of emotion.”

This version of “Falling Through” is a different version to the one that will feature on KillerStar’s debut album, having been remixed as an alternative version by Mark Plati, one of Bowie’s key collaborators on records such as Earthling, Reality, and Heathen.

Rob Fleming (vocals, guitars, synths) and James Sedge (drums) formed KillerStar to express their love of timeless music ranging from the primeval rock n’ roll of the early 1970s to contemporary indie. The array of Bowie collaborators arose partly by design, but mostly by chance. Having recorded a set of demos, Rob asked Emm Gryner to contribute vocals, who, in turn, suggested he should contact Earl Slick. Step-by-step, one Bowie alumni led to another, resulting in Bowie’s spirit sparkling throughout KillerStar’s cocktail of earthy rock and nightclub glamour. The album was produced by Rob and James, mixed by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers), with digital mastering by Joe La Porta and vinyl mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.

KillerStar’s debut album is available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on CD, black vinyl, a limited edition 180-gram gold vinyl pressing, and digital formats.

KillerStar will play a special UK album launch show at London’s 100 Club on March 16th. Rob and James will be joined by three of the key musicians on the album in the shape of Earl Slick (guitar), Mark Plati (bass) and Emm Gryner (backing vocals), and the line-up will be completed by keyboardist Dom Beken (Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, The Orb). Tickets are available HERE.

Follow KillerStar:

Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

For U.S. press inquiries regarding KillerStar, contact:

SRO PR:
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com

KILLERSTAR
NEW BAND WHOSE ALBUM FEATURES KEY DAVID BOWIE COLLABORATORS
SHARE THEIR DEBUT SINGLE
“SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER”
LISTEN HERE AND WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

DEBUT ALBUM OUT MARCH 1, 2024
ALBUM LAUNCH GIG
AT 100 CLUB IN LONDON
SET FOR MARCH 16, 2024

Rob Fleming & James Sedge of KillerStar. Photo by Jimmy King

KillerStar is a new band led by Rob Fleming (vocals, guitar, synths) and James Sedge (drums).  With songs written by Rob and James, the self-titled album features an array of David Bowie’s most trusted collaborators as guests throughout the album: Mike Garson on piano, Earl Slick and Mark Plati on guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey and Tim Lefebvre on bass, Emm Gryner on backing vocals, and Donny McCaslin on saxophone. Collectively they have crafted a sound which fuses the scale of classic rock with sophisticated harmonies and elements of art rock. Today KillerStar share their debut single “Should’ve Known Better” ahead of their debut album, which will follow on March 1, 2024. Listen HERE. Watch the official video directed by JJ Eringa HERE.

KillerStar make a big first impression with “Should’ve Known Better.” It’s an epic song which is rooted in Rob and James’s love of timeless music from the early 1970s to primeval rock ‘n’ roll and sleek hard rock, but its synth textures and driving guitar driven intensity provides a contemporary edge too. Rob’s voice—a vocal delivery filled with drama and conviction—adds another distinctive element, especially as it’s complemented by sophisticated, hook-laden harmonies from Emm Gryner. Mike Garson contributes beautiful avant garde piano, and Gail Ann Dorsey provides driving, melodic bass lines that lock in with the powerful drums from James Sedge.

Rob says, “‘Should’ve Known Better’ contains all the flavours of what we’re trying to do. It has a rock vibe, but with hooks, ambient melodies and layered backing vocals throughout.”

“Should’ve Known Better” was written by Rob, who produced the track with James, before it was mixed by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild) and mastered by Joe La Porta at Sterling Sound.

Collectively, KillerStar’s musicians have contributed to almost every era of Bowie’s vast discography, from the landmark Aladdin Sane to the final goodbye of Blackstar. Although, while the KillerStar name references one of Bowie’s relatively deeper cuts, “Should’ve Known Better” really doesn’t feel like an homage to The Thin White Duke. And that’s simply because it was never intended to be one. Rob and James had recorded the first KillerStar demos independently, without any advance planning on who else would be involved.

Earl Slick says, “Since Bowie died, we’ve all gone off in different directions, but with this album we worked on new material and that was great.”

As you’ll eventually hear on KillerStar’s eponymously named album, there are fleeting touches that recall classic Bowie moments, but really this is something altogether new and exciting. Bowie chose these musicians for their unique style and ability, and that is what they have brought to the record: reunited friends and some new connections, all playing to complement the songwriting rather than to retread the iconic music they created alongside their visionary former leader.

As Emm Gryner considers, “The Bowie alumni have a very special bond and we always will. David united us in a truly special way, where we spent a lot of time together, and to be able to hear each other again in this way was unique.”

KillerStar play a UK Album Launch gig at The 100 Club, London on March 16, 2024.

Montage photo of Killerstar with Guest Bowie Collaborators

Follow KillerStar:
Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

For U.S. press inquiries regarding KillerStar, contact:

SRO PR:
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com