Tom Clarke bought an E-Type Jag to remind him of his grandad, as reported in The Sun newspaper today:
THE ENEMY singer TOM CLARKE already has a No1 album to his name but he isn’t letting the money go to his head.
The Coventry lad’s only big buys have been a flat and an E-Type Jag.
The car didn’t come cheap but his reason for getting it has made him rise even higher in my estimation, says Gordon Smart.
He said: “The only things I’ve spent on are a flat and an E-Type Jaguar.
“I didn’t get it to be flash. It was because in 1972 my grandad used to work in Jaguar’s Brown’s Lane plant in Coventry and I wanted a car he’d worked on. He’s dead now but whenever I look at the car I think of him.”
The Enemy second album Music For The People is out soon (April 27th).
The Enemy time is just right according to The Sun newspaper as Ella Harris gave The Enemy 5/5 and made 'No Time For Tears' the Single of the Week.
THE ENEMY – No Time For Tears:
Anthemic and rebellious, the highly anticipated return from these Coventry boys does not disappoint. With a climatic, momentous chorus and a thumping bass, this track will be a festival crowd pleaser. 5
The Enemy took London by storm with their two nights at Brixton Academy and super fan Lauren had a press pass, allowing her to take some excellent pictures right at the front of the stage. Check out the full set of pictures from the Brixton Gig at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurentphotography/ but here are some of Lauren's pictures.
Lauren is a teenager starting out as a photographer and if these pictures are anything to go by - she has a great future ahead of her. It was a pleasure to see her really enjoying herself (nerves and all) and then sitting with the older photographers. It is with kind permission that the following pictures appear:
THE Enemy were the good guys on Sunday night, playing their brand of indie rock to a packed Margate Winter Gardens.
The trio from Coventry consist of Tom Clarke (vocals/guitar), Liam Watts (drums) and Andy Hopkins (bass/vocals).
Despite having a number one album they’ve never had a number one single and perhaps this is because they sound a lot like every other indie band on the scene at the moment.
Lead singer Tom Clarke boldly swaggered onto stage just after 9pm letting rip on his Telecaster. An already happy crowd had been given 90 minutes to get the drinks in before fraternising with the Enemy.
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your empty plastic glass at a gig you could indulge in a drinking game I’d never seen seen until going to the Winter Gardens and which I’m putting down to youthful exuberance in the mosh pit rather than G20eque rioting. Basically, down your pint and throw your drinking vessel towards the security guards. Kids, eh? They’re obviously used to it because the stage was littered with toilet roll to mop up the offending spillages - they will stand behind Enemy lines.
Another first for me was getting frisked at the entrance.
Apart from those few overzealous rockers, everyone else roared their approval and waved their arms about; one group even created their own mosh pit which had pleased the warm-up band Twisted Wheel (album out April 13, folks).
Gary Collins from Thanet band Crazy Train even turned out to see them, describing Clarke as a young version of Paul Weller.
With sledgehammer drumming from Watts and guitars so angry you can feel the scorn pouring out of the amps, the Enemy feel rather like the Jam. But then Clarke pulls out an acoustic and it’s like listening to an entirely different band.
Take Happy Birthday Jane, for instance; unabashedly different to everything else screamed through the nose in their faux northern accents; drenched in violins and oohs.
I blame Pete Doherty for the accent-riddled indie these days and – along with the Arctic Monkeys – The Enemy are no different.
For instance take the lyrics from We'll Live And Die In These Towns: "Because you can’t have a bath when there’s no hot water", becomes "Cus you can ave a baff when derres no hod wader."
With a stage swimming in backlight and smoke the band present a menacing image, but were clearly enjoying themselves and I have to admit I was too.
Here are the lyrics for The Enemy's 'No Time For Tears' and the video:
The morning after the revolution PC 1525 tells me there’s no real solution. Bruised ribs and a ripped up jacket, money all in the road. Some man with a big fat mouth screaming while I’m on my way home!
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane.
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane.
There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world. There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world.
Gettin back to an empty flat, head thumping even more, screwed up wrappers from a take away dinner scattered all over the floor. This isn’t glamorous, it’s not rock n roll, this is England on a Saturday night, this is a nation’s soul!
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane.
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane.
There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world. There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world.
A VIRTUALLY sold out Oasis Leisure Centre rocked to the sound of chart topping indie band The Enemy last night.
A massive cheer went up from the crowd as supporting act Kid British left the stage and the previous tour venues came up on the big screen above the stage eventually stopping at Swindon and the band appeared.
Playing to an almost packed hall at the Oasis Leisure Centre The Enemy let the music do most of the talking, with their frontman Tom Clarke simply saying “Swindon make some noise.”
He was joined by drummer Liam Watts and bassist Andy Hopkins – all of them hail from Coventry. Fans sung along to the band’s hits such as Away From Here and We’ll Live and Die in this Town.
Hannah Rugg, 24, had come from Bath because she is a fan and was impressed by the supporting act Kid British.
“I didn’t see the first band, but the second band everyone seemed to absolutely love, they pretty much rocked the place” she said.
She also said that the atmosphere and lighting was great with some people even crowd surfing and that she now plans to buy their album.
“There are people doing the surfing on top, the security guards are going nuts, but everyone’s loving it.
“It’s big smiles all round, it’s a good old night.”
Caroline Copestake, 20, of Cheney Manor, had come with her university friends, and agreed that Away From Here had been the best song so far.
“My sister-in-law got me the tickets for a Christmas present and I started listening to them more,” she said.
“It’s going really well, but it’s getting packed.
“I think it needs to be a bigger place.
“When they played Away from Here the whole crowd just went mental.
“Swindon needs to expand in terms of venues, clearly everyone wants to see good bands.”
Sixteen-year-old Brittany Abi-Nader, of Stratton, had come because her boyfriend Sam Howitt, also 16, from Station Road, town centre, had got tickets
“I just started getting into them, we quite liked Pressure,” she said.
Sam added: “I think they deserve to be big, I think they should play in arenas.”
The band shot into the charts with songs like Had Enough and You’re Not Alone and their debut album We’ll Live and Die in this Town went to number one.
Now they are now touring the UK to promote their new album Music For the People.
THEY might be called The Enemy – but they are rugby league team York Lokomotives’ new best friends.
In what is believed to be a first in sporting sponsorship history, the chart-topping indie rock stars have agreed to be the main shirt backers of the innovative amateur rugby club.
The trio, whose debut album We’ll Live And Die In These Towns went straight to number one in the UK charts, will now have their name emblazoned across the front of the Lokos’ strip.
It is another coup for the pioneering New Lane-based club, who last year became the first team from York to join amateur rugby league’s Summer Conference and, who, after a season in which they reached the Yorkshire division’s grand final, won a special award from the nationwide league for their off-field administration.
Lokos’ commercial manager Bruce Wray – who was introduced to The Enemy through a family member who works with them – said the Coventry-based band loved the city of York and were happy to support the club.
“When I asked if they would like to get involved with the Lokos they were pleased to do so,” he said.
“We think it’s a major first – no other band as big as The Enemy have ever sponsored a club before. It’s a first for rugby league, not just the Lokos. It’s probably a first for sport.
“The fact they’ve also chosen an amateur club over a professional club is great for us.”
The Enemy had a secret gig at the Stone Roses Bar in February to air new material on their second album, Music For The People, which is released later this month.
The single, No Time For Tears, is released next week and is already being tipped as a potential number one.
They will be supporting Oasis on tour in the summer and are also due to be guests on cult Sky Sports football show Soccer AM soon – when they might wear the Lokomotives shirt.
The Lokos’ new season starts at the beginning of May. They will be holding a plush sportsman’s dinner tomorrow at the Park Inn, York, where the new shirt with The Enemy’s sponsorship will be unveiled.
THESE days, in theory, you can meet all your musical requirements without ever having to step through the doors of what some of us still want to refer to as a record shop but, convenient as that might be, it would deny you one of life’s great pleasures.
I spent an afternoon leafing through the CD racks of Head in Leamington this week, a treat slightly soured by the fact that it coincided with Arctic Monkeys hour on the store stereo.
Here’s the band who are currently the accepted litmus test of cultural credibility (if you don’t like them, apparently, you don’t know what you’re talking about) but, in truth, are a morose, desperately mundane bunch whose pretensions and limitations are glaringly exposed when you are force-fed their album track by monotonous track.
Compare and contrast The Enemy’s Music for the People – much anticipated follow-up to We’ll Live and Die in These Towns – which is due out on April 27 and will surely confirm the Coventry trio as the British band most likely to graduate to world class.
That assessment, to be honest, is based on two in-car commutes along the M6 and A14, not the most relaxing of playback environments, and could well be coloured by parochial prejudice.
But any fears that they would be unable to match the standards they set on their chart-topping debut are triumphantly blown away by ten gloriously diverse tracks (well, 11 actually, but we’ll come back to that).
1. Elephant Song: A howling feedback overture gives way to thunderous riff – not so much elephantine as mastodonic – reminiscent of Led Zep’s finest hour When The Levee Breaks.
2. No Times for Tears: The first single (released on April 13) opens with tinkling piano before developing into another irresistible anthem tailor-made for this summer’s stadium stint with Oasis.
3. 51st State: The sort of tuneful polemic that you might expect from Paul Weller on one of his good days.
4. Sing When You’re In Love: More delicate piano enriches a gem of restrained romanticism with a beautifully plaintive chorus.
5. Last Goodbye: An initially bleak acoustic ballad is lifted by a full strings onslaught and a soaring chorus with more than a hint of Bon Jovi (no, really).
6. Nation Of Checkout Girls: The subject matter and the feel of the song positively scream Pulp (never a bad thing!)
7. Be Somebody: Perhaps the track closest to We’ll Live And Die – clever, catchy, impeccably radio-friendly.
8. Don’t Break The Red Tape: a bluesy riff leads into a Jam-style chorus – the acceptable sound of anti-establishment angst.
9. Keep Losing: Similar in style to Last Goodbye and, for no reason you could rationalise, conjures up echoes of Richard Hawley.
10. Silver Spoon: Basically an extended psychedelic chorus that will inevitably invoke comparisons with Oasis’s Be Here Now period but will stir memories of Quicksilver Messenger Service for older listeners.
Now all of the above, of course, is clumsy shorthand, at best hopelessly subjective, at worst downright misleading (it’s difficult, not to say criminally irresponsible, to compose a cogent critique when you’re negotiating the Catworth interchange) but the sheer quality of the album is beyond all reasonable debate.
If we went in for such ratings, in fact, it would only surrender half a star because it comes complete with a hidden track, nearly four minutes after the unsuspecting listener had been fooled into thinking it was all done and dusted.
The unlisted song is a delightful addition, a wistful scrap of one man and his piano crooning from Tom Clarke, but why confuse the customer by hiding it away?
When you’ve polished off your all-day Full English at the local greasy spoon you don’t linger around for five minutes on the off-chance that the waitress has secreted an extra sausage behind the brown sauce.
An album as rich and uplifting as Music for the People certainly doesn’t require such irksome affectations.
Hundreds of revellers descended on Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Monday evening to see one of the region’s finest bands play the first of two sold out dates.
The Enemy, Coventry’s self proclaimed indie/punk rockers, waltzed on stage like it was their own.
Their set was more punk than indie, kicking off with a high octane version of Elephant Song, followed by a host of album favorites including Away From Here and Had Enough, which whipped the crowd into a state of ebullience.
The arrogant swagger of frontman Tom Clarke was reminiscent of a young Liam Gallagher, just before it all took off for Oasis in the 90s.
It begs the question, will his band follow in their footsteps and achieve similar commercial acclaim?
The answer, probably, is no. Oasis were a once-in-a-generation phenomenon and it’s hard to see The Enemy ever scaling those heights.
But judging by the welcoming of a new plethera of songs from their upcoming album, Music For the People, with new single No More Tears raising a thunderous applause, it would seem that the future looks rosy for now.
Such energy and passion only seems to come out of those few bands that really know their own identity and clearly The Enemy have great vision and confidence.
No doubt a string of live dates across the country ahead of an appearance at this years V Festival at Weston Park, Staffordshire, will further add more followers to their already-growing fanbase.
Chart topping band The Enemy will be leaping from The Oasis in Swindon to a tour with Brit pop band Oasis in June.
The rock band who shot into the charts with such singles as Had Enough, You’re Not Alone and Away From Here, are touring the UK to promote their new album, For The People.
Drummer Liam Watts said: “It is an evolution from our first album. It tells of what we have done and all the experiences and emotions that we have been through in the past two years, and how the state of the world effects us, our friends and families.”
Many youngsters follow in their father’s footsteps when it comes to a career choice and Liam was no different. His father was a drummer and his grandfather was a drummer, so bashing hell out of a saucepan lid was second nature right from the word go.
“I picked it up quickly and there was always a drum kit in the house,” said Liam.
The boys have supported a number of top names including Manic Street Preachers, Kasabian, Stereophonics and The Rolling Stones.
“We were over awed watching The Stones but all the bands made it an enjoyable experience and we would give 100 per cent every night.”
Much as he loves touring with the guys and the crew, Liam says he is glad that when they come to Swindon it will be a hotel tour.
“The bus is full up of sound and lighting men so we are driving. It means I can have a shower straight away and not wait in a queue of 15 other guys - that is not pretty. we are like a big touring family and we get a good vibe only when everyone is happy. There is always a football on tour for a kick about.”
The band found once they signed to Stiff Records in 2006. Liam admits: “It was right place, right time, but we had the tunes to back it up.”
Their debut album, We’ll Live And Die In These Towns, went to number one in the UK album chart.
The boys all hail from Coventry and Liam still lives there.
“I think I will live and die here, it’s home,” he said.
The drummer says the band are all looking forward to coming to Swindon.
“We love playing places we haven’t been before and making new fans,” he said.
Both in-stores will be entry by wristband only and these will be only be available from HMV Coventry and HMV Cardiff from 8am on the day of each event. Only one wristband per customer, while stocks last.
The Enemy continued their UK tour with a Saturday night gig at Rock City in Nottingham. Fans were not left disappointed with a good mixture of classic tunes from 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns' plus three new tunes from the new album 'Music For The People'.
The Enemy, Kid British and Twisted Wheel @ Rock City, Nottingham
'No Time For Tears' stood out as Emma provided her stunning voice to backing vocals, easily winning over the lads in the crowd with her equally stunning looks! It looks like fans may be copying the video by throwing cans and various liquid objects onto the stage, even Emma had to dodge a can - yet still managed to smile.
Kid British and Twisted Wheel worked well as support acts and managed to still put on a good set with limited room to move on stage. Next up, Birmingham on Monday(30) and Tuesday(31)............
The Nottingham crowds going wild! Liam Watts Tom Clarke Liam Tom Tom enjoying the set Andy Hopkins Liam again! Tom blasts out the lyrics
The Enemy front man Tom Clarke has claimed that they saw the global recession coming with 2007 debut album 'We’ll Live And Die In These Towns'.
In this week’s NME cover feature, Clarke explains how the current economic conditions will make their songs about provincial working class poverty even more relevant than before.
He said: "We did see it coming early, and there were a lot of people who didn't get the band because of that. I think there will be a lot more people now that see the relevance of the first album, let alone the second."
However, Clarke does not claim to have all the answers to recovery as well.
"I'm not a politician and I don't know," he continued. "I'm very good at just pointing out what's happening… like, I know when I see car workers being given an hour's notice, which is what happened last month (at the Mini factory in Cowley), that that’s out of order. But actually changing the country is a seriously hard job, and people don't actually give politicians enough credit."
The Enemy release new album 'Music For The People' on April 27. To read our whole interview, check out this week’s issue of NME, on UK newsstands now.
Viewers have been posting their comments to The Enemy's 'No Time For Tears' video, which was uploaded on March 9. How would fans react to the first track from the eagerly awaited second album 'Music For The People'?
Here are a selection of comments from those who have watched the video:
"I wasn't sure of this tune listening to it when people had just recorded it off the radio and put it on you tube, but listening to it clearly it's immense." - xabigleeson
"In my opinion a pretty good song, not sure how it bodes for the album though. They seem to have followed the Kings of Leon down the "over the top stadium rock" road, which is slightly worrying." - DKsmiles
"it's a song that when you hear it the first time you know its going to grow on you" - lfcnumber5
"this'll be the one that'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!" - lazygymbunny
"WOW! the video is great!such a mammoth tune." - iluvrocklol
"absolute tune!!!! never a big fan of The Enemy but might have to review that situation after hearing this song!!" - ashcroftisgod
"This song was made for stadiums!!!!" - rossco0804
"This song is bloody epic. It's made of win and I love it." - diablo169uk
"Yes! This is what I love to see! proper music by a proper band!" - bubz123
"Brilliant song , one of the there best." - chrissyrfcrfc
"Good song! But he tries to sing like Liam Gallagher... No one can equal Liam." - FanaticalMusicFan
"I think this song is too ambitious and doesn't work. They sound like Oasis attempting to do U2 during their Achtung Baby/Zooropa era." - WalsallGooner
"When I first heard this I didn't think much of it at all, but after a few more times I proper love it wicked Tune!!!!" - BobbyGeorgeColes
"Complete rip off The Clash well pi**ed off that you lot think The Enemy are great!!!!!" - jr4eh06
The morning after the revolution PC 1525 tells me there’s no real solution Bruised ribs and a ripped up jacket, money all in the road Some man with a big fat mouth screaming while I’m on my way home!
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane
There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world
Gettin back to an empty flat, head thumping even more, screwed up wrappers from a take away dinner scattered all over the floor. This isn’t glamorous, it’s not rock n roll, this is England on a Saturday night, this is a nation’s soul!
We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane We’re gonna get out the city, we’re gonna get out the way, we’re gonna cash in the kitty, we’re gonna get on a plane
There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world There’s no time for tears when ya live in the real world
La mañana después de la revolución PC 1525 me dice que no hay solución real Las costillas y contusiones arrancado una chaqueta, el dinero en la carretera Algunos hombre con una gran boca grasa gritando mientras estoy en mi camino a casa!
Vamos a salir de la ciudad, vamos a salir del camino, vamos a dinero en efectivo en la olla, vamos a tomar un avión Vamos a salir de la ciudad, vamos a salir del camino, vamos a dinero en efectivo en la olla, vamos a tomar un avión
No hay tiempo para lágrimas, cuando ya vivimos en el mundo real No hay tiempo para lágrimas, cuando ya vivimos en el mundo real
Poniendo de nuevo a un piso vacío, la cabeza aún más golpes, follar hasta envoltorios de llevar la cena esparcidos por todo el piso. Esto no es glamoroso, no es rock n roll, se trata de Inglaterra en un sábado por la noche, este es el alma de una nación!
Vamos a salir de la ciudad, vamos a salir del camino, vamos a dinero en efectivo en la olla, vamos a tomar un avión Vamos a salir de la ciudad, vamos a salir del camino, vamos a dinero en efectivo en la olla, vamos a tomar un avión
No hay tiempo para lágrimas, cuando ya vivimos en el mundo real No hay tiempo para lágrimas, cuando ya vivimos en el mundo real
The Enemy’s Tom Clarke played a secret gig on March 21st in Manchester.
The singer played a range of covers during his set, and you can watch his version of Oasis' 'Half The World Away' (interspersed with snippets of Inspiral Carpets' 'This Is How It Feels') by scrolling down now.
Playing Manchester's regular Saturday tea party at the TV21 venue, the free gig was a civilised affair with audience members offered homemade cakes and tea in China cups.
Hosted by Inspiral Carpets organist Clint Boon and his wife Charlie, the tiny room was filled to capacity for the short set that included tracks from The Enemy's debut album.
Featuring former singles 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns' and 'You're Not Alone', the short set also included a cover of Blur's 'Tender'.
Talking to NME.COM before the show, Clarke revealed why he and his bandmates decided to play their 'secret' tour of the UK recently.
"We get a massive buzz out of it, like when we first started out. When you're doing pub gigs and little things like this, it's just you, the mic and then the person in the front row and it's proper intimate," he explained.
"When you can see into someone's eyes when you're singing it's amazing. Although there is a lot to be said for massive venues, ultimately these types of gigs are what I get off on the most."
In Manchester to play two sold out nights at the Academy and accompanied by bandmate Andy Hopkins, the duo still found time to sign autographs for fans at TV21 – as well as sample some of Charlie Boon's homemade cakes. They then headed off to soundcheck at the Academy.
The Enemy played:
‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ ‘Tender’ ‘You’re Not Alone’ ‘Half The World Away/This Is How It Feels’
Watch fan footage of ‘Half The World Away'/'This Is How It Feels’ from the show below.
The Enemy with support from Kid British and Twisted Wheel put on a mighty performance at Manchester Academy over the weekend as the pictures show in the previous post. Here are a selection of videos from the evening - fans will be pleased we have the FULL video of 'No Time For Tears' along with other favourites.
These videos were recorded nearer Andy Hopkins side of the stage and capture him in action throughout the gig, plus plenty of crowd shots as fans enjoyed The Enemy performance.
The Enemy - No Time For Tears - Live @ Manchester Academy
The Enemy - Away From Here - Live @ Manchester Academy
The Enemy - Sing When You're In Love - Live @ Manchester Academy
The Enemy - This Song - Live @ Manchester Academy
The Enemy - You're Not Alone - Live @ Manchest Academy
Kid Britsh - She Will Leave - Live @ Manchester Academy
Twisted Wheel - Strife - Live @ Manchester Academy
A modest Tom Clarke
