The band's final line-up consisted of David "Alfie" Jackson (vocals, guitar), Bryn Fowler (bass) and Edwin Harris (drums). The Holloways, having a rest after touring the UK 2010. Alfie, (see pix) chanced his arm on DJ deck's and span some funky tunes & shook a leg-with 7'3' fine artist Pandemonia, at Zoe Griffin Christmas bash at 5 star Montcalm Hotel, Marble Arch, London. Mr Jackson music choice, had the likes of actress Nikki Sanderson, Dynamo mr music magic himself, Baby D, Miss Frank, Prince Cassius, Amy Studt, Heaven Sent Thugs, singer Lula, Scott Cornwall, celebrity personal trainer Shaun Stafford, life coach Ali Campbell and world record breaker Michael Perham, whooping it up. Sept their performing at FashArt Charity Gala dinner at the Natural History Museum in aid of Caudwell Children.
The previous shows earlier this year were Sun, 04 Jul Cazfest Bishops Stortford, 09 July The Box Crewefirst, Sat 10 July Boots Feel Good Festival in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at Boots HQ, Thane Road, Beeston, following on from their stage appearance 2010 was on 27 Feb, at "Lets Rock Cancer" at Leadmill, Sheffield, DJd at Camden Lock's Proud venue for the fund raiser for homeless charity "Shelter" and to raise the profile of the campaign to save the BBC 6 Music station, that's earmarked by Corporation bosses for the chop, and played a gig at The Dirty South, Lewisham on 1 April to a packed house. The guys are ready to follow up 2009 tour-that closed with 36 gig UK tour in Nov/Dec, that was spread over 5 weeks, plus the extra dates, when they accompanied the band Shed7 on 7 out of 10 dates of Shed's tour, finishing on 22 Dec.
On 2009 tour, they performed and promoted their new album "No Smoke, No Mirrors". Prior to their UK tour, the guys have recorded and released their video of single "Jukebox". They appeared once on Big Brother Little brother and were asked back a second time for the eviction night. All in all the band are excited after their successful tour in Britain playing their new material from their Album as well as classic Holloways anthems to very enthusiastic audiences.
They appeared once on Big Brother Little brother and were asked back a second time for the eviction night. All in all the band are excited after their successful tour in Britain playing their new material from their Album as well as classic Holloways anthems to very enthusiastic audiences. Full Biog
Feeling reborn is a rare treat; but The Holloways resilience in recent times has led to what feels like a rebirth. Reaping such a rare reward was the first step along the clear path that now lies ahead for a band who once again have much to smile about; not that The Holloways had stopped smiling - not for very long anyway. "The sun doesn't always shine" is one of the band’s phrases to live by; along with "everything happens for a reason”.
In the early months of 2009, Alfie and Bryn were busy recording additional new material to kick-start the year. By April they decided to start actively seeking new members and as luck would have it, in the very first rehearsal they found guitarist Mike Baker, who - after playing just one song with the band - had done enough for Alfie and Bryn to make up their mind. The following day Edwin Harris set up his drums and did a quick warm up and before even playing a song, the decision again, was easy. Luck had clearly swung back in The Holloways’ favour and a new lease of life took the boys into the studio for a couple of hectic weeks before doing a few gigs and recording 3 brand new songs and they’re back doing what they do best - playing music.
2008 had been soul destroying for the band. Much conspired to prevent full scale releases of the exciting new material recorded at the legendary Sawmills Studio. The biggest setback was the long, drawn out legal battle across the pond involving their stateside former label TVT.
The darkest hour before the dawn came in December with a lot of smoke as The Holloways' home - Nambucca - caught fire. Much was lost in the fire - practically everything. This was the final straw for Dave and Rob who felt the end had come with nothing seeming to go the band's way. However, the founding members - Alfie and Bryn - felt the previous 3 years of good fortune by far outweighed the 12 months of bad fortune; and having weathered the storm, they concluded "2009 has to be good. Yin and yang and all that." - The sun doesn't always shine indeed.
The Holloways had an exciting start to life with the critically acclaimed debut - "So This Is Great Britain?” - and 2007 saw the band storm sold out shows across the UK with singles Dance Floor, Generator and Two Left Feet pumping on the radio airwaves.
Now, the energy and the bond in the band has seen the boys enjoy an intense schedule which is already relighting many fires ahead of the release of the new album – No Smoke, No Mirrors – which is due for a September release.
Everyone is massively excited for the summer schedule; the boys will be back on the road gigging the brand new set featuring songs from the forthcoming album alongside the classic Holloways favourites.
Fuck Ups
The Holloways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you can bet he'll tell me all about the time he fell from Heaven to Hell
Well, I don't wanna listen but he tells me all the same
This altruistic culture ...
Leave me alone, you're not a dog, I'm not a bone
But you're gonna bury me with your total misery
And when I'm out on Saturday with Charlie and Bill
... if I will or I won't, if I do or I don't
Nothing is for definite and nothing is for sure
I am getting desperate as I am getting poor
Look, here comes another drunk with a face longer than bin Laden's
And he has drunk so much alochol he can no longer get a hard-on
Not that he'd ever get a chance to use it
Women are intelligent and he is stupid
Lost and lonely he will remain, no amount of alcohol will wash his misery away
And when I'm out on Saturday with Charlie and Bill
... if I will or I won't, if I do or I don't
Nothing is for definite and nothing is for sure
I am getting desperate as I am getting poor
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
With their stories and their tears, and their cigarettes and beers
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
I think they're killing me with their grim reality
Well, a thirty-three year-old grandma comes up to me and says,
"My family's gonna take over this council estate
If we keep on giving birth at this rate
I could've been a great-great-great-grandma by the age of seventy-five
And I will be clad in Burberry, I don't care if I'm dead or alive,
I don't care if I'm dead or alive."
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
With their stories and their tears, and their cigarettes and beers
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
I think they're killing me with their grim reality
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
A lot is going wrong, you'd better sing along
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
(You fucked up fuck ups!)
The Holloways’ song “Fuck Ups” is a commentary on the frustrations and challenges of dealing with everyday, ordinary people and the hardships they face in life. The lyrics begin with a man approaching the singer with a “sorry story” about how he “fell from Heaven to Hell.” The singer expresses his reluctance to listen to another person’s sad tale, but the man persists in telling it anyway. This leads the singer to become increasingly annoyed and exhausted by the constant stream of people who want to share their problems with him.
The chorus of the song speaks to the way that the “fucked up fuck ups” are “fucking [the singer] up” with their stories, tears, cigarettes, and beers. The singer feels overwhelmed and oppressed by the reality of the people around him, and he seems to be struggling to find a way to escape from it all. The verses of the song add more detail to this picture of everyday life, with mentions of drunks who can’t get hard-ons and women who are having too many babies on the council estate.
Overall, the song is an expression of frustration and a kind of despair at the state of things in the world. It is a reflection of how hard it can be to deal with other people’s problems, especially when it seems like there is no way to fix them. However, it also communicates a sense of empathy and understanding for those who are struggling, suggesting that the singer is not completely immune to the suffering of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, here comes another man with another sorry story to tell
The singer is tired of hearing people complain about their problems.
And you can bet he'll tell me all about the time he fell from Heaven to Hell
These people always exaggerate and make it seem like their problems are much worse than they actually are.
Well, I don't wanna listen but he tells me all the same
The singer feels obligated to listen to these people even though he doesn't want to.
Leave me alone, you're not a dog, I'm not a bone
The singer wants these people to stop relying on him as an emotional crutch.
But you're gonna bury me with your total misery
These people's problems are constantly weighing on the singer's mind and affecting his own emotional state.
And when I'm out on Saturday with Charlie and Bill
The singer goes out with his friends on Saturdays to escape from these kinds of people.
... if I will or I won't, if I do or I don't
The singer is unsure if he will have a good time with his friends or not, as he is constantly burdened with other people's problems.
Nothing is for definite and nothing is for sure
The unpredictability of life is causing the singer a lot of stress and anxiety.
I am getting desperate as I am getting poor
The singer's financial situation is making him even more stressed and desperate to escape from these people.
Look, here comes another drunk with a face longer than bin Laden's
The singer encounters a lot of people who drink too much and are very unhappy.
And he has drunk so much alochol he can no longer get a hard-on
This man's alcoholism has taken a physical toll on his body.
Not that he'd ever get a chance to use it
This man is so unhappy and unattractive that he has no chance of finding a sexual partner.
Women are intelligent and he is stupid
The man's lack of success with women is due to his own shortcomings.
Lost and lonely he will remain, no amount of alcohol will wash his misery away
This man's problems are too deep-seated to be solved by drinking.
Well, a thirty-three year-old grandma comes up to me and says,
The singer encounters people from all walks of life who burden him with their problems.
"My family's gonna take over this council estate
This woman is obsessed with her own family and their social status.
If we keep on giving birth at this rate
The woman believes that having a lot of children will increase her family's power and influence.
I could've been a great-great-great-grandma by the age of seventy-five
The woman is obsessed with the idea of having a large and powerful family tree, even if it means sacrificing her own health and well-being.
And I will be clad in Burberry, I don't care if I'm dead or alive,
The woman equates material possessions with social status, even in death.
All the fucked up fuck ups fucking me up
The singer is overwhelmed and stressed out by all the unhappy and troubled people he encounters.
With their stories and their tears, and their cigarettes and beers
The people the singer encounters are often drinking and smoking to cope with their problems.
I think they're killing me with their grim reality
The singer feels like he is being dragged down by other people's unhappiness.
A lot is going wrong, you'd better sing along
The singer is encouraging the listener to join him in expressing frustration and despair about the state of the world.
(You fucked up fuck ups!)
The singer is using profanity to emphasize his anger and frustration with these kinds of people.
Contributed by Kaelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.