There are two bands called "The Romans":
(1) The Romans were one of … Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands called "The Romans":
(1) The Romans were one of Los Angeles' first super-groups with members of the budding art/punk scene sweeping Southern California in the early 80's. With members from Human Hands, Monitor, BPeople, The Deadbeats, 45 Grave, Consumers, Tikis, the LAFMS and Green On Red, The Romans added a unique voice to the "LA Punk" movement. While the explosive chemistry of The Romans was short lived, with only 2 full-length LPs ever recorded (their second LP produced by Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate), band members went on to make rock history with Mazzy Star and Opal. On the debut release, The Romans were Mikey Borens, Pat Delaney, Juan Gomez, Keith Mitchell, and Michael Uhlenkott, and was engineered by the legendary Paul Cutler. Their debut 1983 LP, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE was released on cd with 8 bonus tracks by Warning Label Records.
(2) Powerful and very talented band from Maaseik, Belgium, which make music in the best tradition of Hüsker Dü, the Lemonheads, the Posies and Therapy!.
The two brothers Laurens & Chris Leurs and their friend Frank Coonen become runners-up in the 1988 final of Belgians biggest talent contest, Humo's Rock Rally. After the mini-album Ball & Chain (Produced by Kloot Per W) and the full album Trigger Happy, they take a retreat. They perform as backing vocals for other Belgian Artists like De Mens, Ze Noiz and The Paranoiacs.
In 1993 they hit back real hard with "Major Panic". Not less than four singles are released from this album : "Down down underground", "Fire Brigade" (a Move cover), "Minneapolis" and "My friend Stan" (a Slade cover), all of which got raving critics and wide airplay. They tour the country extensively (e.g. as the opener for Iggy Pop).
Or as Knack put it in a review of the album "the Romans have plotted their revenge together with producer Paul Despiegelaere (see Machines). "Major Panic" plays in the first league of the best Belgians of all time and is miles ahead of almost everything that went through our hands in the last half year. That much praise is due to six songs of outstanding quality and their fine harmony in singing and living. They had it already and they found it again."
In an article in Humo, the band is introduced as follows : "After the very good album"Trigger Happy" The Romans have been without a record contract for two years , so with less gigs, so with less airplay, so with less screaming teenagers in skintight jeans, because that's how it goes. That is incomprehensible because (1) the new Major Panic is an excellent rock album and we wish the nitwit in the record company who caused the break a lot of itch and a short arm, and (2) in the meantime countless other groups in the world have had the opportunity to dump countless tons of shitty records on the world."
1996 sees the release of another good album "Be my star" with the brilliant single "Someday Cindy" and "How slow" and "I am the liar". Jacky Huys said about this record "We've always liked the chaps from the Romans, even though the guitar-rock on Be my Star isn't really up-to-date and it begins to appear they've definitively missed their train to Top-ville".
1998 has the next Romans album and a move to a new record company : Oyster Records. El Diablo was received well by the press, but apart from the curious single ""Space Girl", which faired very well in De Afrekening, the album didn't cause much of a stir. As the bio says : "But The Romans don't let it go to their heart, as their primary concern is not 'becoming famous' but writing songs with a capital 'S'."
Although their talent is well-appreciated by the alternative rock-audience and recognized by the critics, they haven't managed to produce a breakthrough to the general audience or markets abroad. But as Laurens Leurs said in 1993 "I am glad with our position as underdogs. It is the most comfortable position to be in as a musician. I don't want to have to prove myself constantly. ... The Romans will never be the next big thing.".
In april 2000 The Romans compiled the best of their material they have recorded in the period from 1989 until 2000 on acompilation album, called "So Far". There even is the release of a single, "Burn 2000", a new version of the song that appeared on the mini-album "Ball & Chain", got a lot of airplay but never got out on single-format.
In his latest newsletter to the fans, Laurens Leurs said "After 12 years of sweating, labouring, amusing us, rehearsing, manifesting us, we make a round-up of what the Romans have done to this day. This brings to an end an important period of the Romans. What now?! With this, the pages of the nineties' book is definitely turned over. New ambitions need to found, new goals to be set. "You gotta walk and don't look back".
Only a few weeks later, the decision was made : The Romans split. The reason are no "artistic differences", "ego-clashes" or solo-plans, but a feeling that everything has been done.
Members :
- Laurens Leurs (vocals, guitars)
- Chris Leurs (vocals, bass)
- Frank Coonen (drums)
(1) The Romans were one of … Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands called "The Romans":
(1) The Romans were one of Los Angeles' first super-groups with members of the budding art/punk scene sweeping Southern California in the early 80's. With members from Human Hands, Monitor, BPeople, The Deadbeats, 45 Grave, Consumers, Tikis, the LAFMS and Green On Red, The Romans added a unique voice to the "LA Punk" movement. While the explosive chemistry of The Romans was short lived, with only 2 full-length LPs ever recorded (their second LP produced by Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate), band members went on to make rock history with Mazzy Star and Opal. On the debut release, The Romans were Mikey Borens, Pat Delaney, Juan Gomez, Keith Mitchell, and Michael Uhlenkott, and was engineered by the legendary Paul Cutler. Their debut 1983 LP, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE was released on cd with 8 bonus tracks by Warning Label Records.
(2) Powerful and very talented band from Maaseik, Belgium, which make music in the best tradition of Hüsker Dü, the Lemonheads, the Posies and Therapy!.
The two brothers Laurens & Chris Leurs and their friend Frank Coonen become runners-up in the 1988 final of Belgians biggest talent contest, Humo's Rock Rally. After the mini-album Ball & Chain (Produced by Kloot Per W) and the full album Trigger Happy, they take a retreat. They perform as backing vocals for other Belgian Artists like De Mens, Ze Noiz and The Paranoiacs.
In 1993 they hit back real hard with "Major Panic". Not less than four singles are released from this album : "Down down underground", "Fire Brigade" (a Move cover), "Minneapolis" and "My friend Stan" (a Slade cover), all of which got raving critics and wide airplay. They tour the country extensively (e.g. as the opener for Iggy Pop).
Or as Knack put it in a review of the album "the Romans have plotted their revenge together with producer Paul Despiegelaere (see Machines). "Major Panic" plays in the first league of the best Belgians of all time and is miles ahead of almost everything that went through our hands in the last half year. That much praise is due to six songs of outstanding quality and their fine harmony in singing and living. They had it already and they found it again."
In an article in Humo, the band is introduced as follows : "After the very good album"Trigger Happy" The Romans have been without a record contract for two years , so with less gigs, so with less airplay, so with less screaming teenagers in skintight jeans, because that's how it goes. That is incomprehensible because (1) the new Major Panic is an excellent rock album and we wish the nitwit in the record company who caused the break a lot of itch and a short arm, and (2) in the meantime countless other groups in the world have had the opportunity to dump countless tons of shitty records on the world."
1996 sees the release of another good album "Be my star" with the brilliant single "Someday Cindy" and "How slow" and "I am the liar". Jacky Huys said about this record "We've always liked the chaps from the Romans, even though the guitar-rock on Be my Star isn't really up-to-date and it begins to appear they've definitively missed their train to Top-ville".
1998 has the next Romans album and a move to a new record company : Oyster Records. El Diablo was received well by the press, but apart from the curious single ""Space Girl", which faired very well in De Afrekening, the album didn't cause much of a stir. As the bio says : "But The Romans don't let it go to their heart, as their primary concern is not 'becoming famous' but writing songs with a capital 'S'."
Although their talent is well-appreciated by the alternative rock-audience and recognized by the critics, they haven't managed to produce a breakthrough to the general audience or markets abroad. But as Laurens Leurs said in 1993 "I am glad with our position as underdogs. It is the most comfortable position to be in as a musician. I don't want to have to prove myself constantly. ... The Romans will never be the next big thing.".
In april 2000 The Romans compiled the best of their material they have recorded in the period from 1989 until 2000 on acompilation album, called "So Far". There even is the release of a single, "Burn 2000", a new version of the song that appeared on the mini-album "Ball & Chain", got a lot of airplay but never got out on single-format.
In his latest newsletter to the fans, Laurens Leurs said "After 12 years of sweating, labouring, amusing us, rehearsing, manifesting us, we make a round-up of what the Romans have done to this day. This brings to an end an important period of the Romans. What now?! With this, the pages of the nineties' book is definitely turned over. New ambitions need to found, new goals to be set. "You gotta walk and don't look back".
Only a few weeks later, the decision was made : The Romans split. The reason are no "artistic differences", "ego-clashes" or solo-plans, but a feeling that everything has been done.
Members :
- Laurens Leurs (vocals, guitars)
- Chris Leurs (vocals, bass)
- Frank Coonen (drums)
Green Onions
The Romans Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Green Onions' by these artists:
Blues & The Brothers All right people. The rest of the hard working all…
Blues Brothers All right people. The rest of the hard working all…
Blues Brothers and Friends All right people. The rest of the hard working all…
Dave All right people, the rest of the hard working All star…
Paul Shaffer All right people. the rest of the hard working all…
The Blues Brothers All right people. The rest of the hard working all…
The Blues Brothers Band All right people. the rest of the hard working all…
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Unknown Miscellaneous Railroad Bill And The Kitten Railroad …
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Romans:
Black Floating free suspended aimlessly Emptiness, but I don't fee…
Happy Who else is sick and tired of all these fucking…
I Hates Rabbits Alright everybody we're gonna tell them what it's really lik…
I Will Call Mindless. This mindless flesh that devours, it keeps me boun…
Moonlight I don't need your help I don't need your love I don't…
Searching I always knew I'd never reach perfection, and if I ever…
Tequila Cuando tuve uso de razón Me llamaron la atención La cerveza …
This Is Real I give you my love but you won't take it I…
Those Oldies but Goodies Those oldies but goodies reminds me of you The songs of…
To Those Who Know I'm checking off the list Of what could be done Was there…
Uh Huh Gotta take the shame from my back It's a hard enough…
What Gives What you give to me Give to me What you give to…
What Gives? What you give to me Give to me What you give to…
Wild Wild Party D Spent a little time in the 208 G Growing…
You Do Something to Me You do something to me Something that simply mystifies me …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Kevin R
I got to see Harry's band about 5 times back in the mid 70s and the last time in 1981 when I was in high school and college, and I was learning my way around my own horns, before he (HJ) really got sick. Needless to say it was special, and I'm not exaggerating.
People talk about bands like this and how nice it would be if they would come back. They won't. And the reason why is probably not what most people would think.
The musicians exist to do it. There is no shortage of top flight players who could cut it.
But being able to read and cut some charts isn't a band. A band only becomes a "band" when there is enough of a demand for it to exist, which means playing out in front of audiences 5-6-7 nights a week for weeks and months on end... enough time for guys to totally get to know each other and get used to how all 16-18 of them play, and feel a piece of music the same way, and then be able to do it with about 200 arrangements in the books, that are unique to, and were specifically written for the band playing them. They aren't playing published, commercially available jazz band arrangements that are played (and usually butchered to some extent) by just about every other band.
What you are witnessing in this video isn't just just a bunch of guys who got together and found a way to relax their way through a (fairly simple) blues.
What you are watching is a true legacy band and its leader, who had by this point been leading a band CONTINUOUSLY for 25 years that had firmly established "its own thing". And as the years came and went, different guys came in and others left and they were replaced. But in the process of all that time and experience and evolution, the band also built of a book of a couple thousand charts, most of which had also come and gone. Along the way an identity came into being, that was all its own.
So, as decades of recordings and videos prove, that doesn't just happen overnight. And as easy as it looks, it's far from easy to make happen. Chaos and confusion, louder, higher and faster are easy. Simple, direct and subtle can be and usually is far more difficult to achieve.
As one wise arranging teacher once told me, go ahead, write all you want. Get the chart done right to the last final barline. Then take a good look at it and erase about half of what you wrote. What's leftover will be the real music. Once that's done the hard part begins - getting it played by musicians who are sympathetic to what your intentions are as its composer / arranger.
Gene Trujillo
Harry James getting NASTY! Love it! He was a childhood hero - he could play so fast, so high. He could do it all, and all class. What swagger here!
The clarinet solo knocked it out of the park.
Amazing take on a classic. Thanks for sharing.
Kevin R
I got to see Harry's band about 5 times back in the mid 70s and the last time in 1981 when I was in high school and college, and I was learning my way around my own horns, before he (HJ) really got sick. Needless to say it was special, and I'm not exaggerating.
People talk about bands like this and how nice it would be if they would come back. They won't. And the reason why is probably not what most people would think.
The musicians exist to do it. There is no shortage of top flight players who could cut it.
But being able to read and cut some charts isn't a band. A band only becomes a "band" when there is enough of a demand for it to exist, which means playing out in front of audiences 5-6-7 nights a week for weeks and months on end... enough time for guys to totally get to know each other and get used to how all 16-18 of them play, and feel a piece of music the same way, and then be able to do it with about 200 arrangements in the books, that are unique to, and were specifically written for the band playing them. They aren't playing published, commercially available jazz band arrangements that are played (and usually butchered to some extent) by just about every other band.
What you are witnessing in this video isn't just just a bunch of guys who got together and found a way to relax their way through a (fairly simple) blues.
What you are watching is a true legacy band and its leader, who had by this point been leading a band CONTINUOUSLY for 25 years that had firmly established "its own thing". And as the years came and went, different guys came in and others left and they were replaced. But in the process of all that time and experience and evolution, the band also built of a book of a couple thousand charts, most of which had also come and gone. Along the way an identity came into being, that was all its own.
So, as decades of recordings and videos prove, that doesn't just happen overnight. And as easy as it looks, it's far from easy to make happen. Chaos and confusion, louder, higher and faster are easy. Simple, direct and subtle can be and usually is far more difficult to achieve.
As one wise arranging teacher once told me, go ahead, write all you want. Get the chart done right to the last final barline. Then take a good look at it and erase about half of what you wrote. What's leftover will be the real music. Once that's done the hard part begins - getting it played by musicians who are sympathetic to what your intentions are as its composer / arranger.
3D smash
Thanks for taking the time to write this. As a non musician, it makes perfect sense and makes me appreciate the great bands of the past all the more.
William Silva
Amen
Bill Thehat
just curious man, where'd you get to see them? I mean HJ was a truly extraordinary musician. Gotta tell ya, I envy you having seen them live! Holy Smokes!
nyterpfan
OUTSTANDING post---these guys didn't just hook up one night and start jamming--it took YEARS of playing together to be able to sound this great!!
Sergey Podkin
Thanks!
nyterpfan
WOW--these cats are really laying a groove--awesome swing arrangement of a classic tune--it might even outdo the original if that's possible!!
cr 95
@bluesboy macman Yeah.. Tough shit!!!
nyterpfan
@bluesboy macman No lie dude--I think it's better, if you don't like it, tough shit!!