Livan
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2007 – present
MembersLivan, Will Crewdson, Damon Wilson, John Robertson, David Ryder Prangley
Websitewww.livan.co.uk

LIVAN is a UK-based alternative rock band founded by Greek-born singer Livan that also features guitarist Will Crewdson (Rachel Stamp, Malcolm McLaren and Johnette Napolitano) and drummer Damon Wilson (Ray Davies, Joss Stone). The band has toured with artists like Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Peter Murphy among others.[1][2][3]

Greek-born Livan (aka Cosmas Livanos)[4] is the grandson of former Greek Prime Minister Panagiotis Kanellopoulos.

Members

Discography

Singles

Studio albums

Democr[i]cy

Happy Returns

Off The Grid (EP)

Off The Grid (Extended)

Beggars and Believers

Reception

Michelle St. James (Shakefire.com) described LIVAN's music as "industrial pop punk/alt-rock" going on to say that it "sounds gritty, raw, and fun with crashing guitar and thumping bass lines".[10] Jack Feerick (Pop Dose) said that the "Happy Returns" album was "currently rockin’ my world down to a nub" and went on to describe the title track as sounding like "the Kaiser Chiefs meets The The with vocals by a slumming Peter Murphy".[11] Rob Smy (Spinner) compared LIVAN to Placebo and Nine Inch Nails.[12] However, Patrick Slevin (Aquarian Weekly) described LIVAN's vocals as an "acquired taste".[13]

Writing for the Associated Press, critic Wayne Parry said "Livan defies easy categorization. His voice has the snarl of Johnny Rotten and the exaggerated bass of Iggy Pop. His shaved head evokes Rob Halford, and his stage presence evokes Freddie Mercury, clad one night in hot pink spandex and combat boots, the next in a leather fringed kilt. And he rocks."[2]

References

  1. ^ "Livan will be the support act for the Aerosmith concert" (in Greek). Greece: MTV Greece. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b Parry, Wayne (8 April 2011). "Four overlooked albums of 2011". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. ^ Robinson, Mara (8 April 2011). "Peter Murphy and Livan". Cleveland Free Press. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Profile / Life-story". celebuzz.com. July 2008.
  5. ^ "Livan working with Kaiser Chiefs producer on album Democrisy". Daily Mirror. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  6. ^ Papapostolou, Anastasios (16 September 2009). "A Greek Londoner with a Checkered Past Comes to Hollywood". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  7. ^ Thomas, Cody R (30 March 2011). "Exclusive Premiere: Goth Rocker Livan's New Song "Undead"". Revolver. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  8. ^ ASIN B004VKRCHE, Off The Grid @ Amazon
  9. ^ ASIN B00C5ZUCBK, Beggars and Believers @ Amazon
  10. ^ St. James, Michelle (26 August 2009). "Livan: Happy Returns (2009)". ShakeFire.com. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  11. ^ Feerick, Jack (24 July 2009). "How Bad Can It Be?: Livan, "Happy Returns"". Pop Dose. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  12. ^ Smy, Rob (25 September 2009). "The Crap Stack: Livan, CIAM, Teenage Bottlerocket". Spinner. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  13. ^ Slevin, Patrick (21 September 2009). "Livan — Happy Returns". The Aquarian Weekly. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

External links

Authority control databases: Artists
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