the band

The advent of corporate stadium rock has so much to answer for hasn't it? Tiny specs in the distance who, apparently, are the band, overpriced merch, crap wobbly plastic glasses, and about as much connection between band and fans as the Kabul telephone exchange and the Taliban. Remember the days when you could see the whites of a band's eyes? When you could feel the heat rising from the stage? Then welcome to a Little Man Tate gig.

Not that front man Jon, guitarist Maz, Ben the bass and drummer Dan have ever had a problem making the connection. The four lifelong friends from Sheffield spent their teens playing football, drinking, chasing girls together and developing the type chemistry that just can't be manufactured, not even in this X-Factor generation. Captivated by the sounds of Pulp, The Stone Roses, The Sex Pistols, Squeeze and Blur they formed a band for the simple pleasure of playing gigs. The hedonistic, good time ethos that bonded the four together immediately rubbed off on their live performances and very quickly a buzz built up around the band after only a handful of early gigs at the back end of 2005. But word of mouth travels fast and soon news of the Tate spread beyond their native Sheffield and further a field via the band’s website (www.littlemantate.co.uk) and Myspace site (www.myspace.com/littlemantatemusic.com). In the space of couple of months gig attendances doubled, then tripled, and Little Man Tate found themselves receiving plaudits from The Guardian to Rolling Stone.

After their debut single "The Agent" sold out of its 1,800 pressing in March 2006 on pre-order alone it became apparent things were starting to happen for the Sheffield four-piece. Within six months they were signed to V2 and tasting Top 30 chart success with "House party at Boothys". Their incredible ascent to popularity was in no small party to their rabid fans or "Taters" as they became affectionately know, with whom the band developed an incredibly personal relationship. As the band continued to sell out their now infamous live shows up and down the UK, they also started to test the waters in Europe, the US and Japan. January 2007 saw the release of their debut album and a Top 20 hit in the shape of "Sexy in Latin" followed closely on its heels. Meanwhile the band continued gigging including shows in Paris and Amsterdam, a Main Stage slot at last year's Reading and Leeds Festivals, a packed performance at T in the Park and not forgetting supports with The Stereophonics, finishing the year off with a special show at the legendary 3,500 capacity Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.

Now, early 2008 sees the band firmly ensconced in the studio, writing and recording their as yet untitled follow-up to last year's "About what you know". Now fully in control as to where and how they record, the band find themselves in the studio where those first vibrant demos took shape and set them on the road to success. Back in the heart of the city that gave birth to them, the band have rediscovered their zeitgeist. The excitement surrounding the new set of slightly darker and contemporary tunes is tangible and their hunger to take to them road palpable. Combine this with the fact that Little Man Tate have never lost sight of who their fans are and what they want from "the live experience"