News -
Boston Calling: The Real Kids - kick start European tour tonight in London!
If you are a journalist, etc. and would like to gain press list entrance to any of the club shows, please contact Matt@dirtywaterrecords.co.uk
John Felice grew up in Natick, Massachusetts, as a neighbor and friend of Jonathan Richman, a fellow fan of the Velvet Underground. At 15 he joined Richman in the first line-up of the Modern Lovers in the early 1970s. He performed with the band intermittently from then until 1973. Commenting on Richman, Felice has said, "Me and Jonathan, as close as we were, you know, I was like a punk, I was a wise-ass kid. I liked to do a lot of drugs, I liked to drink, and Jonathan was like this wide-eyed, no-drugs, ate nothing but health food..."
After befriending Johnny Thunders and a failed audition for his favorite band The New York Dolls, Felice then decided to start his own band and formed The Real Kids (originally named the Kids) in 1972, with Rick Coraccio (bass), Steve Davidson (guitar), and Norman Bloom (drums)
They became a successful live band in the Boston area, playing "an aggressive brand of straight-ahead, no-bullshit rock which harkened back to Chuck Berry, had overtones of the British Invasion groups at their mod finest, yet pointed the way towards the Punk to come". In addition to Felice's own songs, they performed versions of classics by Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and others. The band did not record until 1977, when it comprised Felice, Billy Borgioli (guitar), Allen "Alpo" Paulino (bass), and Howie Ferguson (drums). Their first studio album,The Real Kids, was issued on the Red Star label in 1977; it was later reissued by Norton Records.
First appearing at Boston clubs in the early '70s, the Real Kids would eventually become a local institution by 1977, but a lack of real sales would lead to a breakup, a re-formation, and a more complete breakup -- all within six years. However regional and fleeting the Real Kids' success was, they were pivotal enough to influence many in the Boston rock scene, as well as spin off into a number of other acts.
The band continues to perform throughout the United States and are gaining a newer, younger audience who discovered the 1977 debut album through various outlets such as Satellite Radio, YouTube, Pandora, etc. and especially the new record which was masterfully produced by Rick Harte. The band have currently just got back from Oakland, California after appearing at the infamous Burger Boogaloo festival. The band will launch their tour tonight in London, with 10 straight shows after in France and Spain! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these rock legends.
Real Kids Tour Dates
29-juin England London Nambucca Dirty Water Records
30-juin France Caen Portobello Rock Club
01-juil France Paris Petit Bain
03-juil France Bordeaux BOOTLEG
04-juil Espana Madrid El Sol
05-juil Espana Alicante Stereo Alicante
06-juil Espana Valencia Loco Club
07-juil Espana Barcelona Marula Café
08-juil Espana Irun Plaza Urdanibia open air free
09-juil France St Etienne Rochetaillée Rochefest
The Real Kids play the Dirty Water Club with special guests Atomic Suplex and Scraps June 29th at Nambucca, 596 Holloway Road, N7 6LB London, United Kingdom
