The Fallen Leaves

Purveyors of raw garage played with passion rather than precision, the Fallen Leaves are very much based around Rob Symmons' distinctive discordant, stinging guitar sound as well as Rob Green's vocal style, reminiscent of Italian-American crooners such as Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Their preference is to use vintage valve amps & mics, and recording live with no overdubs and minimal technology. The Fallen Leaves hark back to DIY punk days and concentrate on delivering impressive songs and performances. Classic British beat such as The Who, Kinks, and Rolling Stones have been cited as influences, as well as The Pretty Things, The Outsiders and the Downliners Sect.

The Fallen Leaves are a British garage rock group that formed in Richmond, London in 2004. The group was formed by Rob Symmons (dustbin guitar) and Rob Green (vocals) now with ex Chords drummer, Brett "Buddy" Ascott and bassist, Matthew Karas.

Symmons, along with Vic Godard & Paul Myers, was a founding member of Subway Sect appearing on their classic 45's 'Ambition' & 'Nobody's Scared' . During the recording of the first Subway Sect album, manager Bernie Rhodes sacked the band except for singer-songwriter Godard. Myers went on to play bass with Steve Jones and Paul Cook in the Professionals. Symmons, unable to retrieve his guitar from the band lockup, gave up professional music for over twenty years until persuaded out of retirement by old friend, Rob Green. Green had built a reputation singing at Bernie Rhodes' "Club Left" and by performing with Vic Godard's later version of the Subway Sect, notably supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Music Machine in 1980.

Green and Symmons had been writing songs together on various occasions and in 2004, spurred on by a shared love of 60's garage, stylish vintage suits, and their long-held belief that a good idea played badly is better than a bad idea played well, got into action. The first incarnation of the Fallen Leaves featured Paul Myers on bass, and for a number of their first rehearsals, Paul Cook on drums. Cook could not commit to the band and for a couple of years drummers and bassists came and went frequently.

The Leaves made their debut at the Stripes Bar at Brentford Football Club - opening for Vic Godard & The Subway Sect. They had "King" James Bradley on drums, and played a five song set - High And Dry/Trouble/Back To You/Repetition/Revenge. They subsequently appeared at the Monk Club in Richmond over the course of the next few months. In August the band ventured out of London to support The 5,6,7,8's in Nottingham.

Pete Townshend offered the band some free studio time at his Eel Pie Studios, near Richmond. The band, with a session drummer, quickly recorded the three tracks that would become the "Trouble" E.P.