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Smokehead Flying High with The Sons of
Icarus
The Sons of Icarus have been crowned the
first ever winner of the UK’s largest
unsigned band competition, the Marshall
Ultimate Band Contest (UBC).
Click here to listen to The Sons Of
Icarus
Sponsored by rock icon Marshall Amps,
the Lick Library and Smokehead Islay
Single Malt Whisky, the UBC came to a
thrilling conclusion, with five
finalists battling head to head at a
live gig at Marshall’s Milton Keynes HQ.
Judged by a panel of influential
industry heavyweights including Ian
Williamson of Classic Rock Magazine, Kim
Waller of The Lick Library and Chris
George, International Demonstrator for
Marshall Amplification, The Sons of
Icarus were voted the unequivocal
champions, winning not only the honour
of being the first ever Marshall
Ultimate Band but also get a full
Marshall Endorsement (previously
bestowed on the likes of Slash and Jimi
Hendrix).
The Sons of Icarus will also receive a
substantial equipment loan, a Limited
Edition bottle of Smokehead Extra Black
each, LickLibrary DVDs, a re-master of
four tracks by famed Metropolis Studio
and a covermount CD by Classic Rock
Magazine.
Described as a modern rock band, The
Sons of Icarus (formerly The Fury) are
based in Guildford and consist of Andy
Masson (vocals/ guitar), Alex Masson
(bass/ backing vocals), Mike McQuillan
(Drums), Steve Balkwill (Lead Guitar),
who study together at the Academy of
Contemporary Music, Surrey. The band
reached the final thanks to fans voting
online and the final was also broadcast
by Lick Library via a webcast and was
viewed by nearly 1,700 visitors.
Paul Marshall, Artist and Customer
Liaison Manager of Marshall
Amplification said: “The Sons of Icarus
are an outstanding band and truly worthy
winners of the Marshall UBC. I am sure
2011 will see the band go from strength
to strength and I understand a
management company is now looking to
sign them.
“A major part of winning the Marshall
UBC is the added exposure it offers
allowing the band opportunities to get
in front of very influential people in
the industry, which otherwise can be
very difficult.
“I would like to thank all the bands
that entered as the overall standard was
extremely high making for a great
evening and some tough judging. I would
urge all the bands out there to look out
for the opportunity to enter the
Marshall UBC 2011.”
Iain Weir, Marketing Director of
Smokehead Whisky and UBC judge said: “We
were thrilled to be able support the
first ever UBC and The Sons of Icarus
were deserving winners. Over the last 12
months we have increasingly grown
Smokehead’s rock credentials, not only
with our work with Marshall and Lick
Library but also by our continued
support of key events in the rock
calendar including the Classic Rock Hall
of Fame Awards.
“The Marshall UBC was a great success
and we cannot wait until Year Two of the
Marshall Ultimate Band Contest - this is
just the beginning.”
Sons of Icarus commented: "We absolutely
loved playing at the Marshall HQ. The
sound was awesome and the guys at
Marshall are some of the friendliest
people in the industry we've ever met.
The competition was fantastically done,
and we couldn't be happier to have won
it. Thanks so much to Marshall, Lick
Library and Smokehead!"
Smokehead Whisky, the powerful Islay
Single Malt which has become the drink
of choice at rock events including High
Voltage Festival and, for the second
time, the Classic Rock Roll of Honour
Awards, which took place at the
Roundhouse in London in November.
Legendary shock-rocker Alice Cooper was
this year’s Master Of Ceremonies, along
with TV presenter and all-round rock fan
Sarah Cawood. Canadian rockers Rush were
honoured with the Living Legend award
(sponsored by Marshall), heralding the
first time a band has won this
prestigious accolade – previous
recipients include Alice Cooper, Ozzy
Osbourne and Iggy Pop. Rock icon Slash
picked up the award for Album of the
Year.
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