Robots With Knives

We are Robots With Knives...a new evolvement from our old band Kathryns Rowing Machine. KRM was an emo style alternative punk type thing...Robots are very similar, but a bit more hardcore.

We have different songs, different band setup...same passion.

Back in April 2003, somewhere round about Wolverhampton, England, 3 friends Richard Sadler, Andy Whittingham and Dave Purcell formed a band called Kathryns Rowing Machine. Andy also known as Ag (the Fag) and Dave (Cube) attempted vocals, Cube also tried bass and Sadler was the guitar player. They sucked. So, they teamed up with drummer Ant Woods and a bassist by the name of GD and by mid June that year got their first gig supporting The Blueprint. By Christmas, KRM had racked up FIVE appearances at the Little Civic, a Generation Live gig at the Wulfrun Hall and a couple of gigs at the Gifford Arms and at a local school, but the band were going downhill. University commitments meant Ag and Cube could hardly practice and Richard, Ant and GD wanted to progress, in a somewhat heavier direction. By New Year, KRM had split but a new band was already beginning.

The name Robots With Knives was chosen after just a couple of practices in January 2004, in an MSN conversation. It was a long hard process but it could have been much worse. The name of Little Blue Tractor was imminent for a mere 5 minutes. Anyway, we spent 2 long hard months practicing amongst ourselves, GD now on guitar alongside Richard, and we also spent these months searching for a bassist and a lead singer. By end of April, RWK tried out several bassists, Ash from Buellton, a 28 year old dude from Whitmore Reans called Steve Hewitt, and then a kid called Ellis. No one seemed to match our requirements. Eventually GD went to the extremes and taught his girlfriend Hayley Kyte the basslines and because she is so musically talented in other areas (piano, violin, sax) she picked them up really quickly. At the moment this is how the band is holding up, a singer is still required but for now GD and Sadler provide the vocals...almost.

We played our first gig on 8th June. It was ace, we had some really memorable gigs with KRM but im sure theres many to come this time around.

Our musical influences are very wide and diverse. GD's favourite bands are Muse, Blur and Skunk Anansie, whereas Richard likes a lot of unknown stuff, And None Of Them Knew They Were Robots, Cap'n Jazz, Spy Versus Spy etc, Ant loves Poison The Well and From Autumn To Ashes, and Hayley likes The White Stripes, Muse and Foo Fighters. The band sound as a whole could probably be most likened to Yaphet Kotto, Thursday and MeWithoutYou...with various other elements from bands such as Hell Is For Heroes, Poison The Well, Norma Jean and other hardcore/punk bands thrown in. It's very strange.

GD uses a Vintage SG, and occasionally Richards ESP, a Marshall MG250, and Korg Toneworks FX. Sadler uses a Fender Telecaster, any amp he can find, and a Boss (i think) Overdrive/Distortion stompbox. Hayley uses GD's Stagg BC100 bass, and any available amps, and Ant uses his own kit, with broken cymbals most the time. Can't remember the makes.