There are at least 2 bands named the martyrs:
1. The Martyrs, one of Champaign-Urbana’s influential rock bands of the 1980s, announced the release of their new CD containing their debut album remixed, remastered with new bonus tracks.
Forming the band while schoolmates at Champaign Central High School, The Martyrs quickly became an important part of the vibrant, fertile and nationally recognized Champaign-Urbana, Illinois original rock music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Read more on Last.fm …read full bio
There are at least 2 bands named the martyrs:
1. The Martyrs, one of Champaign-Urbana’s influential rock bands of the 1980s, announced the release of their new CD containing their debut album remixed, remastered with new bonus tracks.
Forming the band while schoolmates at Champaign Central High School, The Martyrs quickly became an important part of the vibrant, fertile and nationally recognized Champaign-Urbana, Illinois original rock music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. C-U was mentioned in similar breathe with Athens, Georgia as a wellspring of original post-punk pop talent, and was labeled “The Pop Capital of the Midwest.”
The culmination of The Martyrs’ impact was the release of their eponymously named LP record containing 13 original songs, including the regional radio hit “Offtrax” which enjoyed regular airplay for years on stations such as WPGU.
The Martyrs had a lasting impact on Central Illinois music with a legacy of spawning a generation of young musicians in the region, and paving the way for teenage bands to be taken seriously with booking in high-profile clubs and other music venues.
2. The Martyrs were formed in July, 2007 by Mick Arrell and Jonny Roe. Both musicians finding themselves bandless at the time after their former projects fizzled out, the two old friends decided to start working together on a blues/rock oriented project. Many beers and low quality basement recordings later, they recruited fellow Portland musicians Corey Distler and Michael Wood.
This line up played the Portland bar and club scene for almost a year and a half, gaining fans and sharpening their songwriting skills along the way. Jonny Roe was having a difficult time and decided to leave the band in January 09 due to creative differences and tensions within the group. Tragically, he died less than 1 month later at the age of 22.
After an 8 month stint with lead guitarist Noah Kite, The Martyrs have evolved into a sturdy, Guitar/Keyboard driven quartet after the addition of Keyboardist Sarah Howell. They continue to play, write, and grow as musicians while keeping alive the memory of Jonny Roe.
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…shrink me down again
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