Biography
THE UNION is a new band formed by LUKE MORLEY, formerly the guitarist for legendary UK rock band THUNDER and ex WINTERVILLE vocalist/guitarist PETER SHOULDER
LUKE MORLEYwas lead guitarist, chief songwriter and producer for THUNDER from the band’s inception in 1989 until their split in 2009. Their farewell UK tour was the most successful in their twenty-year history and culminated in an emotional sold out show at Hammersmith Apollo.
THUNDER produced nine studio albums in their twenty years despite a two year hiatus between 1999 and 2001.
Previously he was a member of 1980s group TERRAPLANE.
LUKE released a solo album ‘El Gringo Retro’ in in 2001 and two albums (Moving Swiftly Along’ and ‘Mo’s Barbeque’) with THUNDER singer DANNY BOWES under the name BOWES & MORLEY.
He was also recruited by old friend ANDY TAYLOR to play guitar on a world tour with the reformed POWER STATION in 1997.
PETER SHOULDER was the vocalist, songwriter and musical rudder of WINTERVILLE. He is one of only three British artists (the other two being Eric Clapton and Peter Green) to win a W.C. Handy Blues Foundation award, presented in Memphis in 2006 for co-writing the American Blues Song of the Year.
In 2001 he was signed as a solo artist to SONY in New York as a precociously talented 17 year old on a ‘development’ deal. SONY however, whilst managing to spot his obvious talents failed to make any significant headway so PETER decided to come back to England and form a band.
WINTERVILLE began in 2003 and released several singles and one critically acclaimed album ‘Everything In Moderation’ that didn’t achieve the commercial success it deserved, despite the band being nominated for best new band in the Classic Rock Magazine Roll Of Honour in 2006..
The band inevitably split and PETER decided to step back from the limelight to re-assess his musical orientation and direction. An album’s worth of gentler, more Americana–influenced songs were written over a two to three year period leading up to the UNION’S formation and some of that material has been instrumental in helping forge THE UNION’S sound.
LUKE: 'I met Pete eight years ago and I knew instantly that he had an unbelievable voice that could really move people. He's also a very impressive guitar player. We've worked together ever since whenever our previous commitments allowed us time. When THUNDER decided to call it a day earlier in the year, working with Pete was the most obvious next move for me. It felt like we'd been heading that way for a while so I wasn't about to fight it! The songs we've written so far cover a wider musical territory than THUNDER and it's a wonderful thing for me to be co-writing with someone after so many years of being locked up in a room on my own!'
PETE: 'Working with Luke has always been a pleasure. Whenever we get together it is always a very creative, free and inspiring experience. It's an exciting thing to be working on something new with someone who has already had such an illustrious career to date. It all feels very natural.'
Blogs
Luke Morley
Behind the scenes at Planet Rock
Last Wednesday we headed into Planet Rock radio to talk about the album. We also announced the winner of our 'win a gig in your house' competition live on air. (Congratulations to Jon and Alison!!).
It was, as always a pleasure to chat to Nicky Horne, and our old mate Jason Joyce came with us to capture the occasion with these super shots from behind the scenes at Planet Rock's studios.
Sonisphere 2010
Sam’s Blog from High Voltage - The view from the Street Team part 1
Grumpy old man!!!!!
Pete Shoulder
High Voltage. Nottingham Rescue Rooms. Buckley Tivoli
High Voltage was great
It was lovely to see so many people wearing our T-shirts and singing along in the crowd.
Being the first band on the main stage of a brand new festival was a very exciting thing and the audience made us feel very welcome. So thank you!
Here’s hoping that…
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