YOUNG, LOUD AND WITH ROCK’N’ROLL IN THEIR BLOOD

From Cornwall to London, through some of the British capital’s most legendary music venues. Three young musicians, a sound spanning decades of rock history and one simple ambition: to keep playing. The Forty Fours are proof that rock’n’roll has absolutely no intention of retiring.

Some people think rock’n’roll belongs to the history books, dusty old vinyl records and black-and-white photographs. Then along come bands like The Forty Fours, reminding us that there are still people out there who want to turn up the volume, plug in their instruments and have a damn good time on stage.

Our Band of the Month for October is a young British trio who have made their passion for rock’n’roll their calling card. Their story begins in Cornwall, but it is in London that the band really takes shape, eventually finding its way onto the stages of some of the British capital’s most iconic music venues.

The current line-up consists of Ollie on vocals and guitar, Jason on bass and Andy on drums. Three very young musicians: aged 21, 25 and 23 respectively when we met them at the Voodoo Festival in Ca’ Bottona, Italy.

That’s quite an interesting detail, especially considering the amount of rock history behind the music they play.

FROM CORNWALL TO LONDON

The story of The Forty Fours begins with the musical friendship between Ollie and Jason, who started playing together while they were still at school. Their first musical experiences were rooted in rockabilly, but their desire to explore new sounds and broaden their horizons soon led them towards a much wider musical identity.

Rock’n’roll, British beat, garage and those unmistakable vocal harmonies that helped shape British music all became essential ingredients in their sound.

Cornwall, with its beautiful landscapes and early gigs, eventually started to feel a little too small for their ambitions. If they wanted to take things to the next level, they needed a bigger scene. And what better place than London?

Moving to the capital was a major step forward. Around the same time, a line-up change brought Andy into the band. He was also from Cornwall and had already crossed paths with the other two through the local music scene.

According to the guys, his arrival was rather straightforward: a phone call, an invitation to come and play a gig the following day, and a series of shows that eventually made him a permanent member of the band.

As they told us during our interview, Andy came along to play a few gigs and simply never went home.

Sometimes the best rock’n’roll stories start exactly like that.

ONE FOOT IN THE PAST, BOTH EYES ON THE PRESENT

Listening to The Forty Fours is like taking a trip through different eras of British and American music.

Their influences bring together the rock’n’roll of the 1950s, the Beatles’ beat, garage rock and the more energetic sounds of British rock. During one of their shows, it’s perfectly normal to move from Chubby Checker to Deep Purple, with a bit of Little Richard thrown into the mix.

At the Voodoo Festival, we had the chance to hear them perform songs such as the Beatles’ Twist and Shout, Chubby Checker’s Let’s Twist Again, Little Richard’s Good Golly Miss Molly and Deep Purple’s Hush.

A setlist that says a lot about their musical tastes and, above all, their desire to have fun.

But don’t get the wrong idea: The Forty Fours are not a nostalgic tribute act, and they have absolutely no intention of living off the memories of the past.

Their influences are a starting point, not a destination. As they explained to us, they listen to different records, pick up ideas, sounds and little details, and then transform them into something of their own.

Original songs are at the heart of the project. Because taking inspiration from the greats of the past is one thing; trying to create something of your own is quite another.

And these guys seem to know exactly what they want.

LONDON, LEGENDARY VENUES AND THE GHOST OF ROCK’N’ROLL

For such a young band, already having played some of London’s most important music venues is no small achievement.

The Forty Fours have performed at places such as the 100 Club, The Spice of Life and St. Moritz in Soho.

These are not just venues where people go for a drink and some live music. They are genuine landmarks in the history of British rock.

The 100 Club, in particular, is an essential reference point for anyone who loves punk and alternative music. Playing in places like these means sharing a stage, at least symbolically, with generations of musicians who helped shape music history.

The guys see these opportunities as a privilege and a source of inspiration, without feeling crushed by the weight of the past.

They are not trying to compete with anyone, nor are they looking to become the new heirs to some legendary band.

They simply want to do what they love: play music, have fun and, one day, hopefully make a living out of it.

A pretty healthy attitude, especially in a world where everyone seems to want to become famous by next Friday.

THE DEBUT ALBUM AND THE MEETING WITH ROMAN JUGG

Another important step in The Forty Fours’ journey is their debut album, a record that promises to capture all the energy and influences that define the band.

The album features fourteen original songs and two covers, keeping a strong connection with the musical roots that inspired the project in the first place.

And here’s an interesting detail about the recording process: the guys decided to play together in the same room, without a metronome or a click track.

It wasn’t an accidental choice. Their aim was to capture as much as possible of the spontaneity and energy that make their live performances special.

The live experience is something The Forty Fours feel particularly strongly about. For them, listening to a record and attending a gig are two completely different experiences. As they explained during our interview, it’s a bit like watching a film at home compared to seeing it on the big screen at the cinema.

The new material also features a collaboration with Roman Jugg, former guitarist of the legendary British punk band The Damned.

An important experience for three young musicians getting the chance to work with someone who was part of a crucial chapter in British punk history.

They had plenty of good things to say about the collaboration. Roman helped them with valuable ideas and advice, but apparently he also made quite an impression with his dancing skills during the studio sessions.

According to the guys, that was one of the highlights of the whole recording experience!

One track worth checking out is Now She’s Gone, their single and a great starting point for anyone looking to discover the band’s musical world.

THE FORTY FOURS LIVE: ROCK’N’ROLL WITHOUT TOO MUCH OVERTHINKING

We had the chance to see The Forty Fours live at the Voodoo Festival in Ca’ Bottona, Italy, and we can confirm that their energy isn’t just something they talk about in interviews.

On stage, the trio look completely at home, moving naturally between original songs and rock’n’roll classics without ever losing sight of what makes their show work: having fun.

The feeling is that of watching a band that genuinely loves playing music and isn’t particularly interested in following whatever happens to be fashionable at the moment.

Off stage, the guys were just as enjoyable. Our conversation was spontaneous, full of laughs and accompanied by a healthy dose of self-irony.

When we asked them where they would like to be in the next few years, their ambitions included making a living from music, travelling around the world and, above all, coming back to Italy.

And then there’s Ollie’s dream: owning a Ford Escort Cosworth.

Fair enough. After all, if you’re going to conquer the world with rock’n’roll, you might as well have the right car for the job.

ROCK’N’ROLL STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

The Forty Fours are a young band with a musical culture rooted in decades of history. They’ve left Cornwall in search of new opportunities in London, played some important venues and are now building their future through live shows, original material and their debut album.

They aren’t trying to reinvent rock’n’roll, nor are they interested in becoming a modern copy of some legendary band.

They take the music they love, mix it with their own ideas and turn it into something personal.

And perhaps that’s exactly where their strength lies.

Because rock doesn’t need to survive solely on anniversaries and celebrations of the past. It needs young musicians who are willing to pick up a guitar, switch on an amplifier and get up on stage.

The Forty Fours seem more than ready to do just that for many years to come.

And we certainly hope they’ll keep their promise and return to Italy soon.

Maybe with the new album under their arms. And perhaps with that Ford Escort Cosworth.

THE FORTY FOURS: KEEP ON ROCKIN’!