Zico Chain released a well received mini album in the spring of 2006, and their appearance at Download that summer showed there was heaps of potential; just those who turned up maybe didn’t get it yet. Our reviewer Andy Latham, who has seen them several times since, wrote at the time: “The Zico Chain are doing everything right but it seems they have a struggle on their hands to win over the public. They are a great band that are bursting with energy and purpose and they chuck out some blinding riffs, give them a chance you won't regret it!”
As summer 2007 approached, we caught them on tour in Manchester, with Andy saying: “Zico Chain are making steady progress through the ranks, since playing Download Festival last year they've supported the Deftones, recorded their debut full length album and embarked on an extensive headline tour of the UK. Word seems to be spreading too as there is a healthy crowd in Manchester's Retro Bar.”
Full review here
One year on, back at Donington and the times they were achanging: “It's a big leap for Brighton based Zico Chain, moving from the third stage last year to opening the main stage at this year's Download Festival. Traditionally
Friday is one of the quieter days in terms of numbers so it's good to see that there's a decent sized crowd assembled in front of the main stage, which includes a couple of Zico Chain flags.”
Read the full review here
At the same time as Download the band were on tour with Velvet Revolver, and that period stands out as the year’s highpoint. “Rolling into Donington with our childhood heroes Slash and Duff from Velvet Revolver, playing the main stage, then heading out to play the SECC Arena in Glasgow the next day, then receiving a video of them on American TV a week or so later with them saying we were a great band.”
Oxegen followed, with
Guilfest also on their schedule, all part of the build up to the release of their full length debut album. Reflecting on Oxegen a short time after, Chris Glithero told us: “It was wicked actually, it was a bit of a strange one though considering it was in Ireland, I thought it would be a big party but they closed all the bars at 10. It wasn't quite the festival experience we were after but it was alright, we got to go out in Dublin and play a show so it was all good.”
The touring continued through the summer, with a rotating headline trek with Ghost Of A Thousand and Flood of Red. The night we saw them, back in Manchester, they were on first, read more
here.
‘Food’ arrived in the autumn, and was the climax to their hectic touring we expected it to be. Read a review
here.
The guys say their plans for next year are to “Record album number two ASAP and get it released summer 2008. Then, tour tour tour!” So you’ll be reading plenty more about Zico Chain over the next year here on Room Thirteen.
For the other bands we’ve featured so far this month
click here.