More (British Band)

More (British Band)

More were a UK heavy metal band who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in the early 1980s. They recorded two albums and two singles, and opened the 1981 Monsters of Rock festival at Donington Park.

Initially the band was fronted by vocalist Paul Mario Day, who had sung in an early incarnation of Iron Maiden.

By the time of their second album, Frank Darch and Laurie Mansworth had left, the latter going on to form the band Airrace. Andy John Burton was recruited as the new drummer and the band became a four-piece. Bassist Brian Day also left during the recording of the second album, to be replaced by Barry 'Baz' Nicholls.

Following Paul Mario Day's subsequent departure from the band, the line-up of Cox, Nicholls, Burton and vocalist Mick Stratton released a 7" single called "Trickster" in 1982, before splitting up.

Kenny Cox revived More briefly in 1985, with vocalist Ron Jackson, guitarist Mel Jones, bassist Baz Nicholls, and Paul George on drums.

A further attempt to reform the band occurred in the spring of 1998, with Mike Freeland featuring on vocals. A track called "My Obsession" was recorded by this incarnation of the band, but they split up shortly afterwards in the year 2000.

In 2011, Andy John Burton recruited Baz Nicholls (bass; joined More in 1982), Mike Freeland (vocals; part of More's 1999 line-up), Paul Stickles (guitar; also with the band Dangerous Breed) and special guest Chris Tsangarides to form a More tribute band called Exmore. They performed live at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in July 2011, with a warm-up show at the Scream Lounge in Croydon on 4 June, then in two shows at the Astor Theatre in Deal, Kent (in July and October 2011).

Exmore played a co-headlining show with Marseille at the Sir Robert Peel venue in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey on 15 October 2011.

The following year, the band changed their name to More 2012 and scheduled further shows, including: 26 May at the Railway venue in Bolton, a cancelled appearance on 25 August at the Borderline in London (where the band had been due to support Tokyo Blade), 23 November at the Red Lion pub in Gravesend, Kent, and 1 December at the Hard Rock Hell VI Festival, with Steve Rix deputising on drums.

An appearance at the 'Metalwave UK' festival in Purfleet, Essex, alongside Praying Mantis, Dennis Stratton, Chariot and Deep Machine, is scheduled for 5 October 2013.