Music Spotlight: Former Crewe band Fake Heroes reincarnate to New Romantics

Apr 6 2011 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

It’s time for the creative force of defunct pop-punk outfit Fake Heroes to move on.

With the Crewe-based four-piece playing such a huge part in the local scene, you were never going to keep Al Dopierala (lead vocals/guitar) and Josh Strickland (drums) down for too long.

Together with new recruit George Whalley (vocals/bass), they’re all set to debut their new project, New Romantics.

Despite enjoying relative success with Fake Heroes, Dopierala insists the time had come to call it a day.

Highlights over the years included a support slot with Baddies, a barnstorming performance at the 2009 Volume Festival and a highly impressive support slot with punk icons Sham 69, who had nothing but good words about the lads.

And they bowed out in true style, pulling in one of The Box’s biggest attendances for their farewell gig four months ago.

“We’d got to the stage where we all wanted to do different things and we didn’t want to change the style of the band because that was Fake Heroes,” said Dop.

“This is us moving on really.

“Strick and me always thought we’d work together again because we wanted to go to the same place with it.

“We wanted do something different – there are a lot of bands around our age that are hardcore, metalcore or pop-punk.

“We’ve still got heavy aspects but we’ve also got an indie sound coming through on some of the tracks.

“And we’re not afraid to throw any influence in, like jazz.

“We don’t want to be pinned down to any genre. We want the skinheads coming in as well as the young girls who like the catchy lyrics.

“It’s a more mature sound and we’re taking it more seriously because we really want to get somewhere with this band.”

New Romantics make their debut at The Box as support for Bad For Lazarus this Friday.

One of the South Cheshire’s most bombastic live acts, the headliners feature ex-members of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Nine Inch Nails and Unkle.

“The good thing about what we did with Fake Heroes is we’ve still got contacts and we can get straight out there and playing again,” added Dop.

“It’s a pain starting out again but we’ve got to do it.

“Rehearsals have gone well and I don’t see why we can’t hit it hard from the off.

“It’s good to kick it off at The Box – it’s like our home from home really.”

New Crewe metal outfit Cratoss and Sectioned are also on the bill.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £5.

For more information on Volume’s events, promotions and PR services, call its Nantwich offices on 01270 625384 or visit www.volumepr.co.uk.