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Hiwatt Live at Leeds with
the Who Again |
In February 1970, The Who recorded their definitive album
Live at Leeds using a Hiwatt backline. The album is now considered to be
the greatest live album of all time. Thirty six years later on 17 June 2006
The Who kicked off their world tour by playing once more at Leeds University.
A week later they also topped the bill at the Wireless Festival held at
Hareweood House Leeds. During both of these recent events The Who’s
guitarist used Hiwatt as part of his back line. For the rest of the tour
Pete will have at his disposal two slope front Hiwatt 2x12 cabs especially
made for him by ourselves.
Pete Townshend said of the Leeds’ shows: The first two shows of the
tour – that we regarded as warm-ups – turned out both to be
special in their own way. Leeds was a joy from beginning to end.
Thirty-five years ago Pete Townshend was described as the 'spokesman for
his generation' - that's not true. Pete Townshend is a spokesman for every
generation. The sentiments in his songs are as vital today as they were
30, 20 or 10 years ago, and they will remain so. Nobody puts our thoughts
- fears and joy, so eloquently into song as he does. And he loves the sound
of Hiwatt. Long may he continue to do so.
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The Killers on board with Hiwatt |
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David Keuning from The Killers has been using Hiwatt for a good amount of time now,
and will have as a key part of his smashing guitar sound two Hiwatt full 100W stacks at their upcoming 2006 fall/winter tour.
The brand new single When you were young will be released September 18th, taken from forthcoming album Sam's Town in stores October 2nd. |
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Jet renew contact with Hiwatt |
Management for Aussie rockers Jet have told us that they wish to renew their
contact with us for a new tour to promote their forthcoming album.
They want to have a set of Hiwatt amps and cabs in Australia which will
be used exclusively for Oz/Japan south East Asia trips in the coming two
years,
and a set in L.A that they will use for U.S.A. and UK shows. So basically
they have two sets of
backline for each hemisphere. |
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| Good News for Hiwatt from
America |
Superstar guitarist Neal Schon of
the internationally renowned band Journey is currently one of Hiwatt’s main
endorsees in America. Journey began their massive European/USA tour last month
and for the USA venues Neal Schon will use a staggering eight Hiwatt stacks.
Neal Joseph Schon was born on February 27, 1954 at Tinker Air Force Base
near Oklahoma City. He picked up his first instrument at the age
of 5 and by the age of 15 he had joined Santana and was travelling the world.
In 1973 he left Santana to join Gregg Rolie in a new group soon to be known
the world over as Journey. Neal is the only original member that has been
on every Journey album. His biggest influences are Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton
and Jeff Beck.
Neal's other projects include Schon & Hammer, HSAS, Bad English, Abraxis
Pool, Hardline, Planet Us, and Soul SirkUS. His solo albums are Late Nite,
Beyond The Thunder, Electric World, Piranha Blues and the Grammy Nominated
album called Voice.
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The Kooks Choose Hiwatt |
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UK band The Kooks are the latest band to
come on board with Hiwatt. Guitarist Hugh Harris picked up a Hiwatt Studio/Stage
Combo in white and a 50W 2x12 Combo. The amplifier later featured on various
TV performances including the Jonathan Ross show. The band are due to play
many of the summer festivals and Hiwatt wishes them every success with their
current album 'inside in inside out'. |
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Hiwatt well represented at
the Festivals |
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Festival time is with us once more with T
in the Park, Reading and Leeds and V festivals just around the corner. Hiwatt
will be represented at all these events with the likes of top new bands
Dirty Pretty Things, Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks, and Morning Runner. For
the festivals Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook will switch from his Studio/Stage
Combo to a 50 watt head and 4 x 12 Fane-loaded cab. |
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Peter Hook-Welcome back to
Hiwatt |
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Renowned bass player Peter Hook kicked off his career with
Joy Division using a Custom Hiwatt 100 head, with an 18" VOX speaker
cabinet. As New Order emerged he experimented with different set ups. But
we were pleased when he made a request to try out our bass heads finally
settling on two 200 watters for use on the band’s autumn tour. He
is still trying to decide which speaker configuration to use; the 4x10+1x15
cab or the 2x15 . Said Peter: ‘I feel that I have come home to Hiwatt.’
Welcome home Peter from all at Hiwatt!
Phil Cunningham has joined the band in place of Gillian Gilbert. He also
plays with Marion and is trying out our 50 watt head and 4 x 12 Fane cab
for use with both bands. It goes without saying that Hiwatt is proud to
be associated with a band of this magnitude and shows the steps we have
taken over the last couple of years.
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New Premises |
Hiwatt has moved to new premises where we will not only build
amps but also produce all our cabinets in house too. By having full control
of both areas of production we feel we will be able to cut down on waiting
times and hopefully deliver orders ahead of schedule. Additional new experienced
staff will be employed to meet these needs.
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| A New Promising Recruit |
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The latest band to be added to the Hiwatt
fold is Switches who are: Matt - lead vocals and guitar, Max – bass,
Ollie - guitar and backing vocals, Jimmy - drums. They have just been signed
to Atlantic, have an EP out very soon and are touring with Hard-Fi. From
the outset bass player, Max, had his heart set on a 200 watt bass rig with
the split speaker combination and Hiwatt was more than pleased to accommodate
him. The band’s first performance with the rig at Manchester Appollo
was very impressive, energetic, commercial and enjoyable. |
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Previous updates at the NEWS ARCHIVE
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