Dinosaur Pile-Up

Dinosaur Pile-Up

Dinosaur Pile-Up are an alternative rock band, formed in late 2007 and originally from Leeds, West Yorkshire. The group is fronted by singer and guitarist Matt Bigland, with Mike Sheils on drums and Johnny Seymour on bass. They are often associated with the early 1990s Seattle grunge scene.

Formation and early lineup

The band begins after Bigland’s previous group, Mother Vulpine, splits in 2007. While still in that band, he writes songs that later appear in Dinosaur Pile-Up’s set and records a demo tape including “My Rock 'n' Roll”, “Love Is a Boat and We're Sinking”, “Melanin”, “Let's Get Up”, “What Howard Said” and “I Get My Direction”. After Mother Vulpine ends, Bigland brings in Tom Dunford on bass and Steve Wilson on drums to complete the first full lineup.

Bigland says he comes up with the name after watching the 2005 film King Kong, inspired by a scene in which dinosaurs fall and pile up in a stampede.

Early releases and live activity

The band releases the My Rock 'n' Roll EP in late 2008, followed by the Traynor 7" and The Most Powerful EP in the Universe in 2009. In 2009 they play the BBC Introducing stage at Leeds Festival and are invited to tour Europe with Pixies. They also play with Japanese Voyeurs later in their career on the Rock Sound Exposure Tour alongside The Xcerts.

Lineup changes and Growing Pains

In 2010, Tom Dunford and Steve Wilson leave the band. Wilson later joins Japanese Voyeurs, while Dunford-May joins Fake Death. Bigland then adds Harry Johns on bass and backing vocals and brings Mike Sheils in on drums. Bigland goes on to record the debut album Growing Pains, which is made between late 2009 and early 2010 in about two and a half months and recorded in a home studio in Bridlington, with Bigland playing all the parts himself.

After Growing Pains is released in October 2010, Dinosaur Pile-Up tour widely in the UK, appear on the Rock Sound Exposure Tour, play dates in Mexico, and support Feeder, Cage the Elephant, Turbowolf and Twin Atlantic.

Later activity

By August 2011, the band has finished touring and is preparing a follow-up album. Demos of “In My Room” and “Thread” are uploaded later in 2011. In November 2011, Harry Johns leaves to focus on his solo project, and Alessio and Scott fill in on bass and second guitar. By March 2012, Johnny Seymour has joined the band.