GunDogs are a rock band from the industrial Midlands in England. The group forms around Maria and Leila, who begin writing and performing together before the line-up settles with the addition of Raven on bass. Raven is the brother of Paul Raven, who plays with Killing Joke, Prong, Society 1, Mob Research, Godflesh, Pigface and Ministry.

Background

The band forms around two and a half years before the account given in the input, after its members come from very different backgrounds but share a connection to the same region and its disillusioned working-class culture. Maria and Leila start by writing songs together about the ties between them, while the band goes through a series of bass players before meeting Raven in Wolverhampton.

Style and influences

GunDogs are linked to Southern rock, blues, dirty blues and hard rock. Their musical reference points include Prince, Pixies, Madonna, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and Patti Smith. The band’s approach combines strain, aggression and introspection, and it develops through a more democratic writing and recording process after the line-up becomes fixed.

Performances and touring

The band develops a reputation through support slots and tours with a wide range of artists, including The Kooks, Sex Pistols, Neds Atomic Dustbin, Kill Hannah, The Twang, The Wildhearts, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Supergrass, Futureheads, Ian Brown, The Zutons, The Cribs, Editors, Longview, Mystery Jets, Happy Mondays, Stone Gods, The Enemy, The Holloways, New Young Pony Club, The Blackout, The Automatic and Mindless Self Indulgence. Their live performances are described as intense and swaggering.

Identity

The group presents itself as an act focused on direct communication and on exposing emotional tension in its work. Its songs and performances are shaped by the members’ shared past, their Midlands roots and a desire to push forward without restraint.