Sharks (band formed 2007)

Sharks
Sharks' final lineup, left to right: Bayliss, Lister, Mattock, and Murrihy
Background information
Origin	Leamington Spa, England
Genres	Punk rock, alternative rock
Years active	2007–2013
Labels	Rise, Velvet Scene Best Before Records
Website	Official Website
Past members	James Mattock Andrew Bayliss Sam Lister Carl Murrihy Adam Lovelock Cris O'Reilly Tony Corrales

Sharks were an English punk rock band from Leamington Spa, near Birmingham, consisting of James Mattock (lead vocals and guitar), Andrew Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Carl Murrihy (bass). Sharks disbanded in July 2013.

Sharks formed in 2007. Their name is derived from a song by Gallows, 'In the Belly of a Shark'. In 2008 Sharks released a five track EP, Shallow Waters, and subsequently played with Gallows, The Ghost of a Thousand, Fucked Up, Babyshambles, The King Blues, Girls, Crime in Stereo, and Lostprophets. They supported The Gaslight Anthem during their 2010 UK and European tours.

Shark's second five track EP, Show of Hands, which was recorded at Fortress Studios in London, was released by Best Before Records in October 2010. The first video from the EP premiered on 5 October 2010.Show of Hands received 4/5 from Kerrang! magazine, which described the album as "impressive [...] shimmering, grass-roots, British Punk" and "a revelation from start to finish".RockSound magazine gave the album 8/10, declaring that "writing with thoughtfulness, maturity and skill belying their youthful status, Sharks have quietly put together perhaps the most charming debut of the year."

Sharks were 'band of the day' on 21 October 2010 in The Guardian, which commented that "Sharks are into preserving the purity of first-album Clash" and "giving the contemporary music scene a good old slap in the face, to wake it out of its current torpor".

As announced on 9 December 2010, The Joys of Living 2008-2010, a 14 track compilation of previously released material (Shallow Waters, Common Grounds, and Show of Hands) plus two brand new songs, was released in the US, Canada, Australia and NZ on 5 April 2011 by Velvet Scene in association with Rise Records (CD, vinyl, and download). As a bonus, the Japanese edition, released on 6 April 2011, also features the three tracks from Sharks' 2009 split with Northern Towns.