Heavyload are Brighton's answer to The Ramones. A punk outfit subject to the combustible flux of ego, ambition, fantasy, expectation and desire that fuels any emerging band. But they’re also uniquely, made up of musicians with and without learning disabilities.

Over the last 10 years they have managed to survive through their combination of raucous energy, attitude and sheer volume but now they are about to hit the big time with a feature length documentary (Heavy Load: A Film About Happiness)being made about their journey from social care to stardom, and back again, and their mission to demonstrate that disability rocks. There are few genres left in music that have yet to be defined. Heavyload have unwittingly created a brand new one.

Influences

George Michael, Sham 69, Status Quo, Kylie, The Who, The Sonics, Cliff Richard, Suzie Quatro, The Clash, Bros, Elvis, Marc Bolan, The Stranglers, The Birthday Party, Ramones, The Fall, Nick Berry, Sonic Youth, Rachel Stevens, Girls Aloud, The Cramps, Leo Sayer, Wreckless Eric

Similar to

The Fall having a bare knuckle fight with Bros



Stay Up Late Campaign

We play gigs all over the country and we have noticed that something strange happens at 9.00pm – people start to go home.

Heavy Load are fed up with people with learning disabilities leaving club nights and gigs early because their staff finish their shifts at 10pm.
This means they are missing out.

If this happens to you:

You need to talk about this with your friends, support workers, family and advocates.

Our ‘Stay Up Late’ campaign is to make managers and staff know that we want them to plan ahead and talk to us about what we want to do when they’re writing the rota.

Rotas need to be about what WE want.
What do YOU want?

Our message to managers and staff is, be creative with your rotas - involve us when writing them. We know that staff don’t mind working late if they’re given enough warning.

“We want to stay up late -
We want to have some fun”.



Wild Things Compilation - soon to be released.

In 2007 we toured the country promoting our Stay Up Late campaign and met loads of really talented people with learning disabilities who were writing and performing fantastic music.

We wanted as many people as possible to find out more about some of this music so we came up with the idea of putting out this CD.

There was only one rule - it must be your own song. This is volume 1, and we'll be looking for artists for volume 2!!

All proceeds to fund and raise awareness of the Stay Up Late campaign.

The band all met through Southdown Housing, either as tenants or as workers.

THE BAND ARE:

Simon Barker - Vocals

Jimmy Nichols - Guitar and Vocals

Paul Richards - Bass

Michael White - Drums

Mick Williams - Guitar and Vocals