Meet Kick Up The 80s! Here’s some info on the 4 people who make up The Ultimate 80s Tribute Party Band! Dean Lathbury, Ant Green, Justin Hyde, Martin Dolman. The band will always take time out to be sociable after each gig, if you want to have a chat. You can always follow them on Facebook too by clicking HERE to find out where they are playing and what they are up to. But for now here is some information on the guys from the ultimate 80s party tribute band!
Dean
BASS, BACKING VOCALS
Dean made his debut performance at the age of 15 during his school days and has since maintained an unwavering dedication to playing bass, bordering on obsession.
In his formative years, Dean established several original bands, notably “Patriot,” which caused a stir in the Midlands music scene in the late 80s and early 90s. Patriot shared stages with renowned acts such as Skin, Crown of Thorns, and FM, drawing attention from notable management companies. Despite this, they fell short of achieving mainstream success.
When assembling The Innocence, Dean collaborated with Mart and Justin, concurrently forming Kick Up the 80s in 1999 as a means to support their original band financially. Ant joined the group in 2010, marking a turning point in their journey.
Throughout his musical career, Dean has recorded in various studios, contributing bass to projects for record companies. He has performed at venues ranging from intimate clubs to grand theaters and festivals across the UK and Channel Islands, entertaining crowds of up to 25,000 people. Kerrang magazine once remarked, “he shags his bass and looks chuffed,” a sentiment likely understood by those who have witnessed Kick Up the 80s in action.
STAGE GEAR:
- GENZ BENZ AND BAREFACED RIG WITH MUSICMAN STINGRAY
- SANDBERG CALIFORNIA TM4
- JAYDEE D6 CUSTOM PRECISION
PREVIOUS BANDS:
- AURA
- PATRIOT
- INNOCENCE
- H.Y.P.A
- BIG UP THE 90s
- BringBackSummer
LIKES:
- PULP FICTION
- CADBURY DAIRY MILK
- ROBIN WILLIAMS
- LAS VEGAS
Mart
DRUMS, BACKING VOCALS
At the age of 13, Mart acquired his first “real” drum kit, having already formed a band with schoolmates. During his early drumming days, he improvised with cardboard boxes and oversized novelty pencils as makeshift drums and drumsticks, respectively.
With the arrival of his new drum kit, Mart’s band, Razor Edge, featuring none other than Anthony Green, debuted at a high school, receiving varied reviews. They continued to compose and record demos while performing locally for several years.
Following Razor Edge’s dissolution, Mart joined Risky Business, a band renowned for their Stones-influenced rock ‘n’ roll, embarking on nationwide tours and securing a week-long residency at the Isle of Man for the TT races. Despite numerous studio sessions, Risky Business fell short of major league success.
After Risky Business disbanded, Mart co-founded Bigshot with other talented local musicians. Although they made waves in the local music scene, creative disparities led to an amicable split.
In 1995, Mart partnered with Dean and Justin to form Innocence, undertaking extensive tours and recording sessions, even undergoing a couple of name changes (Innocence Co and Hypa). Despite local acclaim, a record deal remained elusive.
Frustrated by their circumstances, they seized the opportunity to finance recording sessions by forming Kick Up The 80’s. The band quickly gained popularity, with the demand for 80’s tunes eclipsing their original material, leading to their enduring success.
STAGE GEAR:
- MAPLE SHELL DW COLLECTORS SERIES, IN WHITE GLASS FINISH, 8, 10, 12, 16 RACK TOMS & 22X18 KICK
- 14″DW ECO SNARE & 14″ MAPLE COLLECTORS SERIES SNARE DRUMS
- CYMBALS PAISTE SIGNATURE SERIES
- 8, 10, 3X 17 CRASH, 20″ RIDE 16″ CHINA 13″SOUND EDGE HATS
- DW 9002 DOUBLE PEDALS
- 5B& 5A NYLON STICKS
- WIG!
PREVIOUS BANDS:
- RAZOR EDGE
- BORDELLO
- RISKY BUSINESS
- BIGSHOT
- INNOCENCE
- H.Y.P.A
- 7TEEZ
- BIG UP THE 90s
- BringBackSummer
LIKES:
- BACK TO THE FUTURE
- SPAG BOL
- MICHAEL MCINTYRE
- DISNEYLAND
Justin
VOCALS, KEYBOARDS
Justin embarked on his gigging journey at the tender age of 13, a mere two years after his parents opted for a keyboard instead of his usual motocross bike for Christmas. It seems parents do indeed know best!
At 16, Justin joined Company of Fools, swiftly landing a record deal. Following this, he collaborated with Dean in the early 90s with the band Patriot before co-founding The Innocence alongside Dean and Martin. Their escapades traveling the country in Justin’s transit van surely yield some memorable tales. Despite sharing stages with top-charting bands and coming close to securing a major label deal, fame and fortune narrowly eluded them.
In 1999, Justin debuted as KICK UP THE 80’S at his brother’s 21st birthday bash, marking the beginning of a 25-year love affair with performance. He remains as spirited as ever, relishing in engaging the crowd and ensuring everyone has a blast.
KICK UP THE 80’S holds a significant place in Justin’s life, continuing to captivate sell-out audiences nationwide and beyond, a testament to their enduring strength and appeal.
STAGE GEAR:
- KORG M1 KEYBOARD
- SURE BETA 58 MICROPHONE
PREVIOUS BANDS:
- SAHARA DARC
- COMPANY OF FOOLS
- PATRIOT
- INNOCENCE
- H.Y.P.A
- BIG UP THE 90s
LIKES:
- GOODFELLAS
- CHINESE CURRY
- JIMMY CARR
- SUNNY HOLIDAYS
DISLIKES:
- ONIONS!
Ant
GUITAR, BACKING VOCALS
Commencing his guitar journey at the age of 11, Ant swiftly ventured into band dynamics, forming his inaugural group, Razor Edge, alongside Mart. Their debut performance unfolded when Ant reached the age of 14. After the eventual dissolution of Razor Edge, he spearheaded another ensemble named Full Confession, entertaining crowds at local pubs and clubs. However, this endeavor came to an abrupt halt when two members embarked on a year-long backpacking odyssey around Australia.
Next in line was Shiver, a band crafted by Ant, extending their reach to larger audiences, supporting renowned acts, and securing radio play. It was through Shiver that Ant received an irresistible offer to join Tranzam, a well-established classic rock band, an opportunity he couldn’t resist. He dedicated a decade to Tranzam before transitioning to the role of guitarist in Kick Up The 80s.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Ant imparts guitar wisdom and serves as a session guitarist, backed by diplomas in music performance and education. Under the pseudonym A J Green UK, he has unleashed his own music worldwide, with Mart contributing on drums for this project.
STAGE GEAR:
- GIBSON GUITARS
- KEMPER AMPLIFICATION AND EFFECTS
PREVIOUS BANDS:
- RAZOR EDGE
- FULL CONFESSION
- SHIVER
- TRANZAM
- 7TEEZ
- BIG UP THE 90s
- Also Works As A Session Guitarist
LIKES:
- PINK FLOYD
- QUADROPHENIA
- LAS VEGAS
DISLIKES:
- Rice
Now for a more in-depth look at “the making of Kick Up The 80s” check out the “history” page for the full story!
