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Great Post article about the band and The Grammys - Page Three

The Claxtons is a 15-year collaboration between Dave Johnson (guitars), and Dean Armitage (bass, vocals) born from New Zealand clubs, pubs and backyards with lyrics scribbled on the back of invoices in a van, often only taking shape into songs on the road between gigs or off the cuff in the studio.

Dave's introduction to guitar came at the age of 12 in the form of an old, beat up acoustic guitar he found that had once belonged to his uncle. The instrument that was in much need of repair instantly became his pride and joy. Inspired by his guitar hero Brian May, he began the process of teaching himself to play, forging an immediate passion for music that was already evident in his earliest of performances with high school band The Stunning Rhinoceros. Ironically, Dave is currently the guitar agent for Brian May Guitars for New Zealand and Australia.

After meeting Dean at a New Year's Eve festival in the Bay of Islands, Dave, who had written a series of rock songs, decided to start a band.

Having only played 6-strings up until this point, when approached by Dave, Dean only decided to join because of the bass guitar and amp he had inherited from his father with a 'yeah, I'll give it a go' attitude. It wasn't until later that he realised the value of the 1963 Fender Precision he was playing, and that perhaps he shouldn't really be banging it around in dodgy kiwi pubs.

Following several line-up changes and different variations of covers and originals bands, the back bone has always remained the same - Dean's driving bass, and Dave's mix of dirty and clean guitars.

Often breaking into impromptu altered tempo instrumental breaks, effectively taking apart and rebuilding to epic conclusions, The Claxtons refined onstage performance is a must-see.

Influenced by their loud distorted early days, The Claxtons is now an evolved, well constructed, melodic, rock-infused band with the versatility to go from guitar heavy rock-pop songs, into the heartfelt sincerity of string-laced contemporary ballads.

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