Vega4: A Biography of the Band

Vega4 was an Indie band based out of the UK. They created two albums and nine singles in the years the band was together, starting in 2001 and wrapping up in 2006. After 2006 they continued to tour, until officially closing the doors on their collaborated effort in February 2008.

Vega4 was comprised of four members including, the lead singer Johnny McDaid, the lead guitarist Bruce Gainsford, Bryan McLellan on the drums, and Gavin Fox as the bassist. The band originally included Simon Walker who left the band in 2006, making way for Gavin Fox, formally of Idlewild. Members of the band hailed from Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, and all met through mutual acquaintances while living in London.

The band held a unique sound, a mix of melancholic vocals on an Indie platform. According to the lead singer, Johnny, "It so hard to describe our sound. There are so many elements and influences." This broad list of influences includes "Anything and everything," according to the band, and pulls from each member's unique background and interests. The result is a diverse blend of beats, with strong vocals, similar in sound to other Indie bands like Snow Patrol and The Fray.

While still recording the band comprised two full albums, Satellites created in 2001, and You and Others in 2006. Satellites is a 12 track album with a mix of melody infused Indie and a heavier, punk sound on a couple tracks. You and Others was the last album created by the band. The album contained 11 tracks and has a style similar to the first CD. In addition to full albums, the band released nine singles; Sing, Radio Song, Love Breaks Down, Drifting Away Violently, Better Life, You & Me, Traffic Jam, Life is Beautiful, and a radio only version of Tearing Me Apart.

As it is becoming increasingly more main stream to do, the band's track Life is Beautiful was featured on the popular US TV sitcom, Grey's Anatomy in 2006. The popularity of the band skyrocketed after the premier, and the track received hours of radio time on US airwaves. In 2007, the track was featured again on HBO. HBO used the track as a background to the advertisements promoting the new DVD series.

In April 2007 the band led a Do-It-Yourself contest for amateur video producers in the hopes of increasing climate change awareness. Utilizing an account on You Tube, the band allowed anyone interested in environmental causes to create a music video for the track Life is Beautiful using the Global Warming Crisis as a starting point. The winner of the contest was hand chosen by the band and awarded two tickets to the Live Earth concert in Nevada.

Vega4 completed a US tour in 2007, and continued to appear with other bands through out the year. Everything seemed to be going good, and the band was picking up steam. Guitarist Bruce Gainsford even became the subject of celebrity gossip, with rumors of a relationship between him and the actress Scarlett Johansson. Then in 2008 the band announced they were breaking-up via a message on their Myspace portfolio. The message entitled So Long Forever, read,

"Dear World,

So, this is it. It is with sadness that we announce that Vega4 has
drawn her last breath.

We would like to thank those of you who supported, loved, helped and
kept us alive when no one else cared. To those who gave us oxygen
while we were suffocating, those who truly believed and had the
courage of their convictions and ours - we won't forget you. In
the music we made you stay with us, and us with you. This can always
be. (A leopard does not change her spots).

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it only alters its form. Music
has always been and always will be. Vega4 will go on in the hearts and
minds of those who loved them and those who were them.

Each of us in our way continues, and while Vega4 is finished, her sons
are setting sail for new horizons. Take great hope in this.

From somewhere out there.

It was all worthwhile..."

It is not clear why the band officially parted ways, and few news outlets have even covered it. However, it has not hurt their popularity and the spirit of the band continues on through their Myspace profile and Itunes sales.