thE maRTIanS bIO

        THE MARTIANS HAVE LANDED!!

 The most ‘out-of-this world’ band in the Universe plan world domination and are plotting their take over!

  Here to save us from dark forces with their unique humour and songs….

  (think Doctor Who, meets Ghostbusters & the Monkees!)

The Martians write & perform musicals -

they are a unique sounding rock band with 'folk elements.'

 

As a young alien John did a lot of acting in Youth theatre. After leaving school he went to do an acting course and got work off the back of that. He has performed in many plays, radio and TV work in Scotland. He’s a born performer and thrives on it. John made his acting debut in Iain Heggie's play ‘A Wholly Healthy Glasgow’. In 2000 John Kielty had a lead role in a critically acclaimed independent & award winning film 'One Life Stand.' (The film was released on DVD in 2006 by Elemental Films). All this time the Kielty boys were laying their plans, and dreaming of their fantasy world of 'ghosts,vampires,outer space,and more'!

DAVID SNEDDON - starting THE MARTIANS

John Kielty met David Sneddon in 2001, while acting in Romeo & Juliet, John was Juliet's father and David was Romeo. They did acoustic gigs at the Tron in Glasgow, decided to start a band together and called themselves The Martians. 

'I learned some of David’s songs on piano, I wrote some songs.' John wanted to perform an unplugged version of War of he Worlds, so he brought in Harry (lead guitar) Gibby (bass) and Kate who made interesting noises.

In June 2002 the Martians recorded the first 4-track Martian Cd in one day. The Cd included Long Time Coming, Flowers and Butterflies, Roll Along and Convince Me. The CD got a good response and sold well.

When David won the BBC show Fame Academy John joined him in London. They shared David luxury flat and spent the year on 'planet pop, beating off earthling fans, playing Top of the Pops and supporting stars like Elton John and Bryan Adams.'  John co-wrote songs on David’s album, Seven Years Ten Weeks,and the last track is John’s soulful ‘Long Time Coming.’ While the "the pop, dazzle and fizz of showbiz" wasn't exactly what John expected - "we got to work with some really good recording studios, some amazing musicians, and did a lot of good recording. David's album sold really well so we made a shit-load of money. It was a very, very interesting glimpse into the music world, and we're still there - we go down and work with artists all the time and write songs for them." 

John also performed acoustic gigs in London and Glasgow with David Sneddon in 2006. David has been writing and recording a new solo album, and he describes his new album as 'acoustic indie pop'.

2004

John spent the first months of 2004 songwriting with David and visiting music producers in America. He also played guitar in David’s band The Sham. He and David did an acoustic gig at Colne Music Festival, and when a new Studio in London is ready they plan another album together. The Martian boys wrote and produced scripts for a Radio and a Pilot Martian Tv series, with the boys fighting off Aliens! They are huge sci-fi fans, and love the unexplainable, the out-of-this world fantasies.

“We've just filmed our TV pilot. It's basically about a group of buskers who all live in a supernatural world with vampires and Satan and stuff like that - it's like the Monkees meets Renta-Ghost, and it's got a kicking pop/rock soundtrack."

A huge Dr Who fan, John has ambitions to one day play the Doctor. He is tailor made for Dr Who's colourful scarves, long coats and surprised expressions! John is thrilled that former Dr Who actor, Sylvester McCoy has agreed to play Satan in their TV series.

"EVIL FACE" -2005

The Martians hit the Edinburgh Festival with ‘ Evil Face’…. A stupendously fast-paced and entertaining show – outlandish, energetic, scary and absorbing!! But mostly just very very funny. The guys have so much fun doing their show, and certainly their music and madness is very infectious.

They recorded a new CD for the festival, which included 7 new songs, plus extracts from ‘Evil Face’. John plays an exacting rhythm guitar, does the lead vocals and his sincere baritone blends well with brother Gerry Kielty’s amazing falsetto voice. John’s songs have a lightness of touch, playful rhythm and engaging lyrics. He's influenced by the likes of the Beatles and Crowded House. Gerry Kielty is also a prolific song writer, and has written over 300 songs that include the popular ‘Upbeat Beat.'

The Martian line-up includes John, his brothers Gerry, James, Martin and Damien, and a number of friends. While John is chief writer, all the Martians are talented songwriters, actors and musicians, and they all contribute to the Martians scripts and songs.

" It's really just me, my wee brothers Gerry and James, that write the stories. We started off as a band doing gigs. We would busk in the street and drag people down to a venue where we did a show, so it was 'live action theatre' plus music.”

"WRITING MUSICALS" -2006

In July 2006 the Martians set up their site "the Martians Chronicles" which has A MARTIANS BLOG, NEWS items,more. They also set up on myspace. - www.the-martians.co.uk. In August 2006, they were again performing on Edinburgh's High Street during the festival. In January 2007 John moved to San Francisco, the hometown of his long time girlfriend Liana. John will continue writing over there. He has been shuttling between San Francisco and Edinbrugh in 2007. In 2007 John performed with David Sneddon at the sold out Jazz Bar gigs Edinburgh festival 2007. David's "White Noise" EP is No 1 Indiestore chart 2007 and 2008.

The Martians write songs and MUSICALS, which began originally as radio scripts, and which they hope to have produced on stage and radio. Their Musical titles are: 'The Rise of the Martians' 'The Sundowe' (a medi-evil War of the Worlds!') & 'Beneath the Stars'

"THE SUNDOWE" -2006/2007

The Martians musical ‘The Sundowe' got down to the final five stage of The Highland Quest for a new Scottish Musical competition from over 150 entrants. Written by brothers John, James and Gerry Kielty, the Sundowe is "set in present day Edinburgh with the city in terror. People begin vanishing and vampires stalk the streets."

Most of their inspiration for The Sundowe,… came from working on Edinburgh ghost tours. They also used the spooky atmosphere of Greyfriars Cemetery to help spin their musical tale. Set in Edinburgh the self-penned musical is a tale of vampires, street music and spirits of the lost and forgotten, and their subsequent battle to save the world. John is fascinated by the undead, and thin places, he’s one spooked guy! The former St Andrew's High students, spent four years and 12 drafts perfecting the masterpiece which originally started as a radio script.

In July 2006, highlights from these five finalists musicals were performed in Ullapool, Scotland and the Sundowe won the competition! The Sundowe went into rehearsals in October 2007 and was one of the opening events in the newly constructed theatre at Eden Court, Inverness in 2007, before embarking on a Scottish Highland tour. http://www.highland-quest.com/ Cameron Mackintosh, who has produced the musicals Cats and Les Miserables was producing. 

The Quest is run in partnership with Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, The Scottish Executive and The Mackintosh Foundation, in a quest to find a new musical to premiere in the Highlands of Scotland.

'"GREYFRIARS TWISTED TALES"  -2008

 Edinburgh 2008 the Martians premiered their new musical 'Greyfriars Twisted Tales,' for a 3 week run at the Edinburgh festival at Musical theatre George Sq, produced by Carol Metcalfe of the Bridewell Theatre Company and the City of the Deads tours. They won the 2008 " Spirit of the Festival " award.

The musical was written by The Martians, and had supporting roles from Derek Elsby and Marianne Sellars. It runs through a brief history of Greyfriars Kirkyard, a graveyard in central Edinburgh. It received positive reviews from The Scotsman, OnstageScotland and Three Weeks. Following an appearance on 'Mervyn Stutter's Pick Of The Fringe' they were presented the "Spirit Of The Fringe" award 2008!   (UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008)

It is fortunate we have the Martians to save us from the dark elusive evils lurking all around us, so bring on the new Martians songs very soon! ‘We’d like to be like the Monkees, but more real, do comedy sketches and perform songs.’  evil and love the Martians

REVIEWS 2008 -

'Consistently funny and with quality songwriting, this fast paced madness was pure entertainment' 5 stars Three Weeks

August 5th 2008 - ‘ Great fun… These boys have a great future ahead of them. The Martians have landed.’  

GreyFriars Twisted Tales REVIEW Scotsman Aug 5th 2008

Martians show in Edinburgh – the show was sold out on Saturday! Has had 5 star reviews!

WOW great audience reactions!!. Such catchy tunes that I have stuck in my head, full of fast paced delicious dry humour and clever (twisted!) takes on human foibles and superstitions, love of dogs and Scotland! ( Invisible SkyGods, Reformation, Nessie, Not A Valley Anymore) Highlight was Gerry as Greyfriars Bobby (dog with black socks on his ears) And the totally out-of-context Mary Poppins meets Hitler sketch – a pure musical Monty Python! Mocking war is good – it is ridiculous! The Martians will eat heads.'

'The Martians tunes have a clever playful way with words, and memorable and fun melodies – full of colour and energy. Brother James Kielty and third Martian Houston also write for their off-the-wall and upbeat musicals. Written by Gerry and John Kielty. ' P Keightley

This is the first year the terrifically talented combo behind this show, The Martians, have appeared at the Fringe (?) It won’t be the last. Their pedigree may seem dubious but their talents are blindingly obvious. John Kielty for instance, leads guided tours of Greyfriars Kirkyard. His brother Gerry ‘trained as an actor’ at Edinburgh Dungeon while their sidekick Houston is a 24-year-old gardener form Lanark. The show they’re performing in a Portakabin in George square should make some of the acts at bigger venues hang their heads in shame, while they eat their hearts out with envy.

This is a musical tour of the dark history of Greyfriars and its impact on world history. Actually, that concept just gives the group and excuse to go off on wild tangents like an inspired mini Second world War musical that’s a cross between ‘The producers and Oh What A lovely War. It doesn’t really sit too easily with the rest of the boys material but it’s still great fun – as is the rest of the show. Nessie, Greyfriars Bobby, crap Sean Connery impersonations – all the tartan tat we bombard tourists with is expertly lampooned and it’s frequently very funny. These boys have a great future ahead of them.. The Martians have landed. Rory Ford. Scotsman Aug 2008

‘I went to see the Martians and I really want to see them again, and I reckon you lot would like them - pretty geeky humour.’

‘Everything evil in the world is the result of a single evil tree made by Lucifer long long ago on the 5th day. Less a show, more a warning, the Martians have a brand of comic humour and a great look at the history of the world.

The Martians play it large with both a playfulness and a theatrical drama in their music… and it is not for the faint-hearted! John sees himself as a poet/ playwright, with musicals as the expression of both his love of theatre and music. The Martians sound is a blend of rock and folk or, acoustic indie rock/folk. Fantastical lyrics and songs that paint brightly coloured canvases with big slashes of primary colours.