One of British guitars best kept pop secrets, The sweeney consistantly turned the heads of discerning music listeners in their first year together. Now having released three albums the band have matured into a force to be reckoned with.

Having gigged his way around North America, Britain and Ireland as a solo act, Murray Torkildsen spent summer 1995 working on new material and itching to shake things up. The Sweeney's frontman formed the band from the desire to give his material a bigger punch that many felt it deserved. Rehearsals with a couple of friends who were between bands went well, and as soon as they hit the studio it was obvious that the formula was working far better than anyone had hoped for.

Murrays forthright lyrical sophistication has always cut straight through the bullshit to tell how it is - a prime example being the sweeney's debut single 'Shut Up!' released in November 1995 to a very positive reaction, drawing favourable comparisons with Elvis Costello, Paul Weller circa - "setting sons" and Billy Bragg. As for their live performances, the swaggering three piece are already earning the respect and praise normally reserved for the big timers: "and up front and impressive set of blistering, yet leodic, guitar pop - brilliant."

Their second single "Why?" earned a regular spot on John Peels deck on it's release in early 1996, as well as gaining glowing coveragein the NME before the full extent of Murrays writing gift was revealed on the Sweeney's debut album "Pop Gun". Having been recorded in a mere TEN DAYS, the album displayed the Sweeney's natural urgancy at it's best. Since then, Murray, Sid and Adam furthered their reputation as one of the UK's hardest working live bands by touring throughout auyumn '96 in support of the bands such as BENNET. The group then returned to the studio early in 1997 to record their second album "BINGO" . The singles "Fish Face" and "The Kazoo Song" plucked from the album set the album up nicely and it has quickly established itself as another slab of classic Sweeney swagger.

The year 2000 saw the band release their finest moment yet. Simply entitled 'The Sweeney' ("I have always wanted to use the word eponymous" said Murray) - the album is the distillation of everything that makes the band great, and I you won't meet anyone who has it who doesn't absolutely love it.

Now the band are working on new plans, check out the latest in the news section of this site.