The King Blues - Journey To The End Of The East End

Journey To The End Of The East End - out now. “Patience is a virtue that I don’t have the patience for” Dewan “Jamie Jazz” Soomari Between this song and “The Fight”, this EP could easily be subtitled “The Friendship EP”. I met Jamie when we were both very young, him more so than I. He sang in a band called The Hollowbodies and he was an excellent and highly charismatic frontman. The band were so young that they were still in school but they included several musicians who went on to other things. Their guitar player Charlie was the original guitar player when The King Blues were a duo, but he joined a far more active punk band and understandably just didn’t have the same time to commit to this that he previously had. Jamie stepped in and, with Al inside, became my best friend. I’ve generally gravitated towards just one person at a time. He’d talk for me when I was being quiet and always made sure my needs were met. He’d encourage me to put my health first, when at the time it was all about “The show must go on”. He was kind, patient and him and Fruitbag had an enviable quality of being able to laugh at themselves. He believed in me before anyone else and blindly followed me into battle when necessary. Jamie had a job working in a guitar shop, probably minimum wage, but to me and my friends it meant that he was rich. He took over all the technical aspects of the band, figuring out how we could get a PA into and safely out of squat parties. Along with Rob The Rub, he figured out how we could mount it to the back of a tricycle and take it on protests. Him and an ex of mine even clubbed together to buy me my first ukulele. With everyone else on housing benefit, his working status made it easier for us to get housing. We lived together in several places that temporarily became TKB HQ. Everything about the band took over those properties- a living room was now a recording studio, the walls covered head to toe in flyers. Thank God we had such supportive flatmates. Whilst I was locked in my room day and night writing new songs, he was out on the town making sure we had places to play. His caring nature meant he became Meatball’s unofficial step parent. Everyone liked him. He now lives in America with his partner and dog. Our crew rolled deep and there would often be around 30 of us boisterously taking over wherever we went. On the outskirts of this was Fruitbag. Jamie had told me about him and about how great a singer he was. He was fairly insistent that Mike joined the band. I didn’t recognise it at the time, but in his own way, Fruity was more punk than any of us. He would stay out partying for weeks at a time. He would wear dresses out to nightclubs in Central London just to provoke people. He moved in with us and became a vital ingredient to the band. A gentle giant, always laughing and joking. Quite the opposite of me, in the best possible way. He was, like Jamie, instantly liked by everyone who crossed his path. Musically, his ear for harmonies is better than anyone I’ve ever come across. His sense of rhythm is spot on. What he lacked in lyrical skills, he more than made up for in musical and vocal talent. Together, the three of us made up a complete musician. Now for the delicious reveal- the secret weapon on this album is Fruitbag. He agreed to provide his phenomenal vocal harmonies on several songs. I must admit to becoming very emotional when I first heard his passionate voice back in a TKB track. This song is easily as much about him as it is Jamie after all. He now lives in Hong Kong with his partner who was also part of our crew. I went back to “…And Out Come The Wolves” again, and the song “Journey To The End Of The East Bay” about Rancid’s former band Operation Ivy. A band so important to me, that halfway through my first listen of their only album on my 16th birthday, I began tattooing their logo on the back of my hand with a pin and ink. I liked the concept and that it was an inward gazing song that really only makes sense if you know the history of the band. Obviously I’m still in touch with Mike (Fruitbag), but with Dewan (Jamie), like the song says, sometimes there’s too much to mend but I love him from afar and I still ask after him, genuinely hoping for the best. They both put up with my unpredictable moods and eccentricities for as long as they could. I’ll always be grateful to them both. --- Video Credits: Directed & Produced by Andrew McKenzie DOP Mark Pullon Location provided by Engine Rooms Studios 2026 Tour Tickets: thekingblues.org Album Pre-save: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/5... Merch store: https://thekingblues.bigcartel.com/ Follow us on Instagram:   / kingbluesband   Facebook:   / thekingblues   Tiktok:   / thekingblues   thekingblues.org