Young Legionnaire

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Young Legionnaire

| image = Paul Mullen and Gordon Moakes of Young Legionnaire (composite image).jpg

| caption = Mullen (left), Moakes (right)

| landscape = Yes

| origin = United Kingdom

| genre = Indie rock, alternative rock, post-hardcore

| years_active = {{start date|2009}}–present

| label = Holy Roar, Wichita, Superstar Destroyer Records

| associated_acts = Bloc Party, The Automatic, yourcodenameis:milo

| website = {{URL|younglegionnaire.com}}

| current_members = Paul Mullen
Gordon Moakes
Dean Pearson

| past_members = Will Bowerman

}}

Young Legionnaire are a British band formed in 2009.{{Cite web | last = Heaney | first = Gregory | title = Young Legionnaire Biography | publisher = AllMusic (All Media Network) | access-date = 2014-05-27 | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/young-legionnaire-mn0002503466/biography}} Since 2010, the band's lineup has consisted of founders Paul Mullen (of The Automatic, formerly of yourcodenameis:milo) and Gordon Moakes (formerly of Bloc Party) alongside drummer Dean Pearson. Will Bowerman was the band's drummer from their formation until his departure in 2010, returning to touring duties with La Roux.

The band released their first single, the limited vinyl release of "Colossus/Iron Dream" through Holy Roar Records, in 2010, with their debut album Crisis Works released through Wichita Recordings the following year to favourable reviews.{{Cite web | title = Bloc Party man's Young Legionnaire album out in May | work = NME | publisher = IPC Media – Inspire | date = 15 February 2011 | access-date = 2014-05-27 | url = https://www.nme.com/news/young-legionnaire/54980}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/crisis-works/young-legionnaire|title=Crisis Works — Young Legionnaire|publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive|access-date=2014-05-27}} An extended play entitled Wreckonomics was released in 2012.{{Cite web | last = Adams | first = Sean | title = Free Download: 'Killdozer' by Young Legionnaire | work = Drowned in Sound | date = 7 December 2011 | access-date = 2014-05-27 | url = http://drownedinsound.com/news/4144193-free-download--killdozer-by-young-legionnaire | archive-date = 13 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131213152540/http://drownedinsound.com/news/4144193-free-download--killdozer-by-young-legionnaire | url-status = dead }} Their second full-length album Zero Worship was released through Superstar Destroyer Records in 2016.

History

=Crisis Works & Wreckonomics (2009–2012)=

In 2006, Mullen's band at the time, yourcodenameis:milo started a collaborations project called Print Is Dead, the idea being bands would go up to the yourcodenameis:milo studio in Newcastle and spend no longer than one day writing and recording a song for a record. Moakes was among the musicians who took part in the project, recording a track with the band called "Wait A Minute". This started the idea of working together again, although commitments with their other bands had meant that they did not have time to. When yourcodenameis:milo went on hiatus in 2007, Mullen joined The Automatic as a guitarist and vocalist, with Moakes continuing with Bloc Party.{{cite news | first= Raegan | last= Oatesi | title= YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE set to release debut full-length album 'Crisis Works' on May 9th 2011| date= 2011-02-16 | publisher=fd2d.com/ | url = http://fd2d.com/articles/2011/02/young_legionnaire_set_to_release_debut_full_length_album_lcrisis_worksr_on_may_9th_2011| work = From Dawn 2 Dusk Magazine| access-date = 2011-02-23 }}

With Bloc Party on hiatus and The Automatic taking some time off in December 2009, Moakes and Mullen convened with drummer William Bowerman. In January 2010, the group were revealed to be named "Young Legionnaire" and they played their first show at the end of January in London.[https://twitter.com/williambowerman/status/6614891961 3 days recording with an exciting new side project starting tomorrow with @paulmullen and Gordon Moakes] william bowerman, Twitter, 13 December 2009 The band then made their live debut on 28 January 2010, it wasn't until August 2010 that the band released their first single "Colossus"/"Iron Dream" on Holy Roar Records.{{cite web|last1 = Stovin|first1 = Jack|title = Young Legionnaire (Gordon Moakes / Paul Mullen) Announce Debut Single|url = http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/119405-young-legionnaire-gordon-moakes-paul-mullen-announce.html|website = altsounds.com|publisher = AltSounds|access-date = 6 November 2014|date = 27 June 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141107133152/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/119405-young-legionnaire-gordon-moakes-paul-mullen-announce.html|archive-date = 7 November 2014|url-status = dead}} On 16 August 2010, the band released their first single, the double A Side "Colossus/Iron Dream" on both limited edition vinyl and digitally on Holy Roar Records. With members of The Automatic making the decision to work towards obtaining degrees and Bloc Party still on hiatus, Young Legionnaire became a full-time project. As Bowerman was busy touring with La Roux, Mullen and Moakes recruited drummer Dean Pearson, the three then began working on their debut record.{{cite web|last1=Alexadra|first1=Vann|title=EXCLUSIVE: Bloc Party Bassist Debuts Heavy Band|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/03/exclusive-bloc-party-bassist-debuts-heavy-band/|website=spin.com|publisher=Spin Magazine|access-date=6 November 2014|date=30 March 2011}} Longtime producer of The Automatic, Richard Jackson was recruited for the sessions which took place in Monnow Valley, Monmouth and Sub Bubble, Wembley, eventually leading to the release of Crisis Works in May 2011.{{Cite web|title = Young Legionnaire - Crisis Works|url = http://www.discogs.com/Young-Legionnaire-Crisis-Works/master/423599|website = Discogs|access-date = 2015-11-02}}

It was revealed in early 2011 that the band would be releasing their debut album Crisis Works on 9 May 2011 through Wichita, produced by longtime producer of Mullen's other band, The Automatic, Richard Jackson. Album track "Chapter, Verse" was made available on the band's website as a free download after being premiered on Zane Lowe BBC Radio 1 show. After extensive touring the band then worked with four different producers in four different studios on new material which would eventually take the form of a new EP titled Wreckonomics,{{Cite web|title = Young Legionnaire - Wreckonomics|url = http://www.discogs.com/Young-Legionnaire-Wreckonomics/release/3540655|website = Discogs|access-date = 2015-11-02}} which saw release in March 2012 before Moakes returned to Bloc Party, leaving Young Legionnaire inactive.{{cite web|title=The Amazing Sessions – Young Legionnaire|url=http://amazingtunes.com/theamazingsessions/younglegionnaire|website=amazingradio.com|publisher=Amazing Radio|access-date=6 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106171555/http://amazingtunes.com/theamazingsessions/younglegionnaire|archive-date=6 November 2014}}

=Second album, Zero Worship (2014–present)=

In early 2014 the band began working on new material and performed a single date at The Garage in Islington, London, where they debuted two new tracks, titled on the setlist as "New 6/8" and "New Arpeg".{{cite web|title=Gig of the Day – Young Legionnaire|url=http://amazingradio.com/archive/gig-of-the-day-young-legionnaire|website=amazingradio.com|access-date=6 November 2014|date=23 January 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Mayers|first1=Jonathan|title=Live Review: Young Legionnaire – The Garage, London – 23/01/14|url=http://www.fortitudemagazine.co.uk/music/live-review-young-legionnaire-garage-london-230114/15539/|website=fortitudemagazine.co.uk|access-date=6 November 2014|date=12 February 2014}} In February 2015 the band toured as support to Idlewild while continuing to work on new material.{{Cite web|title = An update|url = http://younglegionnaire.com/2015/04/an-update/|website = younglegionnaire.com|access-date = 2015-11-02}} In March 2015 Moakes announced he had left Bloc Party to concentrate on Young Legionnaire.{{Cite web|title = Gordon Moakes departs Bloc Party?|url = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/gordon-moakes-departs-bloc-party|website = The Line of Best Fit|access-date = 2015-11-02}} In April 2016 the band announced that their second album would be called Zero Worship and pre-released to record backers on 24 June 2016{{Cite web|title = Our new record is called 'Zero Worship', and here's the artwork.|url = http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/younglegionnaire/updates/68264|website = Pledge Music|access-date = 2016-04-11}} ahead of a full release on 25 November on LP and CD.{{Cite web|title = Young Legionnaire to release new album.|url = https://www.nme.com/news/young-legionnaire/96571|website = NME| date=20 September 2016 |access-date = 2016-09-22}}