The Automatic Biography

Electro-punk quartet The Automatic formed in Cardiff, Wales, in the fall of 2003. Originally dubbed 'White Rabbit', the founding lineup comprised singer/bassist Robin Hawkins, guitarist James Frost, keyboardist Alex Pennie, and drummer Iwan Griffiths. Rechristened The Automatic in early 2005, the band cut a demo that earned the attention of Probation Management, a subsidiary of Cardiff label FF Vinyl. Probation in turn mailed the demo to the B-Unique imprint, which immediately signed the band to a reputed 500,000-quid publishing deal. By year's end The Automatic was a major favorite of the British press, with the single 'Raoul' penetrating the UK Top 40 in the spring of 2006. The follow-up, 'Monster', not only cracked the Top Five weeks later, but entered the chart solely on the strength of pre-retail downloads. The Automatic's debut LP, 'Not Accepted Anywhere', reached number three following its June 2006 release.

Following their appearance at Get Loaded In The Park in August 2007, Alex Pennine left the band, claiming that playing with The Automatic had become "increasingly unenjoyable". The band returned in the summer of 2008 with a new single, 'Steve McQueen and their second album, 'This Is A Fix'.