Though visually unassuming, Dublin's Republic of Loose from Ireland might readily be taken for a United States hip-hop outfit. Boasting a twelve-member lineup that includes seven central figures plus five associates, the ensemble has done little to discourage such a perception. Drawing admitted inspiration from the Rolling Stones, the group's primary touchstones remain forthrightly modern and American, yielding a sound that fuses gangster rap with smooth popular soul and classic funk while incorporating a generous measure of the surreal. However improbable seven Irish performers adopting whimsical aliases and posing as gang-bangers may seem, Republic of Loose possess the instrumental skill to sustain the ruse.
The project originated under the name Johnny Pyro & the Rock Coma as a loose collective steered by vocalist Mick Pyro, born Michael Tierney, and guitarist Dave Pyro, born Dave Haughton. Dave had earlier played in the indie rock band Sportsman, whereas Mick had tasted fleeting recognition writing songs for his sister's group Chicks, which secured a Dreamworks deal in 1998 only to be dropped shortly thereafter. In 2001 the Pyros rechristened the act Republic of Loose and promptly welcomed guitarist Brez Breslin, bassist Benjamin Loose and drummer Coz Noleon. Over the ensuing two years the band cultivated a strong live following, culminating in a 2003 signing to Big Cat Records, the former British label home of Jeff Buckley and Pavement.
Late that year Republic of Loose issued their debut Irish single, the smooth soul track "Girl I'm Gonna Fuck You Up." Their first full-length release, This Is the Tomb of the Juice, arrived in 2004 under the guidance of producers Gareth Mannix (Angels of Mons, Delorentos) and Paul Thomas (U2). Keyboardist Deco, whose real name is Declan Quinn, performed on most tracks and was subsequently granted full membership. The group received the Hope For 2004 Award at that year's Meteor Irish Music Awards. After two additional Irish singles, "Hold Up" and "Tell More Lies," the band parted ways with Big Cat.
Aaagh!, issued independently in 2006 on Loaded Dice Records, was heralded by the hit single "Comeback Girl" and the arrival of drummer and percussionist Barnes together with backing vocalists Orla La, Emily Rose and Eve Ill Jones. The album reached the United Kingdom in July 2007, followed a month later by the band's first British single, "Break!," a duet with Chicks vocalist Isabel Reyes-Feeney. The track had climbed into the South African Top 40 in July, yet airplay waned after a prominent local station banned it for allegedly encouraging unprotected sex, a charged topic in a nation still reeling from the AIDS epidemic.
