Teen band get $1.8m deal

Schoolboy metal band Unlocking The Truth have secured a $1.8m record deal with Sony after a live video went viral.

Over 1,600,000 people have viewed the clip, which shows then 11-year-olds Malcolm Brickhouse, Jarad Dawkins and Alex Atkins performing on Times Square in New York.

Since then they’ve played shows all over the US, appeared at festivals and opened for Guns n’Roses.

The six-album Sony deal means they’ll be advanced $60,000 for their debut record. If that sells more than 250,000 copies they’ll be handed $350,000 for its follow-up.

Tabatha Dawkins, mother of drummer Jarad, tells the New York Daily News: “It’s so exciting – we’re over the moon. What started out as playdates went to Times Square, and now this. It’s been one great thing after another.”

But the trio haven’t escaped from their homework – Dawkins states: “Schoolwork comes first. If their schoolwork’s not done, they don’t play.”

Unlocking The Truth are currently part of the Vans Warped tour in the US. A book and documentary about their rise to success are also in production.

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.