The release marks her second album in the states and her first on the label. America is already well acquainted with May through her performances on "The Tonight Show" in April, the 2010 Grammy Awards and a PBS Concert Special with Jeff Beck. With the release of Mayhem, Imelda will embark on a string of summer dates including a July 21 album release party at New York City's Mercury Lounge, Central Park Summer Stage with Wanda Jackson and Lollapoolaza (dates attached). May has achieved triple-platinum status in her native Ireland and gold status in the U.K., along with receiving numerous awards including Best Breakthrough Artist at the 2010 Classic Rock Awards and Best Female Artist of 2010 at the Irish Meteor Awards. She has also graced TV screens in the U.K. performing on "Graham Norton" and twice on "Jools Holland." Mayhem has received four-star reviews from MOJO, The Daily Mirror, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. The album reached number seven on the U.K. chart, remained in the Top Ten for two weeks and the Top 20 for eight weeks.
On Mayhem, May wrote 13 out of the 14 tracks including the title track/first single, and U.K. hits "Inside Out" and "Psycho." The album also contains a rendition of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love." Her accomplished band includes husband Darrel Higham on guitars, Al Gare on double-bass, Dave Priseman on trumpet, and Steve Rushton on drums.
Performing a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly, May self-released her debut Love Tattoo, which went Triple Platinum. The album was picked up and released by Decca abroad and on Verve Forecast in the U.S. Since that time, May has shared stages with Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, David Gilmore, Shane Macgowan, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Wanda Jackson, Paul Brady, Jamie Cullum and Meatloaf. In 2009, Love Tattoo knocked Bruce Springsteen off the number one spot on the Irish album charts making May the first woman to grace the top spot in nearly 20 years.
May fell in love with rockabilly and the blues at the age of nine. She went onto perform in burlesque clubs and was part of a swing troupe before breaking out on her own. She caught people's attention not only musically but with her 50s look that has led her to grace the front cover of the Irish Sunday Times Style Magazine.
