‘What Have I Got To Lose’ c/w ‘Don’t Look Now’
Label: Snap! Records
Release date: 21 September 2026
Available now on BANDCAMP and SPOTIFY
Ex-Speedways guitar-slinger returns with new solo project!
Former lead guitarist with UK powerpop favourites The Speedways, Mauro Venegas announces his first solo single, album and dates.
With a bulging CV to his credit as the capital’s go-to pop/rock guitarist – breaking cover with noughties artpunks The Rocks and Jonny Cola & The A-Grades before three years with The Godfathers plus stints in Duncan Reid’s Big Heads and Desperate Measures – Mauro played a key role in establishing the Speedways’ reputation, built on three studio albums, a swathe of international touring and hosting five increments of the annual Pump It Up! powerpop weekender, before departing the band last year.
“I was getting restless in The Speedways and wanted to explore new musical territory,” he says. “I feel like if you stand still musically, you go backwards, and that wasn’t for me. Most of the acts I admire (Bowie, Prince, Clash, Dexys) took risks and got out of their comfort zone. I wanted to make a more adventurous album, so as well as full-throttle rock’n’roll, you’ll get rousing soul stompers, moody postpunk and midnight confessionals – songs to make you sad, songs to give you hope, songs to blast in your car or to absorb in a darkened room.”
Since then, all eyes (and ears) have been on what Mauro would do next. Well. The wait is finally over!!!
Credited to Mauro & The Mob, new single ‘What Have I Got To Lose’ c/w ‘Don’t Look Now’ finds Mauro taking centre-stage on lead vocals and guitar, joined by Rachel Stamp’s David Ryder Prangley on bass, and drummer Steve Grainger (Chelsea, DeRellas, Last Great Dreamers).
Speaking of the new single, he says, “Trying to write a song on one chord, in the same way as New Wave classics like ‘Big Boys’ by Elvis Costello and ‘Whole Wide World’ by Wreckless Eric… Bit of a cheeky Bowie lift going on in the chorus but no one seems to have noticed it yet! Lyrically it’s about the dangers and frustrations of falling into patterns of destructive behaviour.”
Mauro’s currently preparing live dates for the Autumn as well as some dates in Europe in the New Year, where he’ll be joined by the musicians on the single plus his old A-Grades bandmate Simon Drowner. The as yet untitled debut album – due in the New Year – promises a diverse array of guests: “It’s basically a solo project with a collective of musicians/friends helping me out!”
Mauro & The Mob will be launching the project with a special show at London’s Aces & Eights on 2nd October.
They’ll also be opening for The Briefs and The Cyanide Pills at The Lexington on 11th November.
Like the man says, what has he got to lose?
