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merican bands are not the best, the only reason you like them so much is because you’ve never heard bands from Malta, or Cordova. But one competition decided to give the best bands from every corner of the planet a chance to be heard and perform in front of a global audience and take home the hard-earned title of the “best new band in the world”.

Participating nations, which if sorted in alphabetical order comprise of Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man or Mann, Jamaica, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States and Wales have at least once sent their best band to compete in this global competition.

And since 2004, only one band from the U.S. has garnered the title of the world’s best band no one has ever heard of, Heavy Mojo defeated 34 countries in 2006. Second from Spain defeated 16 countries and was the world’s coolest new band in 2004. Kopek from Ireland become the undisputed winner from 24 of the world’s best bands in 2005, Boys in a Band from Faroe claimed the super title from 38 world finalists in 2007, UK based Floors & Walls took the title back in 2008 and in 2009, Rustic from China went kung fu on them all.

In Indonesia, bands who thought they’ve got what it takes to beat the world applied at gbob.com for participation. Heaven Records, appointed as the GBOB Indonesia 2010 national directorate, initiated a number of qualifying heats and continued with a national final in December 2010.

At the end, Indonesia sent Strangers to compete against the world’s number one bands, ranging from Brazil’s The River Raid, Jamaica’s Dubtonic Kru, Sonsteek from South Africa, Nope from Morocco, Norway’s Voodoo Vanity, England’s Scarlletta, Belgium’s Experienced, Shenaniganz from Germany, Romania’s White Walls, Moldova’s Exnn, Magua from Ukraine, Salvador from Russia, Jindabaad from Nepal, Thailand’s Luminasion, The Amazing Insurance Company from China, Australia’s The Tillegra Damned and Malaysia’s TBA.

It should be a fun mind opener as there are only two rules for each band: no cover songs and no pre-recorded songs.

And the 2010 competition is a special one as the committee has decided to move the stage for the competition’s final battle from London, in mind boggling stages like the Astoria, Camden Underground and The Scala to just around the corner from Indonesia. Malaysia’s KL Live will host the world’s most anticipated competition on Feb. 26.

The world’s biggest live music competition yet will give lucky Malaysians and you who may just happen to be there the rare chance of witnessing some of the best bands the world has never seen with all types of musical influence known to man. But there can only be one winner, taking home US$100,000 in prize money and, last but not least, the most badass new band on earth.

The Global Battle of the Bands has been around since 2004, giving opportunities to great bands from every corner of this planet to compete with

The Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) is an international Battle of the Bands competition, where bands from many different countries compete in original live music performance. It was held for the first time in 2004 and the prize is 100,000 American dollars pack, the GBOB special gold trophy, the chance to go on a world tour and the title of “The Best New Band in the World”. [1]

GBOB Winners: Winners GBOB : Second (Spain) 2004 Kopek (Ireland) 2005 - *[2] Heavy Mojo (USA) 2006 - [3] Boys In A Band (Feroe Islands) 2007 Floors and Walls (England) 2008
Rustic (China) 2009

Previous winners have been Spanish indie band Second in 2004, Irish band Kopek in 2005, US Alternative/Hip Hop band Heavy Mojo in 2006. In 2007 the Faroese Boys In A Band won.

The final has been held at the London Astoria in previous years. In 2007, the International final was held in Camden, London over a three day period at two different venues. The first two days were held at the Camden Underground, followed by the final at the Camden Electric Ballroom on December 6, 2007. The first two days served as a semi-final. In 2004 the bands were from 16 different countries, in 2005 they were from 24, in 2006 they were from 34, and in 2007 there were 38 participating countries.

Since its start in 2004, the following countries have participated in the Global Battle of the Bands:

Australia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Canada
Colombia
Croatia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
England
Faroe Islands
Finland
Germany
Iceland
India
Ireland
Isle of Man
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan (and middle east countries)
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Moldova
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Philippines
Romania
Russia
Scotland
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Thailand
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Wales

On December 14 and 15 2008, the GBOB Challenge World Finals will take place at The Scala (club) in Central London. Judges will include Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock and the event’s host is model and MTV Thailand presenter Michele Waagaard.

The Global Battle of the Bands 2009 World Final at the London Scala on April 27 featured national final winning bands from every corner of the globe. They came from Italy, Australia, Belgium, Japan, Norway, England, Kazakhstan, Israel, Montenegro, Ukraine, Romania, China, Netherlands, Scotland, Serbia, Nepal, Malaysia,... Canada, Iceland and Germany to compete for the GBOB Best New Band in the World title.

But after an entertaining evening of truly fantastic performances it’s a shame that only one band could take the title – and that honour fell to flamboyant punk rockers Rustic from Beijing in China (pictured). They were the unanimous first place choice of the judges just ahead of two Nordic contenders in the shape of Endless Dark from Iceland in second place and Explicit Licks from Norway in third. In fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively were Cousin Avi from England, Umlala from Israel and E.Quals from Nepal.

The Global Battle of the Bands finals has set its sight on Malaysia as their first ever destination
outside of London. Touted to be the world’s biggest live music competition, the GBOB will give audiences a chance to see bands from more than 30 countries and from all walks of life competing for the prize of US$100,000. The GBOB Finals will be an opportune occasion for Malaysian musicians to rise to international heights.