 |
Adequate Seven | |
|---|---|
 Tom Pinder of Adequate Seven | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
| Genres | Jazz rock, rapcore |
| Years active | 2000–2006 |
| Labels | Breaking World Records, Household Name Records |
| Past members | Jamie Searle Pete Barnes Kazz Basma Gavin Fitzjohn Tom Pinder WD Davies Ben Reynolds Jonny Prosser Matt Price |
Adequate Seven were a Welsh band who blended music styles such as hip hop, hardcore, punk, and funk. They formed in 2000 and split in December 2006.
Adequate Seven formed in November 2000 and played their first gig only four weeks later. The band drew upon a diverse selection of influences in creating their sound. In February 2001 the band released the Adequate Seven EP , a 5-track EP on their own label Breaking World Records.
The band was brought to the attention of London-based label Household Name Records who featured one of the band's tracks on their 2002 label sampler, following this with the release of Adequate Seven's début full-length Songs of Innocence and of Experience in March 2003 to critical acclaim. [1]
Adequate Seven embarked on several tours, across the UK as well as mainland Europe, with bands such as Hundred Reasons, Capdown, The Suicide Machines and Fishbone as well as opening up for the likes of Cypress Hill and The Slackers. In the middle of 2004, Matt (Squeak) Price and Jonny Prosser left the band to pursue other musical directions. Gavin Fitzjohn and WD Davies were recruited by the band as replacements. Adequate Seven also played Compass Point Festival in Cardiff and appeared on the BBC Radio 1 Lock Up stage at the 2006 Reading Festival (Carling Weekend).
By the time Adequate Seven split up in 2006, they had played nearly 600 gigs all over Europe and had recorded 6 BBC sessions, 2 albums and an EP. The band left a unique musical legacy which has continued to influence bands around the world. Their albums are still regularly included in lists of great but obscure records in the music press, including on the NME's list in 2012. [2]
Adequate Seven left Household Name Records early in 2005, instead choosing to release their debut single "Splitting Up" on Audio Rehab - a predominantly drum & bass label. According to vocalist Jamie Searle, the move was "totally friendly. We still get on with [Household Name], we're totally supportive of what they do, they still support our band and what we do." [3]
Trombonist Tom Pinder added: "...we felt with this next album that it was time to take some big risks for the sake for the band's continuing progress, and perhaps even for its survival. We were recording an album in late last year that we had decided to release through Household Name, but we knew exactly what would happen if we released the record with them. We'd have sold a few thousand copies over the next couple of years and we'd be able to keep touring the same circuit and perhaps break into Europe a bit more but we'd still not really have an income from the band or any real prospect of one, and therefore because of various pressures on some of us individually we'd be struggling to continue to commit ourselves fully to the band. We decided that we needed a label that could get us out there and pay for us to spend the time and money necessary to make good records. Whilst Household Name is an excellent independent label, they don't work on a scale that could accommodate those extra things." [4]
Searle was also sure to make the point that Adequate Seven would not suffer artistically from their move to the new label: "...we're not about to start working with machines any time soon. We're doing exactly what we did before, which was get into the practice room, write some tunes, have a bit of a dance." [3]
The band released the "Splitting Up" single on 12 inch vinyl and CD in August 2005. The track caused interest on BBC Radio 1's evening shows, including being crowned Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record in the World".
Prior to the release of their second album, Adequate Seven announced that a Ddouble A-side single - "Head Up High" / "Gotta Stay Focused" - would be released on 12 June 2006 via the band's own label, Breaking World Records.
Here on Earth was released on 19 June 2006. The album was named by Music News as one of ten albums that define the 21st Century. [5]
After rumours began circulating on the Internet about the band splitting up, Adequate Seven posted a statement confirming the rumours: [6]
"After nearly six years, and nearly 600 gigs, we've come to the decision that it's the right time to call it a day."
The band released a final single, a free download of Set Your Sights and went on one final tour. The band recorded their final London gig, at the Underworld venue, and released a live album on Gravity DIP Records entitled "Last Night in London" in December 2006. [7]
Adequate Seven played their final farewell gig on 10 December 2006 to a sold-out crowd at Cardiff Student's Union. Boom in the Diamond Industry, Captain Everything, Shootin' Goon, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Capdown all supported. Original members Jonny Prosser and Matt Price performed with the band during their set.
Many members of the band have gone on to have further success in the music industry after the demise of Adequate Seven. Gavin Fitzjohn joined Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly in early 2007 and toured and recorded with the band for 18 months before leaving to join Paolo Nutini’s band, with whom he still plays. Tom Pinder has also played with Get Cape Wear Cape Fly since early 2008, and also plays alongside Fitzjohn with Paolo Nutini's band, including numerous TV appearances.
Will Davies has had success with the Cardiff-based rock quartet Attack! Attack! who are touring the UK and Europe extensively to support the release of their first album. The band are also featured on the latest addition of Activisions Guitar Hero 5 as well as having had their single "You and Me" included in an episode of Beverly Hills 90210 .
Fitzjohn, Pinder and Davies also play in the ska band Capital City Ska alongside Adequate Seven's former manager Matt Redd, which has also occasionally featured Pete Barnes on guitar.
Fitzjohn also plays with The Barry Horns and has played horns for Super Furry Animals, Manic Street Preachers and Imelda May. Gav also performs at most Stereophonics gigs and appears playing various on most of their recent albums. He also appeared in the 2018 Ghost album Prequelle.
Jamie Searle played with London-based hardcore band March of the Raptors with members of Fireapple Red from 2010 - 2013. [8]
| Year | Album | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Adequate 7 EP | Breaking World Records | Recorded with original bassist Jonny Prosser and original trumpet player Matt Price (the artist formerly known as Squeak) |
| 2003 | Songs of Innocence and of Experience | Household Name Records | Recorded with original bassist Jonny Prosser and original trumpet player Matt Price. Price also played keyboards on the album. |
| 2006 | Here on Earth | Breaking World Records | |
| 2006 | Last Night in London (live album) | Gravity DIP Records | |
| Cancelled | split DVD with Sonic Boom Six | Punkervision | Planned but cancelled when the band split. |
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Splitting Up" | Audio Rehab Records |
| 2006 | "Gotta Stay Focused/Head Up High" | Breaking World Records |
| 2006 | "Set Your Sights" | |
The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals), and Clint Warwick (bass/vocals). Originally part of the British beat and R&B scene of the early–mid 1960s, the band came to prominence with the UK No. 1 and US Top 10 single "Go Now" in late 1964/early 1965. Laine and Warwick both left the band in 1966, with Edge, Pinder and Thomas recruiting new members Justin Hayward (guitar/vocals) and John Lodge (bass/vocals). They embraced the psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s, with their second album, 1967's Days of Future Passed, being a fusion of rock with classical music that established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".
Days of Future Passed is the second studio album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released on 10 November 1967, by Deram Records. It has been cited by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and others as one of the earliest albums of the progressive rock genre and one of rock music's first concept albums.
Babyshambles are an English rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from the Libertines. As of 2024 the band included Mick Whitnall, Drew McConnell, Patrick Walden and Adam Ficek. Babyshambles have released three albums—Down in Albion (2005), Shotter's Nation (2007) and Sequel to the Prequel (2013)—three EPs and a number of singles.
Capdown is an English punk rock band from Milton Keynes. Originally known as Soap, their songs have political themes as alluded to by their name, which is short for Capitalist Downfall. Mixing ska, punk, hardcore, dub, drum and bass, and reggae, Capdown built a reputation around their independent releases and numerous tours.
Mansun were an English alternative rock band, formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone.
On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by the Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label. The album reached the top of the album charts, the group's first No. 1 album in the UK. According to guitarist Justin Hayward, "I think Threshold is the defining album for the Moody Blues. And it's the one in the '60's that you would find in people's homes when you went, they would have that album."
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band from Bridgend, formed in 2001, who currently consist of Kris Roberts, Gavin Burrough, Darran Smith (guitar), Richard Boucher (bass), and Ryan Richards.
Shootin' Goon were a Welsh ska punk outfit of the late 1990s and early 2000s who were signed to the label Moon Ska Europe and later Good Clean Fun Records.
In Search of the Lost Chord is the third album by the Moody Blues, released in July 1968 on the Deram label.
Lightyear is a seven-piece British ska punk band formed in Derby, England, in 1997. They were part of a UK music scene that mixed ska punk with other genres including funk, indie-rock and hip-hop. The band signed to Household Name Records in 2001, and released two full-length albums before splitting in 2003. Since 2006 the band have had a number of reunions.
Yourcodenameis:milo are an English alternative rock/experimental/post-hardcore band from Washington, Tyne and Wear. Their mini album, All Roads to Fault, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 by the full-length album Ignoto, both on Fiction/Polydor Records. In 2006, the band left their Polydor contract and within a month signed a new record deal with V2 Records. In November 2006, the band released Print Is Dead Vol 1, a side project album featuring collaborations with other bands. Their second full-length album, They Came from the Sun, was released in 2007.
Captain Everything! were a British punk band from Watford, England. Formed in 1998, the band play high tempo pop-punk, which was branded "Bubblegum Thrash". Renowned for their heavy touring schedule, they have played all over the UK and Europe, touring with bands such as The Vandals, Capdown, and Nerf Herder. They were part of the roster of London punk label Household Name Records.
King Adora was a rock group formed in Birmingham, England in 1998. The band released debut album Vibrate You in May 2001 and follow-up Who Do You Love? in March 2004. The band was notable for their short, riotous live shows. Lack of label support and changing tastes in the UK guitar music scene led King Adora to split in 2005. In 2010, the band reformed to play shows in Birmingham and London, but have been inactive since.
The Rifles are an English indie rock band from Chingford, London.
Pound for the Sound is the second full-length studio album by UK ska punk band Capdown, released on 10 September 2001 by the London-based indie label Household Name Records. It is the follow-up to the previous year's Civil Disobedients. The songs are a mix of hardcore and the ska-core sound. The lyrics in the album show a positive attitude towards life and lyrical themes include overcoming tough situations and racism. "Dub #2" is the only instrumental. The album peaked at #43 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. Pound for the Sound received critical acclaim from publications such as Kerrang! who described it as "damn near perfect" and awarded it 4 K's out of 5.
Howards Alias were a band in the turn-of-the-millennium UK underground punk scene. They formed in 1999 in Southampton, England, and blended an eclectic mix of rock, progressive, punk and ska influences into their own musical output. They permanently disbanded in April 2008.
Wind Up Toys is the third studio album from UK punk band Capdown released on 5 February 2007. It is also the first and only Capdown album to be released on the Fierce Panda Records label. Anyone who pre-ordered the album from Banquet Records in Kingston, UK would get signed copies of the album as well as a free three live track EP, consisting of "Keeping Up Appearances", "Surviving The Death Of A Genre" and "No Matter What".
Civil Disobedients is the debut album by UK ska-core band Capdown, released on 22 May 2000, through Household Name Records.
The King Blues are a British punk rock band from London credited for fusing punk and hip hop together with influences from ska and spoken word. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as "rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are challenging war-monger politicians and their courtiers". Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash and The Specials. Lead singer Jonny "Itch" Fox describes the band's sound as 'rebel street music.'
Household Name Records is a DIY punk rock record label, based in London, UK founded in 1996. It has been home to notable artists including Capdown, Howards Alias, Lightyear, and Adequate Seven.
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
