Adorable (band)

Last updated

Adorable
Adorable band.jpg
L to R Robert Dillam, Stephen 'Wil' Williams, Pete Fijalkowski, Kevin Gritton (1991)
Background information
Origin Coventry, England
Genres Alternative rock, shoegaze, noise pop, jangle pop
Years active1990–1994, 2019
Labels Creation / EMI America Records
Past members Pete Fijalkowski
Robert Dillam
Stephen 'Wil' Williams
Kevin Gritton

Adorable were an English alternative rock band, formed in Coventry in 1990. The band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Pete Fijalkowski, guitarist Robert Dillam, bassist Stephen 'Wil' Williams and drummer Kevin Gritton.

Contents

History

Adorable formed in September 1990. Prior to that the band was known as The Candy Thieves, and their only record included an early version of "Homeboy" and another song "Underwater" that fitted the then-current baggy trend. The single was released on Trolley Records in 1990. However guitarist Wayne Peters left the band out of frustration with their lack of success and was replaced by Robert Dillam, prompting the name change to Adorable. [1]

Adorable's first gig was in Coventry at the Tic Toc club [2] on the night that the first Gulf War started in January 1991. [3]

After recording a 12" of "Sunshine Smile" ("I'll Be Your Saint" and "Breathless" on the B-side) that was pressed up to be released on record producer Pat Collier's 'Money To Burn' record label, the band received a positive review in the NME . However, the single was never released. They signed to Creation Records in 1992, and after a UK tour supporting Curve, they released their first single, a re-recording of "Sunshine Smile", in April of that year. [4]

"Sunshine Smile" was NME's 'Single of the Week', and topped the UK Indie Chart. The band released "I'll Be Your Saint", "Homeboy" and "Sistine Chapel Ceiling" (another NME Single of the Week), which all went into the Top 5 in the Indie chart. The band's relationship with much of the rest of the music press though was strained and quickly soured. [5] Their album, Against Perfection was released in March 1993, and peaked at No. 70 in the UK Albums Chart. [6] The album's original title Against Creation was dropped 24 hours before they submitted the album to their record label, and reflected their difficult relationship with the label. [7] The band toured the US, Europe, Australia and Japan. The tour of Australia was later recalled as “disastrous” by the band where the "promoters did a runner on us and never paid us" with the money later recovered but not some of the band members' albums they had with them. [8]

The second album, Fake, provided two singles "Kangaroo Court" and "Vendetta", which again entered the UK Indie Chart, but the album failed to dent the mainstream UK Albums Chart. With strained relations within the band, they were told had been dropped by Creation (now owned by Sony) before a gig in Colchester in 1994, [7] where they were supported by the 60 Foot Dolls. The band undertook a European tour before announcing their split onstage at the final gig of the tour in Brussels in late 1994. [7]

A retrospective of their work entitled 'Footnotes' was released by Cherry Red in 2008, featuring extensive liner contributions from all four members of the band where they spoke candidly about their experiences whilst in Adorable.

Subsequent to the band's demise, Robert Dillam moved to Scotland where he joined The Zephyrs and is teaching computer networking. Stephen Williams remained in Coventry working in the International Office at the University of Warwick before moving to Nottingham Trent University where he is currently Director of NTU Global, [9] whilst Fijalkowski went on to form the band Polak, who released two albums on One Little Indian. Shortening his name to Pete Fij he joined up with guitarist Terry Bickers of fellow former Creation label mate The House of Love and Levitation under the title of 'Pete Fij / Terry Bickers'; [10] Kevin Gritton is currently Headteacher of a comprehensive school in Derby. [11]

On 7 May 2019, the band announced [12] two reunion shows to take place in the UK, one at the Hebden Bridge Trades Club on 31 October 2019 and the other at Bush Hall, London on 2 November 2019. The tour was expanded to include an additional night at the Hebden Bridge Trades Club on the 30 October and an additional night at the Bush Hall on the 1 November. A final show was added at the Scala in London on 3 November.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFO (band)</span> English rock band

UFO are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. The band's current lineup includes vocalist Phil Mogg, lead guitarist Vinnie Moore, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Neil Carter, bass guitarist Rob De Luca, and drummer Andy Parker. They have gone through several line-up changes, leaving Mogg as the only constant member, and had two breaks. The band also featured former Scorpions guitarist and Michael Schenker Group (MSG) founder Michael Schenker, who was a member of UFO from 1973 to 1978 and rejoined the band sporadically between 1993 and 2003, when Moore replaced him. In May 2018, Mogg announced that he would retire from UFO after one last tour as a member of the band in 2019; however, the band plans to resume their farewell tour in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morcheeba</span> English electronic band

Morcheeba is an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with founding members vocalist Skye Edwards and the brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. They mix influences from trip hop, rock, folk rock and downtempo, and have produced ten regular studio albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten. Edwards left the band in 2003, after which the brothers used a number of singers before she rejoined in 2009. They recruit additional members for their live performances and have toured internationally. In 2014 Paul Godfrey resigned from the band. Edwards and Ross Godfrey later formed Skye & Ross and released a self-titled album in September 2016. Their latest studio album as Morcheeba, Blackest Blue, was released in May 2021 and was preceded by singles "Sounds of Blue", "Oh Oh Yeah" and "The Moon". It features collaborations with Brad Barr from The Barr Brothers, and Duke Garwood, whom Edwards described as "a diamond geezer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creation Records</span> British record label

Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although it was revived at one point in 2011 for the release of the compilation album Upside Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levitation (band)</span> English psychedelic rock band

Levitation were an English psychedelic rock band, formed in 1990 in London. The band consisted of frontman Terry Bickers, drummer David Francolini, guitarist Christian Hayes, bassist Laurence O'Keefe and keyboardist Robert White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Primitives</span> British indie pop band

The Primitives are an English indie pop band from Coventry, best known for their 1988 international hit single "Crash". Formed in 1984, disbanded in 1992 and reformed in 2009, the band's two constant members throughout their recording career have been vocalist Tracy Tracy and guitarist Paul "PJ" Court. Drummer Tig Williams has been a constant member since 1987. Often described as an indie pop or indie rock band, The Primitives' musical style can also be seen as straddling power pop, new wave and post-punk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McGeoch</span> British musician

John Alexander McGeoch was a Scottish musician and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist of the rock bands Magazine (1977–1980) and Siouxsie and the Banshees (1980-1982).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchens of Distinction</span> English alternative rock band

Kitchens of Distinction is an English rock band formed in Tooting, South London in 1986. The trio consists of lead singer and bassist Patrick Fitzgerald, guitarist Julian Swales and drummer Daniel Goodwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The House of Love</span> English alternative rock band

The House of Love are an English alternative rock band, formed in London in 1986 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Chadwick and co-founder and lead guitarist Terry Bickers. They rose to prominence in 1987 with their first single "Shine On", released on the independent label Creation. The following year, the band released their critically acclaimed eponymous debut album and built their reputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring and the support of English press. They signed with Fontana Records in 1989 and met commercial success in 1990 with their second self-titled album, which peaked at number 8 in the UK albums chart. Their third album, Babe Rainbow, was favourably met by the critics in 1992 and also reached the top 40 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3 Colours Red</span> British rock band

3 Colours Red were an English rock band, formed in 1994 in London. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other British rock bands such as Ash, Stereophonics and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London listings magazine, Time Out. It landed randomly on an advertisement for the concluding part of the Polish film director Krzysztof Kieślowski's, Three Colors, trilogy. They went on to record two UK Top 20 albums, and six Top 40 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Loves Jezebel</span> British rock band

Gene Loves Jezebel are a British rock band formed in the early 1980s by brothers, Michael Aston and Jay Aston. Gene Loves Jezebel's best-known songs include "Heartache", "Desire " (1986), "The Motion of Love" (1987), "Jealous" (1990), and "Break the Chain" (1993), as well as alternative club hits "Bruises" (1983), "Influenza (Relapse)" (1984), "Shame", "Screaming for Emmalene" and "The Cow" (1985). "Desire" and "Heartache" were the most successful UK singles.

The Creation are an English rock band, formed in 1966. Their best-known songs are "Making Time", which was one of the first rock songs to feature a guitar played with a bow, and "Painter Man", which made the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1966, and reached No. 8 in the German chart in April 1967. It was covered by Boney M in 1979, and reached the No. 10 position in the UK chart. "Making Time" was used in the movie Rushmore, and as the theme song from season 2 onwards of The Great Pottery Throw Down.

Salad is a UK-based alternative rock group formed in London in 1992, whose initial line-up was Dutch vocalist/keyboardist Marijne van der Vlugt, guitarist Paul Kennedy, bassist Pete Brown and drummer Rob Wakeman. In 1996, Charley Stone joined the band as a live guitarist, keyboard player and backing vocalist. The band disbanded in 1998 and reformed in 2017.

Martin Francis Jeremy Gritton is a Scottish former professional footballer and sports co-commentator primarily for BBC Radio Devon.

Terence "Terry" Robert Arthur Bickers is an English musician and songwriter. A guitarist and singer, he is best known for his work as the original lead guitarist with The House of Love and as the former frontman/guitarist for Levitation and Cradle. During the late 1980s and 1990s Bickers was hailed as one of Britain's leading young guitarists, as well as attracting plenty of press coverage due to his unconventional pronouncements.

<i>The House of Love</i> (1990 album) 1990 studio album by The House of Love

The House of Love is the second album by British alternative rock band the House of Love, released on Fontana Records in 1990. It should not be confused with the band's debut album, which is also called The House of Love. It is generally referred to either as Fontana or The Butterfly Album.

Dig is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, they achieved success with their 1993 album Dig, which featured the charting single "Believe". The band then released the album Defenders of the Universe in 1996. It was followed by their third album Life Like in 1999, in which they then disbanded that same year. They reunited briefly from 2004 to 2008, and again in 2016. Vocalist/guitarist Scott Hackwith and guitarist Jon Morris are the only members to stay in the band for its entire run, although the current lineup also consists of original guitarist Johnny Cornwell.

Peter Jeremy Fijalkowski is an English vocalist, guitarist and songwriter formerly with the bands Adorable and Polak, and currently plays with Terry Bickers of the House of Love in the duo Pete Fij / Terry Bickers. Polak also featured his brother, Krzyz Fijalkowski, formerly of The Bardots.

<i>Against Perfection</i> 1993 studio album by Adorable

Against Perfection is the debut album by the British alternative rock band Adorable. It was released in the UK on 1 March 1993 on Creation Records and in the United States by SBK. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Fake</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Adorable

Fake is the second and final album by British alternative rock band Adorable, released in 1994. The sound of the album was influenced by American indie rock, a shift from the Britpop of the band's debut. The album sold poorly, and Adorable were dropped from their label.

The Deadnotes are a [indie rock]pop punk band from Freiburg in Germany founded in 2011 by Jakob Walheim (bassist) and Darius Lohmüller (guitarist). They asked their friend Yannic Arens to join the band as a drummer. The Deadnotes have toured Europe extensively and released two full length records. Since 2018 the band runs their own independent record label 22Lives Records.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview with Pete Fijalkowski of Adorable". Adequacy.net. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Pristines homepage The Pristines official website". Myweb.tiscali.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Interviews » Interview with Pete Fijalkowski (Polak, Adorable)". Webcuts Music. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Adorable - Sunshine Smile". 45cat.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Failing to Entertain You". Isolation Records. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 15. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  7. 1 2 3 "Adorable". Creation Records. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Adorable – Interview with Piotr, Robert, Kevin and Wil (2008)". Webcuts Music. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Stephen Williams - Director of NTU Global". Nottingham Trent University. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Pete Fij / Terry Bickers". Petefijterrybickers.com. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Troughton, Adrian (6 June 2019). "When the head was cool - Kevin restarts his indie band career". Derby Telegraph. Pressreader. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Adorable". Facebook.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  13. ↑ "Adorable - Sunshine Smile". Discogs.com. 20 April 1992. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Adorable - I'll Be Your Saint". Discogs.com. 13 July 1992. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "Adorable - Homeboy". Discogs.com. 26 October 1992. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "Adorable - Favourite Fallen Idol". Discogs.com. 12 April 1993. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.