Athlete (band)

Last updated

Athlete
AthleteBandApril2008.jpg
Athlete performing in 2008
Background information
Origin Deptford, London, England
Genres
Years active2000–2013
Labels
Past members

Athlete were an English indie rock band formed in Deptford, London, comprising Joel Pott (lead vocals and guitar), Carey Willetts (bass and backing vocals), Stephen Roberts (drums and backing vocals), Tim Wanstall (keyboards).

Contents

The band had a brief period of high-profile domestic success in which their debut album Vehicles & Animals (2003) was a platinum seller in 2005 and Mercury Music Prize nomination. It was followed up by Tourist (2005) which reached No. 1 and sold over 500,000 copies allowing this album to also go platinum. Athlete's subsequent two albums, Beyond the Neighbourhood (2007) and Black Swan (2009), saw the band exploring different styles, influenced by the works of artists such as Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

The band has been on hiatus since anniversary tours in 2012 and 2013. Joel Pott has been working since then as songwriter and producer for other artists. Carey Willets released a solo album in 2012, called Stickers and has another project called "Boxes". Stephen Roberts and Tim Wanstall have been working on production with other bands. In 2011, Stephen Roberts stated that they set aside plans for a fifth record, have no plans to make a new album, and are exploring different careers. Since then, they have been relatively quiet. [2]

History

Debut releases and development (2000–2002)

Friends since the age of fourteen, Athlete took their wide ranging influences such as Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips and started jamming and practising in the basement of The Bear, a pub which was converted into a church and sandwich bar, on Deptford High Street in 1999. They began recording there, before sending demos out.

Signing with Regal Recordings, the band released their first single "Westside" in February 2002, which was a hit, garnering airplay on BBC Radio 1 and paving the way for another single, "You Got the Style" which cracked the Top 40 in June. Parlophone took notice and promptly signed the musicians, who entered the studio with producer Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Beth Orton) in late 2002 to record their first studio LP.

Commercial success, but mixed critical reception (2003–2006)

The band came to prominence in 2003 with their debut album, Vehicles and Animals , producing popular singles such as "You Got the Style" and "El Salvador". The album earned a Mercury Music Prize nomination and went on to sell over 250,000 copies. They played their first live session on UK radio on the Dermot O'Leary Show on BBC Radio 2. Following the release of the album in April 2003, the summer of that year was a particularly fruitful time. Shortly after Glastonbury and T in The Park festivals, the band were nominated for the Mercury Award. After nomination, the album went from silver (60,000 sales) to gold (100,000) in the space of two weeks. "I think there's an underdog waiting to be discovered by the Mercury every year," said Steve. "And that year it was us." "By the time we played V at the end of the summer it seemed like everybody there knew the record,' said Joel Pott, 'There was 20,000 people, all singing along.'

Their second album, Tourist , reached Number One in the UK Album Charts in its first week, following the huge success of single "Wires". The song was written about Pott's newborn baby who was rushed to intensive care after a premature birth, and in 2006 it won them the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Contemporary Song". In the UK charts, the band has frequently been frustrated by singles just missing out on top 40 placings, due to inconsistent support by music television channels and radio stations.[ citation needed ] For instance, certain songs, such as "Wires" and "Half Light", were played up to 10 times a day on larger UK radio stations, yet other singles such as "Westside" and "Tourist" received little radio play.

Tourist had a mixed critical reception, with some suggesting that Athlete had failed to sustain the unique style of their previous album, while others saw the new album as a logical progression from their old sound. Allmusic wrote that "Its art direction is a winning tribute to the striking cover art of Britpop past, but musically, Tourist settles for complacent." [3] The supporting tour took place between 2005 and mid-2006.

Development with subsequent releases (2007–2009)

On 10 June 2007, it was announced that the title of their third album would be Beyond the Neighbourhood . [4] The album was recorded by the band themselves in their own studio, and mixed by Ben Allen and Michael Brauer, who had worked on Tourist. Released on 3 September 2007, Beyond the Neighbourhood was a self-produced collection of low-key songs, viewed as a disappointment by some, [5] and an interesting sidestep by others. [6] Jonny Pilcher contributed additional guitar on 7 tracks. Pilcher then played live with the band on the subsequent tour. It entered at No. 5 on the UK album chart. Singles included Beach Boys-influenced "Hurricane", charting disappointingly at number 31, also "Tokyo" which missed the Top 100 (number 198) and "The Outsiders EP", which did not chart at all.

They embarked on tours of the UK in late 2007 and early 2008 in support of the album. They also played during the 2008 TT motorcycle racing festival on the Isle of Man. [7]

Black Swan is the fourth studio album produced by the band. Athlete recorded this album while temporarily unsigned. American producer Tom Rothrock collaborated with the group long distance after hearing only a few acoustic demos. [8] In April they announced a 29 date tour of the UK to promote their new album. The tour took place throughout June and July. On 2 June 2009 it was announced that the band had parted ways with Parlophone Records and signed up with Fiction Records, who released "Black Swan" on 24 August 2009. The first single from the album "Superhuman Touch" was released on 17 August 2009, entering the UK charts at No. 74, climbing to No. 71 a week later. On 12 June 2009, Athlete released the song "Summer Sun" as a free download for email-subscribers. The song is not included in the track listing confirmed by band member Carey Willetts, and is likely to be considered as a b-side from the upcoming album. The first single to be released in America is "The Getaway". [9] On 9 November 2009, Athlete released "Black Swan Song" as a single.

Compilation releases, touring and split (2010–2013)

Singles 1–10 was the first compilation album released by the band. Many of the bands big hits, including "El Salvador" and "Wires" appear on this album. The selection of tracks spans the past 10 years. There is one previously unreleased song on the album entitled "Back Track." After the release Athlete completed a tour of Britain, Europe and North America from March till December 2010, performing the hits from the non-bonus edition. [10] The band toured in July across Britain, and in August headlined Union Chapel, and also took the stage at Bingley Music Live and Brownstock Festival in 3 and 4 September 2011. [11]

In 2011 the band toured some of their biggest songs, but in a "stripped back" fashion. The idea was that the band took some of their songs and reworked them completely to be played in an acoustic style. The tour came around after the band played a small gig at London's Canary Wharf. After the gig was highly successful, they announced the tour which included 18 dates across the U.K with two dates at London's Union Chapel. The second of which was recorded for a live album "Live at Union Chapel" released early in 2012. The album has 12 songs including the singles "Wires" and "Half Light" and includes the band talking to the audience between songs. This was Athlete's fourth live EP after two iTunes Festival EPs and the "Tokyo EP" recorded at Camden Koko.

In a September 2011 interview, keyboardist Tim Wanstall said "it's been every two years (releasing an album) on the odd numbers since 2003 so this is the first year to break that cycle. Actually we're all exploring individual paths at the moment so the if/how/when of another album is a pretty open book." [12] In 2012 the band performed at several festivals including Hop Farm Festival, Shindig Festival and Lakefest. [13] In May 2013, the band embarked on Vehicles & Animals 10th Anniversary Tour, with dates at Bristol Academy, Cambridge Junction and Shepherd's Bush Empire. [14]

Since this tour, the band became dormant and later split. Pott turned to songwriting and production duties for other artists, forging working relationship with George Ezra, co-writing and producing his first two studio albums: Wanted on Voyage (2014) and Staying at Tamara's (2018), as well as co-writing Shura's debut effort Nothing's Real (2016). He referred to his time in the band in the past tense in a 2015 interview with M Magazine. [15] Stephen Roberts and Tim Wanstall have been working on production with other bands. Carey Willets released his first solo album in 2012, called Stickers, while also working on production and on a project called "Boxes".

Discography

Studio albums

Members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madness (band)</span> British ska band

Madness are an English ska and pop band from Camden Town, north west London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up. Madness's most successful period was from 1980 to 1986, when the band's songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boomtown Rats</span> Irish rock band

The Boomtown Rats are an Irish new wave band originally formed in Dublin in 1975. Between 1977 and 1985, they had a series of Irish and UK hits including "Like Clockwork", "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Banana Republic". The original line-up comprised six musicians; five from Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin; Gerry Cott, Simon Crowe (drums), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Bob Geldof (vocals) and Garry Roberts, plus Fingers' cousin Pete Briquette (bass). The Boomtown Rats broke up in 1986, but reformed in 2013, without Fingers or Cott. Garry Roberts died in 2022. The band's fame and notability have been overshadowed by the charity work of frontman Bob Geldof, a former journalist with the New Musical Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis (band)</span> Scottish band

Travis are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1990, composed of Fran Healy, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. The band's name comes from the character Travis Henderson from the film Paris, Texas (1984). The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in January 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Polyphonic Spree</span> American music collective formed by Tim DeLaughter

The Polyphonic Spree is an American choral rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by singer/songwriter Tim DeLaughter. The band's pop and rock songs are augmented by a large vocal choir, and instruments such as flute, trumpet, french horn, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums, electronic keyboards, and EWI.

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

James are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 1982. They achieved popularity during the 1990s, with four top-10 hits on the UK Singles Chart and nine top-10 placings on the UK Albums Chart. The band's best-known singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", "She's a Star" and "Laid". "Laid" also became a hit on American college radio. Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive, but members reunited in January 2007 and have since released a further seven albums. Live performance has continually remained a central part of the band's output. As of 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.

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

Keane are an English alternative rock band from Battle, East Sussex, formed in 1995. They met while at Tonbridge School together. The band comprises Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes and Jesse Quin. Their original line-up included founder and guitarist Dominic Scott, who left in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lightning Seeds</span> English rock band

The Lightning Seeds are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1989 by Ian Broudie, formerly of the bands Big in Japan, Care, and Original Mirrors. Originally a studio-based solo project for Broudie, the Lightning Seeds expanded into a touring band following Jollification (1994). The group experienced commercial success throughout the 1990s and are well known for their single "Three Lions", a collaboration with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner which reached No. 1 in the UK in 1996 and 2018, with a re-worked version also reaching the top spot in 1998.

<i>Tourist</i> (Athlete album) 2005 studio album by Athlete

Tourist is the second studio album by English rock band Athlete. It was released on 31 January 2005 through Parlophone. During the promotional cycle for their debut studio album Vehicles & Animals (2003), the band wrote material for its follow-up. Recording sessions were done at Helioscentric Studios in East Sussex, The Dairy in London, and Athlete's studio in London. Victor Van Vugt produced the majority of the tracks, while John Cornfield did the rest; Athlete is credited with producing all of them. The album is a soft rock release with elements of electronic music, taking influence from the works of Coldplay, Doves and the Flaming Lips.

<i>Vehicles & Animals</i> 2003 studio album by Athlete

Vehicles & Animals is the debut studio album by British rock band Athlete. It was released on 7 April 2003 through Parlophone. After changing their music style from Britpop, Athlete released a self-titled extended play (EP) in early 2002; its lead track "Westside" brought attention from Parlophone and the band joined the label. "You Got the Style" was released as a single in mid 2002, after which Athlete recording their debut album with producer Victor Van Vugt. Vehicles & Animals is an indie rock and post-Britpop album that emulates the style of Blur, Eels and Stereophonics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Magic Numbers</span> Band

The Magic Numbers are an English alternative rock band consisting of two brother-and-sister pairs, from Hanwell in west London. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005. Their follow-up album, Those the Brokes, was released on 6 November 2006; The Runaway was released on 6 June 2010, Alias was released on 18 August 2014, and their most recent album, Outsiders, was released on 11 May 2018.

<i>Hours</i> (Funeral for a Friend album) 2005 studio album by Funeral for a Friend

Hours is the second album by Welsh post-hardcore band Funeral for a Friend. The album was released on 13 June 2005, through record labels Atlantic and Ferret.

"Half Light" is a song by the British rock band Athlete from their second album, Tourist. It was released on 25 April 2005 as the second single from that album, peaking at number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. In March 2006, the song was the title track to an exclusive iTunes EP featuring B-sides and remixes from all of the band's singles for Tourist.

<i>Beyond the Neighbourhood</i> 2007 studio album by Athlete

Beyond the Neighbourhood is the third studio album by English rock band Athlete, released on 3 September 2007 by Parlophone. After touring in support of their second studio album Tourist wrapped up by early 2006, the band met up to exchange ideas for new songs. Soon afterwards, they built their own studio in Greenwich, London and opted to produce their next album by themselves. They experimented with beats and did jam sessions; different parts of the album were mixed by Ben H. Allen and Cenzo Townshend. The songs on Beyond the Neighbourhood mixed electronica and rock, while the themes tackle topics such as the effects of modern living, war and global warming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Pott</span> British musician

Joel Laslett Pott is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie band Athlete between 2000 and their split in 2013. In recent years he has served as a songwriter and music producer for numerous artists.

<i>Black Swan</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Athlete

Black Swan is the fourth and final studio album by English rock band Athlete, released on 24 August 2009 through Fiction Records. After leaving their former label Parlophone, the band members were in a period of financial uncertainty. Following an acoustic tour of the United States supporting Switchfoot, the band made demos with guitar and piano accompaniment. Tom Rothrock was impressed by the demos and was enlisted to produce their next album. Sessions took place at Sunset Sound Recorders and The Embassy, both in Los Angeles, California, and Metropolis and The Neighbourhood, both in London. Black Swan is a pop and stadium rock album that evokes the work of Coldplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athlete discography</span>

The discography of British rock band Athlete comprises four studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, fourteen singles and three extended plays (EP). They formed in 2000 with a line-up consisting of vocalist and guitarist Joel Pott, bassist Carey Willetts, keyboardist Tim Wanstall and drummer Steve Roberts.

<i>One Step Beyond...</i> 1979 studio album by Madness

One Step Beyond... is the debut studio album by the British ska-pop group Madness, released by Stiff Records. Recorded and mixed in about three weeks, the album peaked at number two and remained on the UK Albums Chart for more than a year. The album has received much critical praise. It was ranked 90th in a 2005 survey held by British television station Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatherson</span> Scottish alternative rock band

Fatherson is a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Kilmarnock, consisting of Ross Leighton, Marc Strain (bass) and Greg Walkinshaw (drums). They have toured with the bands Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit, Panic! at the Disco, Feeder, Twin Atlantic, Enter Shikari and Idlewild. The band have so far released four studio albums, I Am an Island (2014), Open Book (2016), Sum Of All Your Parts (2018) and Normal Fears (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Interrupters (band)</span> American ska punk band

The Interrupters are an American ska punk band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2011. The band comprises lead vocalist Aimee Interrupter, drummer Jesse Bivona, bassist Justin Bivona, and guitarist Kevin Bivona. They have released four studio albums. The latest, In the Wild, was released in 2022, along with the album's lead single, "Raised by Wolves".

Carey Willetts is an English musician, songwriter and producer. He has released work under the name "Boxes", and was the bassist in the English indie band Athlete, with whom he has won an Ivor Novello Award for the track "Wires".

References

  1. "Athlete: On their marks". The Independent . 11 April 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. "Bearded Theory headliners Athlete talk exclusively to eFestivals". Efestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  3. Loftus, Johnny. "Athlete: Tourist [CD & DVD] at AllMusic . Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. "Athlete". Athlete.mu. Archived from the original on 8 June 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  5. Peschek, David (31 August 2007). "Athlete, Beyond the Neighbourhood". The Guardian . London. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  6. Gallagher, Paul. "Athlete: Beyond The Neighbourhood". stv.tv. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
  7. "Rock band Athlete announce TT gig". BBC News. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  8. "Athlete Biography". Band. athlete.mu. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  9. "Athlete releasing The Getaway EP on November 3rd". ReadJunk.com. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  10. "Info". Athlete. Facebook. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  11. "Main Stage: Full Line Up". Brownstock Festival 2011. brownstock.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Athlete will be supporting Alanis Morissette in her last remaining UK shows of her 2012 tour Guardian Angel from her latest album Havoc and Bright Lights.
  12. Janes, Steve (27 September 2011). "Athlete – A 2011 Celebration". WithGuitars.com. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  13. "Athlete / Home". Athlete.mu. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  14. "Athlete". Facebook. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  15. "I Wrote That: Budapest - Joel Pott and George Ezra - M Magazine". M magazine.co.uk. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.