This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2024) |
EMF | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England |
Genres | Alternative rock, indie rock |
Years active | 1989–1997, 2001–2002, 2007–2009, 2012–present |
Labels | Parlophone |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website | www |
EMF are an English alternative rock band from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, who came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During their initial eight-year run, from 1989 to 1997, the band released three studio albums before a hiatus. Their first single, "Unbelievable", reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, [1] and was a number 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their debut album, Schubert Dip , went to number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. [1] In April 2022, EMF released their first album of new material in 27 years, Go Go Sapiens.
The name EMF is an initialism of Epsom Mad Funkers, a name taken from a fan club of the band New Order in 1989. [2]
All the members of the band were relatively well known in the Forest of Dean music scene before forming EMF in Cinderford in October 1989. Keyboard and sampler player Derry Brownson had formed a band called Flowerdrum but left to join bass guitarist Zac Foley, drummer Marc Decloedt, DJ Milf, and singer James Atkin as EMF. Ian Dench was the last to join, having already tasted moderate success as a guitarist for Apple Mosaic.
The band's music has been classified as indie rock. [3] They toured the UK in 1990 with Stereo MCs. [4]
In 1990, their debut single "Unbelievable" topped the charts in many countries around the world, reaching number 1 in the U.S. in July 1991. The single featured sampled utterances from comedian Andrew Dice Clay. In 1991, EMF released their debut album Schubert Dip which went to number 3 in the UK. [1] The name was explained by songwriter Ian Dench, as "If ever I'm short of a chord sequence, I nick one from Schubert." [5] Successful singles from the album included "I Believe", "Children", and "Lies". "Lies" included a voice sample of Mark Chapman, John Lennon's murderer. Yoko Ono, Lennon's wife, achieved an injunction, and a modified version was included in future pressings. [6]
In 1992, EMF returned with the Unexplained EP (including a cover version of "Search and Destroy") and later Stigma , their second album. Both of these releases did poorly in the charts. The singles released were "Getting Through", "They're Here", and "It's You".
Also in 1992, EMF appeared on the Red Hot Organization's dance compilation album Red Hot + Dance , contributing "Unbelievable (The Hovering Feet Mix)". The album attempted to raise awareness and money in support of the AIDS epidemic, and all proceeds were donated to AIDS charities.
EMF's third album, Cha Cha Cha , was released in 1995 and featured the singles "Perfect Day" and "Bleeding You Dry". In the same year, EMF teamed with comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and recorded "I'm a Believer", a cover of The Monkees song. [6] This single reached No. 3 in the UK singles chart. [1]
Following the release of the Afro King single (which failed to do well), the band split up for the first time. However, all members of the band continued to play music. Ian Dench formed the indie rock band Whistler, which was active from 1998 to 2000. James Atkin formed the big beat trio Cooler and Derry Brownson formed the alternative rock trio LK. Zac Foley became the bass player for Carrie.
In 2001, EMF played a reunion gig in London. They also released a greatest hits album: Epsom Mad Funkers: The Best of EMF .
Zac Foley died on 3 January 2002 at the age of 31, due to an overdose of non-prescribed drugs. [7] Following his death, EMF played just four more gigs in late 2002 before splitting again.
In 2007 the band reformed to play a one-off gig at the Scala in King's Cross, London, on 18 December. The place of Foley was taken by Richard March, formerly of Pop Will Eat Itself and Bentley Rhythm Ace.[ citation needed ]
In 2008 EMF played the Portsmouth Festival on 9 October and supported Carter USM at Birmingham Academy and London's Brixton Academy in November that year.[ citation needed ]
In May 2009 EMF announced that due to personal issues, the band would not be doing any more shows in the near future, thus ending their second reunion.[ citation needed ]
In 2012, they reformed to play at the inaugural festival Lakefest in Tewkesbury, alongside Levellers and Dodgy, on 18 and 19 May. The band welcomed new bassist Stevey Marsh during this show. For the first time, they performed every track from the album Schubert Dip in order to coincide with the 21st anniversary re-release. [8] [9] The band headlined at the Westbury Festival on 25 August 2012. [10] In December 2012 the band played Schubert Dip and Stigma from start to finish at the Gloucester Guildhall. The show was recorded and sold as a live Blu-ray/DVD titled Videodrome: Long Live the New Flesh.[ citation needed ]
On 1 October 2016 the band headlined Indie Daze in London.[ citation needed ]
In 2020 the band released a career-spanning vinyl box set titled From Us to You. It contained all the full-length albums remastered, and a fourth disc containing unreleased demos and non-album tracks. On 1 April 2022, the band released an all-new material album, titled Go Go Sapiens. Its first single, "Sister Sandinista", was released 1 March 2022. They also had a short UK tour in early April 2022. [11] [12]
Since 2010 James Atkin has taught music at Holy Family Catholic School in Keighley, West Yorkshire [18] and is a touring member of Bentley Rhythm Ace. As of June 2020, he has released four solo albums including Circadian Rhythms (2023), Popcorn Storm (2019) and A Country Mile (2014). [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
Year | Album | UK [1] | AUS [24] [25] [26] | NZ [27] | US [28] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Schubert Dip | 3 | 44 | 8 | 12 |
1992 | Stigma | 19 | 143 | — | — |
1995 | Cha Cha Cha | 30 | — | — | — |
2022 | Go Go Sapiens | — | — | — | — |
2024 | The Beauty and the Chaos | — | — | — | — |
Year | Album |
---|---|
2001 | Epsom Mad Funkers: The Best of EMF |
2020 | From Us to You |
Year | Title | UK [1] | AUS [26] [29] | IRE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Unexplained EP | 18 | 136 | 16 |
Title | Year | UK [1] | AUS [24] [30] [26] | BEL (FL) [31] | GER [32] | IRE [33] | NLD [34] | NZ [27] | SWI [35] | US [36] | US Alt [37] | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Unbelievable" | 1990 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Schubert Dip |
"I Believe" | 1991 | 6 | 54 | 32 | 26 | 2 | 28 | 35 | 6 | — | 10 | |
"Children" | 19 | 49 | — | 40 | 5 | — | 39 | 18 | — | 26 | ||
"Lies" | 28 | 159 | — | 99 | 18 | — | — | — | 18 | 27 | ||
"They're Here" | 1992 | 29 | 195 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | Stigma |
"It's You" | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Perfect Day" | 1995 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cha Cha Cha |
"Bleeding You Dry" (UK promo only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"I'm a Believer" (with Reeves and Mortimer) [38] | 3 | 186 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | singles only | |
"Afro King" | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Incredible" | 2001 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Best of EMF: Epsom Mad Funkers |
"Let's Go" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Sister Sandinista" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Go Go Sapiens |
"Crime of Passion" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Sparks and Flashes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Hello People" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Beauty and the Chaos |
Year | Title |
---|---|
1991 | Smoke the Banger (VHS) |
2013 | Long Live the New Flesh (Blu-ray & DVD) |
Schubert Dip is the debut album by British rock band EMF, released on Parlophone Records on 7 May 1991. It features the worldwide hit single "Unbelievable" which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The name of the album is a pun on the name of the popular sweet sherbet dip and the 19th-century composer Franz Schubert.
Bentley Rhythm Ace (BRA) are a British electronic music act formed in Birmingham in 1995, originally consisting of Mike Stokes and Richard March.
Toploader are an English rock band from Eastbourne, East Sussex, formed in 1997, with over two million album sales and several top-20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, sold over one million units and peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for six months; it earned them four nominations at the 2001 Brit Awards. They are best known for their 2000 cover of King Harvest's US hit "Dancing in the Moonlight", which became a global hit for them. Their second album, Magic Hotel, reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart. The band broke up in 2003, after the release of their second album, but they reformed in 2009 and remain active as of 2024.
"Penny & Me" is a song written and performed by American pop-rock band Hanson, produced by Hanson and Danny Kortchmar. It was released as the first single from the band's third commercial studio album, Underneath (2004), on February 23, 2004. The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, number 28 on the Irish Singles Chart, and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 40 in Italy and was a minor hit in Germany and the Netherlands.
"Way to Go!" is a song by Australian electronic rock band Rogue Traders from their second album, Here Come the Drums (2005). It was released as the album's second single on 10 October 2005 and is the first release under the famous "Rogue Traders" logo. In the UK, the single had a different cover. The reason is that since the band had a new drummer, they were unable to use the original cover in the UK release.
Stigma is the second studio album by English alternative band EMF, released in 1992. It yielded two UK hit singles: "They’re Here" and "It’s You".
Unexplained EP is an extended play (EP) by English band EMF. One of the tracks on the EP is a cover of Iggy & the Stooges' 1973 song "Search and Destroy". Released on 20 April 1992, the EP peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, number 16 on the Irish Singles Chart, and number 10 on the Portuguese Singles Chart.
Since 1983, the American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers has released 13 studio albums, two live albums, 12 compilation albums, 11 video albums, five extended plays, 66 singles, and 53 music videos. To date, the band has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. According to the RIAA the Chili Peppers have 6x Multi-Platinum, 2x Platinum and 3x Gold albums in the US, totalling 27.5m. They also have 9x Multi-Platinum, 3x Platinum and 4x Gold singles too, totalling 40m. They have been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards, of which they have won 6. They have the most no.1 singles (15), the most cumulative weeks at no.1 (91) and most top-10 songs (28) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
"Unbelievable" is a song written and recorded by British band EMF, originally appearing on their debut album, Schubert Dip (1991). It was released as a single in the UK in October 1990 by Parlophone, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart on 1 December 1990. It was the 30th-best-selling single of 1990 in the UK, and a top 10 hit also in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. In the United States, "Unbelievable" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 in 1991. The song was produced by Ralph Jezzard, and contains samples of US comedian Andrew Dice Clay and a Black Panther Party member shouting "What the fuck?" Its music video was directed by Josh Taft.
The discography of American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, consists of 12 studio albums, 23 live albums, 3 compilation albums, 46 singles, and numerous official bootlegs.
"Burning Down the House" is a song by new wave band Talking Heads, released in July 1983 as the first single from their fifth studio album Speaking in Tongues.
The discography of American heavy metal band Metallica includes 11 studio albums, eight live albums, three extended plays, 49 singles, 10 video albums, 43 music videos, one soundtrack album, one collaboration album and three box sets. They are a San Francisco-based metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich (drums). After several bassist and lead guitarist changes, the band settled on Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett, respectively. Metallica started playing locally, releasing their first widely circulated demo, No Life 'til Leather, in 1982. The demo caught the attention of Johny Zazula, who signed Metallica to Megaforce Records. The band released Kill 'Em All in 1983, and the following year they released Ride the Lightning. After Ride the Lightning was released, Metallica left Megaforce and signed to Elektra Records. In March 1986, the band released its third studio album, Master of Puppets, which was Metallica's first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While promoting the album, Burton was killed in a bus accident. Jason Newsted was hired as a replacement. The band's first release to feature Newsted was The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited, and then followed by ...And Justice for All in August 1988, which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200.
Ian Alec Harvey Dench is an English songwriter and musician. He is the guitarist and principal songwriter for EMF, who scored a major international hit reaching number 1 in the United States with "Unbelievable" in 1991. It was voted one of BBC Radio 2's 'Greatest Guitar Riffs'.
Carrie were a British-based rock music band, featuring the former Levitation and Some Have Fins singer/guitarist Steve Ludwin, ex-EMF bass player Zac Foley, guitarist Dennis Dicker, and Australian drummer, Bruce Pawsey. Their sound was characterised by a juxtaposition of glossy production and multi-layered harmonies with often dark lyrical material. The band's name derived from the Star Wars actress, Carrie Fisher.
The discography of British-American band Fleetwood Mac consists of 18 studio albums, 10 live albums, 23 compilation albums, one extended play and 62 singles. The band also has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Robyn Loau is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. From 1991 to 1994, she was lead singer of pop group Girlfriend, before leaving the group to become the face and voice of world music project Siva Pacifica. Loau launched her solo career in 1997 with the Adamski produced single "Sick with Love".
"I Believe" is a song by British band EMF, released as the second single from their first album, Schubert Dip (1991). The song was released as a single in January 1991 in the UK following their big hit "Unbelievable". The song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, the song was the band's third single, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.
English indie rock band Florence and the Machine have released five studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, six extended plays, 25 singles, four promotional singles and 29 music videos.
English-Irish boy band One Direction have released five studio albums, ten extended plays, seventeen singles, two video albums, and seventeen music videos. They signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records after being formed and finishing third in the seventh series of British television singing competition The X Factor in 2010. They subsequently signed in North America with Columbia Records. One Direction: This Is Us, a 3D documentary concert film was released on 29 August 2013 in the United Kingdom and 30 August 2013 in the United States. The film captures the band on the road during the Take Me Home Tour and documents their origins and rise to fame.
The Holy Family Catholic School is a coeducational Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form serving the parishes and communities in and around the districts of Keighley, Haworth, and Skipton in West Yorkshire, England.