Gay Dad

Last updated

Gay Dad
Gaydad Mardi Gras.jpg
Gay Dad at Mardi Gras; 30 June 2001
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres Post-Britpop, alternative rock, indie rock
Years active1994–2002
Labels London/B-Unique
Past members Cliff Jones
Nicholas "Baz" Crowe
Andrew Smith
Tim Forster
Nigel Hoyle
James Riseboro
Charley Stone
Tim Forster
Dominic Stinton
Denise Johnson

Gay Dad were an English rock band that formed in London in 1994 and broke up in 2002. The line-up of the band has included Cliff Jones (guitarist/vocalist), Nick "Baz" Crowe (drummer), James Riseboro (keyboardist), Nigel Hoyle (bassist) and Charley Stone.

Contents

Musical career

Early history

Gay Dad were formed in 1994 by former Mojo and The Face journalist Cliff Jones and art magazine publisher Nick Crowe (drums), along with their Berkshire teenage friends Dominic S (vocals), Tim Forster (keyboards), and bassist Nigel Hoyle, who had originally played in a band called Brutus with S a year or two earlier. Jones, S, Forster and Crowe had played together in various incarnations of Gay Dad ten years previously, such as The Timothy and the Astral Projection Society. Known recordings include the track 'Freaking out in Sunninghill Sky St' (sic) which was made available as a limited edition cassette in the late 1980s.

Their first Gay Dad demo was produced by Jim Irvin, (the writer and former frontman of Furniture) and funded by the Rolling Stones record producer, Andrew Loog Oldham and his original Immediate business partner Tony Calder. Jones had met with Calder and Oldham who were convinced by a performance at the band's rehearsal room to sign the band.

Gay Dad went on to make their live debut in 1995 at the now defunct Orange Club in West Kensington.

Following a band reshuffle, Crowe invited fellow Liverpool University graduate, James Riseboro, to play keyboards, and the band recorded three new tracks at Raezor Studio, Wandsworth, during the autumn of 1996 including a song called "To Earth with Love". Although it was only intended to win them some live dates, the demo attracted keen record label interest from Island, Chrysalis, Mercury, EMI and others. These included London, to whom they signed in December 1997. [1]

"To Earth with Love" (1998)

With Charley Stone (formerly of Salad) joining as a live guitarist to add some of the overdubbed guitar parts from their multi-layered sound, they toured the UK in early 1998, before starting recording sessions at RAK Studios in Regents Park with the record producer Tony Visconti and engineer Mark Frith who had co-produced the demos that got the band signed. Visconti co-produced (with the band and Frith) the track "To Earth with Love," before he was sacked. The album sessions relocated to The Dairy studio in Brixton with producers/sound engineers Gary Langan (ex-Art of Noise) and Chris Hughes. [1] Meanwhile, test pressings of the first single, made for the label bosses and marketing team at London, found their way to DJ Mark Radcliffe, then presenting on BBC Radio 1. They began to play the test pressings and London had to plan a rush release.

The band were the first act ever to play Top of the Pops without having a record out. They also performed on TFI Friday and CD:UK.

The band generated a huge amount of interest from the media, [2] and Gay Dad were hailed as the "saviours" of British rock by magazines such as Select and Melody Maker. [1] Some critics claimed that the over-the-top hype was an example of nepotism in the industry at the time, as band leader Cliff Jones had only recently stopped working in the music press himself. [1] The band appeared on the covers of both Melody Maker and the NME, as well as that of Select.

"To Earth with Love" was finally released as the band's debut single in January 1999. [1] It entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 10. [3] In an interview in March 2001 with Channel Fly, Jones stated that despite the critical success of their album and commercial success of their debut single, he would never want to re-live 1999 ever again claiming he would "rather live in a cave in Spain."

Leisure Noise period (1999–2000)

Gay Dad's debut album Leisure Noise , co-produced by Chris Hughes and Mark Frith, was released in June 1999. [1] Despite initial good reviews it only made No. 14, although American sales topped 25,000. The band performed in June at the Glastonbury Festival. [4] and in July they supported the Stereophonics in Morfa Stadium, Swansea.

The second single "Joy!" reached No. 22 in the UK, but the third single from the album, "Oh Jim", only made No. 47. [1] Disappointing reviews for some of their live shows started a general media backlash. [1] Jones was criticized for his pretentious statements, and the band's whole authenticity was questioned due to his connections with the music press. After a U.S. tour Stone left the band and was on the verge of being replaced by Andy Bell (who had previously been guitarist with Ride and had seen the band play a sell out show in Stockholm. Liam Gallagher heard of Bell's plan and asked him to join Oasis). [5]

The band started to work on a second album at The Cure's Parkgate studios in Sussex but keyboard player Riseboro left soon after due to musical differences. The band also parted with London Records the following November, along with their A&R man Mark Lewis.

Transmission period (2001–2002)

Jones, Hoyle and Crowe signed a recording contract with new independent record label B-Unique, set up by their former A&R man at London Records, Mark Lewis, and began work on a new album, Transmission.

"GAY DAD ARE POST EMBARRASSMENT".

Transmission, Sleeve notes.

In 2001, the leading single from Transmission – "Now Always and Forever" – was released. It fell just short of the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. [3] An extensive UK tour was followed by a limited-edition single "Harder, Faster". Third single "Transmission" was released just before the album came out in late 2001.

Gay Dad played a one-off show in Houston, Texas in the summer of 2001. It was at this show that Jones shared a bill with up-and-coming Austin band Young Heart Attack. Smitten with the energy and drive of the band, Jones struck up a friendship with them and played a key role in getting the band signed in England. A new song, "Young Heart Attack", later appeared as a b-side to one of the singles from Transmission.

The Carling Festival saw the band's final two full appearances headlining the New Bands Tent. Their Leeds appearance was initially delayed by technical issues and then was cut short by the stage hands. In response Jones smashed his guitar and led the crowd in an a cappella version of "Joy!".

Having left the stage to the crowd chanting their name the previous two nights, their Reading appearance saw people attempting to cram into a full tent. The set was successful with the band able to perform "Joy!" with a crowd sing-along, in a less ad-hoc nature.

Band split

Rumours of a split started circulating in 2002, and Jones finally announced the breakup of the band on the eve of the U.S. release of Transmission, citing the excessive press hype the band had received and the pressures resulting from it, as well as negative reactions to the band's controversial name. "We got shot out of the cannon," said Jones, "then things started to get out of control, and as rapidly as we went up, we came down again."

Jones claimed that one negative reaction came from Capitol Records, which had planned to release the album in America. "Someone in radio promotion said he'd resign if he had to work with a band called Gay Dad." [6] A year later Crowe spoke to an ex-Capitol Records executive who confirmed the label had scuppered the deal because of the band's unacceptable name. Instead, Transmission was put out by indie label Thirsty Ear.

Later that year Gay Dad's second single, "Joy!" was used in a Mitsubishi car advertisement, [7] the football video game FIFA 2000 , and TV shows including Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and The Naked Chef .

Following the split, Jones went into production and co-songwriting working with The Electric Soft Parade, Sia, Scanners, Lovebites, Jamie Dornan, The Applicators, Faceless Warewolves, The Golden Virgins, and Mark Owen (though nothing was ever released with Owen). He occasionally writes on music for The Sunday Times . [8] He is also tutoring at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music. [9]

Crowe went on to write for Prospect magazine, contributing music criticism and essays, while bringing up his children on a small holding on Exmoor.

Hoyle eventually ended up working with Freelance Hellraiser recording a track for the Ian Brown remix album. He then worked with Dylan Rippon and Crispin Hunt (of the defunct Longpigs) in a new band called Gramercy. The band posted numerous songs on their website then split up (just before they were to release their debut EP Hold On through Redemption Records). In 2009 he released a solo album as Nigel Of Bermondsey on Pure Mint records.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

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

New Order are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1980 by vocalist and guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer Stephen Morris. Their integration of post-punk with electronic and dance music made them one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the 1980s. The members regrouped after the disbandment of their previous band Joy Division due to the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. They were joined by keyboardist Gillian Gilbert later that year. They were the flagship band for Manchester-based independent record label Factory Records and its nightclub The Haçienda, and they worked in long-term collaboration with graphic designer Peter Saville.

Transmit or Transmission may refer to:

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

Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s. The band formed in 1992 after Mark Roberts met Cerys Matthews and Kirsty Kennedy. The first major lineup featured Dafydd Ieuan of Super Furry Animals on drums, Paul Jones on bass, and Clancy Pegg on keyboards. With this line-up the band recorded two EPs, For Tinkerbell and Hooked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stereophonics</span> Welsh rock band

Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in the Cynon Valley, Wales. The band consists of Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, Adam Zindani, Jamie Morrison and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards). The group previously included the late Stuart Cable (1992–2003) and then Javier Weyler (2004–2012) on drums. Stereophonics have released twelve studio albums, including eight UK number one albums. A successful compilation album, Decade in the Sun, was released in November 2008 and charted at number two on the UK Album Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Bolan</span> English guitarist and singer (1947–1977)

Marc Bolan was an English guitarist, singer-songwriter and poet. He was a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Bolan strongly influenced artists of many genres, including glam rock, punk, post-punk, new wave, indie rock, Britpop and alternative rock. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of T. Rex.

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

The Charlatans are an English rock band formed in Birmingham, West Midlands in 1988. As of 2000, their line-up consists of lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers.

Mute Records is a British independent record label owned and founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller. It has featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Einstürzende Neubauten, Fad Gadget, Goldfrapp, Grinderman, Inspiral Carpets, Moby, New Order, Laibach, Nitzer Ebb, Yann Tiersen, Wire, Yeasayer, Fever Ray, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Yazoo, and M83.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Gilbert</span> English musician

Gillian Lesley Gilbert is an English musician and singer best known as the keyboardist and guitarist of the band New Order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Taylor Quartet</span> British jazz funk band

The James Taylor Quartet are a British four-piece jazz funk band formed in 1985 by Hammond organ player James Taylor following the break-up of his former band the Prisoners, and in the wake of Stiff Records' bankruptcy. The band consists of James Taylor (organ), Mark Cox (guitar), Andrew McKinney (bass), and Pat Illingworth (drums). Recordings and live performances often include vocalist Yvonne Yanney.

Longpigs were an English indie rock band who rose to fame on the fringe of Britpop in the 1990s, comprising Crispin Hunt (vocals), Richard Hawley (guitar), Simon Stafford and former Cabaret Voltaire member Dee Boyle (drums) who was replaced by Andy Cook for their second album. Hailing from Sheffield, the group had success with singles such as "She Said", "On and On", and their well-received debut album The Sun Is Often Out (1996).

JJ72 were an alternative rock band from Dublin, Ireland. After forming in 1996, they signed to Lakota Records in 1999 and released two albums before splitting in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Cutler</span> English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist

Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of other bands, including Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu and (briefly) Gong/Mothergong. He has collaborated with many musicians and groups, including Fred Frith, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins, Peter Blegvad, Telectu and The Residents, and has appeared on over 100 recordings. Cutler's career spans over four decades and he still performs actively throughout the world.

Hurricane #1 are an English rock band, formed in Oxford in 1996. The band were formed by former Ride guitarist Andy Bell, along with vocalist / guitarist Alex Lowe, bassist Will Pepper and drummer Gareth "Gaz" Farmer. After releasing two albums, Hurricane #1 (1997) and Only the Strongest Will Survive (1999), the band broke up. Bell went on to join Gay Dad and then eventually Oasis, while Lowe ventured into a solo career. Fronted by Lowe, the band reformed in 2014 and released their third album, Find What You Love and Let It Kill You, in November 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sound (band)</span> English post-punk band

The Sound were an English post-punk band, formed in South London in 1979 and dissolved in 1988. They were fronted by Adrian Borland, and evolved from his previous band, the Outsiders.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mo Foster</span> English multi-instrumentalist, record producer and composer (1944–2023)

Michael Ralph "Mo" Foster was an English multi-instrumentalist, record producer, composer, solo artist, author, and public speaker. Through a career spanning over half a century, Foster toured, recorded, and performed with dozens of artists, including Jeff Beck, Gil Evans, Phil Collins, Ringo Starr, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Brian May, Scott Walker, Frida of ABBA, Cliff Richard, George Martin, Van Morrison, Dr John, Hank Marvin, Heaven 17 and the London Symphony Orchestra. He released several albums under his own name, authored a humorous book on the history of British rock guitar, written numerous articles for music publications, continued to compose production music, and established himself as a public speaker. Foster was an assessor for JAMES, an industry organisation that gives accreditation to music colleges throughout the United Kingdom. In 2014, Foster was a recipient of a BASCA Gold Badge Award to honour his lifelong contribution to the British songwriting and composing community.

"Joy!" is a song by the English rock band Gay Dad from their first album, Leisure Noise, released as a single on 24 May 1999. It was featured in FIFA 2000 and in 2002 on a Mitsubishi television commercial. Additional vocals on the track are by Carol Kenyon.

<i>Leisure Noise</i> 1999 studio album by Gay Dad

Leisure Noise is the first album by London band Gay Dad, released via London Records and Sire Records on 7 June 1999. The album is a blending of glam rock, neo-psychedelia, krautrock and gospel into indie pop. Lyrically it is often about and constructed of rock history. The track-listing was designed to mimic the traditional two-sided vinyl.

Cliff Jones is a British musician, songwriter, record producer, journalist and educator. Between 1996 and 2002, he was the lead singer of the Britpop band Gay Dad. As a music journalist in the 1990s, he contributed to publications such as Mojo, The Face and Melody Maker.

<i>Transmission</i> (Gay Dad album) 2001 studio album by Gay Dad

Transmission is the second and final studio album by London band Gay Dad, released via B-Unique on 24 September 2001. The music is a drastically changed from their glam rock, neo-psychedelia, krautrock, and gospel and indie pop style of previous album, into much more electronic style. The album itself was met with mixed reviews, and was not a commercial success.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 171. ISBN   0-7535-0427-8.
  2. ↑ "Dad's not home yet". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 223. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ "Live Reviews: The Glastonbury FestivalJune 25–27, 1999" [usurped] . Chart Attack, Richard Beland, 25–27 June 1999.
  5. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 372. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  6. ↑ "News". 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "New Page 1". 5 October 2006. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  8. ↑ [ dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Cliff Jones – Event Management, Music Industry Management". Bimm.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
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.