John Hassall | |
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Background information | |
Genres | |
Occupation | Musician |
Years active | 1999–present |
Member of |
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Formerly of | Yeti |
John Hassall is an English musician, best known as the bassist for the Libertines. [1] He performs with his own band the April Rainers. [2] Previously, he formed the band Yeti. [3] [4]
He has said that when he discovered The Beatles at age 13 was the first time he fell in love. [5] He went on to buy their entire discography in chronological order.
Hassall attended Highgate School, where he was classmates with Johnny Borrell of Razorlight, and then Camden School for Girls at sixth form. [6] It is reported Borrell was actually part of the band's line up as bass player before Hassall; another band member was quoted saying he left because he could not keep up with a song they were practising (allegedly 'Horrorshow', a song from the band's Up The Bracket – their first album). Hassall joined a band and ended up playing bass. He played in various bands for a few years, but none of them worked out until he met Pete Doherty. Doherty and Carl Barât had already founded the Libertines, but were in need of a bassist and drummer. [7] It is said that Doherty was intrigued by Hassall not only for his talent but because he had 'proper' equipment. [8] To play the drums on their first recording session, the trio hired Paul Dufour. Hassall was hired to rejoin them on bass when they were signed by Rough Trade in late 2001. He continued to play with the band until they disbanded at the end of 2004. [9] The band has since reformed and was a "Special Guest" at the Reading/Leeds Festival on 28 August 2010.
From 2015 to 2020, John Hassall toured with the Libertines, promoting their third LP: Anthems for Doomed Youth. In the deluxe version of the album, there's a song called Over It Again where Hassall acts as the lead singer.
Hassall formed a new band,[ when? ] The April Rainers in Aarhus Denmark, where he lives with his Danish wife Line Hassall Thomsen. [10] After a number of Scandinavian gigs and support slots on Pete Doherty's Eudaimonia tour, the Rainers played a series of headlining gigs in England.[ citation needed ] The band's much delayed debut album Wheels to Idyll was released in March 2017, following single releases and videos for "Given Time","Intercity 125", "Whether Girl" and "Mosey Through Your Mind", the latter being directed by Libertines collaborator Roger Sargent. [11]
The Libertines are an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât (vocals/guitar) and Pete Doherty (vocals/guitar). The band, centred on the songwriting partnership of Barât and Doherty, has also included John Hassall (bass), and Gary Powell (drums) for most of its recording career. The band was part of the garage rock revival and spearheaded the movement in the UK.
Peter Doherty is an English musician. He is best known for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he formed with Carl Barât in 1997. His other musical projects are indie bands Babyshambles and Peter Doherty and the Puta Madres.
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from 1983 until 1992. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group are best known for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1983 and Mavers joined the next year, although for most of the group's history, the frequently changing line-up revolved around the core duo of Lee Mavers and John Power along with numerous other guitarists and drummers including Paul Hemmings, John "Timmo" Timson, Peter "Cammy" Cammell, Iain Templeton, John "Boo" Byrne, Chris Sharrock, and Neil Mavers.
Razorlight are an English indie rock band, formed in 2002 in London by lead singer and guitarist Johnny Borrell. Along with Borrell, the current line-up of the band is composed of founding members Björn Ågren on guitar and bassist Carl Delemo, as well as drummer Andy Burrows. This lineup is a reunion of the lineup from the band's second and third 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.
Carl Ashley Raphael Barât is a British musician best known for being the co-frontman with Pete Doherty of the indie rock band the Libertines. He was the frontman and guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and in 2010 debuted a solo studio album. In 2014 he announced the creation of his new band, the Jackals.
The Libertines is the second studio album by the English indie rock band The Libertines. Released on 30 August 2004, it is particularly biographical of the relationship between frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 72,189 copies in its first week of release.
Jonathan Edward Borrell is an English guitarist and singer, currently the frontman of the rock band Razorlight.
Lee Anthony Mavers is an English musician. Mavers was the songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist in The La's and is best known for the song "There She Goes" from October 1988.
Patrick George Walden is best known as the former guitarist for Babyshambles. Prior to joining Babyshambles, Walden belonged to a variety of London groups, among which were Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand, and The White Sport. He played guitar for The White Sport alongside another future Babyshambles member, drummer Adam Ficek. Walden also worked as a live guitarist and as a session musician, playing bass and guitar for numerous recording artists. Among those acts were Whitey, James Blunt, 500 and Crave, Ed Laliq, and, very briefly, The Honeymoon.
Drew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed by frontman of the Libertines, Pete Doherty, and for former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher's band. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood and he speaks Spanish fluently. Formerly in the band Elviss, McConnell participates in a number of side-projects, such as the Phoenix Drive and playing double bass and piano with Irish singer/songwriter Fionn Regan as well as writing and recording solo material.
Yeti were an English rock band, founded in 2004 by John Hassall, of The Libertines. Hassall met Brendan Kersey, Andrew Deian and Mark Underwood through mutual friends, and the line-up was completed when drummer Graham Blacow responded to a classified advertisement. The band was based in North London.
"Can't Stand Me Now" is the first single from English rock band the Libertines' self-titled second album. The song was their biggest hit, and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number 28 on the Irish Singles Chart. In the United Kingdom, it is their second highest-selling single after "Don't Look Back into the Sun".
"Time for Heroes" is a song by English rock band the Libertines, featured on their debut album Up the Bracket. It was released on 13 January 2003 as the second single from that album, and reached No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is based on singer/guitarist Pete Doherty's experiences and on police brutality at the London May Day Riots of 2000.
The Bandits were an English blues rock band from Liverpool. They are most notable for the singles "Take it and Run" and "2 Step Rock", which both reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Albion" is a song by English band Babyshambles. It was released as the third single from Down in Albion on 28 November 2005 in the UK. The single was released in Japan on 8 March 2006 by Reservoir Records/EMI.
Grace/Wastelands is the debut solo studio album from the Babyshambles frontman and the Libertines co-frontman Peter Doherty. It was released in Australia on 13 March 2009, in the UK on 16 March, and in the US on 24 March, with the single "Last of the English Roses" preceding it by one week. The album features contributions from Blur guitarist Graham Coxon Dot Allison, Peter Wolfe, and members of Babyshambles. Most of the songs have been played live or feature in demo form on leaked sessions.
Jack Jones is a Welsh musician, songwriter, poet and author.
Deadcuts were an English post punk group formed in 2012 by former Senseless Things front man, Mark Keds (vocals/guitar) and Jerome Alexandre . Keds was also known for his previous work with The Wildhearts and Jolt, as well as co-writing The Libertines' "Can't Stand Me Now".
All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade is the fourth studio album by English garage rock band the Libertines, released on 5 April 2024 through EMI in the United Kingdom and Casablanca/Republic Records in North America. It is their first studio release in nearly nine years, following Anthems for Doomed Youth (2015).