Milltown Brothers

Last updated

milltown brothers
011 Michael Porter Photography Milltown Brothers Kanteena Lancaster 25.11.23.jpg
Live at Kanteena, Lancaster 25.11.23
Background information
Origin Colne, Lancashire, England
Genres Indie rock
Discography www.officialcharts.com
Years active1989–1993; 2004–present
Labels A&M
SpinoffsAnother Crush, Kingsize Screamer, The Rubbish, The Showponies, Greenheart & Sixtyfivemiles
MembersMatt Nelson
Simon Nelson
James Fraser
Barney Williams
Nian Brindle
Website www.milltownbrothers.co.uk

Milltown Brothers, (stylised as milltown brothers) are an English indie band from Colne, Lancashire, England.

Contents

They are best known for the top 40 single "Which Way Should I Jump" and "Here I Stand", which was used as the theme tune to the BBC drama All Quiet on the Preston Front . [1]

History and Career

Early Releases

In 1989 the band's first independent release on Big Round Records, was the "Coming From The Mill" EP featuring live favourite "Roses" and the songs "Something On My Mind" and "We’ve Got Time." It was named single of the week in the NME magazine. The same publication tipped Milltown Brothers for stardom in the 1990s. [2]

The band's second indie single was "Which Way Should I Jump" backed up by "Silvertown" on the B-side.

A&M years (1990-1993)

After the band signed to A&M Records worldwide in 1990, "Which Way Should I Jump?" was re-recorded and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 38. [3] It also reached number 10 in the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart.

Recorded in Bath in the summer of 1991, the album Slinky followed. It peaked at number 27 in the UK Albums Chart. [3] Q Magazine described it as the "Byrds with hard-edged contemporary pop and upfront vocals" [4] and awarding it a maximum five stars. [5]

It was placed at #46 [6] by the NME in their 1991 best album of the year list.

The next single released from the album was "Here I Stand", which was also used as the theme tune for the BBC television programme, Preston Front . [1] It peaked at number 41 in the UK Singles Chart. [3]

In 1993, the single "Turn Off" was released ahead of the bands second album Valve. The album was not as successful as Slinky and the band eventually left the A&M label.

milltown brothers stanley logo Stanley square 3000x3000.png
milltown brothers stanley logo

A 12-track compilation ‘’The Best Of Milltown Brothers’’ was issued by Spectrum Music in 1997.

Independent Releases

It was 10 years before the band worked together again. In March 2004 they released their third studio album, Rubberband. A double CD, it was released on their own label Rubber Band Records and made available on the band's website.

In 2009 an extended 17-track retrospective ‘’Milltown Brothers - Best Of’’ was released on Cherry Red Records.

In the summer of 2015, Milltown Brothers released their fourth album Long Road, which was once again self-released.

In 2020 a further album Stockholm [5] featuring eight new songs was released.

In 2022 a compilation of independent singles and demos from 1987-1990 was released titled Tongue-Tied Mesmerised.

Live Appearances

The band made their Reading Festival debut in 1990, playing the Mean Fiddler stage. [7] and again in 1991. [8] The following year on Friday 28 August 1992, they supported The Wonder Stuff & The Charlatans on the main stage. [9]

In 1991 the band embarked on a tour of North America with The Wonder Stuff and flew to New York on 15 September. The tour started in Baltimore and included venues such as Marquee in New York, Rock Candy in Seattle, Cabaret Metro in Chicago & First Avenue Club in Minneapolis. [10]

On Monday 23 September 1991 the band appeared at the WFNX 101.7 8th birthday celebration festival in Boston, Massachusetts [5] alongside The Wonder Stuff, The Smashing Pumpkins & Nirvana.

Originally booked for 6 October [11] but moved to 14 October 1993 [12] they were the headline act at Manchester Academy 3. Supported by the Real People and an up and coming Manchester band called Oasis. [13] [14]

On 13 April 2012 the band made an appearance at the Colne Muni to promote the charity album Songs From the Neighbourhood, which was released to raise money for Pendleside Hospice and Derian House Children's Hospital in Chroley. [15] The album included the milltown brothers' first single, Roses. It also included songs by The Rubbish, Danny Handley, Simon Webbe, The Hollies and the former Burnley Building Society song The Best Dreams Begin with B by George Chandler.

On 26 August 2023 they played Hebden Bridge Trades Club to a capacity crowd. [16] The gig followed renewed interest in the band after Slinky made an appearance earlier in the year on an episode of Tim's Twitter Listening Party hosted by The Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess. [17]

Other Ventures

The Rubbish, later known as The Tidy, featured Barney Williams on keyboards. They released the album "Crazy Farmers" in 1998 and supported Status Quo at Wembley Arena, where James Fraser joined them on bass. [18] He played with them again at Nelson Cricket Club in 2003 while also supporting them with his band the Showponies. [19]

Fraser and Williams also appeared with The Rubbish at Kendal Calling in 2018. [20]

Fraser has also played bass in Jay Diggins' band and is frontman of Greenheart, a band from Lancaster. [21] [22]

As of 2023, Barney Williams is also a member of The Animals & Friends.

Simon Nelson was part of a four piece called SixtyFiveMiles [23] around 2009, along with Ash Woodward, Neil Gordon & Ryan Vann. They released the single "Mary" and album "Finnish Tango" both on Cherry Red Records.

Line-up

Awards

Discography

Turn Off video shoot 1993 Turn Off 1993.jpg
Turn Off video shoot 1993

Albums

Compilations

Singles

YearTitleChart PositionsAlbum
UK
[24] 		US Mod Rock
[25]
1989"Coming From The Mill 1989" (UK only)——singles only
"Which Way Should I Jump?" (UK only)——
1990"Seems to Me" (UK only)181—Slinky
"Apple Green"82—
1991"Which Way Should I Jump?"3810
"Here I Stand" (UK only)41—
"Sally Ann" (Non-UK)——
"Apple Green (Dave Meegan Remix)"43—
1993"Turn Off" (UK only)55—Valve
"It's All Over Now Baby Blue" (UK only)48—
"Sleepwalking" (UK only)97—
2015Long Road——Long Road
2020F.I.L.A.——Stockholm
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Music Videos

Related Research Articles

Britpop was a mid-1990s British-based music culture movement that emphasised Britishness. Musically, Britpop produced bright, catchy alternative rock, in reaction to the darker lyrical themes and soundscapes of the US-led grunge music and the UK's own shoegaze music scene. The movement brought British alternative rock into the mainstream and formed the larger British popular cultural movement, Cool Britannia, which evoked the Swinging Sixties and the British guitar pop of that decade.

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

Blur are an English rock band formed in London in 1988. The band consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Their debut album, Leisure (1991), incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegaze. Following a stylistic change influenced by English guitar pop groups such as the Kinks, the Beatles and XTC, Blur released the albums Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a widely publicised chart battle with rival band Oasis in 1995 dubbed "The Battle of Britpop".

<i>Definitely Maybe</i> 1994 studio album by Oasis

Definitely Maybe is the debut studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released on 29 August 1994 by Creation Records. The album features Noel Gallagher on lead guitar, backing vocals and as chief songwriter, Liam Gallagher on lead vocals, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs on rhythm guitar, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan on bass guitar and Tony McCarroll on drums.

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

Oasis are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. The group initially consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (guitar), Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll (drums), with Liam asking his older brother Noel Gallagher to join as a fifth member a few months later to finalise their formation. Noel became the de facto leader of the group and took over the songwriting duties for the band's first four albums. They are characterised as one of the defining and most globally successful groups of the Britpop genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Gallagher</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1972)

William John Paul Gallagher is an English singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, which he co-founded in 1991. He fronted the rock band Beady Eye from 2010 to 2014, before starting a successful solo career in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Gallagher</span> English musician (born 1967)

Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gallagher is one of the most successful songwriters in British music history, as the writer of eight UK number-one singles and co-writer of a further number one, as well as the sole or primary writer of ten UK number-one studio albums. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters in the history of British rock music, cited by numerous major subsequent artists as an influence.

<i>Modern Life Is Rubbish</i> 1993 studio album by Blur

Modern Life Is Rubbish is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in May 1993. Although their debut album Leisure (1991) had been commercially successful, Blur faced a severe media backlash soon after its release, and fell out of public favour. After the group returned from an unsuccessful tour of the United States, poorly received live performances and the rising popularity of rival band Suede further diminished Blur's status in the UK.

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

Doves are an English indie rock band, formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire in 1998. The band is composed of singer and bassist Jimi Goodwin and twin brothers, guitarist Jez and drummer Andy Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspiral Carpets</span> English rock band

Inspiral Carpets is an English rock band, part of the late-1980s/early-1990s Madchester movement. Formed in Oldham in 1983, the band's most successful lineup featured frontman Tom Hingley, drummer Craig Gill, guitarist Graham Lambert, bassist Martyn Walsh and keyboardist Clint Boon.

Dave Meegan is an Irish record producer, born in Dublin in 1963. Meegan is best known for his work with Marillion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live Forever (Oasis song)</span> 1994 single by Oasis

"Live Forever" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher, the song was released as the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe (1994) on 8 August 1994, just prior to that album's release. Gallagher began writing the song in 1991, before he joined Oasis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arctic Monkeys</span> English rock band

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 2002. The group consists of lead singer Alex Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O'Malley; bassist and co-founder Andy Nicholson left the band in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hindu Times</span> 2002 single by Oasis

"The Hindu Times" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It was written by the band's lead guitarist Noel Gallagher, and was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Heathen Chemistry, on 15 April 2002. On the album, it segues directly into the next track, "Force of Nature."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champagne Supernova</span> 1996 single by Oasis

"Champagne Supernova" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. It is the closing track on the band's second studio album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), and was released as the sixth and final single from the album in Australia and New Zealand on 13 May 1996 by Helter Skelter. Paul Weller appears as a guest guitarist and backing vocalist on the track. A music video for the song, directed by Nigel Dick, was released in 1996. The single was not released in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The View (band)</span> Scottish indie rock band

The View are a Scottish indie rock band that formed in Dundee, Angus in 2005. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, and folk in their music. They are best known for their 2007 single "Same Jeans" which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

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

Courteeners are an English band formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 2006 by Liam Fray, Michael Campbell, Daniel "Conan" Moores and Mark Cuppello (bass); the last was replaced by the band's producer Joe Cross in 2015. They previously toured with pianist Adam Payne, who has been featured on every album, but in 2019 was replaced with Elina Lin. In December 2012, the band dropped "The" from their name, continuing simply as "Courteeners". In 2024, Cross and Lin became official members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beady Eye</span> 2010s English rock band

Beady Eye were an English rock band formed in London in 2009 by Oasis member Liam Gallagher (vocals), and former members Gem Archer (guitar), Andy Bell (guitar), and Chris Sharrock (drums). The band was created when Oasis' lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher quit in August 2009, after which the remaining members decided to rename themselves and continue making music. Jeff Wootton joined as bassist until his departure in 2013; former Kasabian guitarist Jay Mehler replaced him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Look Back in Anger</span> 1996 single by Oasis

"Don't Look Back in Anger" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It was written by the band's lead guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher, and produced by Gallagher and Owen Morris. Released on 19 February 1996 by Creation Records as the fifth single from their second studio album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), it became Oasis's second single to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning a quintuple-platinum sales certification in the UK. It was the first Oasis single with lead vocals by Noel, who had previously only sung lead on B-sides, instead of his brother Liam. Noel would later sing lead vocals on six other singles. The music video was directed by Nigel Dick, featuring the band performing at a mansion where a large group of women appears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds</span> British alternative rock band

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are an English rock band formed in 2010 as the solo moniker of Oasis songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Noel Gallagher. The touring band consists of former Oasis members Gem Archer (guitar), Mike Rowe (piano), and Chris Sharrock (drums), as well as former Zutons bassist Russell Pritchard. The band has also had a variety of guests contribute to albums such as the Crouch End Festival Chorus, Amorphous Androgynous, Johnny Marr, and Paul Weller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Handley</span> Musical artist

Danny Handley is a British musician. He is best known for his roles as a guitarist and vocalist in the bands Animals & Friends.

References

  1. 1 2 "INTERVIEW: Lancaster members of the Milltown Brothers share stories of Oasis and Little Richard". Beyond Radio. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 463. CN 5585.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 368. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Black, Johnny (5 March 1991). "Slinky review". Q Magazine. 55: 75–6.
  5. 1 2 3 "'It was a great time to be in a band' - Colne's Milltown Brothers 30 years on from debut album". Lancashire Telegraph. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  6. ↑ NME (10 October 2016). "NME's best albums and tracks of 1991". NME. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Reading 1990". Reading Festival. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Reading 1991". Reading Festival. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Reading 1992". Reading Festival. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "'It was a great time to be in a band' - Colne's Milltown Brothers 30 years on from debut album". Lancashire Telegraph. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Manchester Academy | Roll of Honour". Manchester Academy. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Oasis, Ticket - Academy 3 (Hop & Grape), 14th October 1993". Manchester Digital Music Archive. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Oasis Gigography". Latest Oasis, Liam And Noel Gallagher News STOPCRYINGYOURHEARTOUT.COM. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Milltown Brothers back on beat after 11 years". Lancashire Telegraph. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Rare live appearance from Colne indie favourites The Milltown Brothers". Lancashire Telegraph. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "The Trades Club - Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorks, HX7 8EE" . Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "slinky - Milltown Brothers". timstwitterlisteningparty.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Rubbish dumped". Lancashire Telegraph. 18 March 2000. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Three-trick Pony". Lancashire Telegraph. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  20. ↑ "Cult East Lancs band The Rubbish to play first gig in 15 years - at Kendal Calling". Lancashire Telegraph. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Two bands, one heart". Lancaster Guardian. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  22. ↑ "New album is psychedelic, funk-fuelled indie goodness". Lancaster Guardian. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  23. ↑ eMinor. "Mary | Sixtyfivemiles". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Milltown Brothers - UK Chart". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "Milltown Brothers - US Alternative Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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.