The Chapman Family were an English indie rock band from Stockton-on-Tees, that formed in 2006. The band's final lineup consisted of Kingsley Chapman (lead vocals, keyboards), Pop Chapman (lead guitar), Owen Chapman (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Kevin James Chapman (bass guitar) and Scott Chapman (drums, backing vocals). The band's debut album Burn Your Town was released on 7 March 2011. They were notably part of the "10 Tips for 2009" shortlist published by NME.[1]
The band were formed in 2006[2] and played their first gig on 5 May of that year at KuBar in Stockton-on-Tees.[3] Singer and guitarist Kingsley Chapman claims that they formed because they were "bored of watching bands who sounded f-k all like anything".[4][5] The band originally consisted of Kingsley, Paul, Phil and Lucy, the latter was replaced by Pop in 2007.
The band released their first single, the double A-side "You Are Not Me" / "You Think You're Funny", on 8 October 2007 through local Stockton label Don't Tell Clare Records.[6]
In 2008, the Chapman Family performed at the Glastonbury Festival,[2] following a promotion on BBC Radio, 'In New Music We Trust'. They were chosen by a panel that included DJs Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, and Snow PatrolfrontmanGary Lightbody.[7] In 2008, the band were chosen as one of the closing bands for the Manchester In The City music conference, along with the Fratellis.[8] They have played shows with the likes of We Are Scientists, 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster and Future of the Left.[9] They recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale studios in London which was aired in September 2008.[9]
In April–May 2009, the Chapman Family played alongside La Roux, Heartbreak and Magistrates on NME''s Samsung Radar tour, playing in Nottingham, Bristol, Wrexham, Oxford, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Preston, Glasgow, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Stoke, Norwich and London.[10]
The Chapman Family's second single, "Kids", was released on 27 April 2009,[9] and accompanied by a promo video from director Blake Claridge.[11] In September 2009 they announced the release of "Virgins", and their first full headlining UK tour.[12]
In November 2009, the band featured in The Guardian's "New Band of the Day" series, where Paul Lester wrote "these noisniks just sound like tepid punk and kiddie goth."[13]
In October 2010, they released their fourth single, "All Fall". Following this they released their debut album Burn Your Town on 7 March 2011. Critics claimed this was a late release for the band, consequently due to the amount of hype they had created the years previously. Nevertheless, Burn Your Town was still sighted as a top album of 2011, with critical acclaim from the likes of NME, Artrocker and the BBC. The release of their fifth single "Anxiety" in January 2011 saw the accompanying video (directed by Tim Mattia) gather a nomination for Best Video of the Year at the Artrocker Awards 2011.
Following the departure of Phil (drums) and Paul (guitar) in the summer of 2011, new members were established. Pop (former bassist of the band) moved to play lead guitar, while newcomer Kevin stepped in to take up Pop's old role. Scott joined the group to take over from Phil on drums and percussion, while Owen (a long time friend and ex-tour bus driver to the band) also joined to accompany Pop on guitar. Due to this dramatic change-around, some have reported that the band's sound has changed slightly, from the old raucous cacophony of noise to a more shoegazing style of playing, with even more effects pedals and a chromatic/aleatoric sound. Bands they have recently been compared to are the likes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cure, Interpol and Joy Division.
The newly formed line-up released their first collective record Cruel Britannia through the London independent label Best Before Records on 18 June 2012; the band's variated[clarification needed] sound has been compared to that of the Smiths and received highly rated reviews, with the likes of NME describing it as "angsty, cliché-free brilliance."
In July 2013 following the announcement of their split, the Chapman Family played their final, farewell gig at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton. The band also decided to release their last single, "We Stick Together" via Bandcamp the same day as a parting gift to fans.[15]
In 2014, Kingsley Chapman formed a new band, Kingsley Chapman and the Murder. Their debut single "Lovers" was released in July 2015 on the Too Pure label. The single was championed by Steve Lamacq on BBC6 where it won Rebel Playlist and has also been played extensively on XFM and Amazing Radio.[16][17]
Art Brut is an English indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007. Named after French painter Jean Dubuffet's definition of outsider art – art by prisoners, loners, the mentally ill, and other marginalized people, and made without thought to imitation or presentation – South London's Art Brut were tagged by NME as part of the "Art Wave" scene that also included bands such as The Rakes, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. The band released further albums, Art Brut vs Satan in 2009 and Brilliant! Tragic! in 2011. A fifth album, Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out!", was released in 2018.
Bearsuit are an English art-rock/indie pop band from Norwich, England, active from 2001.
28 Costumes, also known as the Cossies, are a Liverpool pop band. They signed to Spank Records in late 2003 and released four singles and an album with the label. Their album, The Fake Death Experience was reviewed positively in, amongst other publications, The Independent and Artrocker magazine. The band have since released the EP Electrical Fever on Invicta Hi Fi Records, and self-released the single "Erika" / "Death Mask".
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2006 and in the United States on 22 June 2007. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studios around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal between B-Unique Records and Polydor Records.
The Maccabees are an English indie rock band, formed in 2004 in London. They released four albums: Colour It In in 2007, followed by Wall of Arms in 2009, Given to the Wild which was released on 9 January 2012 and their last album Marks to Prove It released on 31 July 2015. The band announced that they decided to disband in August 2016, with farewell gigs in 2017.
Letters & Colours were an English band from Sheffield, England, who became known for their combination of early 1980s new wave and disco beats. They gained recognition along with the New Yorkshire and nu rave scenes, and groups such as Bloc Party, Interpol, Editors and The Departure. They list The Cure, Depeche Mode and The Smiths as influences and were compared to such groups, as well as Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, Bauhaus, Artery and Comsat Angels. Letters & Colours combined a heavy, repetitive rhythm section with lush, melodic guitar and haunting vocals. This created a bleak sound with a danceable quality, often referred to as "noir pop". The band was formed in 2003 as a two piece, before extending to four members; ultimately splitting in August 2007.
Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong were an English indie rock band based in London. Although the band attracted considerable press attention following the 2007 release of their debut single "Lucio Starts Fires" they failed to capitalise on this, and disbanded in 2010. The band are perhaps best known for failing to ever release their critically acclaimed debut album.
The Strange Death of Liberal England, also known as TSDOLE, were a five-piece English band from Portsmouth, England.
Look See Proof were a five-piece indie pop-rock band from Hertfordshire.
Maths Class were a British band from that formed in 2006 in Brighton, England, and achieved publicity through their Myspace. They have a wide range of influences and have played extensively around the UK and in Europe. They have also toured Japan in September 2008.
Hatcham Social are an English indie pop band. The group first met and formed in New Cross, London in 2006 and have since released a string of singles on indie labels, followed by three studio albums. With the debut album, they made headway in the mainstream media with The Guardian describing them as "irrestistible" and Tim Burgess calling them "a wonderful pop group with the world's coolest drummer."
The Oxfam Glamour Models are a noise rock band from Middlesbrough in the North East of England. They signed to Marquis Cha Cha records in 2006 but split in 2007. As of August 2011 they are once again active. Members include Emmett (Vocals), Paul Dye (Guitar), Peachy (Guitar)(2004–2007) and Ryan Pilot (Drums). As of 2012 Oli Heffernan has been playing bass for the band.
Silvery are a London-based 4-piece indie rock band, signed to Blow Up Records.
The Mighty Roars are an English three piece alternative rock band from London signed to One Little Indian Records. The group won Xfm's Unsigned band competition in 2005 and released their debut album, Swine & Cockerel in 2007.
Youves are an English dance-punk quintet from Nuneaton, formed in 2003. The band consists of lead vocalist Stephen Broadley, guitarists Michael King and Alex Wiezak, bassist Luke Neale and drummer Paul Wechter. The band's sound is an energetic mixture of punk, dance and new wave, which is characterized by an emphasis on percussion with polyrhythmic qualities and a quirky sometimes described as 'violent' but simplistic duel between guitars with a danceable edge.
Officer Kicks are a British rock group who formed in early 2005 in Southeast London.
Tribes are a British four-piece indie rock band, based in Camden Town, London, England, that formed in 2010. The group consists of former Operahouse members Johnny Lloyd, Dan White (guitar) and Jim Cratchley (bass), along with White's childhood friend, Miguel Demelo (drums).
Pete and the Pirates were an English indie rock band from Reading, Berkshire, England. The band consisted of Thomas Sanders (vocals), Peter Hefferan, David Thorpe (guitar), Peter Cattermoul (bass) and Jonny Sanders (drums).
Royal Blood are an English rock duo formed in Littlehampton in 2011. The current lineup consists of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher (drums). Their signature sound is built around Kerr's bass playing style, which sees him using various effects pedals and amps to make his bass guitar sound like an electric guitar and bass guitar at the same time. The duo were signed by Warner Chappell Music in 2013 and have since released four studio albums: Royal Blood (2014), How Did We Get So Dark? (2017), Typhoons (2021), and Back to the Water Below (2023).
Young Rebel Set were an English indie rock band formed in Stockton-on-Tees in 2007.
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Best Before Records, PIAS Recordings 
