The Charlatans (English band)

Last updated

The Charlatans
Charlatans.jpg
The Charlatans performing at the Eolica Festival in Tenerife, Spain, 2007.
L to R: Martin Blunt, Jon Brookes, Tim Burgess, Mark Collins
Background information
Origin West Midlands, England
Genres
Years active1988–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Rob Collins (deceased)
  • Jon Brookes (deceased)
  • Jon Day
  • Baz Ketley
Website thecharlatans.net

The Charlatans (often referred as The Charlatans UK in the United States) are an English rock band formed in the West Midlands, England in 1988. [1] As of 2000, their line-up consists of lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers. [2]

Contents

All the band's thirteen studio albums have charted in the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart, three of them being number ones. They have also had 22 top 40 singles and four top 10 entries in the UK Singles Chart, including the hits "The Only One I Know" and "One to Another".

History

Formation (1988–1989)

The band were formed in the West Midlands by bassist Martin Blunt, who recruited fellow West Midlanders Rob Collins (keyboards), Jon Brookes (drums), Jon Day (Jonathan Baker) (guitar) and singer-guitarist Baz Ketley. Ketley left the band and was replaced by singer Tim Burgess, who had supported the Charlatans with his previous band, the Electric Crayons. [3]

Although the Charlatans would later become popularly associated with the Madchester scene, the band's early demos recorded in 1988 in Birmingham and Dudley already evidenced the sound that the band ultimately became famous for, dominated by Collins's Hammond organ but underpinned by the driving rhythm section of Blunt's powerful running bass and Brookes's drumming. [4] With their sound – fusing 1960s soul, R&B and garage rock – inherited from Blunt's earlier 1982 band Makin' Time, the band saw themselves firmly in the West Midlands tradition of hard-edged soul and R&B that included Birmingham bands The Spencer Davis Group and early Dexys Midnight Runners. [5] Blunt has characterised the band's early influences as including the Stranglers, Stax Records, Joy Division and the Doors, but has also credited the band's formation during the explosive growth of the acid house scene as contributing to their sound, so that they "suddenly sounded like the Spencer Davis Group on E". [3]

Although the name The Charlatans was already being used when the original members of the band were still located in the West Midlands, many sources state that they formed in Northwich, Cheshire. [6] This is because the band relocated to the home town of their manager Steve Harrison and new lead singer Tim Burgess (who was born in Salford, but lived in Northwich from an early age) before the 1990 release of The Charlatans' debut single "Indian Rope" (on Dead Dead Good Records, the label owned by Steve Harrison (Manager) who also owned the Omega Records retail chain and management company. label, after the band was unable to secure a major record contract). [7] Thus based on the definition of hometown used by Guinness World Records the band was formed in Northwich, and consequently Northwich is recorded as their home town in such publications as British Hit Singles & Albums . One of the band's earliest known live performances was supporting The Stone Roses at the London School of Economics on 2 December 1988. [8]

Early years (1990–1993)

The Charlatans during their early days. Charlatans(UK).jpg
The Charlatans during their early days.

The debut single "Indian Rope" proved to be an indie hit and the group soon found a major label in Beggars Banquet offshoot Situation Two in time for the release of "The Only One I Know", which reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. [9] A further single "Then" and their debut album Some Friendly were released later that year. Around this time The Charlatans were forced to add UK to their name for an American tour due to competing claims by an American rock band also known as The Charlatans. [2]

Day left the band after 1991's "Over Rising" single to be replaced by Mark Collins (no relation to Rob). The band brought in producer Flood for their second album Between 10th and 11th (named after the address of the New York Marquee, the site of the group's first US concert). Released in early 1992, the album failed to reach the Top 20 in the UK Albums Chart, [9] but the Top 20 success of lead single "Weirdo" and a double weekend of gigs ('Daytripper') in Blackpool and Brighton together with Ride would keep them in the public eye. [9] [10]

The band suffered a major setback later that year, when Rob Collins was charged with armed robbery after a friend had robbed an off licence while he was waiting in the car outside. [2] Collins claimed to have no foreknowledge of the robbery until he heard a gunshot inside the shop and his friend exited, although he later admitted that he should not have picked up his friend after he had realised what he had done. In court he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of "assisting an offender after an offence" and served four months in prison. [2]

Mid-nineties fame (1994–1997)

Their third album Up To Our Hips (1994) reached number 8 in the UK Albums Chart. [9]

In 1995 the release of the band's self-titled fourth album saw them become major UK stars again, topping the UK albums chart and spawning the Top 20 single "Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over". [9]

Keyboard player Rob Collins was killed in a traffic accident on 22 July 1996, during the recording of the band's fifth album Tellin' Stories . The Charlatans decided to continue, drafting in the Primal Scream and former Felt keyboardist Martin Duffy until a permanent replacement for Collins could be found, particularly for The Charlatans' support slot at Oasis' Knebworth concerts which were occurring in less than three weeks time on August 10 and 11. Tellin' Stories was released in 1997, featuring contributions from both Rob Collins and Duffy. The group had their biggest UK hits to date in the singles "One to Another", "North Country Boy" and "How High". [9]

Line-up and label changes (1997–2004)

After the release of the career-spanning compilation Melting Pot the band's contract with Beggars Banquet was up, and they signed to Universal Records. [2] Relations with the Beggars label remained strong however, and the band helped put together the B-sides collection Songs From The Other Side and the DVD Just Lookin' 1990–1997 , which showcased all their promotional videos and a selection of live recordings from that era.

Us and Us Only was the start of a new era for The Charlatans. Their first release for Universal saw new keyboard player Tony Rogers make his Charlatans album debut, [2] having previously toured in support of Tellin' Stories and contributing to B-sides "Keep It to Yourself" and "Clean Up Kid" from the "How High" single. The band took on a slightly country sound, heavily influenced by Burgess's love of Bob Dylan.

The soul-influenced Wonderland followed in 2001; [11] that year the band performed at V Festival in London. [12]

The album Up at the Lake was released in 2004.

The Sanctuary years (2005–2007)

The band released their ninth full-length album on 10 April 2006, their first for new label Sanctuary Records. Titled Simpatico , the reggae- and dub-tinged album was produced by Jim Lowe and included fan favourite "NYC (There's No Need to Stop)" and first single "Blackened Blue Eyes". [13] The single charted at number 28, whilst the album reached the top 10 the week it was released before dropping off the charts shortly afterward. [9]

Their follow-up to Simpatico was the career-spanning singles compilation entitled Forever: The Singles , released on CD and DVD on 13 November 2006. It was preceded by the single "You're So Pretty We're So Pretty", remixed by Youth from its original version on Wonderland (2001).

The band played a number of high-profile gigs in mid-2007 supporting The Who and The Rolling Stones at venues including Wembley Stadium and Twickenham Stadium in London, the Bingley Music Live event, Nass Festival 2007, and at Delamere Forest in Cheshire. A recording of Live at Delamere Forest was released as a five-part download for a limited time via their official website.

Cooking Vinyl, nostalgic performances and Brookes's illness (2008–2012)

The band contributed the song "Blank Heart, Blank Mind" to a Love Music Hate Racism compilation CD which came free with the October 2007 issue of the NME . Later that month, new single "You Cross My Path" was released as a free download exclusively through the XFM website. A second single "Oh! Vanity" emerged in March 2008, as The Charlatans teamed up with XFM once again, becoming the first UK band to release an album (their tenth studio album You Cross My Path ) as a free download via a radio station. The album also received a physical CD/LP release on the Cooking Vinyl label on 19 May 2008, which coincided with a full UK tour.

Their eleventh studio album, Who We Touch , was released on 6 September 2010 on Cooking Vinyl Records and included the single "Love Is Ending". The album charted at No. 21 in the UK Albums Chart. 2010 also saw the twentieth anniversary of the band's debut album Some Friendly, which they played live at Primavera Sound Festival 2010. [14]

On 15 September 2010, drummer Jon Brookes collapsed during a performance in Philadelphia. The remaining US tour dates were postponed, as Brookes was diagnosed with a brain tumour [15] and was flown back to the UK for an operation and course of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The Verve's Peter Salisbury acted as a stand-in drummer for the remainder of the Charlatans UK dates. Brookes returned to the stage for the band's Christmas and New Year Eve's gigs in 2010.

On 28 March 2011 Universal Music re-released a deluxe edition of the band's 1999 album Us and Us Only, featuring a collection of bonus tracks including B-sides, live recordings, radio sessions and rare remixes. In March and April 2011 Tim Burgess and Mark Collins played an acoustic tour of the UK, to coincide with which they released an EP Warm Sounds, which featured six stripped-down and reworked versions of Charlatans tracks including "North Country Boy", "The Only One I Know" and "Smash The System". In December 2011 the band announced they would be performing Tellin' Stories in its entirety at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo, O2 Apollo Manchester and Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom in June 2012.

Death of Jon Brookes, Modern Nature, Different Days and A Head Full of Ideas (2013–present)

The band returned to their Big Mushroom studio to begin working on demos for a new album in 2013. In May the Mountain Picnic Blues DVD was released, a documentary about their Tellin' Stories album from its creation in 1997 to the 15th anniversary of the album.

On 13 August 2013 the band's 44-year-old drummer Jon Brookes died from a brain tumour having undergone several operations and treatment for the condition since his initial diagnosis in 2010. [16] The band themselves paid him tribute in a special event, with Pete Salisbury playing in his place and bands such as Beady Eye, The Vaccines and Manic Street Preachers also joining the bill. Proceeds from the night went to The Brain Tumour Charity, of which The Charlatans are now patrons; the charity have set up The Jon Brookes Fund as a lasting tribute to the drummer. [17]

Tim Burgess confirmed that Brookes's recordings would appear on the band's next album, originally slated for sometime in 2014. [18]

The Charlatans announced details of their twelfth studio album Modern Nature , to be released on 26 January 2015 on their new label BMG Rights Management. Featuring eleven new tracks (including the recent limited edition 7" "Talking in Tones"), Modern Nature was produced by The Charlatans and Jim Spencer and mixed by Craig Silvey. The album features contributions from the band's temporary drummers Peter Salisbury (of The Verve), Stephen Morris (of New Order) and Gabriel Gurnsey (of Factory Floor), as well as producer Dave Tolan, backing singers Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin, strings by Sean O'Hagan and brass courtesy of Jim Paterson from Dexys Midnight Runners.

The group's thirteenth album, Different Days , was released on 26 May 2017. [19]

In July 2021, the group announced the release of A Head Full of Ideas: The Best of Charlatans, which was released on 15 October 2021.

On 1 June 2022, the group supported Liam Gallagher at his concert at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

On 16 July 2022, the group supported Gerry Cinnamon at his concert at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Discography

Band members

Current members

Current touring musicians

Former members

Former touring musicians

Timeline

The Charlatans (English band)

Related Research Articles

<i>Up at the Lake</i> 2004 studio album by the Charlatans

Up at the Lake is the eighth album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 17 May 2004 through Universal and Island Records Group. As promotion wrapped up for their seventh album, Wonderland (2001), Universal wanted them to follow it up with another one quickly. However, frontman Tim Burgess began working on his debut solo album in late 2002. At the end of the year, the band reconvened to write songs; by March 2003, they relocated to their own studio, Big Mushroom, in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, with them and James Spencer serving as producers. Recording halted in May 2003 to allow for Burgess to finish his album, I Believe (2003); sessions would resume by the end of the year and finish in February 2004. Up at the Lake is a pop rock album that pursues the country rock direction that they had first explored on their sixth album, Tellin' Stories (1997).

<i>Us and Us Only</i> 1999 studio album by the Charlatans

Us and Us Only is the sixth album by British rock band the Charlatans, released by Universal on 18 October 1999. After touring for their fifth studio album, Tellin' Stories, wrapped up by the end of 1997, they played minimal shows throughout 1998 and planned its follow-up. They built their own recording studio, aiming to start recording by early 1999; sessions eventually took place in March and April 1999 with the band self-producing. Us and Us Only is a country rock, folk, and roots rock album that strayed from the band's British roots in lieu of American-focused music.

<i>Some Friendly</i> 1990 studio album by the Charlatans

Some Friendly is the debut studio album of British rock band the Charlatans that was released on 8 October 1990 through Beggars Banquet Records imprint Situation Two. After forming in 1988, the band went through line-up changes before settling on vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist John Baker, bassist Martin Blunt, keyboardist Rob Collins and drummer Jon Brookes. The band wrote material at a prolific rate and released their debut single "Indian Rope" in early 1990. Soon afterwards, they signed to Beggars Banquet and began recording their debut album. Between March and August 1990, sessions took place with producer Chris Nagle at Strawberry Studios in Stockport and The Windings in Wrexham. Some Friendly is considered an acid-pop, baggy and dance-pop album that draws influence from The Beatles' psychedelic period.

<i>Between 10th and 11th</i> 1992 studio album by the Charlatans

Between 10th and 11th is the second studio album by British rock band The Charlatans; it was released on 23 March 1992 through Situation Two, a subsidiary of Beggars Banquet Records. The Charlatans started writing new material shortly after the release of their debut studio album Some Friendly (1990). After some writing sessions in Birmingham and a tour of the United Kingdom, guitarist John Baker left the band and was replaced with Mark Collins of English indie band Candlestick Park. Bassist Martin Blunt went through a series of personal issues that led to his hospitalization in September 1991. The Charlatans began recording their next album at Rockfield Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales.

<i>Tellin Stories</i> 1997 studio album by the Charlatans

Tellin' Stories is the fifth album by the British rock band the Charlatans, released on 21 April 1997 through Beggars Banquet Records. After wrapping up touring in support of their 1995 self-titled fourth album in early 1996, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins went to a cottage near Lake Windermere to write material. Shortly after this, they did a test recording session at Rockfield in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, before main sessions were underway from Easter 1996 at the nearby Monnow Valley Studio with the band, engineer Dave Charles, and engineer Ric Peet acting as producers. Partway through recording, keyboardist Rob Collins was involved in a fatal car crash. The band drafted in Martin Duffy of Primal Scream to help finish it, concluding in early 1997. Tellin' Stories is a Britpop, hip hop soul, and rock album that has been compared to the work of Patti Smith and Neil Young.

<i>The Charlatans</i> (1995 album) 1995 studio album by the Charlatans

The Charlatans is the fourth album by the British rock band the Charlatans, released on 28 August 1995 through Beggars Banquet Records. Following a holiday, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins wrote material for their next album at Burgess' place in Chalk Farm. The band then absconded to Monnow Valley Studio in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales, with producer Steve Hillage. After preparing several mixes of the album, none of which they liked, Hillage was fired, and engineer Dave Charles was brought in. Further recording was then done at the nearby Rockfield Studios.

<i>Up to Our Hips</i> 1994 studio album by the Charlatans

Up to Our Hips is the third studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 21 March 1994 through Beggars Banquet Records. They released their second studio album Between 10th and 11th in early 1992; by the year's end, they were working on material for its follow-up. Keyboardist Rob Collins was arrested for participating in an attempted armed robbery. After being bailed out, the band continued writing, splitting into pairs or working alone on songs.

<i>Wonderland</i> (The Charlatans album) 2001 studio album by the Charlatans

Wonderland is the seventh album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 10 September 2001 through Universal. Following promotional efforts for their sixth studio album, Us and Us Only, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins wrote new material at the former's house in Los Angeles, California. Cocaine would have an impact on the writing and, later on, recording; sessions were held at producer Danny Saber's house studio, Krevorkian's Lab, also in Los Angeles. The band worked with him for seven weeks in October 2000, only completing five tracks, and later went to their own studio, Big Mushroom in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, in early 2001. Wonderland is a funk-soul and electronica record, evoking the work of John Mellencamp, Oasis, and Primal Scream. Burgess remarked that Los Angeles itself became a member of the band; critics referred to it as a drug-enhanced party album. He employed a falsetto in the vein of Curtis Mayfield and Kurt Wagner.

<i>Melting Pot</i> (The Charlatans album) 1998 greatest hits album by The Charlatans

Melting Pot is a greatest hits album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans. Featuring tracks from their time on Beggars Banquet Records between 1990 and 1997, the album was released on 23 February 1998. The cover features a picture of The Weaverdale cafe in Northwich, the site of the group's first meeting after signing to Beggars in 1990. The song "Opportunity Three" is a remix by Flood of the song "Opportunity" from the Some Friendly album; the remix otherwise appeared only on the Over Rising EP.

<i>Simpatico</i> (The Charlatans album) 2006 studio album by the Charlatans

Simpatico is the ninth studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 17 April 2006 through Creole and Sanctuary Records. After signing to the latter label in early 2005, frontman Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins went to Palm Springs, California, to write new material. With Jim Lowe and the band producing, recording was held at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire, with overdubs later being done at Townhouse Studios in London. Simpatico is a dub reggae and rock album that draws comparisons to the work of the Dead 60s, Hard-Fi, and UB40. Bassist Martin Blunt and Burgess attributed the sound shift to them listening to Ken Boothe, Gregory Isaacs, and Studio One.

Martin Bernard Duffy was an English musician who played keyboards with Felt and Primal Scream.

Robert James Collins was an English musician best known as the original keyboardist of The Charlatans.

<i>You Cross My Path</i> 2008 studio album by the Charlatans

You Cross My Path is the tenth studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 3 March 2008 as a free download from radio station Xfm's website. Following promotion for the band's ninth studio album Simpatico (2006), frontman Tim Burgess and manager Alan McGee devised an idea to give away their music for no charge. Guitarist Mark Collins and keyboardist Tony Rogers visited Burgess in Los Angeles, California, where they would write new material, and followed this up with jam sessions with the whole band in early 2007. Recording sessions were split across Hollywood, California, Blessington, Ireland and Cheshire, Greater Manchester, with Rogers given a separate producer credit independent of the band. You Cross My Path is an electro and pop album that evoked the work of Kasabian, New Order and Simple Minds. Following the reggae direction of Simpatico, Rogers' organ returned to the forefront of the band's sound on You Cross My Path.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Only One I Know</span> 1990 single by The Charlatans

"The Only One I Know" is the second single by English rock band the Charlatans. It was their first top-10 hit, reaching No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. In the UK, it was the highest-charting single from the Some Friendly album. Its best showing in the United States was on the Modern Rock Chart, where it reached No. 5 in September 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One to Another</span> 1996 single by the Charlatans

"One to Another" is a song by British alternative rock band the Charlatans. It was the first single from their fifth album, Tellin' Stories (1997), and their first single following the death of the band's keyboardist, Rob Collins. The single remains their highest-charting song in the UK, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. "One to Another" features drum loops provided by Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers. The song serves as the theme song to the UK channel E4 show My Mad Fat Diary.

"Over Rising" is the fourth single by the English alternative rock band the Charlatans, released on 25 February 1991. It followed "The Only One I Know" and "Then" into the UK Singles Chart top 20, reaching number 15, and peaked at number seven in Ireland, where it remains the group's only top-10 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weirdo (song)</span> 1992 single by the Charlatans

"Weirdo" is a song by English band the Charlatans. It was released as the first single from the band's second album, Between 10th and 11th, on 24 February 1992, reaching No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was the band's most successful in the United States, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in May 1992 and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Singles chart.

Me. In Time is a single by the English alternative rock band The Charlatans, released in November 1991. "Me. In Time" is the first Charlatans single to feature the contribution of Mark Collins, who replaced John Baker as the band's guitarist in mid-1991.

<i>Who We Touch</i> 2010 studio album by The Charlatans

Who We Touch is the eleventh album by British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 6 September 2010. It was released in a standard version and a two disc version. The second CD contained early demos, alternate mixes of tracks from the standard album, and some out-takes that didn't make it on to the album. The album charted at #21 in the UK album charts. The album was later released digitally.

<i>Modern Nature</i> 2015 studio album by the Charlatans

Modern Nature is the 12th studio album by British rock band the Charlatans. It was released through BMG on 26 January 2015. After the release of the band's 11th studio album Who We Touch (2010), drummer Jon Brookes was diagnosed with brain cancer, and subsequently died in mid-2013. In early 2014, the band met up at their studio Big Mushroom with Jim Spencer, and began working on a new album. The sessions lasted seven months, and featured recordings from the drummers of the Verve, New Order, and Factory Floor. Described as a pop album, Modern Nature featured contributions from the High Llamas frontman Sean O'Hagan, as well as gospel vocals from Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin.

References

  1. Melody Maker issue dated 3 December 1988 shows advert for concert of The Stone Roses at the LSE, London 2 December 1988 with The Charlatans as support.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin C. Strong (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 165–166. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (15 November 2021). "The Charlatans: how we made The Only One I Know – 'I'm still not sure which bit's the chorus'". theguardian.com . Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  4. Robb, John (2010). "First Rehearsals". The Charlatans We Are Rock. London: Random House. p. 18. ISBN   978-1409034391 . Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. Robb, John (2010). "Shape up or ship out ... the band's sound comes together". The Charlatans We Are Rock. London: Random House. p. 18. ISBN   978-1409034391 . Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  6. "Helphire Group : Working and Living in Northwich". Helphiregroupjobs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  7. "The Charlatans Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. Melody Maker issue dated 3 December 1988.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 100. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  10. "Ukmix.org". Ukmix.org. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  11. "CD REVIEWS: The Charlatans UK, Spiritualized, The Watchmen and many more" [usurped] . Chart Attack, 25 September 2001
  12. "LIVE: V2001 FESTIVAL" [usurped] . Chart Attack, 24 August 2001. Review By Frank Walshe
  13. "The Charlatans set to unleash new LP | News". NME. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  14. "Ola's Kool Kitchen on Radio23 Charlatans live set Primavera 2010 : DJ Ola : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". 10 March 2001. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  15. Brown, Jonathan (24 September 2010). "Nzherald.co.nz". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  16. "BBC News - Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes dies age 44". BBC News. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  17. "Beady Eye, The Vaccines and The Charlatans perform at Jon Brookes tribute concert | News". NME. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  18. "Late Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes to appear on band's new album | News". NME. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  19. Maine, Samantha (20 March 2017). "The Charlatans announce new album featuring Paul Weller, Kurt Wagner and Johnny Marr". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 20 March 2017.

Sources