All Living Fear
Encyclopedia
All Living Fear are an alternative rock
band from the South West of England
. The band was formed in 1992 by Matthew North and the core of the band was sealed in 1994 with the arrival of vocalist Andrew Racher.
The band were prolific in the mid-1990s British gothic
scene and gained a large underground following: their debut single, "Jessica", sold out of its first pressing in just a few weeks Kerrang!
magazine's review comparing Racher’s vocals to Dave Vanian of The Damned. "Jessica" was the only release to have a drummer (John Macklin, from the progressive rock
band Legend
) and to be produced by Steve Paine (also from Legend).
All Living Fear were described by Mick Mercer
in his Hex files book as "The hardest working band in this section" (ref UK Bands)
All Living Fear toured extensively in the UK, picking up support slots with major UK goth bands including Nosferatu, Inkubus Sukkubus
, James Ray's Gangwar, Spear of Destiny and Flipper
. All Living Fear played the first ever Whitby Gothic Weekend
and have played it several times since.
The band's first album, The Widow's Blame, had a two-page review in Sound on Sound
magazine. This album and its follow-up, Minimum Resistance, both sold out of their initial pressings and subsequent pressings were released through Resurrection Records.
Racher left in 1998 and was replaced by Paul Roe, under whose influence the band took a more rock-orientated direction. A third album, Into the Light, was released before the band split, with North and Roe going on to form Corrosion. In 2001 Racher and North reformed All Living Fear and released a fourth album, Home Too Soon, which they promoted with support slots for Wayne Hussey
, The Damned and All About Eve
.
In November 2007 the Dangernoise label released 15 Years After, a double CD comprising new recordings of some of the band's tracks, some unreleased songs, new material and remixes. It featured guest performances from Arthur Brown
(with whom North had worked extensively), Julianne Regan
, Nick Pynn
, Christian Riou (Claytown Troupe
) and Steve Bronski (Bronski Beat
).
In August 2009, Racher announced he was leaving the band after almost 15 years' involvement, in order to spend more time with his family. The band continue with North as vocalist and Guitar, Niall Parker on Bass, Steve Williams (Complicity, Christian Death, Altered States) on Guitar and Nevla (Rome Burns) on Guitar.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from the South West of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The band was formed in 1992 by Matthew North and the core of the band was sealed in 1994 with the arrival of vocalist Andrew Racher.
The band were prolific in the mid-1990s British gothic
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
scene and gained a large underground following: their debut single, "Jessica", sold out of its first pressing in just a few weeks Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine's review comparing Racher’s vocals to Dave Vanian of The Damned. "Jessica" was the only release to have a drummer (John Macklin, from the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Legend
Legend (band)
Legend were a heavy metal band, formed 1980 in Jersey. The band did not enjoy the success of other New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands such as Iron Maiden or Def Leppard, and their first recordings are produced in a local Jersey studio....
) and to be produced by Steve Paine (also from Legend).
All Living Fear were described by Mick Mercer
Mick Mercer
Mick Mercer is a journalist and author best known for his photos and reviews of the goth, punk, and indie music scenes. He has photographed the bands Tragic Venus and Blondie in the UK and Europe.He publishes a monthly online magazine called "The Mick"....
in his Hex files book as "The hardest working band in this section" (ref UK Bands)
All Living Fear toured extensively in the UK, picking up support slots with major UK goth bands including Nosferatu, Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band formed in 1989 by Candia Ridley, Tony McKormack, and Adam Henderson.-History:Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band who have been releasing albums and touring since their formation as Incubus Succubus in 1989.-Incubus Succubus:Before...
, James Ray's Gangwar, Spear of Destiny and Flipper
Flipper (band)
Flipper is a punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge,, punk rock and noise rock bands...
. All Living Fear played the first ever Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend, often abbreviated to WGW or simply referred to by attendees as Whitby, is a twice-yearly festival for goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.-Event history:...
and have played it several times since.
The band's first album, The Widow's Blame, had a two-page review in Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
magazine. This album and its follow-up, Minimum Resistance, both sold out of their initial pressings and subsequent pressings were released through Resurrection Records.
Racher left in 1998 and was replaced by Paul Roe, under whose influence the band took a more rock-orientated direction. A third album, Into the Light, was released before the band split, with North and Roe going on to form Corrosion. In 2001 Racher and North reformed All Living Fear and released a fourth album, Home Too Soon, which they promoted with support slots for Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey is a British musician, best known as lead singer of The Mission and guitarist with The Sisters of Mercy....
, The Damned and All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
.
In November 2007 the Dangernoise label released 15 Years After, a double CD comprising new recordings of some of the band's tracks, some unreleased songs, new material and remixes. It featured guest performances from Arthur Brown
Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
(with whom North had worked extensively), Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan is an English singer, song writer, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboard player. She is best known for being the lead singer of the band, All About Eve.- Early life :...
, Nick Pynn
Nick Pynn
Nick Pynn is a British musician and composer noted for his use of bass pedals and live looping with electroacoustic stringed instruments...
, Christian Riou (Claytown Troupe
Claytown Troupe
Claytown Troupe are a gothic rock band from Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare, England.-Career:The band was formed in 1984 by lead singer Christian Riou, who claimed in an NME interview that a local clairvoyant advised him to form a band called "the Clayton Troop". By 1986, Claytown Troupe had...
) and Steve Bronski (Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...
).
In August 2009, Racher announced he was leaving the band after almost 15 years' involvement, in order to spend more time with his family. The band continue with North as vocalist and Guitar, Niall Parker on Bass, Steve Williams (Complicity, Christian Death, Altered States) on Guitar and Nevla (Rome Burns) on Guitar.
Singles
- "Jessica" (1994) (Pagan Media / Second Pressing- Ossia Germany)
- "The Widow's Blame" (2007) (With Arthur Brown iTunes only)
- "Twenty Nine Point Nine" (2010) (Download 3 track EP)
- "Broken Dream" (2010) (Download 4 track EP)
Albums
- The Widow’s Blame (1995) (Resurrection)
- Minimum Resistance (1996) (Resurrection)
- Vintage Fear (1997) (Self Release)
- Into The Light (1998) (Resurrection)
- Home Too Soon (2003) (Resurrection)
- Fifteen Years After (2007) (Dangernoise)
External links
- http://www.alllivingfear.co.uk (Official Site)
- http://www.alllivingfear.de (Official German Site)
- http://www.myspace.com/alllivingfear (All Living Fear on Myspace)
- http://www.soundclick.com/alllivingfear (Free Music on Soundclick)