Bradford (band)
Encyclopedia
Bradford were a skinhead
indie
band from Blackburn, Lancashire
, England
. The band is best known for being liked by Morrissey
, who proclaimed them heirs to the Smiths
throne.
. They followed this with "Tattered, Tangled & Torn" before signing to Midnight Music, although their only release for the label, a self-titled mini-LP
, was withdrawn. The band were then signed to Smiths producer Stephen Street
's Foundation label. Street also produced the major share of Bradford's material during their two year association before the band signed with Sire Records
/Warner Bros. The band opened for Morrissey at his first post-Smiths concert at Wolverhampton
Civic Hall. By early 1989, Stuart had left, to be replaced by Ewan Butler (guitar) and John Balcombe (keyboards). 1989 saw two further singles, both hits on the UK Indie Chart
, and an album, Shouting Quietly, produced by Stephen Street and released on Sire Records
label in the United States
followed in 1990. Sales of the album were disappointing, and the band were dropped by Sire. An album collecting tracks from their early singles was also issued. In 1991, Morrissey recorded a cover version
of "Skin Storm", released as a B-side on his "Pregnant for the Last Time
" single.
The band toured extensively and supported artists including Primal Scream
, Joe Strummer
, Sugarcubes
and James
. Hodgson later formed band Acoustic Uprising, and also played guitar for On Parole, a tribute to The Clash
. Guitarist Ewan Butler wrote and performed with US rap artist Ithaka
; whilst bass player Joss Murphy is currently playing with Morrissey
tribute act, Viva Morrissey. John Baulcombe is currently playing with the Bolton indie pop band Merchandise who released their third album, For The Masses, in June 2010.
Former drummer Mark McVitie, then working as a lecturer at Blackburn College
, was arrested on child pornography
charges in 2001 and placed on a list of registered sex offenders.
Skinhead
A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British mods,...
indie
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band from Blackburn, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 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 is best known for being liked by Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, who proclaimed them heirs to the Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
throne.
History
The initial line-up was Ian H. (Ian Michael Hodgson, vocals), Stuart (guitar), Jos Murphy (bass guitar), and Mark McVitie (drums). The band's debut single, "Skin Storm" was released in 1988, and had the distinction of being the first debut single to be released on compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. They followed this with "Tattered, Tangled & Torn" before signing to Midnight Music, although their only release for the label, a self-titled mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
, was withdrawn. The band were then signed to Smiths producer Stephen Street
Stephen Street
Stephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
's Foundation label. Street also produced the major share of Bradford's material during their two year association before the band signed with Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
/Warner Bros. The band opened for Morrissey at his first post-Smiths concert at Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
Civic Hall. By early 1989, Stuart had left, to be replaced by Ewan Butler (guitar) and John Balcombe (keyboards). 1989 saw two further singles, both hits on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, and an album, Shouting Quietly, produced by Stephen Street and released on Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
label in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
followed in 1990. Sales of the album were disappointing, and the band were dropped by Sire. An album collecting tracks from their early singles was also issued. In 1991, Morrissey recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Skin Storm", released as a B-side on his "Pregnant for the Last Time
Pregnant for the Last Time
"Pregnant for the Last Time" was a single by Morrissey released in July 1991. It was a stand-alone single rather than taken from any album.This single saw a change in Morrissey's musical style as the 1960s pop of Kill Uncle was replaced by a harder rockabilly sound...
" single.
The band toured extensively and supported artists including Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
, Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
and James
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
. Hodgson later formed band Acoustic Uprising, and also played guitar for On Parole, a tribute to The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. Guitarist Ewan Butler wrote and performed with US rap artist Ithaka
Ithaka (musician)
Ithaka is the professional name of hip hop artist, sculptor, artistic photographer, writer and Surfer, Darin Pappas .Ithaka was born and raised in Southern California, but later established himself in Japan, Greece, Portugal and Brazil .In Lisbon he recorded his first two hip hop albums, Flowers...
; whilst bass player Joss Murphy is currently playing with Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
tribute act, Viva Morrissey. John Baulcombe is currently playing with the Bolton indie pop band Merchandise who released their third album, For The Masses, in June 2010.
Former drummer Mark McVitie, then working as a lecturer at Blackburn College
Blackburn College (Blackburn with Darwen)
Blackburn College is a further and higher education college in Blackburn, in the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, England.It is a large college, with over 15,000 students, around 6,000 of whom are aged 16–19...
, was arrested on child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
charges in 2001 and placed on a list of registered sex offenders.
Singles
- "Skin Storm" (1988), Village
- "Tattered, Tangled & Torn" (1988), Village
- "In Liverpool" (1989) Foundation (#12)
- "Adrift Again" (1989) Foundation (#20)
- "Gang of One" (1990) Foundation
Albums
- Bradford (1988) Midnight Music (withdrawn)
- Shouting Quietly (1990) Foundation/Sire/Rough Trade