Catherine (alternative rock band)
Encyclopedia
Catherine was an alternative rock
band from Chicago, Illinois that was active from 1985 to 1998. They were signed to TVT Records
.
did little to weaken this allegation, along with the notable point that the two bands would occasionally borrow members from one another in the recording studio and rehearsal space which they shared. Although their earlier releases bore a slight resemblance to The Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine eventually discovered their own sound over time.
The original band lineup slowly came together during the late '80s and early '90s, with founding members Neil Jendon and Jerome Brown providing the band with their name (for reasons unknown; even to them). Along with a drum machine, they were joined by bassist Cliff Fox for their first release, the Sparkle/Charmed 7" single, which was put out on the local Limited Potential label.
-produced "Sleepy" EP in 1993. The EP was embraced in college markets, which prompted the group to sign with TVT for their debut album, "Sorry!", later in the same year. Due to touring constraints, Fox left the band shortly after the release of Sorry! and was replaced by Keith Brown (Kerry's brother). Catherine's tour in support of the album found them opening for the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Suede, Dig, and Letters to Cleo. As a result of this widened exposure, Sorry! went on to become a largely appreciated college hit.
and the Lemonheads
in the US, and playing several large festivals in Europe, including Reading (UK), Bizarre
(Cologne), and Rocknacht (Leuven).
After a break from music, Jendon was a member of Zelienople for 3 years and appeared on several of their albums. In addition to playing with Bugglette, he is currently performing and recording electronic music under his own name. His first solo CD, "Invisibility", was released on BloodLust! in late 2008.
It's No Lie (1994)
Songs About Girls (1994)
Saint (1995)
Four-Leaf Clover (1996)
Whisper (1996)
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 Chicago, Illinois that was active from 1985 to 1998. They were signed to TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
.
Early years
In the early phases of their career, the band was frequently dismissed as being "little more than a second-rate Smashing Pumpkins knockoff". The fact that drummer Kerry Brown was married to Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'ArcyD'arcy Wretzky
D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky is an American musician. She is best known for her work as the original bass player of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins...
did little to weaken this allegation, along with the notable point that the two bands would occasionally borrow members from one another in the recording studio and rehearsal space which they shared. Although their earlier releases bore a slight resemblance to The Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine eventually discovered their own sound over time.
The original band lineup slowly came together during the late '80s and early '90s, with founding members Neil Jendon and Jerome Brown providing the band with their name (for reasons unknown; even to them). Along with a drum machine, they were joined by bassist Cliff Fox for their first release, the Sparkle/Charmed 7" single, which was put out on the local Limited Potential label.
Public debut
With the addition of drummer Kerry Brown (no relation to Jerome) soon afterward, the drum machine was shelved. New guitarist Mark Rew also came aboard, and the group released the Billy CorganBilly Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
-produced "Sleepy" EP in 1993. The EP was embraced in college markets, which prompted the group to sign with TVT for their debut album, "Sorry!", later in the same year. Due to touring constraints, Fox left the band shortly after the release of Sorry! and was replaced by Keith Brown (Kerry's brother). Catherine's tour in support of the album found them opening for the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Suede, Dig, and Letters to Cleo. As a result of this widened exposure, Sorry! went on to become a largely appreciated college hit.
Final album
In 1996, Neil Jendon and Jerome Brown both left the band, leaving Mark Rew and Kerry Brown as the primary singer/songwriter for the final Catherine release, "Hot Saki & Bedtime Stories". Bass player Keith Brown also contributed, writing songs on the CD. While Mixing the CD in Chicago, the band met audio engineer Todd Tatnall, and later recruited Tatnall to play percussion and keyboard on tour. The band also recruited Scott "Fever" Evers (former bass player for the Urge Overkill) to play lead guitar on tour. Shortly after joining for tours, the band asked Tatnall and Evers to remain as full members.Final tour
In 1997, Catherine toured the US and Europe, opening for bands like GarbageGarbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
and the Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
in the US, and playing several large festivals in Europe, including Reading (UK), Bizarre
Bizarre
Bizarre may refer to:*Bizarre , solo rapper as well as member of the group D12*Bizarre , Spanish rock band*Bizarre , a Canadian sketch comedy television series...
(Cologne), and Rocknacht (Leuven).
Break up
After their 1997 tour, the band began recording a new LP in the studio they built in a remodeled barn outside Watervliet, Michigan. Meanwhile, TVT Records would not return the band's phone calls. Opting out of their contract, Catherine was unable to secure a contract with another label. Although a total of 13 songs were written and recorded, none of the songs from those sessions were ever released, although at least one, "Flight 518" was re-recorded in a later project by Rew. The original "My Friend the Snake" sessions have only been heard by a few friends and fans of the band. Discouraged by the lack of progress in securing a new contract, Evers and Tatnall left the band, followed by Keith Brown. Mark Rew recruited a few young musicians to continue playing, but eventually permanently dissolved the band. Rew and Jendon reconvened in 2007 and currently play a couple of the 'lost' Catherine songs in the Chicago-based band "Bugglette", and independently released a new album, "Shame On You, Shanga Flowerdell" in late 2008After a break from music, Jendon was a member of Zelienople for 3 years and appeared on several of their albums. In addition to playing with Bugglette, he is currently performing and recording electronic music under his own name. His first solo CD, "Invisibility", was released on BloodLust! in late 2008.
Reunion
Catherine reunited to play 2 songs during the encore of the Smashing Pumpkins show at the Riviera Theatre, in Chicago, IL on October 14, 2011 for the first time since their break up in 1998. The band is expected to play a show in Chicago in the near future, but could not confirm when.Music videos
Idiot (1994)It's No Lie (1994)
Songs About Girls (1994)
Saint (1995)
Four-Leaf Clover (1996)
Whisper (1996)
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
| 1991 | Sparkle/Charmed | Limited Potential |
| 1993 | Sleepy | March Records (Re-released on TVT TVT Records TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and... in 1994) |
| 1994 | Sorry! | TVT |
| 1996 | Hot Saki & Bedtime Stories | TVT |