Catherine Wheel
Encyclopedia
Catherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock
band from Great Yarmouth
, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.
, guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division
-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel
, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device
of the same name. The band was sometimes included in the shoegazing
scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback
and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor. However, Catherine Wheel had a more song oriented style than their peers.The band was influenced by 1970s rock bands such as Pink Floyd
, Queen
, Black Sabbath
and Rush
as well as 1980s alternative such as The House of Love
.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records
after being courted by both Creation Records
and the Brian Eno
-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment
, made an immediate impression on the music press
and introduced Catherine Wheel's biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want To Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton
. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie
and Interpol
told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."
1995's Happy Days
saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as Britpop
was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.
The B-sides
and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs
, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve
in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.
In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville
. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.
In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.
The song 'Texture' was featured in the episode 'model behaviour' in the first season of new american drama series Blue Bloods (aired US 2010 and UK 2011). The song is played as detective Danny Reagan discovers a suicide in a bath.
. After working with/ playing live with Tracy Bonham
for several years, Dickinson released a solo album in 2005 called Fresh Wine for the Horses
. Dickinson continues to perform live and has recently signed a recording contract with Universal Music Canada.
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 Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.
Biography
Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob DickinsonRob Dickinson
Rob Dickinson is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter previously of the band Catherine Wheel. He is now a solo artist. Dickinson was raised in Norfolk, England, and is the younger cousin of Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson....
, guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel
Catherine wheel (firework)
The Catherine wheel is a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, or an angled rocket mounted with a pin through its centre...
, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device
Breaking wheel
The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or simply the wheel, was a torture device used for capital punishment in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by bludgeoning to death...
of the same name. The band was sometimes included in the shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor. However, Catherine Wheel had a more song oriented style than their peers.The band was influenced by 1970s rock bands such as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Queen
Queen
-In government and monarchy:* Queen regnant, a female monarch of equivalent power to a male king* Any of the three currently living queens regnant:** Beatrix of the Netherlands , Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba** Elizabeth...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and Rush
Rush
- United States :* Rush, Colorado* Rush, Kentucky* Rush, New York* Rush, Ohio* Rush City, Minnesota-People:* Rush, a nickname for Canadian mixed martial artist Georges St...
as well as 1980s alternative such as The House of Love
The House of Love
The House of Love is an English alternative rock band. Formed in 1986, the band rose to prominence in the UK as a leading indie rock band in 1988 and split up in 1993, eventually reforming a decade later in 2003. The band is best known for its detailed psychedelic guitar sound and for the...
.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
after being courted by both Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
and the Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment
Ferment (album)
Ferment is the first full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1992 . Four songs had previously appeared on independently released 12" EPs, and were re-recorded for inclusion on the album...
, made an immediate impression on the music press
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
and introduced Catherine Wheel's biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want To Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
and Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."
1995's Happy Days
Happy Days (album)
Happy Days is the third full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1995 . Like its predecessor, Chrome, it was produced by Gil Norton, and the influences of grunge and hard rock are prevalent on this album; however, the band does retain some elements of...
saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.
The B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs
Like Cats and Dogs
Like Cats and Dogs is a compilation album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel. The album includes an alternate version of Happy Dayss "Heal" , several outtakes and b-sides spanning the band's career, and cover versions of songs originally by Pink Floyd and Rush.-Track...
, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve (album)
Adam and Eve is the fourth full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel. Released in 1997 , the album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and number 178 on the Billboard 200...
in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.
In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville
Wishville
Wishville is the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel's fifth and final album. Released in 2000, it is the band's only album not to feature bassist Dave Hawes, who was fired prior to its recording; without a permanent bassist, the band focuses on guitar-centered hard rock arrangements...
. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.
In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.
The song 'Texture' was featured in the episode 'model behaviour' in the first season of new american drama series Blue Bloods (aired US 2010 and UK 2011). The song is played as detective Danny Reagan discovers a suicide in a bath.
Post-Catherine Wheel work
Futter and Sims have an ongoing project called 50 ft Monster. Ellis is in a new band called SerafinSerafin
Serafin is the rock band from London who formed and began playing in September 2000.Often compared to almost anything in the rock industry, Serafin's sound is sometimes compared to bands like Pixies, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Placebo, Radiohead, Blur and Jacob's Mouse.-History :The original...
. After working with/ playing live with Tracy Bonham
Tracy Bonham
Tracy Bonham is an American alternative rock musician best known for her 1996 single "Mother Mother".Raised in Eugene, Oregon, Bonham is a classically-trained violinist and pianist...
for several years, Dickinson released a solo album in 2005 called Fresh Wine for the Horses
Fresh Wine for the Horses
Fresh Wine for the Horses is former Catherine Wheel frontman Rob Dickinson's first studio album. Released in 2005, it features tracks that Dickinson wrote while a member of Catherine Wheel but never made it onto official releases, as well as new material written since the band's breakup in 2000...
. Dickinson continues to perform live and has recently signed a recording contract with Universal Music Canada.
Studio albums
- FermentFerment (album)Ferment is the first full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1992 . Four songs had previously appeared on independently released 12" EPs, and were re-recorded for inclusion on the album...
(1992) #36 UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... - Chrome (1993) #58 UK
- Happy DaysHappy Days (album)Happy Days is the third full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1995 . Like its predecessor, Chrome, it was produced by Gil Norton, and the influences of grunge and hard rock are prevalent on this album; however, the band does retain some elements of...
(1995) #163 USBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... - Adam and EveAdam and Eve (album)Adam and Eve is the fourth full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel. Released in 1997 , the album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and number 178 on the Billboard 200...
(1997) #53 UK, #178 US - WishvilleWishvilleWishville is the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel's fifth and final album. Released in 2000, it is the band's only album not to feature bassist Dave Hawes, who was fired prior to its recording; without a permanent bassist, the band focuses on guitar-centered hard rock arrangements...
(2000)
Singles
- "She's My Friend" (1991) Wilde Club
- "Painful Thing" (1991) Wilde Club
- "Black Metallic" (1991) Fontana #68 UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, #9 U.S. Modern Rock - "Balloon" (1992) Fontana #59 UK
- "I Want to Touch You" (1992) Fontana #35 UK, #20 U.S. Modern Rock
- "30 Century Man" (1992) Fontana #47 UK
- "Crank" (1993) Fontana #66 UK, #5 U.S. Modern Rock
- "Show Me Mary" (1993) Fontana #62 UK
- "Judy Staring at the Sun" (1995) Fontana #22 U.S. Modern Rock
- "Waydown" (1995) Fontana #67 UK, #15 U.S. Modern Rock, #24 Mainstream Rock
- "Delicious" (1997) ChrysalisChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
#53 UK - "Ma Solituda" (1998) Chrysalis #53 UK
- "Broken Nose" (1998) Chrysalis #48 UK
- "Sparks are Gonna Fly" (2000) #37 U.S. Modern Rock
Music videos
| Year | Song | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Black Metallic" | Barry Magurie | 7" version |
| "I Want To Touch You" | Miles Aldridge | Tim Palmer Tim Palmer Tim Palmer is a British music producer, audio engineer and songwriter of rock and alternative music.-1980-1990:Palmer worked as an assistant engineer at Utopia Studios in London, England in the early 1980s... remix |
|
| 1993 | "Crank" | Geoff Everson | 2 versions: towards the end of the original version Rob is spinning on a spiked wheel while the censored version cuts away to shots of Brian and Dave |
| "Show Me Mary" | Melodie McDaniel | Scott Litt Scott Litt Scott Litt is an American record producer who mostly works with artists in the alternative rock genre and is best known for producing six R.E.M. albums.-Biography:... remix |
|
| 1994 | "The Nude" | Elizabeth Baily | Scott Litt remix |
| 1995 | "Waydown" | Mark Pellington Mark Pellington -Life and career:Pellington was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He directed The Mothman Prophecies, a 2002 film starring Richard Gere dealing with mysterious deaths foretold by a strange red-eyed flying creature, Mothman, as well as Arlington Road in 1999 starring Tim Robbins and Jeff Bridges.... |
|
| "Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck" | Stephen Dorff Stephen Dorff Stephen Dorff is an American actor, best known for portraying Stuart Sutcliffe in Backbeat, Johnny Marco in Somewhere, and for his roles in Blade and Cecil B. DeMented.-Early life:... |
LP version; starring Summer Phoenix Summer Phoenix Summer Joy Phoenix is an American actress and model. She is the youngest sibling of the late River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix, and is married to actor Casey Affleck.-Early life:... |
|
| "Judy Staring at the Sun" | Nick Egan | featuring Tanya Donelly Tanya Donelly Tanya Donelly is an American Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. She then went on to work in The Breeders and Belly in the 1990s... ; MTV MTV MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.... edited the words "smacked" and "vein" |
|
| 1997 | "Delicious" | Mark Adcock | |
| 1998 | "Ma Solituda" | Karen Lamond | |
| 2000 | "Sparks are Gonna Fly" | Dean Karr |
External links
- Catherine Wheel on last.fm
- The Catherine Wheel on FaceBookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Official Rob Dickinson Website
- Rob Dickinson at MySpace
- Catherine Wheel at rateyourmusic.com
- Catherine Wheel Cover Compilation project
- lewisslade.com/catherinewheel