Cherry Ghost
Encyclopedia
Cherry Ghost is an indie rock
band from Bolton, England. Their debut album, Thirst for Romance
, was released in July 2007 and entered the UK Album Charts at #7. A second album, entitled Beneath This Burning Shoreline
, was released in July 2010 to positive critical acclaim.
song "Theologians" from the album A Ghost Is Born
.
and a special appearance on Later...with Jools Holland helped excel the band's beginnings. Cherry Ghost were one of only a handful of bands and musicians to have been invited onto Jools Holland's programme before having released any material. Cherry Ghost signed to Heavenly Records
, and released their debut single "Mathematics
" in April 2007. The debut album, Thirst for Romance
, was released in July 2007, following the release of the single "People Help the People
" two weeks before, which charted on the UK Singles Chart
at #27. The album was met with generally positive reviews, and entered the UK Albums Chart
at #7. A third single, "4 AM," was released in September 2007 and charted at #128. A live EP entitled iTunes Festival: Live in London
, recorded in July 2007 at the iTunes Festival
, was released digitally in November 2007.
In September 2007, Cherry Ghost were nominated for Best New Act at the 2007 Q Awards
. In early 2008, Cherry Ghost won an Ivor Novello Award for "People Help the People" in the category of Best Contemporary Song.
blog posting that the band were at the writing stage for the second album and had seven songs written, which had been distilled from over 50 different tunes. The bulk of the album was written across Europe, namely Berlin
and Rome
. The band began recording the album in January 2009. A later blog post indicated that the band were recording in a converted barn
.
On 27 December 2009, Simon posted on MySpace that the second album had been finished and was "due to be mixed in the next month or two." On 29 April 2010, a message on the band's MySpace page stated the title of the new album as Beneath This Burning Shoreline
, with a release date of 5 July 2010. Beneath This Burning Shoreline was released to positive reviews, garnering 4-star reviews from publications such as Q
, The Guardian
, and The Independent
. The album's first single, "Kissing Strangers," was released as a single-track download on 28 June 2010.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Bolton, England. Their debut album, Thirst for Romance
Thirst for Romance
Thirst for Romance is the debut album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 9, 2007 in the UK. The album is available on CD, digital download, and double vinyl LP. It was recorded at Ape Studios in Cheshire and Moolah Rouge Studios in Stockport...
, was released in July 2007 and entered the UK Album Charts at #7. A second album, entitled Beneath This Burning Shoreline
Beneath This Burning Shoreline
Beneath This Burning Shoreline is the second studio album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 5, 2010 via Heavenly Records. The band recorded the album themselves with Dan Austin, who co-produced their debut album Thirst for Romance. The album's opening track, "We Sleep on Stones", was offered as a...
, was released in July 2010 to positive critical acclaim.
History
The name "Cherry Ghost" is a reference to the WilcoWilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
song "Theologians" from the album A Ghost Is Born
A Ghost Is Born
A Ghost Is Born is the fifth studio album by Chicago-based alternative rock band Wilco. Released on June 22, 2004, it features singer Jeff Tweedy on lead guitar more than any previous Wilco album...
.
Beginnings and Thirst for Romance (2005–2007)
Cherry Ghost began in 2005, first as an alias for Simon Aldred as a solo artist, before morphing into a full band. Early sessions with Doves bassist and vocalist Jimi GoodwinJimi Goodwin
Jimi Goodwin is the bassist, vocalist and guitarist for Doves. Before their incarnation as Doves, the three members were a dance-club music trio called Sub Sub....
and a special appearance on Later...with Jools Holland helped excel the band's beginnings. Cherry Ghost were one of only a handful of bands and musicians to have been invited onto Jools Holland's programme before having released any material. Cherry Ghost signed to Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records
Heavenly Records, aka Heavenly Recordings, is a London-based record label, distributed by EMI. Founded by Jeff Barrett, a former press officer for Creation Records and many successful indie bands of the time including Happy Mondays, Heavenly Recordings' first releases were 7" and 12" singles for...
, and released their debut single "Mathematics
Mathematics (Cherry Ghost song)
"Mathematics" is the debut single from Manchester band Cherry Ghost. It was released as a digital download on March 26, 2007 and on CD and 7" vinyl on April 9, 2007. It went to #57 on the UK singles chart. "Mathematics" acquired the title "song of the week" on BBC Radio 2 in early 2007, and Zane...
" in April 2007. The debut album, Thirst for Romance
Thirst for Romance
Thirst for Romance is the debut album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 9, 2007 in the UK. The album is available on CD, digital download, and double vinyl LP. It was recorded at Ape Studios in Cheshire and Moolah Rouge Studios in Stockport...
, was released in July 2007, following the release of the single "People Help the People
People Help the People
"People Help the People" is the second single taken from Cherry Ghost's debut album Thirst for Romance. It was made available to download on 11 June 2007, and followed two weeks later on CD and 7" vinyl. The band played the song live on Later... with Jools Holland on 24 November 2006. Jimi Goodwin...
" two weeks before, which charted on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
at #27. The album was met with generally positive reviews, and entered the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The 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...
at #7. A third single, "4 AM," was released in September 2007 and charted at #128. A live EP entitled iTunes Festival: Live in London
ITunes Festival: Live in London (EP)
iTunes Festival: Live in London is a digital download-only EP from British band Cherry Ghost. The EP was released exclusively on UK iTunes on November 12, 2007 to coincide with Cherry Ghost's November and December tour dates...
, recorded in July 2007 at the iTunes Festival
ITunes Festival
The iTunes Festival is an annual music festival and concert series which is held in London at The Roundhouse art centre and sponsored by Apple Inc. It was first held in 2007...
, was released digitally in November 2007.
In September 2007, Cherry Ghost were nominated for Best New Act at the 2007 Q Awards
Q Awards
The Q Awards are the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine Q. Since they began in 1990, the Q Awards have become one of Britain's biggest and best publicised music awards, helped in no small part by the often boisterous behavior of the celebrities who attend the event...
. In early 2008, Cherry Ghost won an Ivor Novello Award for "People Help the People" in the category of Best Contemporary Song.
Beneath This Burning Shoreline (2008–present)
In March 2008, Simon announced through a MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog posting that the band were at the writing stage for the second album and had seven songs written, which had been distilled from over 50 different tunes. The bulk of the album was written across Europe, namely Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The band began recording the album in January 2009. A later blog post indicated that the band were recording in a converted barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
.
On 27 December 2009, Simon posted on MySpace that the second album had been finished and was "due to be mixed in the next month or two." On 29 April 2010, a message on the band's MySpace page stated the title of the new album as Beneath This Burning Shoreline
Beneath This Burning Shoreline
Beneath This Burning Shoreline is the second studio album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 5, 2010 via Heavenly Records. The band recorded the album themselves with Dan Austin, who co-produced their debut album Thirst for Romance. The album's opening track, "We Sleep on Stones", was offered as a...
, with a release date of 5 July 2010. Beneath This Burning Shoreline was released to positive reviews, garnering 4-star reviews from publications such as Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, and The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
. The album's first single, "Kissing Strangers," was released as a single-track download on 28 June 2010.
Members
- Simon Aldred – Vocals, Guitar
- Jim Rhodes – Guitar
- Ben Parsons – Keyboards
- Phill Anderson – Bass, Synth, Cornet
- Grenville Harrop – Drums
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The 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... |
IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
ITA | ||
| 2007 | Thirst for Romance Thirst for Romance Thirst for Romance is the debut album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 9, 2007 in the UK. The album is available on CD, digital download, and double vinyl LP. It was recorded at Ape Studios in Cheshire and Moolah Rouge Studios in Stockport...
|
7 | 67 | 195 | 91 |
| 2010 | Beneath This Burning Shoreline Beneath This Burning Shoreline Beneath This Burning Shoreline is the second studio album by Cherry Ghost, released on July 5, 2010 via Heavenly Records. The band recorded the album themselves with Dan Austin, who co-produced their debut album Thirst for Romance. The album's opening track, "We Sleep on Stones", was offered as a... |
40 | — | — | — |
Singles & EPs
| Song | Release Date | Release info | Formats | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The 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 ... |
Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Mathematics Mathematics (Cherry Ghost song) "Mathematics" is the debut single from Manchester band Cherry Ghost. It was released as a digital download on March 26, 2007 and on CD and 7" vinyl on April 9, 2007. It went to #57 on the UK singles chart. "Mathematics" acquired the title "song of the week" on BBC Radio 2 in early 2007, and Zane... " |
9 April 2007 | Heavenly (HVN167) | CD, 7" vinyl, DL | 57 | — | Thirst for Romance |
| "People Help the People People Help the People "People Help the People" is the second single taken from Cherry Ghost's debut album Thirst for Romance. It was made available to download on 11 June 2007, and followed two weeks later on CD and 7" vinyl. The band played the song live on Later... with Jools Holland on 24 November 2006. Jimi Goodwin... " |
25 June 2007 | Heavenly (HVN168) | CD, 7" vinyl, DL | 27 | 41 | |
| "4 AM" | 24 September 2007 | Heavenly (HVN171) | CD, 7" vinyl, DL | 128 | — | |
| iTunes Festival: Live in London (EP) ITunes Festival: Live in London (EP) iTunes Festival: Live in London is a digital download-only EP from British band Cherry Ghost. The EP was released exclusively on UK iTunes on November 12, 2007 to coincide with Cherry Ghost's November and December tour dates... |
12 November 2007 | Heavenly | Digital download | — | — | UK iTunes ITunes iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.... -only release |
| "Kissing Strangers" | 28 June 2010 | Heavenly (HVN203) | Digital download | — | — | Beneath This Burning Shoreline |
| "Black Fang" | 20 September 2010 | Heavenly (HVN206) | 7" vinyl, DL | — | — | |
| "We Sleep on Stones" / "Finally" | 8 November 2010 | Heavenly (HVN209) | 12" vinyl, DL | — | — | |
| "Only a Mother" | 7 March 2011 | Heavenly | Digital download | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | ||||||
Songs Cherry Ghost has covered
- "Junebug" (SparklehorseSparklehorseSparklehorse was an American indie rock band led by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous.-History:Sparklehorse's first album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot featuring Bob Rupe of the Silos and Cracker, was a modest college radio success...
) (B-side) - "Finally" (CeCe PenistonCeCe PenistonCeCe Peniston is an African American recording artist and former beauty queen. At the beginning of the nineties, she was considered to be one of the most successful dance club artists in the history of the U.S...
) (B-side) - "Welcome to the Black ParadeWelcome to the Black Parade"Welcome to the Black Parade" is the first single and fifth track from My Chemical Romance's third studio album, The Black Parade. It was released on September 11, 2006 on iTunes and October 9, 2006 on CD. It is the band's eighth single...
" (My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
) (played live) - "Back to BlackBack to Black (song)"Back to Black" is a song by English recording artist Amy Winehouse. It was released on April 30, 2007 as the third single from her second studio album, Back to Black. It was written by Winehouse and Mark Ronson...
" (Amy WinehouseAmy WinehouseAmy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
) (played live) - "Under My ThumbUnder My Thumb"Under My Thumb" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966's Aftermath...
" (The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
) (played live) link - "PoundingPounding"Pounding" is the second single from Doves' second studio album The Last Broadcast. The single was released on 22 July 2002 in the UK on CD, DVD and 10" vinyl, reaching #21 on the UK Singles Chart. A single was also released for the song in Australia, and an EP was released in Japan on 17 July 2002...
" (Doves) (played live) - "DriveDrive (The Cars song)"Drive" is a 1984 song by The Cars, the third single from the band's Heartbeat City album and their biggest international hit. It was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange with the band. Lead vocals were by Cars bassist Benjamin Orr....
" (The CarsThe CarsThe Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
) (played live)
Cherry Ghost songs that other artists have covered
- "People Help the PeoplePeople Help the People"People Help the People" is the second single taken from Cherry Ghost's debut album Thirst for Romance. It was made available to download on 11 June 2007, and followed two weeks later on CD and 7" vinyl. The band played the song live on Later... with Jools Holland on 24 November 2006. Jimi Goodwin...
" (BirdyBirdy (musician)Jasmine van den Bogaerde, also known by her stage name Birdy, is an English musician known for winning the music competition Open Mic UK in 2008, at the age of 12. Her version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" was released in January 2011, peaking inside the top twenty of the UK Singles Chart and in...
)
Festival appearances
- Camden Crawl 2007: April 19 and 20
- Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
2007: Queen's Head stage, June 24 - Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
2010: Queen's Head Stage, June 26 - Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
2011: Oxylers In West Stage, June 25 - Oxegen Festival 2007Oxegen 2007Oxegen '07 was the fourth Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Saturday, 7 July and Sunday, 8 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland. The festival was headlined by Muse and Snow...
: New Bands/Futures stage - Latitude 2007: Uncut Arena
- Summer SundaeSummer SundaeSummer Sundae is an annual music festival held in Leicester, England which focuses on indie, alternative, and local music...
2007: Main stage - Guilfest 2007: Guildford, Stoke Park, July 2007
- iTunes Festival 2007: London, July 22
- V Festival 2007 Weston Park: Virgin Mobile Union stage, August 18
- V Festival 2007 Hylands Park: Virgin Mobile Union stage, August 19
- DpercussionDpercussionDpercussion was a music festival held yearly between 1997 and 2007 in Manchester. It was originally called Repercussion when it was set up as a response to the 1996 IRA bomb. For the first 8 years the festival was free, and a voluntary donation system was set up in the 9th year...
2007, Manchester, Main Stage, August 4 - Ben & Jerry's Sundae On The Common July 25, 2010