Chris T-T
Encyclopedia
Chris T-T is an English
singer/songwriter based in Brighton
. He has released eight studio albums and one live collection. He has also been a piano accompanist; a radio and club DJ; written for a range of publications and currently contributes a regular column on the arts to left-wing newspaper The Morning Star. T-T's most recent album is Love Is Not Rescue which was released on 15 March 2010 by London
-based independent label Xtra Mile Recordings
.
While T-T has not crossed over to mainstream success, his influence as an underground artist is widely felt and his music has been consistently praised by critics through the past decade.
, England
. After performing in school bands, in 1993 he began an honours degree in Popular Music Studies at Bretton Hall College (Leeds University). During his final year at Bretton Hall, T-T became Ents Officer on the Student Union (a post previously held by activist/comedian Mark Thomas
).
-based band Magoo
on bass, as they signed to Glasgow
-based Chemikal Underground Records, the label run by the band Delgados. In May 1997, Chris T-T moved to London to work at the Press Association
. His first solo gig was opening for Hefner
at the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town.
In 1999 T-T's debut album Beatverse was released on his own Wine Cellar Records. The release brought T-T early press and radio interest. BBC Radio 1
DJ Steve Lamacq
played the song 'Shit From All Angles' on his first show of the new millennium and continued to strongly support T-T. Following Beatverse, T-T signed to London-based independent label Snowstorm Records.
's Radio 1 Evening Session to perform a five song acoustic set.
The albums The 253 (2001) and London Is Sinking (2003) followed. These were two parts of a trilogy of albums about London and were acclaimed in the British music press and the broadsheets. T-T continued to use sarcastic humour on singles such as 2002's 'Eminem Is Gay', which attracted wide attention, including in the US. In autumn 2003, with the wider success of London Is Sinking, Chris T-T gave up his full time job and moved to Brighton
.
In July 2005, work on part three of the London trilogy stalled: T-T's storyline for the third 'London' album turned out to be similar to the London bombings of 7 July 2005 and he felt it was unreleasable. Instead Snowstorm Records released 9 Red Songs, an album of political folk-protest songs. 9 Red Songs was comparatively overlooked by the press but it became T-T's most widely heard work, gaining an exceptional level of viral grass-roots support. Songs are still performed by other artists and have become standard festival campfire material, such as the a capella 'M1 Song' and the self-critical 'Preaching To The Converted'. In particular 'The Huntsman Comes A-Marchin', which criticises British pro-hunting organisation Countryside Alliance
, is remarkably well-known. 9 Red Songs was the final album T-T made for Snowstorm Records.
(ex. Razorlight
drummer), Phil Sumner
(British Sea Power
cornettist), Jim Bob
, Jon Boden
(Bellowhead
and Spiers & Boden fiddler) and Emmy The Great
. Two further singles; 'A-Z' and '(We Are) The King Of England' were also released.
To tour Capital, T-T recruited his most stable band lineup to date, Hoodrats, including Ben Murray (ex. Le Frange) on drums, Johny Lamb (Thirty Pounds Of Bone, King James
, Lynched Recordings) on bass and long-term collaborator Jenny Macro (Graham Coxon
, Robyn Hitchcock
, Charlotte Hatherley
, Stuffy/The Fuses
, Something Beginning With L) on guitars. Through 2008 and 2009 T-T toured Capital in the UK, US and Europe, often alongside label-mate Frank Turner
.
In May 2008 T-T joined Frank Turner
's touring band on keyboards, occasionally also accompanying Turner in a duo format. He initially joined mid-tour without rehearsal. This stint included appearances at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals, as well as duo supports with Seth Lakeman
, Levellers
and Biffy Clyro
.
In July 2009 T-T was selected at random as one of 2,400 applicants to take part in Anthony Gormley's One & Other
project, occupying the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square
. On Tuesday 28th he performed a live acoustic set on the fourth plinth which was broadcast on the SkyArts channel as part of their coverage of the project.
In March 2010 Xtra Mile Recordings released T-T's seventh album Love Is Not Rescue, accompanied by the single 'Nintendo'. Recorded in rural Norfolk
and urban Los Angeles
, this has a quieter, more introspective tone than T-T's previous work and focuses on personal themes.
to attack him "in song", after Herring roasted T-T on the Collings and Herrin
podcast and his BBC6Music radio programme.
T-T took a photograph of every toilet he visited in 2010 and published the photographs on Twitter (using the hashtag #loo2010), before archiving them to his Facebook page. This project is continuing into 2011.
In early 2011 T-T wrote the story, scripted and composed the score to 'Imagine A Health Worker', a short animated film commissioned by the World Health Organisation's Global Health Workforce Alliance. The film opened their world conference in Bangkok and was then made available online.
Through August 2011 T-T performed a one-man show, Disobedience: Chris T-T Sings A.A. Milne, at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performance comprised A.A. Milne's children's poems set to new music composed by T-T on guitar and piano. In October 2011 he released a studio album of the songs, with no prior warning or PR campaign, initially as a download on the Bandcamp website.
, The Divine Comedy
, British Sea Power
, The National
, Tom Robinson
, Elbow
, The Walkmen
, KT Tunstall
, Quasi
and many others, as well as performing at CMJ Seminar, South By Southwest
and Glastonbury Festival
. Most recent tours have seen him playing with Frank Turner
, Jim Bob
, Electric Soft Parade, Bellowhead
and former Delgados singer Emma Pollock
.
During the past few years Chris T-T has composed music for an interactive exhibit at the Natural History Museum
; written and performed a live re-soundtracking of Battle Royale
at London's Other Cinema; taken part in political and ecological debates, including at SOAS and Brighton Live, and curated an evening of political documentaries at Greenwich Film Festival.
. He is also occasionally a DJ for gigs and club nights and has DJd in support of bands such as Dinosaur Jr
, The Thermals
, Okkervil River
and Efterklang
.
which is ongoing. A selection of his Empties photographs has been published in the book Dark Mountain Volume 2. T-T also writes a popular and occasionally controversial blog. He was an early adopter of Twitter, building a following through tweeting primarily unrelated to his music career.
The tweet, including the 'Spartacus' reference, was also repeated on the floor of the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat
MP Julian Huppert
.
.
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...
singer/songwriter based in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. He has released eight studio albums and one live collection. He has also been a piano accompanist; a radio and club DJ; written for a range of publications and currently contributes a regular column on the arts to left-wing newspaper The Morning Star. T-T's most recent album is Love Is Not Rescue which was released on 15 March 2010 by London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based independent label Xtra Mile Recordings
Xtra Mile Recordings
Xtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
.
While T-T has not crossed over to mainstream success, his influence as an underground artist is widely felt and his music has been consistently praised by critics through the past decade.
Early life
Chris T-T was born and raised in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course 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...
. After performing in school bands, in 1993 he began an honours degree in Popular Music Studies at Bretton Hall College (Leeds University). During his final year at Bretton Hall, T-T became Ents Officer on the Student Union (a post previously held by activist/comedian Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas
Mark Clifford Thomas is a left-wing English comedian, presenter, political activist and reporter from south London. He first became known as a guest comic on the BBC Radio 1 comedy show The Mary Whitehouse Experience in the late 1980s. He is best known for political stunts on his show, The Mark...
).
Late 1990s
In 1996, T-T joined NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
-based band Magoo
Magoo
Magoo may refer to:*Mr. Magoo, a cartoon character** Mr. Magoo , a live-action movie about the cartoon*Magoo , American rapper*Magoo , an indie rock band from Norfolk, England...
on bass, as they signed to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
-based Chemikal Underground Records, the label run by the band Delgados. In May 1997, Chris T-T moved to London to work at the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
. His first solo gig was opening for Hefner
Hefner
Hefner were a British indie rock and "urban folk" band formed in east London in 1995. They were active from about 1996 until 2002; since then they have played together only once, for a tribute to the DJ John Peel, who was a strong supporter of theirs....
at the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town.
In 1999 T-T's debut album Beatverse was released on his own Wine Cellar Records. The release brought T-T early press and radio interest. BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
played the song 'Shit From All Angles' on his first show of the new millennium and continued to strongly support T-T. Following Beatverse, T-T signed to London-based independent label Snowstorm Records.
2000-2005
T-T's second album Panic Attack At Sainsbury's was released in autumn 2000. First single 'You Can Be Flirty', was panned in NME and Melody Maker but in early 2001 second single, 'Dreaming Of Injured Popstars' made an impression across the UK underground scene, with notably vicious, sarcastic lyrics: the song describes named pop stars being brutally injured. 'Dreaming Of Injured Popstars' received strong specialist radio, press and fanzine support, enabling T-T to tour the UK as a headline act for the first time. He gained very positive live reviews in NME and Melody Maker and appeared live on Steve LamacqSteve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
's Radio 1 Evening Session to perform a five song acoustic set.
The albums The 253 (2001) and London Is Sinking (2003) followed. These were two parts of a trilogy of albums about London and were acclaimed in the British music press and the broadsheets. T-T continued to use sarcastic humour on singles such as 2002's 'Eminem Is Gay', which attracted wide attention, including in the US. In autumn 2003, with the wider success of London Is Sinking, Chris T-T gave up his full time job and moved to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
In July 2005, work on part three of the London trilogy stalled: T-T's storyline for the third 'London' album turned out to be similar to the London bombings of 7 July 2005 and he felt it was unreleasable. Instead Snowstorm Records released 9 Red Songs, an album of political folk-protest songs. 9 Red Songs was comparatively overlooked by the press but it became T-T's most widely heard work, gaining an exceptional level of viral grass-roots support. Songs are still performed by other artists and have become standard festival campfire material, such as the a capella 'M1 Song' and the self-critical 'Preaching To The Converted'. In particular 'The Huntsman Comes A-Marchin', which criticises British pro-hunting organisation Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
, is remarkably well-known. 9 Red Songs was the final album T-T made for Snowstorm Records.
2006-present
In 2007 T-T signed to Xtra Mile Recordings and in 2008 his sixth album Capital was released, preceded by the rock-oriented 'This Gun Is Not A Gun' EP. This is a heavier record, with larger-scale production than his previous work. Capital is the third part of T-T's 'London Is Sinking trilogy' of albums, although it is also a stand-alone album. It includes guest appearances from Andy BurrowsAndy Burrows
Andrew William Burrows is a British musician. He first began his musical career as a percussionist in the Hampshire County Youth Band. He was the drummer the Razorlight from 2004 to 2009, and as guest drummer We Are Scientists from 2009 onwards.-Razorlight:He joined the band in May 2004...
(ex. Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
drummer), Phil Sumner
Phil Sumner
Philip James Sumner is a cornet, keyboard and guitar player for the Kendal/Brighton based rock band British Sea Power and Brighton/Stroud based rock band Actress Hands. He first emerged with British Sea Power on their September 2006 tour in which they first performed songs which would appear on...
(British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
cornettist), Jim Bob
Jim Bob
Jim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
, Jon Boden
Jon Boden
Jon Boden is an multi-instrumental musician and English folk singer.-Career:Boden plays fiddle as part of the duo Spiers and Boden, the band Bellowhead and up until 2007, Eliza Carthy's band The Ratcatchers. In 2009 he toured with his new backing band The Remnant Kings. He has also written a...
(Bellowhead
Bellowhead
Bellowhead are an English contemporary folk band originally brought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. The eleven-piece band plays traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide diversity of musical styles and influences...
and Spiers & Boden fiddler) and Emmy The Great
Emmy the Great
Emma-Lee Moss , known by her stage name Emmy the Great, is a London-based singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, First Love and Virtue.-Early life:Moss was born in Hong Kong to an English father and a Chinese mother...
. Two further singles; 'A-Z' and '(We Are) The King Of England' were also released.
To tour Capital, T-T recruited his most stable band lineup to date, Hoodrats, including Ben Murray (ex. Le Frange) on drums, Johny Lamb (Thirty Pounds Of Bone, King James
King James (band)
King James is a metal/rock supergroup formed in 1993 by guitarist Rex Carroll . He joined former Sacred Fire frontman, Jimi Bennett to form the band. Some time later, they recruited Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet, of Stryper, and released their first album in 1994. The band supported the album with...
, Lynched Recordings) on bass and long-term collaborator Jenny Macro (Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon
Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
, Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
, Charlotte Hatherley
Charlotte Hatherley
Charlotte Franklin Hatherley is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. She initially came to prominence as guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Ash. Since departing Ash in 2006, she has found success as a solo artist...
, Stuffy/The Fuses
Stuffy/the fuses
- Biography :The band was formed by Stephen Gilchrist who recorded the band's debut album Join Me Or Die before actually getting a complete line up together. The core line up consisting of Jon Fuse , Jen Fuse , and stuffy formed in early 2003...
, Something Beginning With L) on guitars. Through 2008 and 2009 T-T toured Capital in the UK, US and Europe, often alongside label-mate Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
.
In May 2008 T-T joined Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
's touring band on keyboards, occasionally also accompanying Turner in a duo format. He initially joined mid-tour without rehearsal. This stint included appearances at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals, as well as duo supports with Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman
Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...
, Levellers
Levellers
The Levellers were a political movement during the English Civil Wars which emphasised popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law, and religious tolerance, all of which were expressed in the manifesto "Agreement of the People". They came to prominence at the end of the First...
and Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
.
In July 2009 T-T was selected at random as one of 2,400 applicants to take part in Anthony Gormley's One & Other
One & Other
One & Other was a public art project by Antony Gormley, in which 2,400 members of the public occupied the usually vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, for an hour each for 100 days. The project began at 9am on Monday 6 July 2009, and ran until 14 October. The first person to officially...
project, occupying the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
. On Tuesday 28th he performed a live acoustic set on the fourth plinth which was broadcast on the SkyArts channel as part of their coverage of the project.
In March 2010 Xtra Mile Recordings released T-T's seventh album Love Is Not Rescue, accompanied by the single 'Nintendo'. Recorded in rural Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and urban Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, this has a quieter, more introspective tone than T-T's previous work and focuses on personal themes.
Present day
Chris T-T continues to promote Love Is Not Rescue and a second UK single release 'Words Fail Me' was released on April 25, 2011. T-T has finished an album of improvised piano instrumentals which is planned for a release some time in 2011. He also recently responded to a challenge by stand-up comedian Richard HerringRichard Herring
Richard Keith Herring is a British comedian and writer, whose early work includes his involvement in the double-act, Lee and Herring...
to attack him "in song", after Herring roasted T-T on the Collings and Herrin
Collings and Herrin (podcast)
The Collings and Herrin Podcast was a topical podcast produced by broadcaster Andrew Collins and comedian Richard Herring. Its title derives from the recurring Richard Herring trope of misspelling names for comic effect....
podcast and his BBC6Music radio programme.
T-T took a photograph of every toilet he visited in 2010 and published the photographs on Twitter (using the hashtag #loo2010), before archiving them to his Facebook page. This project is continuing into 2011.
In early 2011 T-T wrote the story, scripted and composed the score to 'Imagine A Health Worker', a short animated film commissioned by the World Health Organisation's Global Health Workforce Alliance. The film opened their world conference in Bangkok and was then made available online.
Through August 2011 T-T performed a one-man show, Disobedience: Chris T-T Sings A.A. Milne, at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performance comprised A.A. Milne's children's poems set to new music composed by T-T on guitar and piano. In October 2011 he released a studio album of the songs, with no prior warning or PR campaign, initially as a download on the Bandcamp website.
Touring
T-T's tour schedule, playing both solo and with his full-volume backing band Hoodrats, is near constant, taking him across the UK, Europe and North America. In recent years he has gigged with Ben FoldsBen Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
, The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
, British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
, The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
, The Walkmen
The Walkmen
The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...
, KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, Quasi
Quasi
Quasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
and many others, as well as performing at CMJ Seminar, South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
and Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The 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...
. Most recent tours have seen him playing with Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
, Jim Bob
Jim Bob
Jim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
, Electric Soft Parade, Bellowhead
Bellowhead
Bellowhead are an English contemporary folk band originally brought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. The eleven-piece band plays traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide diversity of musical styles and influences...
and former Delgados singer Emma Pollock
Emma Pollock
Emma Pollock is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist.-Early life:Pollock studied Physics at the University of Strathclyde and later Archaeology at the University of Liverpool...
.
During the past few years Chris T-T has composed music for an interactive exhibit at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
; written and performed a live re-soundtracking of Battle Royale
Battle Royale
thumb|260px|Cover of the 2009 expanded edition, ISBN 978-1-4215-2772-3 is a 1999 Japanese novel written by Koushun Takami. The story tells of schoolchildren who are forced to fight each other to the death....
at London's Other Cinema; taken part in political and ecological debates, including at SOAS and Brighton Live, and curated an evening of political documentaries at Greenwich Film Festival.
DJ work
In February 2006 and through spring and summer of 2007, Chris presented a weekly live radio programme on Phoenix FMPhoenix FM
Phoenix FM is a community radio station serving the areas of Brentwood and Billericay, England. It was formed in 1996 and has broadcast twelve 28-day restricted service licence broadcasts on FM. The station's presenters include local snooker hero Steve Davis, Boxer Rebellion drummer Piers Hewitt,...
. He is also occasionally a DJ for gigs and club nights and has DJd in support of bands such as Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, prior to legal issues that forced the group to change their name, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005...
, The Thermals
The Thermals
The Thermals are an American indie punk band based in Portland, Oregon. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lo-fi punk, as well as more standard rock, the band's songs are also known for their political and religious imagery.- History :The Thermals came together in...
, Okkervil River
Okkervil River
Okkervil River is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 1998, the band takes its name from a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya. They self-released their first album, Stars Too Small to Use, which led them to the South by Southwest music festival. After recording their first...
and Efterklang
Efterklang
Efterklang is an indie rock group from Copenhagen, Denmark, formed in December 2000. To date, the band has released three studio albums and are currently signed to the 4AD label, as well as their own record label Rumraket.-History:...
.
Writing
T-T has contributed fiction and non-fiction writing to a number of books and magazines. In early 2008, Chris T-T began to write a regular weekly column in the Arts section of the socialist daily newspaper The Morning StarThe Morning Star
The Morning Star is a left wing British daily tabloid newspaper with a focus on social and trade union issues. Articles and comment columns are contributed by writers from socialist, social democratic, green and religious perspectives....
which is ongoing. A selection of his Empties photographs has been published in the book Dark Mountain Volume 2. T-T also writes a popular and occasionally controversial blog. He was an early adopter of Twitter, building a following through tweeting primarily unrelated to his music career.
#IAmSpartacus
In November 2010 Chris T-T was identified as the instigator of the #IAmSpartacus Twitter hashtag, an act of mass online civil disobedience in the UK to show support for accountant Paul Chambers, after he lost his appeal against a conviction for a joke he had made on Twitter, earlier in the year. Thousands of people copied Chambers' original message with the #IAmSpartacus hashtag and for a day it was the most popular Twitter hashtag in the world, attracting worldwide media coverage to the case.The tweet, including the 'Spartacus' reference, was also repeated on the floor of the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
MP Julian Huppert
Julian Huppert
Julian Leon Huppert is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom and Member of Parliament for Cambridge since 2010...
.
Personal life
On April 1, 2005 Chris T-T married yogi and complementary therapist Rifa Bhunnoo in Brighton Pavilion. They live in central BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
Albums
- Disobedience: Chris T-T Sings A.A. Milne (28 October 2011, Wine Cellar Records)
- Love Is Not Rescue (15 March 2010, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
) - Capital (17 March 2008, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
) - 9 Red Songs (October 2005, Snowstorm Records)
- London Is Sinking (October 2003, Snowstorm Records)
- The 253 (November 2001, Snowstorm Records)
- Panic Attack At Sainsbury's (September 2000, Snowstorm Records)
- Beatverse (1999, Wine Cellar Records)
EPs
- Words Fail Me (April 2011, Xtra Mile Records, download ep)
- Nintendo EP (March 2010, Xtra Mile Records, iTunes Exclusive download ep)
- This Gun Is Not A Gun (November 2007, Xtra Mile Records, CDep)
- 500 Miles EP (March 2002, Snowstorm Records, CDep)
- You Can Be Flirty (September 2000, Snowstorm Records, CDep)
Singles
- "Nintendo" (March 2010, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
, digital download) - "We Are The King Of England" (27 October 2008, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
, digital download) - "A-Z" (10 March 2008, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
, digital download) - "You Can't Stop The Machine"/"Bored Of The War" (May 2004, Isota RecordsIsota RecordsIsota Records is an independent record label operated out of Oakland, California. It began releasing limited-edition 7" vinyl singles in 2001. Notable artists to have released records on Isota include Will Oldham, The Black Keys and Department of Eagles....
, 7") - "Eminem Is Gay"/"The Headcold Bit Of The Winter" (March 2003, Snowstorm Records, 7"/CD)
- "English Man" (March 2001, Snowstorm Records, 7")
- "Dreaming Of Injured Popstars" (March 2001, Snowstorm Records, 7")
- "You Can Be Flirty"/"Sideshow Mel" (September 2000, Snowstorm Records, 7")
Split singles
- "Tomorrow Morning" (September 2004, R*E*P*E*A*T Records, split single with Cosy Cosy)
- "Cull" (August 2004, Wrath RecordsWrath RecordsWrath Records is a small independent record label based in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Unlike some 'indie labels', Wrath does not feature backing from any major record companies....
, split single with stuffy/the fusesStuffy/the fuses- Biography :The band was formed by Stephen Gilchrist who recorded the band's debut album Join Me Or Die before actually getting a complete line up together. The core line up consisting of Jon Fuse , Jen Fuse , and stuffy formed in early 2003...
) - "The Idris Lung/Strings" (May 1997, under the moniker Duckyfuzz, split single with FadedFadedFaded may refer to:*"Faded" *"Faded" *"Faded", a song by Ben Harper from The Will to Live...
)
Appearances on compilations
- "A Hole Full Of Submarines" (September 2011, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
The Xtra Mile High Club Vol 3, download) - "Touchy Feely" (as Rifa & Chris, November 2010, private release Songs In The Jim Of Bob, one-off birthday present for Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
) - "Elephant In The Room" (May 2010, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
The Xtra Mile High Club Vol 2, iTunes exclusive download) - "A-Z (piano version)", "A Box To Hide In", "Ankles" and "Old Men" (November 2008, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
The Xtra Mile High Club, iTunes exclusive download) - "In The Dressing Room" (December 2007, Xtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile RecordingsXtra Mile Recordings are an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release rock albums and singles...
/ Big Scary Monsters Lock The Rock, CD) - "A Plague On Both Your Houses (acoustic)" (April 2006, Phoenix FMPhoenix FMPhoenix FM is a community radio station serving the areas of Brentwood and Billericay, England. It was formed in 1996 and has broadcast twelve 28-day restricted service licence broadcasts on FM. The station's presenters include local snooker hero Steve Davis, Boxer Rebellion drummer Piers Hewitt,...
Creative Sessions Vol 1, CD) - "You Can't Stop The Machine" (May 2005, Best Of The Singles Club, Isota Records, CD)
- "Dreaming Of Injured Popstars (live)" (2004, One Man And His Bog - 25 Years Of The Hull Adelphi Club, book/CD)
- "7 Hearts" (April 2004, Fear Of A Black Kennett - Love Music Hate Racism, R*E*P*E*A*T* Records, CD)
- "The Tin Man" (duet with KTB, July 2004, Truck Festival 2004 compilation, Truck Records, CD)
- "Drink Beer" (July 2003, Truck Festival 2003 compilation, Truck Records, CD)
- "What If My Heart Never Heals? (demo)" (2002, Fierce Panda Records, 2x7" singles/CD)
- "100,000 Turkeys"&"Decksweep" (November 2000, The True Meaning Of Christmas Vol. 4, Snowstorm Records, CD)
- "Decksweep" (November 1999, Snowstorm Records Christmas compilation, 2x7" singles)
Appearances on releases by other artists
- "Dinosaur PlanetDinosaur PlanetDinosaur Planet may refer to:* Dinosaur Planet , a science fiction novel by Anne McCaffrey* Dinosaur Planet, a science fiction novel by Stephen Leigh, book 1 of 6 in his Dinosaur World series...
" (the role of 'Grandfather', MJ Hibbett & The Validators due November 2011) - "Little Battles" (piano/backing vocals, She Makes War due November 2011)
- "England Keep My BonesEngland Keep My BonesEngland Keep My Bones is the fourth studio album by London-based singer-songwriter Frank Turner, released on June 6, 2011, on Xtra Mile in the United Kingdom, and on June 7, 2011, on Epitaph Records worldwide...
" (backing vocals, Frank TurnerFrank TurnerFrank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
) - "Mr Blue Sky" (vocals/piano/keys/drums/co-production, Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
) - "Too Slow" (piano, Tom Williams & The BoatTom Williams & The Boat-History:Tom Williams & The Boat began when Tom Williams, fed up of playing solo, decided to form a band. The Boat came together as a result of friendships that had blossomed after playing in Tunbridge Wells music venue The Grey Lady...
) - "Tarry Awhile" (backing vocals, Gill Sandell)
- "Take To The Road, Live 2009 DVD" (piano/vocals, Frank TurnerFrank TurnerFrank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
) - "ConcentrateConcentrateA concentrate is a form of substance which has had the majority of its base component removed. Typically this will be the removal of water from a solution or suspension such as the removal of water from fruit juice...
" (piano, Tom Williams & The Boat) - "Long Live The Queen" (video appearance, Frank TurnerFrank TurnerFrank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
) - "Goffam" (vocals/piano/guitar/percussion/co-production, Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
) - "90mph / Too Slow" (piano, Tom Williams & The Boat)
- "Steve McQueenSteve McQueen (The Automatic song)"Steve McQueen" is the first and ultimately only single from Welsh rock band The Automatic's second album This Is A Fix. It is their fifth single overall...
" (backing vocals/percussion, The AutomaticThe AutomaticThe Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
) - "A Humpty Dumpty ThingA Humpty Dumpty ThingA Humpty Dumpty Thing is the title of the 2007 solo album by Jim Bob, formerly of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine. It was released on Cherry Red Records and included a free book. "The story is set in the not too distant future when all art is commissioned by the State. It's about a man chosen to...
" (vocals/piano/percussion/co-production, Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
) - "SchoolSchoolA school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
" (vocals/piano/percussion, Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
) - "Live From London DVD" (backing vocals, Jim BobJim BobJim Bob is the stage name for James Morrison, the London born writer and musician best known as the singer of indie punk band Carter USM.-Biography:Jim Bob was born James Neil Morrison in the city of London, on 22 November 1960...
)