Strange Nature
Encyclopedia
Strange Nature was an indie rock
band from the United Kingdom signed to Pete Waterman
’s PWL
record label in the UK, Warner Music in Europe, and Warner Chappell Music for worldwide publishing. The band was popular in Europe during 1992 to 1995. Strange Nature recorded one album, World Song and two singles, "Incantation Man" and "New Messiah".
Winning 'Best Album' from the Sunday Mirror and receiving airplay from all major European radio stations and MTV, all 3 releases charted in Europe.
In 1995 Strange Nature split amicably to enable band members to follow successful solo careers and projects including The Lights, Dub Pistols
and Two Lone Swordsmen
.
Formed in 1986 by Gordon Mills, son of 60s pop producer and music manager Gordon Mills
Snr., and Imogen Andrews, niece to Julie Andrews
, the band consisted of five members including Keith Tenniswood
, lead guitar, Jason O'Bryan, bass guitar, and Justin Rabbetts, drums.
In 1991 Strange Nature, a coupling taken from two separate lines from a Jimi Hendrix song, recorded a series of demos at Matrix Studios London that gained the attention of East West Records
, Warner Brothers, and more notably record executive and tour manager for Aerosmith
, Kick Van Hengel.
Hengel's music management company Tantamount Artist Management signed the band in 1991 and by 1992 TAM struck a three-album, 9 single deal with Pete Waterman
's PWL
label via record former CBS
record executive David Howells.
In 1992 Strange Nature recorded the band's debut album called World Song. The 11-track CD was produced by Steve Brown, notable for his work with Manic Street Preachers
, The Cult
and George Michael
. It was recorded at Olympic Studios
, Town House, and Marcus Studios - all situated in London.
Released in 1993, the album reached top 40 status in Europe and spawned two singles titled 'Incantation Man', and 'New Messiah'. A third single 'Gone' was never released. Highly acclaimed by the UK and European media, World Song was named 'Best Album' by the Sunday Mirror
and NME
branded the release 'a stunning debut album'.
Three videos were filmed for the singles by award winning music film director Mike Brady, renowned for his work with The Jam
, Irish rockers Ash
and Peter Andre
. Filming took place at the world famous Shepperton Studios
.
Between 1992 and 1994 Strange Nature toured continuously across the UK and Europe as a headline act and also supported Spin Doctors
and Thunder (band)
amongst other acts. Strange Nature also performed for the 1992 BBC
Children in Need
charity evening.
At the end of 1994 Strange Nature and PWL
mutually agreed that the band was not signed to a label suited for an indie rock group and the three-year contract was dissolved. The band’s third single "Gone" remained unreleased.
During 1994 to 1995 Strange Nature remained with Warner Chappell Music following their split with Pete Waterman’s label and recorded a full two albums' worth of additional material.
Despite a contract offer from music manager Bud Prager (Megadeth, Foreigner, Bad Company) in 1995 designed to relocate the band to New York to break the US market, Strange Nature decided to split following decisions from the various members to move on to various solo projects.
Gordon Mills concentrates on writing and music production, and still plays live and in the studio as a drummer & guitarist. Mills’ credits include Mohair, Ricky, The Somatics, The Lights, The Dub Pistols, Two Lone Swordsmen, Judie Tzuke
, Razorlight
, Journey South
, The Bluetones
, Mark Morriss. Goron Mills has also co-written and produced the album "Falling off my Head" for a great new talent called Emma Rohan. In 2006 Mills signed a publishing deal with Relentless/Outcaste and is currently very busy writing for many artists.
Keith Tenniswood is now better known as one half of the electronic act Two Lone Swordsmen
alongside Andrew Weatherall
. Outside of the group he is more frequently known as Radioactive Man , and runs the Control Tower electro record label. Tenniswood has also worked with artists such as Beth Orton
and David Holmes on his album Let's Get Killed, The Aloof and Red Snapper.
Jason O’Bryan now produces and plays bass guitar for London based dub music and big beat band the Dub Pistols
. The band continues to be a successful in both UK and abroad.
Justin Rabbetts recorded with 3 Colours Red
before forming Beanjuice, a grunge rock band consisting of singer / writer / actor Russ Wilson, guitarist and lyricist Daz Rice and bass player / producer Dave Needham (David Essex
). Rabbetts also toured Europe and UK with UK rock legends The Dogs D'Amour.
Title Description Catalogue Number
World Song 11 Track CD album released in 1993 NATURECD 1 4509-92970-2
World Song 11 track cassette NATUREC 1 450992970 4
Incantation Man 2 track 7” vinyl single STRANGE 1 4509 92118 7
Incantation Man 3 track CD single STRANGED 1 4509 92111 2
Incantation Man EP 4 track 10” Limited Edition Vinyl EP Webbs 1 5016919415007
Incantation Man EP 4 track CD Limited Edition EP Webbs cd1 5016919415021
New Messiah 4 track CD single STRANGECD 2 4509 93030 2
New Messiah 11 track CD from Exposed magazine NA
Gordon Mills’ sister Clair Mills is the famous Clair
from the hit 1970s song by Gilbert O’Sullivan.
Imogen Andrews is the niece of film legend and singer Julie Andrews
, whose credits include The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins.
Sam Brown
, famous for her multi million selling single Stop and work with Pink Floyd, appears as backing vocals on Strange Nature’s album track Innocence.
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 the United Kingdom signed to Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
’s PWL
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
record label in the UK, Warner Music in Europe, and Warner Chappell Music for worldwide publishing. The band was popular in Europe during 1992 to 1995. Strange Nature recorded one album, World Song and two singles, "Incantation Man" and "New Messiah".
Winning 'Best Album' from the Sunday Mirror and receiving airplay from all major European radio stations and MTV, all 3 releases charted in Europe.
In 1995 Strange Nature split amicably to enable band members to follow successful solo careers and projects including The Lights, Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols are a London based dub music and big beat band, founded by ex-club promoter, Barry Ashworth, in 1996. The other members of the band were record producer and bassist Jason O'Bryan, Brooklyn producer and lyricist, T. K. Lawrence on vocals, Jap Slut guitarist John King, and turntablist DJ...
and Two Lone Swordsmen
Two Lone Swordsmen
The Two Lone Swordsmen are British house DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall and studio engineer Keith Tenniswood. Formed in early 1996, following the dissolution of Weatherall's influential Sabres of Paradise techno act, the Swordsmen have explored a variety of styles, from electro and 4/4 techno to...
.
Early history
Formed in 1986 by Gordon Mills, son of 60s pop producer and music manager Gordon Mills
Gordon Mills
Gordon William Mills , was a successful London-based music industry manager and songwriter who was born in Madras, India and grew up in Trealaw in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales...
Snr., and Imogen Andrews, niece to Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, the band consisted of five members including Keith Tenniswood
Keith Tenniswood
Keith Tenniswood is a British DJ, producer, and remixer.Tenniswood is better known as one half of the electronic act Two Lone Swordsmen alongside Andrew Weatherall....
, lead guitar, Jason O'Bryan, bass guitar, and Justin Rabbetts, drums.
In 1991 Strange Nature, a coupling taken from two separate lines from a Jimi Hendrix song, recorded a series of demos at Matrix Studios London that gained the attention of East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
, Warner Brothers, and more notably record executive and tour manager for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Kick Van Hengel.
Hengel's music management company Tantamount Artist Management signed the band in 1991 and by 1992 TAM struck a three-album, 9 single deal with Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
's PWL
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
label via record former CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
record executive David Howells.
PWL and Warner Chappel period
In 1992 Strange Nature recorded the band's debut album called World Song. The 11-track CD was produced by Steve Brown, notable for his work with Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
. It was recorded at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
, Town House, and Marcus Studios - all situated in London.
Released in 1993, the album reached top 40 status in Europe and spawned two singles titled 'Incantation Man', and 'New Messiah'. A third single 'Gone' was never released. Highly acclaimed by the UK and European media, World Song was named 'Best Album' by the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
and NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
branded the release 'a stunning debut album'.
Three videos were filmed for the singles by award winning music film director Mike Brady, renowned for his work with The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, Irish rockers Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
and Peter Andre
Peter André
Peter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...
. Filming took place at the world famous Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
.
Between 1992 and 1994 Strange Nature toured continuously across the UK and Europe as a headline act and also supported Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
and Thunder (band)
Thunder (band)
Thunder were an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when the band Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new group, namely Thunder...
amongst other acts. Strange Nature also performed for the 1992 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
charity evening.
At the end of 1994 Strange Nature and PWL
PWL
Pete Waterman Entertainment is the production company one-time pop and dance record label owned by pop mogul Pete Waterman. The label, originally PWL, is most famous for being the home of hit record producers Stock Aitken Waterman....
mutually agreed that the band was not signed to a label suited for an indie rock group and the three-year contract was dissolved. The band’s third single "Gone" remained unreleased.
After 1994
During 1994 to 1995 Strange Nature remained with Warner Chappell Music following their split with Pete Waterman’s label and recorded a full two albums' worth of additional material.
Despite a contract offer from music manager Bud Prager (Megadeth, Foreigner, Bad Company) in 1995 designed to relocate the band to New York to break the US market, Strange Nature decided to split following decisions from the various members to move on to various solo projects.
Member info
Imogen Andrews continues as an active singer–writer and is now the lead singer with atmospheric guitar act ‘The Lights’.Gordon Mills concentrates on writing and music production, and still plays live and in the studio as a drummer & guitarist. Mills’ credits include Mohair, Ricky, The Somatics, The Lights, The Dub Pistols, Two Lone Swordsmen, Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke is an English singer/songwriter. She is most well known for her 1979 hit "Stay With Me Till Dawn", which reached no.16 on the UK Singles Chart.-Early life:...
, 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...
, Journey South
Journey South
Journey South are an English singing duo, consisting of brothers Andy and Carl Pemberton. They are originally from Middlesbrough, Teesside, and performed in pubs and clubs throughout the United Kingdom for over eight years, prior to achieving third place on the second UK series of television talent...
, The Bluetones
The Bluetones
The Bluetones were an English indie rock band, formed in Hounslow, Greater London, in 1993. The band's members were Mark Morriss on vocals, Adam Devlin on guitar, Scott Morriss on bass guitar, and Eds Chesters on drums. A fifth member, Richard Payne, came on board between 1998 and 2002...
, Mark Morriss. Goron Mills has also co-written and produced the album "Falling off my Head" for a great new talent called Emma Rohan. In 2006 Mills signed a publishing deal with Relentless/Outcaste and is currently very busy writing for many artists.
Keith Tenniswood is now better known as one half of the electronic act Two Lone Swordsmen
Two Lone Swordsmen
The Two Lone Swordsmen are British house DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall and studio engineer Keith Tenniswood. Formed in early 1996, following the dissolution of Weatherall's influential Sabres of Paradise techno act, the Swordsmen have explored a variety of styles, from electro and 4/4 techno to...
alongside Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall is a DJ, producer, and remixer.Andrew, Terry Farley, Cymon Eckel and Steve Mayes started Boy's Own initially as a fanzine commenting on fashion, records, football, and other issues...
. Outside of the group he is more frequently known as Radioactive Man , and runs the Control Tower electro record label. Tenniswood has also worked with artists such as Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
and David Holmes on his album Let's Get Killed, The Aloof and Red Snapper.
Jason O’Bryan now produces and plays bass guitar for London based dub music and big beat band the Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols
Dub Pistols are a London based dub music and big beat band, founded by ex-club promoter, Barry Ashworth, in 1996. The other members of the band were record producer and bassist Jason O'Bryan, Brooklyn producer and lyricist, T. K. Lawrence on vocals, Jap Slut guitarist John King, and turntablist DJ...
. The band continues to be a successful in both UK and abroad.
Justin Rabbetts recorded with 3 Colours Red
3 Colours Red
3 Colours Red were a rock band from the United Kingdom. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other Britrock bands such as Ash and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London listings magazine, Time Out...
before forming Beanjuice, a grunge rock band consisting of singer / writer / actor Russ Wilson, guitarist and lyricist Daz Rice and bass player / producer Dave Needham (David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
). Rabbetts also toured Europe and UK with UK rock legends The Dogs D'Amour.
Discography
Title Description Catalogue Number
World Song 11 Track CD album released in 1993 NATURECD 1 4509-92970-2
World Song 11 track cassette NATUREC 1 450992970 4
Incantation Man 2 track 7” vinyl single STRANGE 1 4509 92118 7
Incantation Man 3 track CD single STRANGED 1 4509 92111 2
Incantation Man EP 4 track 10” Limited Edition Vinyl EP Webbs 1 5016919415007
Incantation Man EP 4 track CD Limited Edition EP Webbs cd1 5016919415021
New Messiah 4 track CD single STRANGECD 2 4509 93030 2
New Messiah 11 track CD from Exposed magazine NA
Trivia
Gordon Mills’ sister Clair Mills is the famous Clair
Clair
Clair or Claire may refer to:*Claire , a list of people with the name Claire- Canada :* Clair, New Brunswick* Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada, municipality located on the Island of Montreal* Clair, Saskatchewan...
from the hit 1970s song by Gilbert O’Sullivan.
Imogen Andrews is the niece of film legend and singer Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
, whose credits include The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins.
Sam Brown
Sam Brown
Sam Brown may refer to:* Sam Brown , singer/songwriter, daughter of the singer, Joe Brown* Sam Brown , artist and author, noted for his explodingdog web site...
, famous for her multi million selling single Stop and work with Pink Floyd, appears as backing vocals on Strange Nature’s album track Innocence.