Sun Carriage
Encyclopedia
Sun Carriage existed from around 1988 - 1992. They were founded by Ron Price and Mathew Watts in Plymouth during the late 1980s. Relocating to Camden
and joined by fellow Plymouth exile Chris Leech on second guitar they recorded the "Sun Carriage/Determined" (written by Ron Price) demo 7" (very rare, only about ten were pressed) for the fledgling Head Records run by Jeff Barrett (later the founder of Heavenly
). With principal songwriter Watts, the original line up also included Bex who had originally drummed in Loop
and Sarah on bass. Sun Carriage toured with Loop throughout the UK and supported various bands of the time such as House Of Love, Spacemen 3, Lush and even Happy Mondays. Bex was later replaced by Michael Ryan on drums, and soon after Chris Leech left, leaving the band as a trio of Watts, Ryan and Sarah for the rest of its life.
Their music combined the artful influences of David Bowie
with a bit of the pre-grunge and rock 'n roll/garage of Iggy Pop
and the Stooges
, some of the heaviness of Led Zeppelin
, plus Neil Young
and early Roxy Music
, to name a but a few.
catalogue, these being:
BBC Radio 1
Session - 09/06/1991
Produced by Dale Griffin
at BBC
Maida Vale
3
Sun Carriage enjoyed other radio play and notably supported Therapy
on their mini tour of Ireland
, North and South in February 1992, after previously (dis)gracing the emerald isle
in 1991 with Dinosaur Jr
. They also enjoyed sharing the stage with labelmates Silverfish
and Jeff Barrett's [HEAD] Records signings Loop
and being acquainted with Gallon Drunk
. The band split in 1995, with Mathew Watts going on to form Codiak.
Mathew returned to Cornwall
in the late 1990s where he teamed up with his old "Saltash Monster" mates, including his old bandmates Elephant Talk. From Feb 2008 to May 2009 Mathew Watts was guitarist with The Nameless Ones, a Saltash
band, alongside Andy Copelin (drums), Adam Speare (Bass) and Stephen Beer (vocals); please see links
Mathew died from cancer
at the St. Lukes Hospice, Plymouth
, on the 13 May 2009.
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
and joined by fellow Plymouth exile Chris Leech on second guitar they recorded the "Sun Carriage/Determined" (written by Ron Price) demo 7" (very rare, only about ten were pressed) for the fledgling Head Records run by Jeff Barrett (later the founder of Heavenly
Heavenly
Heavenly may refer to:In music:* Heavenly , a twee pop band from Oxford, England* Heavenly , a power metal band from Paris, France* Heavenly , released in 1959....
). With principal songwriter Watts, the original line up also included Bex who had originally drummed in Loop
Loop (band)
Loop was a South London band founded in 1986 by Robert Hampson and his wife, Bex, and active until 1991.-Career:The band was formed in 1986 by Robert Hampson , with wife Bex on drums. Bex was soon replaced by John Wills and Glen Ray, with James Endeacott on guitar...
and Sarah on bass. Sun Carriage toured with Loop throughout the UK and supported various bands of the time such as House Of Love, Spacemen 3, Lush and even Happy Mondays. Bex was later replaced by Michael Ryan on drums, and soon after Chris Leech left, leaving the band as a trio of Watts, Ryan and Sarah for the rest of its life.
Their music combined the artful influences of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
with a bit of the pre-grunge and rock 'n roll/garage of Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
and the Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
, some of the heaviness of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, plus Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and early Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, to name a but a few.
Recordings
Sun Carriage released two 12" EPs on the WiiijaWiiija
Wiiija was a British independent record label. It was founded in 1988 by staff from the Rough Trade Shop in Notting Hill, London. The name Wiiija is a corruption of W11 1JA, the postcode of the Rough Trade Shop in Talbot Street....
catalogue, these being:
- Sarah - Wij 8 1990
- A Kiss to Tell - Wij 10 1991 reaching No2 in N.M.E indie chart
Other releases
- Now That's Disgusting Music - Live At The Sausage Machine { various } Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
1, 1990
Broadcasts
John PeelJohn Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
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...
Session - 09/06/1991
- Sick Dog Crawling
- BABE
- Kiss To Tell
- Written By
Produced by Dale Griffin
Dale Griffin
Dale "Buffin" Griffin is an English drummer and founding member of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople....
at 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...
Maida Vale
Maida Vale
Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
3
Sun Carriage enjoyed other radio play and notably supported Therapy
Therapy
This is a list of types of therapy .* Adventure therapy* Animal-assisted therapy* Aquatic therapy* Aromatherapy* Art and dementia* Art therapy* Authentic Movement* Behavioral therapy* Bibliotherapy* Buteyko Method* Chemotherapy...
on their mini tour of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, North and South in February 1992, after previously (dis)gracing the emerald isle
The Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle; or, The Caves of Carrig-Cleena, is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 27 April 1901, closing on 9 November 1901 after a run of 205 performances...
in 1991 with 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...
. They also enjoyed sharing the stage with labelmates Silverfish
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina, frequently called silverfish, fishmoths, carpet sharks or paramites, are small, wingless insects in the order Thysanura...
and Jeff Barrett's [HEAD] Records signings Loop
Loop (band)
Loop was a South London band founded in 1986 by Robert Hampson and his wife, Bex, and active until 1991.-Career:The band was formed in 1986 by Robert Hampson , with wife Bex on drums. Bex was soon replaced by John Wills and Glen Ray, with James Endeacott on guitar...
and being acquainted with Gallon Drunk
Gallon Drunk
Gallon Drunk are an English band formed in London in 1988. Their swamp rock sound contains a variety of influences, from punk to jazz and the novels of Derek Raymond , and is noted for its dark subject matter.-Biography:...
. The band split in 1995, with Mathew Watts going on to form Codiak.
Mathew returned to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the late 1990s where he teamed up with his old "Saltash Monster" mates, including his old bandmates Elephant Talk. From Feb 2008 to May 2009 Mathew Watts was guitarist with The Nameless Ones, a Saltash
Saltash
Saltash is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964. It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by...
band, alongside Andy Copelin (drums), Adam Speare (Bass) and Stephen Beer (vocals); please see links
Mathew died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the St. Lukes Hospice, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, on the 13 May 2009.