3 Colours Red
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- For the French film Trois couleurs: Rouge, see Three Colors.
3 Colours Red were an English punk rock band, that achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, among other 'Britrock' bands with a certain pop sensibility. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London listings magazine, it landed randomly on an advert for the concluding part of polish movie director Krzysztof Kieślowskis ' Three Colors' trilogy. They went on to record 2 UK top 20 albums including 6 top 40 singles.
| 3 Colours Red | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  London, England |
| Years active | 1995 - 1999 & 2002 - 2005 |
| Genres | Hard rock Punk rock Indie (music) |
| Labels | Creation Records Mighty Atom Records |
| Website(s) | Official 'myspace' page |
Contents |
[edit] History
Influential independent label Fierce Panda Records released their first single, "This Is My Hollywood". Following a bidding war, the band signed to Creation Records, after Alan McGee, Creation's founder and discoverer of Oasis, called 3CR the "most exciting band since the Sex Pistols".
The band's initial success was possibly helped by the fact that guitarist Chris McCormack (ex- Forgodsake) was the brother of Danny McCormack, bassist in The Wildhearts, another British rock band who had already achieved some success and had a similar style to 3 Colours Red, 3CR and many of their fans publicly dismissed the idea that they were merely Wildhearts copyists.
While with Creation, the band recorded two albums. Pure (1997) was produced by their then manager, Terry Thomas, and encapsulated the furious assault of their renowned live performances. There was a minor controversy over the single "Sixty Mile Smile", the lyrical content referring to frontman and main songwriter Pete Vuckovic's (ex- Diamond Head) overnight hospitalisation after taking the drug ecstasy. The band were wrongly criticised by the parents of Leah Betts who had died from excessive consumption of water - an occasionally observed side-effect of ecstasy use. The line "Sunrise just for a while, inject the drip" being one of the warnings in a song ironically criticised for 'glamourising' the drug.
Revolt (1999), produced by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers), saw a more reflective side to the band emerge, with an epic feel evident on some tracks, notably "Beautiful Day" and "This is my Time". The fury did not subside, however, as the live favourites "Paralyse" and the apocalyptic "Age of Madness" showed.
At the peak of their success, following the bands biggest hit "Beautiful Day", they embarked upon tours with Marilyn Manson and Aerosmith (the latter culminating in an opening slot at the now demolished Wembley Stadium and Kerrang! magazine's 'Best Live Act' award, the band imploded after headlining the second stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 1999, citing musical and personal differences. The rift was deepest between Vuckovic and McCormack, the band's songwriters, excessive drug and alcohol abuse was reported to have helped spin the already turbulent partnership out of control once and for all.
Vuckovic was quickly signed to Sony and spent two years writing an album for his new project 'Elevation', unfortunately his A&R man was sacked and subsequently the album was never released and the band dropped. McCormack joined Rich Battersby (ex Wildhearts) and Ralph Jezzard (ex- E.M.F) for a stint in 'Grand Theft Audio' who spent considerable time touring America before also being dropped. After time was called on their own bands, Vuckovic and McCormack reconciled their differences and reformed the band with original drummer Keith Baxter (ex- Skyclad). Ben Harding (ex- Senseless Things), original guitarist and backing vocalist, had, by this time, forged a career in public relations and was replaced by Paul Grant.
The new line-up recorded the album The Union of Souls, released on Mighty Atom Records with Joe Gibb (Funeral For A Friend) in 2004 to critical acclaim but little commercial success. "Repeat to fade" and "The world is yours" taken from the album were released as singles and the band toured Europe and Japan with Die Toten Hosen and The Donots as well as several UK headline tours and festival slots including Download festival.
In mid 2005, a double album (If you ain't got a weapon..) of the band's singles and b-sides from the Creation period was released by Sanctuary Records, with accompanying sleevenotes penned by Vuckovic. A live DVD recorded at the Islington Academy in 2004 was also released followed by a live album (Nuclear holiday) of the same show.
The band split again after a U.K 'farewell tour' with The Yo-Yos, having failed to spark a resurgence of interest and further personal differences between Vuckovic and McCormack, in September 2005.
Vuckovic and Grant have since formed Bassknives. McCormack is now touring with Gary Numan as part of his live band. Baxter plays with Baby Judas.
[edit] Line-up
- Pete Vuckovic - lead vocals, bass
- Chris McCormack - guitar, vocals
- Ben Harding - guitar, vocals (1996- 1999)
- Paul Grant - guitar, vocals (2002- 2005)
- Keith Baxter - drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Pure (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 15
- Revolt (1999) Reached a UK chart position of 17
- The Union of Souls (2004) Reached a UK chart position of 188
- If You Ain't Got a Weapon... (2005) Double album compilation, singles and b-sides.
- Nuclear holiday (2005) Live album
[edit] Singles
- "This Is My Hollywood" (1996) Reached a UK Independent chart position of 1
- "Nuclear Holiday" (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 22, UK Independent chart: 1
- "Sixty Mile Smile" (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 20, UK Independent chart: 1
- "Pure" (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 27, UK Independent chart: 1
- "Copper Girl" (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 30: UK Independent Chart: 1
- "This Is My Hollywood" (Re-Released) (1997) Reached a UK chart position of 48
- "Paralyse EP" (1998): Non-eligible for UK chart - too many tracks on 'EP'
- "Beautiful Day" (1999) Reached a UK chart position of 11
- "This Is My Time" (1999) Reached a UK chart position of 36
- "Repeat To Fade" (2003) Reached a UK chart position of 86
- "The World Is Yours" (2004) Download Only
[edit] DVD
- Live at the Islington Academy (2004)
[edit] External links
[edit] Trivia
- 3 Colours Red appeared on BBC 1s classic chart countdown Top Of The Pops twice.
- 3 Colours Red toured with Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson, Silverchair, Muse, Stereophonics and The Wildhearts among others.
- Baxter briefly played with Irish rockers Therapy? during 2002.
- McCormack appeared as a special guest on the panel of BBC 2s music quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks in 2000.
- Harding appeared on the 'Identity parade' section of Never Mind The Buzzcocks in 2002.
- This is my Hollywood was remixed by gangster rapper Ice T in 1997.
