The Sundays
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The SUNDAYS | ||
|---|---|---|
 singer Harriet Wheeler
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Manchester, England | |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Indie rock Indie pop |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums | |
| Years active | 1988–1997 | |
| Label(s) | Rough Trade Geffen Parlophone |
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| Associated acts |
Jim Jiminee Departure Lounge |
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| Members | ||
| David Gavurin Harriet Wheeler Patrick Hannan Paul Brindley |
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The Sundays were an English alternative rock group of the late 1980s and 1990s. The band's music is characterised by singer Harriet Wheeler's "dreamy" voice, 'jangly' guitars and suspension-rich harmonies.
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[edit] Career
Wheeler, who was in the band Jim Jiminee prior to The Sundays [1], and guitarist David Gavurin formed the band in college at Bristol, soon adding bassist Paul Brindley and drummer Patrick Hannan. The Sundays were widely heralded by the British press after early gigs in London in late 1988, drawing comparisons with Cocteau Twins and The Smiths. The group's first single, "Can't Be Sure", was released in 1989 and was voted number one in John Peel's Festive Fifty that year. The band achieved a measure of success in 1990 with its debut album, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, which went gold in the UK and U.S. Subsequent albums Blind (1992) and Static and Silence (1997) also went gold in the U.S. and were moderately acclaimed.
During his time at Bristol University Gavurin formed a friendship with the comedian David Baddiel, which would lead to The Sundays providing the song "Another Flavour" (sans vocals) from Static and Silence as the theme tune to the Newman and Baddiel in Pieces TV series.
The band is currently on a hiatus; Wheeler and Gavurin are a couple and are currently raising their two children.
[edit] Trivia
The band's cover version of "Wild Horses", originally written and recorded by the Rolling Stones, was featured in the film Fear; in episode 3.20 ("The Prom") of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and in episode 3.17 ("Crash and Burn") of the TV show CSI. The song was also featured in a Budweiser commercial.
"Here's Where The Story Ends" was featured in the film Blown Away. It was also covered by Chinese diva Faye Wong, who has named The Sundays among her favourite artists, and Flowchart, a Philidelphia based electronic band.
[edit] Band members
- Harriet Wheeler - Vocalist - born 26 June 1963.
- David Gavurin - Guitarist - born 4 April 1963.
- Paul Brindley - Bassist - born 6 November 1963.
- Patrick Hannan - Drummer - born 4 March 1966, in Lymington, Hampshire.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (1990)
- Blind (1992)
- Static and Silence (1997)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | UK Singles Chart | US Modern Rock | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Can't Be Sure" | 45 | – | Reading, Writing and Arithmetic |
| 1990 | "Here's Where the Story Ends" | – | 1 | Reading, Writing and Arithmetic |
| 1992 | "Love" | – | 2 | Blind |
| 1992 | "Goodbye" | 27 | 11 (1993) | Blind |
| 1997 | "Summertime" | 15 | 10 | Static and Silence |
| 1997 | "Cry" | 43 | Unknown | Static and Silence |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed., Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, vol 3, New England Pub. Associates, Chester, CT:, 1992, page 2416.
