Belle & Sebastian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Belle & Sebastian | ||
|---|---|---|
 Back: Cooke, Martin, Geddes, Kildea
Front: Jackson, Murdoch, Colburn |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Glasgow, Scotland |
|
| Genre(s) | Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Baroque Pop | |
| Years active | 1996 - present | |
| Label(s) | Rough Trade (UK, 2002–present) Jeepster (UK, 1996–2002) Matador (US) |
|
| Associated acts |
Looper The Gentle Waves The Reindeer Section V-Twin The Moondials |
|
| Website | belleandsebastian.com | |
| Members | ||
| Stuart Murdoch Stevie Jackson Chris Geddes Sarah Martin Mick Cooke Bobby Kildea Richard Colburn |
||
| Former members | ||
| Isobel Campbell Stuart David |
||
Belle & Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996.
The band rejects the "twee pop" label foisted on them early in their career. Belle & Sebastian have much in common with influential indie bands such as The Smiths and Felt, and also take in the influences of northern soul and funk. Their sense of irony and humour are traits also not usually associated with twee. Audiogalaxy classified Belle & Sebastian music as chamber pop, as they use instruments such as flute, cello, trumpet, as well as a regular violin string-section.
After releasing a number of albums and EPs on Jeepster Records, they are now signed to Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States.
The current members are:
- Stuart Murdoch: 1996–present (vocals, guitar and keyboards)
- Stevie Jackson: 1996–present (vocals and guitar)
- Chris Geddes: 1996–present (keyboards)
- Richard Colburn: 1996–present (drums)
- Sarah Martin: 1996–present (violin, keyboards, guitar, and vocals)
- Mick Cooke: 1998–present (trumpet and bass)
- Bobby Kildea: 2001–present (guitar and bass)
Past members:
- Isobel Campbell: 1996–2002 (vocals and cello)
- Stuart David: 1996–2000 (bass)
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] (1996-1997) Formation and rise
Belle & Sebastian were formed in Glasgow, January 1996, when Stuart Murdoch met bassist Stuart David. Together they recorded some demos with Stow College music professor Pilar Duplac, which were picked up by the college's Music Business course which, every year, produces and releases a single on the college's label, Electric Honey. As the band had a number of songs already and the label were extremely impressed with the demos, Belle & Sebastian (named after Belle et Sébastien, a children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry) were allowed to record a full-length album: Tigermilk.
It was rumoured that "Belle" referred to Isobel (Campbell) and "Sebastian" to Stuart (Murdoch), as they were a couple for several years before Isobel left the band in 2002. However, Stuart Murdoch has said this is untrue.
Tigermilk was recorded in three days and originally only one thousand copies were pressed on vinyl. These original copies now sell for up to £400. By this time, the band had expanded to feature Stevie Jackson (guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and Richard Colburn (drums).
After the success of the debut album, Belle & Sebastian were signed to Jeepster Records in August 1996 and If You're Feeling Sinister, their second album, was released three months later.
Just before the recording of Sinister, Sarah Martin (violin/vocals) joined the band. Following this, in 1997, a series of EPs were released. The first of these was Dog on Wheels, and it contained four demo tracks recorded before the real formation of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs were Murdoch, David, and Mick Cooke, who played trumpet on the EP but would not officially join the band until a few years later. It charted at a modest #59 in the UK singles chart.
The Lazy Line Painter Jane EP followed in July. The track was recorded in a church hall and features vocals from Monica Queen, and narrowly missed out of the UK top 40, peaking at #41. The last of the 1997 EPs was October's 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the NME and Melody Maker and reached #32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.
[edit] (1998-2002) Continued success on Jeepster
1998's The Boy with the Arab Strap album followed, and reached #12 in the UK charts. During the recording of the album long time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member. Shortly after the release of the album the band were awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the Brit Awards, beating competition from Steps. The This Is Just a Modern Rock Song EP followed.
In 1999, the band hosted their own festival, the Bowlie Weekender. Tigermilk was also given a full release by Jeepster before the band started work on their next LP. The result was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK. A stand-alone single, "Legal Man", reached #15 and gave them their first appearance on Top of the Pops.
Stuart David soon left the band to concentrate on his side-project, Looper, and his book writing, which included his The Idle Thoughts of a Daydreamer. He was replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin. The "Jonathan David" single -- sung by Stevie Jackson -- was released in June 2001 and was followed by "I'm Waking Up to Us" in November. The latter appears to describe Murdoch's relationship and breakup with Campbell, but Murdoch denied this in the sleeve notes to 2006's The Life Pursuit. "I'm Waking Up to Us" saw the band use an outside producer (Mike Hurst) for the first time. Most of 2002 was spent touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling by Todd Solondz). Isobel announced her departure from the band midway through their 2002 North American tour.
[edit] (2003-present) Rough Trade
The band left Jeepster in 2002 and signed with Rough Trade Records. B&S completed their album Dear Catastrophe Waitress in 2003, produced by Trevor Horn. The album showed a markedly more 'produced' sound compared to their first four LPs. A documentary DVD, Fans Only, was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage. A single from Catastrophe Waitress, "Step into My Office, Baby" followed in November 2003 — it would be their first single/EP taken from an album.
"I'm a Cuckoo" was the second single from the album, and picked up more radio play than any previous single or EP. It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching #14 in the UK. The Books EP followed, a double A-side single lead by "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress and the new "Your Cover's Blown". This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release and the band went on to be nominated for both the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others.
In April 2005, members of the band visited Palestine with UK charity War on Want; keyboardist Chris Geddes described what he saw as 'shocking beyond words'[1]. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds, a compilation of the Jeepster singles and EPs, was released in May 2005 while the band were recording their seventh album in California. The result of the sessions was The Life Pursuit, produced by Tony Hoffer. The album became their band's highest charting release to date upon its release in February 2006, peaking at #8 in the UK and #65 on the US Billboard 200. Its preceding single "Funny Little Frog" also proved to be their highest charting single, reaching #13.
On July 6, 2006, the band played a historic show with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. The opening act at this 18,000 seat sell-out concert was The Shins. The members of the band see this as a landmark event, with Stevie Jackson describing the gig as "the thrill of a lifetime".
In October 2006, members of the band helped put together a CD collection of new songs for children titled Colours Are Brighter, with the involvement of major bands such as Franz Ferdinand and The Kooks. A more detailed video report from STV is available here.
 The actual members of the band |
 Stuart Murdoch is the leader of the group |
 Isobel Campbell left the band |
 Stuart David left the band |
[edit] Side projects
- The Gentle Waves (Isobel Campbell)
- Looper (Stuart David)
- The Reindeer Section (Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke and Bobby Kildea)
- V-Twin (Bobby Kildea)
- The Moondials (Stevie Jackson)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 (1996) |
 (1996) |
 (1998) |
|
 (2002) |
 (2003) |
 (2006) |
[edit] Live
 (2005), Live |
[edit] Singles & EPs
 (1997) |
 (1997) |
 (1997) |
|
 (2000) |
 (2001) |
 (2001) |
 (2003) |
 (2004) |
 (2004) |
 (2006) |
 (2006) |
 (2006) |
[edit] Compilations
[edit] Miscellaneous songs
- "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (trad. cover) on the Xfm charity compilation It's A Cool, Cool Christmas, released November 20, 2000 on Jeepster Records
- "Final Day" (Young Marble Giants cover) on the Rough Trade 25th-anniversary compilation Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before, released September 23, 2003 on Rough Trade Records
- "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son" (live Serge Gainsbourg cover) on the Fans Only DVD, released October 20, 2003 on Jeepster Records
- "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House" on the War Child charity album Help: A Day in the Life, released September 9, 2005 on Independiente Records
- "Cassaco Marron" (Trio Esperança cover) on the Belle & Sebastian-compiled album Late Night Tales: Belle & Sebastian, released on February 27, 2006 on Azuli Records, and as a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl single (b/w David Shrigley's spoken-word piece "When I Was a Little Girl") released February 13, 2006, also on Azuli
- "The Monkeys Are Breaking Out of the Zoo," a children's song on the Save the Children charity album Colours Are Brighter, released October 16, 2006 on Rough Trade Records
[edit] DVDs
 (2003) |
[edit] Books
- Belle & Sebastian: Just a Modern Rock Story by Paul Whitelaw (biography of band featuring contributions from all members, past and present, with a cover designed by Stuart Murdoch), 2005
- Put the Book Back on the Shelf: A Belle and Sebastian Anthology (compilation of comics based on individual B&S songs), 2006
[edit] In popular culture
- The UK television series Teachers often featured Belle & Sebastian songs, with an instrumental version of "The Boy With the Arab Strap" played over the end credits of each episode.
- "Seymour Stein" is featured in the film adaptation of High Fidelity. It is described by the character Barry as "sad old bastard music".
- The band was mentioned in episodes 2.14 and 4.4 of the USA show Gilmore Girls.
- On episode 1.4 of the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, Ted fondly remembers his ex-girlfriend's love for Belle & Sebastian, in particular the song "We Rule the School."
- Comedian Zach Galifianakis refers to his balls as Belle and Sebastian on his DVD "Zach Galifianakis Live at the Purple Onion."
- "Piazza, New York Catcher" references a rumor that Oakland Athletics catcher Mike Piazza is gay with the line "Piazza, New York Catcher, are you straight or are you gay?". Piazza has publicly asserted his heterosexuality.
