Northern Uproar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Northern Uproar are a Britpop band from Stockport, Cheshire in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Overview
With a career spanning only two years from formation to disollution, the group drew initial hype and praise from the British music press but were soon forgotten, and became the subject of ridicule for their sometimes loutish appearance and behaviour. They were described as a cross between Oasis, The Clash and the Manic Street Preachers.
[edit] Career
The band were formed in 1995 and featured Leon Meya (vocalist, bass guitarist), Paul Kelly (guitarist), Jeff Fletcher (guitar), and Keith Chadwick (drummer). Still in their teens and without a recording contract, the band drew praise from the music magazines, NME and Melody Maker, following several energetic live performances at the Roadhouse in Manchester.
After a bidding war the group eventually signed with Heavenly Records, and decamped to Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth to record songs produced by Manic Street Preachers' vocalist and guitarist James Dean Bradfield, plus co-producer Dave Eringa.
The band released their first single, "Rollercoaster," in late 1995. The track hit number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. The group's next single, "From a Window," peaked at number 17. During this period of initial success the band made the cover of Melody Maker and also appeared on the BBC TV programme, Top of the Pops.
In April 1996, Northern Uproar's self-titled debut album was released and the group toured throughout England and Japan. The band began recording their second full-length album in 1997, entitled "Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today". However the album was a commercial failure. The British public was tiring of Brit-pop and Northern Uproar was caught in the inevitable backlash.
Unable to receive the airplay from radio and TV they once had, the band issued a fittingly entitled final single, "Goodbye," and then split up.
It was reported that vocalist Meya relocated to Barcelona where he spent two years busking with Basque Gypsies, but later returned to England to become a hairdresser.
In 2004 Meya, and original lead guitarist Fletcher, returned to the live circuit under the Northern Uproar name, with two shows in the Manchester area, performing new tracks and classic Northern Uproar songs. A reunion was mooted but nothing emerged in 2005. The band officially reformed in 2006 with Leon, Jeff and Leon's cousin, Noel, on drums. A new album 'Stand and Fight' is due for release on 16 April 2007 on the independent label 'Tiny Rebel' with a full UK tour to follow. A successful album launch gig was held on 14 March 2007 at Manchester Academy 3 showcasing new songs from 'Stand and Fight' and some classic Uproar tunes.
[edit] Trivia
- The band came from The Kingsway School, Cheadle, the same school where the McDonald Twins from Coronation Street were discovered (see also Simon Gregory/Gregson. Also at this school in the same year as Meya, was Sarah Harding's boyfriend who went on to launch the electropop band 40RCE.
