| Starlings | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1989–1994 |
| Labels | Bad Girl, Anxious, Atlantic |
| Past members | |
| Chris Sheehan Barry Blacker Matt Parkin |
|
Starlings were an alternative rock band from London, England, formed in 1989, acting as a vehicle for New Zealand-born singer/guitarist Chris Sheehan (born 1965, Christchurch).[1] The group released two albums before splitting up in 1994. Sheehan went on to a solo career.
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Chris Sheehan had been a teenage star in his native New Zealand, playing guitar in the new wave band The Dance Exponents between 1983 and the late 1980s.[1][2] When the group split up he moved to Los Angeles, and guested on the debut solo album by Jane Wiedlin.[1] He also played guitar on Curve's debut EP in 1990.[2] Initially a five-piece band, Sheehan sacked all original Starlings members other than drummer and fellow New Zealander Barry Blacker and recruited Northampton-born bass guitarist Matt Parkin.[2] The band were likened to The Jesus and Mary Chain, and supported Curve on their tour of the UK and Ireland in 1991. After their first EP, the band signed to Dave Stewart's Anxious Records.[1] The band's debut album Valid was released in 1992, the songs documenting Sheehan's withdrawal from heroin, followed two years later by Too Many Dogs, with songs described as "vicious, dark, misanthropic gems", the latter released in the United States by Atlantic Records, and attracting critical acclaim if not commercial success.[2][3] Contractual difficulties led the band to split up in 1994. Parkin and Blacker had also acted as the rhythm section for The Jesus and Mary Chain between 1991 and 1992.[3]
Sheehan played with Babylon Zoo, and The Mutton Birds in the latter half of the 1990s and returned with a solo album, Planet Painkiller in 2000, under the name Chris Starling. In 2002 the album Sounds like... Chris Starling was released by Popchild records.[1][2] He joined The Sisters of Mercy as rhythm guitarist later that year, although he has now left the band.[2]