Strangelove (band)

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For the American songwriting team/mock band, see The Strangeloves.
Strangelove
Origin Bristol, England
Genres Alternative rock
Years active 1991–1998
Labels Food/Parlophone
Associated acts Suede, The Blue Aeroplanes, Levitation, Dark Star, Placebo, Witness
Past members Patrick Duff
Alex Lee
Julian Pransky-Poole
Joe Allen
John Langley
Nick Powell
David Francolini

Strangelove were an English alternative rock band, formed in Bristol in 1991 and led by singer Patrick Duff. They released three albums before splitting up in 1998.

History

The band was formed in 1991 by Patrick Duff (vocals), Alex Lee (guitar, formerly of The Blue Aeroplanes), Julian Pransky Poole (guitar, formerly part of The Jazz Butcher's band), Joe Allen (bass guitar), and David Francolini (drums, of Levitation).[1] Strangelove played their first concert at Bath Moles Club on 9 October 1991.[2] Singer Patrick Duff's vocals were described by Tom Doyle in Q Magazine's World of Noise compilation as "evoking thoughts of Morrissey as vocally-tutored by Scott Walker" [3][4]

The band released their first EP Visionary in October 1992 on Sermon Records, which was made 'single of the week' by Cathi Unsworth in Melody Maker. Two BBC Radio 1 John Peel sessions followed in June 1992 and January 1993. Their second EP, Hysteria Unknown, in February 1993 earned them a support slot on Radiohead's Pop Is Dead tour. Ed O'Brien said of Strangelove; "We toured with them and changed quite a bit after. They were inspirational. Apart from their trousers". Manic Street Preachers' Richey Edwards was also a fan, inviting them to support at the London Astoria on the penultimate gig before his disappearance in 1995. Critical acclaim of their early singles led to major-label interest and they were signed to EMI label Food Records in 1993.[1][2] Strangelove released their first album, Time For The Rest Of Your Life in August 1994. It made numerous top albums of 1994 polls, and brought them to the attention of Suede who invited them to support on their Dog Man Star European tour in 1995.[2] The two bands bonded and covered each other's songs at Sala Multiusos Zaragoza on 16 May 1995. Strangelove played Suede's "Killing of a Flashboy", whilst Suede played "She's Everywhere", which Brett Anderson then guested on in the studio, for Strangelove's second album, Love and Other Demons. The second single from the album was "Beautiful Alone", which went to number 35 in the UK Singles Chart.[1][5]

A third, eponymously titled album was released in October 1997, which yielded another UK Top 40 single, "The Greatest Show on Earth", and sell-out shows at the London Astoria and Shepherds Bush Empire. However, seemingly on the point of a major breakthrough, Strangelove split up on the 20 April 1998.

Post Strangelove

Patrick Duff released a solo album on 21 June 2005, Luxury Problems on Harvest Records produced by Alex Lee and Adrian Utley. His second solo album, The Mad Straight Road was released in early 2010. Patrick's third solo album Visions Of The Underworld released in August 2013. He recorded this album of live takes in a cottage in the wilderness of Dartmoor. Patrick also collaborated with Massive Attack's producer Neil Davidge contributing words and melodies to songs on Neil's first solo album due for release in 2013 . Lee joined Suede between 2001 and 2003; toured as an extra keyboardist and guitarist with Placebo on the Meds World Tour in 2006 and 2007; played guitar & bass on Goldfrapp's 2008 album Seventh Tree which he also toured as guitarist. He also continues to produce television and film soundtracks with Nick Powell, who has produced two albums with is own band OSKAR on Incarnation Records. Allen, Pransky-Poole and Langley formed Saturation Point. Their fourth album, Mechanisms, was released in 2009 on Invada Records. Powell was Music and Sound Designer for the theatre company Cheek by Jowl's 2011/12 production of John Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.

A Strangelove B-side compilation album appeared retrospectively in 2008 on EMI.

Band members

The band's initial line up was:

Francolini played two gigs with the band, before being replaced by John Langley on drums.[1] The band were joined by keyboard player, Nick Powell, from late 1995 onwards.

Discography

Albums

  • Time for the Rest of Your Life (1994), Food/Parlophone - UK No. 69
  • Love and Other Demons (1996), Food/Parlophone - UK No. 44
  • Strangelove (1997), Food/Parlophone - UK No. 67
  • One Up: The B-Sides (2008, iTunes only), EMI

[6]

EPs and singles

  • Visionary EP (1992), Sermon
  • "Hysteria Unknown" (1993), Sermon
  • "Zoo'd Out" (1993), Rough Trade
  • "Time for the Rest of Your Life" (1994), Food
  • "Is There a Place?" (1994), Food
  • "Living with the Human Machines" (1996), Food - UK No. 53[5]
  • "Beautiful Alone" (1996), Food - UK No. 35[5]
  • "Sway" (1996), Food - UK No. 47[5]
  • "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1997), Food - UK No. 36[5]
  • "Freak" (1997), Food - UK No. 43[5]
  • "Another Night In" (1998), Food - UK No. 46[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 1003
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0231-3, p. 411-412
  3. ↑ TransACTION Inc. "Strangelove". Rock The World magazine. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 
  4. ↑ The full quote from the 'World of Noise' compilation reads: "As catchphrases go, Patrick Duff of Strangelove's emphatic shriek of "christ!" [sic] in Time For The Rest Of Your Life is certainly memorable. Evoking thoughts of Morrissey as vocally-tutored by Scott Walker, this title track of the Bristol group's debut album was loudly heralded Single Of The Year by Q writers."
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "Strangelove", Chart Stats, retrieved 2010-11-27
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 534. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

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