Feline (band)

Feline were an English rock group formed in London, in 1995. They formed from the remnants of a few earlier underground bands such as Flinch and Miranda Sex Garden. Like most female-fronted rock groups of that era in popular music, they were likened to more mainstream acts such as Garbage, and The Cardigans.

Lead-singer Grog Prebble would never define Feline's music any more than acknowledging those dark elements within it, but admitteed to some influences such as Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop, and The Pixies. A classically trained pianist, Grog wrote the bulk of Feline's material; some of the songs she recorded with Feline were written by her prior to the band's formation.

Generally getting good write-ups in the rock press, such as NME and Kerrang!, they released a number of singles, a limited release album and a single full length album between 1997 and 1998 but were not successful. Their record label dropped them in 1999 as part of a company-wide roster clear out, and they split, with several members moving onto form Ultraviolet, and then, the relatively more successful Die So Fluid.

Background

Grog's previous group Flinch had released two independent singles before attracting press interest as one of the UK's most promising bands of 1994 - and recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel. Soon afterwards the band collapsed, with Grog going on to form Feline.^[1]

Career

Feline officially formed in October 1995 with Grog on vocals and bass, Guy Prebble and Drew Richards on guitar and Steve Drew on drums. This was a time of great creativity, musical freedom and experimentation. The music was honed down. Relentless practicing. Thought. Care put into it. Gigs... The gigs were astounding. It was a great moment in time. There must be a good few who experienced those gigs. The band went on to perform live throughout the following year, with Ted Garcia and Drew Richards on guitar, including a spot at the Phoenix Festival in the summer of 1996, during which time they signed a major label deal with Chrysalis Records, a subsidiary of EMI. The band built up a steady set of songs which were recorded at the beginning of 1997 for their first release.^[2]

The band recorded the bulk of their first record, Save Your Face, in various London recording studios with David M. Allen who had recently helmed records by The Cure and Neneh Cherry. They would work with Pat Collier (formerly of The Vibrators, now a producer) on mixing the record, as well as recording a further two tracks at South Beach Studios in Miami, Florida with the record producer Tom Lord-Alge. By this time, Steve Drew had decided to leave the group, to be replaced by new drummer Mig.

On completion of studio work, the band launched into a summer tour as support act for label-mates Kenickie, and then back on the road headlining rock clubs throughout the UK - including a headlining appearance at NME's "On" night in July. In August 1997, the group's debut single "Just As You Are" was issued, pre-empting their debut album the week after. Despite some promotion on rock radio, as well as a live set and interview for MTV Europe's Superock show, neither release charted either in the UK Singles Chart nor UK Albums Chart.

In early 1998 the band toured the UK in support of Catherine Wheel, and worked with producer Chris Sheldon to remix a few of their songs, as well as record some new tracks for release the following months.

They issued "Sun In My Eyes" as a proper single release in May 1998, but due to little promotion it charted at #88 in the UK. The band nevertheless toured in support of it, and prepared to release a follow-up single, the newly recorded "Drama Queen" in July 1998. The release was cancelled at last minute, as the band felt that they would rather re-release their debut album - updated and expanded with the new tracks.

The new edition of their album was self-titled Feline and was issued with different packaging to Save Your Face. The band took off on a short summer tour to promote it, with the addition of new drummer Al Fletcher who replaced Mig. The album's closing track "Release" was then planned as the band's next single, with a video being shot by Howard Greenhalgh.

In late 1998, EMI shook up their roster of acts, and the band were dropped from the label before "Release" was issued. After this, the band decided to go their separate ways.

Post-split

Upon Feline's split, Grog and Drew Richards re-emerged as Ultraviolet, who released a number of EP's before they reformed into the harder Die So Fluid who are still performing. Grog became well known to pop fans throughout 2003 when she guest performed bass guitar for Melanie C and Kelly Osbourne.^[3]

Ted Garcia is now a corporate lawyer with Pinsent Masons LLP and managing the Glasgow band, San Sebastian.

On 12/12/2013 it was announced on Die So Fluid's facebook page that Feline's unreleased second album, including tracks released as Ultraviolet, will now be available on Die So Fluid's Parole Hearing Label.

Discography

Albums

• Save Your Face (1997)
• Feline (1998)
• Ultraviolet (2013)^[4]

Singles

• "Just As You Are" (b/w "Highway", "Two Minds" + "Shape Changing") #81 UK Chart^[5]
• "Sun in My Eyes" (b/w "Innocent Lives", "Rumour Mill", "The Air That I Breathe" + "Germaine" #81 UK Chart^[5]
• "Drama Queen" (b/w "Wake The Dead", "Live With Me" + "Wheel") [Release cancelled]
• "Unknown" (b/w "Driven" + "Truth Will Out")

References

External links

• Die So Fluid (feat. Grog, Drew and Al) on The Mag
• 'Ultraviolet' Feline's second album