Blink (band)
Encyclopedia
Blink is a pop/rock band from Ireland
They are noted for their mixture of humour and melancholy. They have released three albums to date: A Map Of the Universe by Blink (1994), The End Is High (1998) and Deep Inside The Sound Of Sadness (2004). "A Map of the Universe by Blink" was a top ten album. "The End is High" was a Billboard magazine album of the week and "Deep inside the Sound of Sadness" was nominated as Best Irish Album of the Year in the 2005 Meteor Music Awards.
The San Diego, California
based pop punk
band now known as Blink-182
was originally also called Blink, but due to legal disputes they decided to change their name to Blink-182.
The band is also notable as being the first band to be pictured on a telephone card
.
storm as international music executives chased the dreams and dollars of 'the next U2
', which ended with the band signing with EMI for their debut release.
Four months after playing their very first gig, Blink found themselves in recording studios working with notable producers including John O'Neill
(The Undertones
), Gil Norton
(Pixies) and Steve Hillage
.
Blink's first singles 'Going To Nepal' and 'Happy Day' went top 20 in Ireland
. Their third release 'It's Not My Fault' debuted at No 8.
August 1994 saw the release of their debut album 'A Map Of The Universe By Blink', entering the Irish album charts at No. 8 and referred to by Hot Press as 'the best Irish pop album ever made', an accolade as opposed to a slur in the days before pop became a dirty word.
Blink released the single "Cello" to support the album release and it hit the No. 10 spot and held its position for six weeks. The album went Gold almost immediately. 1995 was a very good year indeed. Soundcrowd Orchestra remixed Cello and it became a massive hit all over again. Blink were nominated for four awards at the Hot Press Music Awards.
At home, the record company were looking for a new album, so the band hesitantly packed their bags and headed back to start recording for Parlophone
UK. However, the call of the US kept coming hard and strong - offers of shows, supports with bands they had met over there, so album number two was postponed in favour of a return trip to the States.
The decision to try and break the States was a solid one and a year later, the band signed on the dotted line with Paradigm Records, Blink began recording their second album 'The End Is High', releasing it in the US in March 1998.
Billboard
magazine decided it was their five star album of the month, and the album went on to do 90,000 copies in a very short space of time, opening the doors for bigger US tour supports. 1999 onwards saw Blink opening shows, sharing dressing rooms with, amongst others, The Ramones, Mercury Rev
, Moby
, Lloyd Cole
, The Cardigans
, Mark Geary
, Brendan O'Shea and Blink-182
.
Then Paradigm Records closed, and Blink and their good friend, renowned producer and Ministry founder, Howie Beno
(Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Blondie
) agreed to go ahead regardless, with plans for the third album. And so 'Deep Inside The Sound Of Sadness' was born.
Described by the makers as a record that captures the highs and lows of ordinary people trying to make their way through extraordinary times,' the ten track work also features some good friends helping out with guest slots. Wendy Starland
took time out from writing with Quincy Jones
to sing on 'Don't You Rollerblade In Nashville Tennessee?'
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
They are noted for their mixture of humour and melancholy. They have released three albums to date: A Map Of the Universe by Blink (1994), The End Is High (1998) and Deep Inside The Sound Of Sadness (2004). "A Map of the Universe by Blink" was a top ten album. "The End is High" was a Billboard magazine album of the week and "Deep inside the Sound of Sadness" was nominated as Best Irish Album of the Year in the 2005 Meteor Music Awards.
The San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
based pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band now known as Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
was originally also called Blink, but due to legal disputes they decided to change their name to Blink-182.
The band is also notable as being the first band to be pictured on a telephone card
Telephone card
A telephone card, calling card or phone card for short, is a small plastic card, sized and shaped like a credit card, used to pay for telephone services. It is not necessary to have the physical card except with a stored-value system; knowledge of the access telephone number to dial and the PIN is...
.
Biography
Formed in the mid 1990s by Dermot Lambert, Robbie Sexton, Brian McLoughlin and Barry Campbell, Blink's inclusion on a CD for a trade festival in New York sparked a review, leading to an A&RA&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
storm as international music executives chased the dreams and dollars of 'the next U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
', which ended with the band signing with EMI for their debut release.
Four months after playing their very first gig, Blink found themselves in recording studios working with notable producers including John O'Neill
John O'Neill (guitarist)
John Joseph O'Neill is the rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter within the punk/new wave band The Undertones...
(The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
), Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
(Pixies) and Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
.
Blink's first singles 'Going To Nepal' and 'Happy Day' went top 20 in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Their third release 'It's Not My Fault' debuted at No 8.
August 1994 saw the release of their debut album 'A Map Of The Universe By Blink', entering the Irish album charts at No. 8 and referred to by Hot Press as 'the best Irish pop album ever made', an accolade as opposed to a slur in the days before pop became a dirty word.
Blink released the single "Cello" to support the album release and it hit the No. 10 spot and held its position for six weeks. The album went Gold almost immediately. 1995 was a very good year indeed. Soundcrowd Orchestra remixed Cello and it became a massive hit all over again. Blink were nominated for four awards at the Hot Press Music Awards.
At home, the record company were looking for a new album, so the band hesitantly packed their bags and headed back to start recording for Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
UK. However, the call of the US kept coming hard and strong - offers of shows, supports with bands they had met over there, so album number two was postponed in favour of a return trip to the States.
The decision to try and break the States was a solid one and a year later, the band signed on the dotted line with Paradigm Records, Blink began recording their second album 'The End Is High', releasing it in the US in March 1998.
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine decided it was their five star album of the month, and the album went on to do 90,000 copies in a very short space of time, opening the doors for bigger US tour supports. 1999 onwards saw Blink opening shows, sharing dressing rooms with, amongst others, The Ramones, Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole is an English singer and songwriter, known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work.-Early life:...
, The Cardigans
The Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...
, Mark Geary
Mark Geary
Mark Geary is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician born in Dublin, Ireland into a large family with ten siblings, one of whom is actor Karl Geary. In 1992 he emigrated to New York City after being called up for a lottery-won green card...
, Brendan O'Shea and Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
.
Then Paradigm Records closed, and Blink and their good friend, renowned producer and Ministry founder, Howie Beno
Howie Beno
Howie Beno is a recording engineer and producer who has worked with a wide range of artists in various genres, including Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, and a long series of rock and industrial bands, including Ministry.- Chicago :...
(Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
) agreed to go ahead regardless, with plans for the third album. And so 'Deep Inside The Sound Of Sadness' was born.
Described by the makers as a record that captures the highs and lows of ordinary people trying to make their way through extraordinary times,' the ten track work also features some good friends helping out with guest slots. Wendy Starland
Wendy Starland
Wendy Starland , is an American singer, songwriter, music producer and musician.Starland was discovered at a concert held by Maceo Parker who noticed her singing along with many of his numbers...
took time out from writing with Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
to sing on 'Don't You Rollerblade In Nashville Tennessee?'
Singles A-Z
- Cello (Lime Records/Parlophone)
- Going To Nepal (Lime Records/Parlophone)
- Happy Day (Lime Records/Parlophone)
- Is God Really Groovy? (Serene)
- Would you kill for Love? (Paradigm)
- A Planet made of Rain (Paradigm)
- Dead Little Bird (Paradigm)
- The Luckiest Man Alive (Paradigm)
- The Tiny Magic Indian ( Serene)
- To Go (Serene)